What is dubstep?
When did the dubstep scene develop?
How do dubstep tracks differ from other electronic music?
In this complete guide, we’ll answer everything you need to know about how dubstep began, what makes it special and how dubstep producers use electronic music techniques within the genre.
What is Dubstep?
Dubstep is a genre of electronic music. But it is also much more.
It is a very large and very broad cultural and music movement that has been progressing for 25 years.
The reality is that defining genres and then subgenres is a fiery topic amongst audiophiles.
So, in order to answer the question comprehensively, we have to dive down the genre rabbit hole and ask what is dubstep on a deeper level and explore where it fits in the electronic dance music scene?
Diving into Dubstep
There is not a lot about dubstep that is straight up, from the wobbles to the beats. Dubstep is heavily influenced by dub music, a bass-heavy and atmospheric variant of reggae. The name ‘dubstep’ itself reflects this connection to dub music, which contributes to the mood and stylistic elements of the genre.
Music is artistic in its nature; this means that classifications and rules are often subjective and controversial, with overlapping definitions and grey areas of distinction which can be avidly discussed. There are endless forums, subreddits and discussions, full of passionate opinions all over the internet when it comes to splitting hairs regarding genres and subgenres.
Understanding Subgenres
A subgenre can be understood as an offshoot of its parent genre. This mind map shows the offshoots from Soul Music.
** A subgenre is an offshoot of its parent genre. This mind map shows the offshoots from Soul Music.
Defining Genres in Electronic Dance Music
Did you know that popular music has over 1,200 definable subgenres?
There are a lot of factors that go into a genre of music. Cultural factors play a role, for instance, as the cultural context can influence the content and determine the spirit of the themes.
Similarly, the geographical origin or place of birth can be used to identify a genre, as well as a wide variety of subgenres.
However, the “basic musical language” of every genre comes from the musical form and style. These are the techniques used in making the music and the technology that is used in shaping all genres and subgenres.
In summary, all of these factors build the rules that define a genre and its offshoots.
Subgenre Examples
Here are two examples of prominent subgenres, both out of the US:
A great way of exploring the genres is Every Noise At Once. It is an algorithm that has turned the Spotify genres into a scatter map. For example, the soul music map above is taken from Every Noise At Once.
It is a super powerful tool that has examples related to various genres, artists and their Spotify pages.
Every Noise at Once is an ongoing attempt at an algorithmically-generated, readability-adjusted scatter-plot of the musical genre-space, based on data tracked and analysed for 2,709 genres by Spotify as of a few years ago.
The calibration is fuzzy, but in general items further down are more organic, while up indicates more mechanical and electric styles. Left is reserved for denser and more atmospheric examples, and right is spikier and bouncier.
It’s pretty rad!
How did Dubstep Begin?
Dubstep began a few decades ago. It evolved out of a quieter, mellower UK Garage that was losing the happy glitz and sexy sheen of the late ‘90s and moving towards a darker, head down fuelled post-ecstasy downer. Dubstep music originated in Jamaica as a subcategory of reggaetón and later gained popularity in the London underground club scene and the United States. It was becoming darker, more introspective, putting more emphasis on heavy bass, on atmosphere, and on bringing in dub reggae influences.
What is the meaning of syncopated? The displacement of the beats or accents in music or a rhythm so that strong beats become weak and vice versa.
Why is it called Dubstep?
The genre is referred to as “dubstep” because like dub music, which is a bass-heavy and atmospheric variant of reggae, it was a kind of music stripped down to slowish and minimal atmospheric drums and heavy bass.
The “step” comes in because it was evolved from, and stripped down from, what was called “two step garage”. “Steppers” was also a slang term in jungle/drum n’ bass music that was part of the same ancestry.
“Step” in this context means something like “dance move” or even “rhythm”.
In conclusion, “dubstep” means something like “the latest step (i.e., rhythm) which is kind of dub-like (i.e., slow, minimal, heavy bass)”.
Of course, as the genre evolved towards the end of the 2000s the focus became more and more on the “wobble bass”: A harmonically rich, very loud bass sound which was being filtered and manipulated to make the classic “wobble” or “wah wah” sound.
By the time you get to American “dubstep” of the kind Skrillex and friends produce, both the original rhythm and dubby atmosphere have more or less changed beyond recognition. And the histrionically wobbly bass is everything.
Really, what’s called dubstep these days is that bass design.
Defining Techniques in the Early Dubstep Scene
A key feature of dubstep production is the use of atmospherics and textures to create a full and spacious mix. Dubstep producers play a crucial role in shaping the distinctive elements of the genre, such as the emphasis on syncopated beats, heavy drum and bass modulation, and the use of processed vocals for bass patterns. The use of silence, pads and minor keys builds tension and expresses emotion.
Even though dubstep is dominated by bass and beats, they are softened by a dub reggae‑influenced use of echo, reverb and panoramic stereo to add depth and space.
A great example is Burial and his use of obscure samples, pitch‑shifting and overlaying effects. Burial’s work is very different to the majority of commercially successful and dancefloor‑friendly dubstep tracks and bears a lot of similarities to works by Brian Eno.
Rhythm
Dubstep rhythms are usually syncopated, and often shuffled or incorporating tuplets. Dubstep DJs often use bass drops, rewinds, and MCs during live performances to enhance the experience. The tempo is nearly always in the range of 138–142 beats per minute, with a clap or snare usually inserted every third beat in a bar. In its early stages, dubstep was often more percussive, with more influences from two‑step drum patterns. A lot of producers were also experimenting with tribal drum samples, such as Loefah’s early release “Truly Dread” and Mala’s “Anti-War Dub”.
In an Invisible Jukebox interview with The Wire, Kode9 commented on a MRK1 track, observing that listeners “have internalised the double-time rhythm” and the “track is so empty it makes [the listener] nervous, and you almost fill in the double time yourself, physically, to compensate”.
Examples of Dubstep Drum Programming
Basic triplet
This example is slightly more complex and a more hip‑hop‑influenced pattern with ‘lazy’ kicks, rimshots again on the offbeats and plenty of variety in the hi‑hats.
This one is a slightly more complex two‑step, triplet‑feel beat, punctuated by rimshots.
This is an awesome article from Attack Magazine’s Beat Dissected section that walks you through the layers and timing of dubstep drums.
Defining Wobble Bass
One characteristic of certain strands of dubstep is the wobble bass, often referred to as the “wub”, where an extended bass note is manipulated rhythmically.
Dubstep sounds have significantly influenced mainstream and popular music, with many artists integrating these elements into their songs. This style of bass is typically produced by using a low-frequency oscillator to manipulate certain parameters of a synthesiser such as volume, distortion or filter cutoff. The resulting sound is a timbre that is punctuated by rhythmic variations in volume, filter cutoff, or distortion. This style of bass is a driving factor in some variations of dubstep, particularly at the more club-friendly end of the spectrum.
Check out Horsepower Productions’ “In a Fine Style” (2002) from before the term “Dubstep” was being used.
Slightly later, the term dubstep was actually being used and an early standout hit was Skream’s “Midnight Request Line”.
Then there’s Benga and Coki’s “Night”.
By the time of Caspa’s “Rubber Chicken” (2006), a clear formula had been established.
Further Exploration of What is Dubstep – Genre and Subgenres
1. Deep Dubstep Music
Deep Dubstep is often confusingly referred to as just “dubstep” and is the first subgenre we’ll cover. Deep Dubstep tracks usually feature wobbly basslines and a lot of atmosphere. Notable dubstep artists like Skrillex, Mount Kimbie, James Blake, Skream, Loefah, Benga, Digital Mystikz, Kode 9, and Mala have significantly contributed to the development and popularization of the genre.
2. Brostep
Brostep is the American style of dubstep you’re likely familiar with. Brostep tracks are usually 140-155 BPM, and their main feature is their growly synths which exist in the mid to low frequencies, and wobble like the deep dubstep basslines (this is called an LFO). Its main difference is the focus on spectacle over atmosphere.
3. Post-Dubstep
Post-Dubstep is the cultural and philosophical advancement of the typical dubstep sound. It’s an attempt at maturation and forward movement by the intellectuals of the genre. To further this growth, these artists have dropped down from the usual 140 beats per minute to 130 BPMs as their tempo. They’ve also, in addition to the UK Garage, Drum & Base, Grime, and other electronic genres, brought in elements of ambient music and even R&B. Check out James Blake and Joy Orbison.
4. Filthstep
Filthstep is the lo-fi, Super Nintendo cousin of Dubstep. It’s somewhere between Nerdcore and Seattle garage band music. It sounds like a 5th generation copy of a cassette tape half the time. That’s one part of the “filth” term. The other is that it’s very noisy, rhythmically aggressive and not very melodic. 16Bit is an example of this style.
5. Drumstep
Drumstep is like brostep, but faster. Tempos in excess of 170 BPM allow for more complex drum patterns, and faster oscillating synths can affect their general sound/feeling. Unless your ear is trained on the drum patterns, you’d probably lump these in with the brostep tracks.
6. Melodic Dubstep
Melodic Dubstep mainly features lead synths over growl synths. This is usually used to great emotional effect in well-produced tracks. Think more “shock and awe” over “spectacle” if that helps.
7. Chillstep
Chillstep is just what it says on the can. Dubstep, please, hold the scary bits. We can’t think of a good way to describe this one so it will be better and more illustrative to just have an example.
8. Wobble
Wobble is pretty self explanatory, focusing on the wobble containing many wobbly basslines and growls, and a heavy synthesiser bass line using smooth pitch bends that drive the low-end of the frequency spectrum. Usually more upbeat or higher energy than deep dubstep, Wobblestep is the most disorienting yet enjoyable sub-genre in the list. Check out Caspa or Ganja White Night and Dirt Monkey.
9. Halftime
Halftime is essentially the combination of DnB and dubstep as it is drum and bass in halftime. It usually features a 170 BPM and sometimes has a slight hip hoppy feel to it. Examples include Vorso and Ivy Lab.
10. Glitch Hop
Glitch Hop is a combination of growls with styles of funk and hip hop. It sounds kind of glitchy, and it usually features around 100 BPM. It may not necessarily be dubstep, but it’s kind of like its weird funky cousin. Examples include Koan Sound and Tipper.
11. Riddim
Riddim is a type of dubstep that has essentially gone back to its roots of very simplistic, repeated rhythms, focusing mainly on sound design. Modern riddim is usually very energetic, and shares some similarities to brostep. It is usually around 150 BPM. Examples include SQUNTO.
12. DeathStep
DeathStep sounds exactly how its name suggests. It incorporates elements of death metal and is very heavy and dark. Usually it is very ‘stabby’. Examples include Code: Pandorum as well as the below.
- Filthy Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites
- Deep: Mala – Alicia
- Dark Kryptic Minds & Youngsta – Cold Blooded
- Vocal Deadmau5 – I Remember (Caspa Remix)
- Dubhop Kid Sister – Pro Nails (Rusko Remix)
- 8bit The Widdler – Final Stage
- Glitchstep Samiyam – Roller Skates
- Tribal Dubstep Solen – Lord
DJ City – supporting dubstep DJs and artists across Australia
In summary, dubstep tracks are iconic for their syncopated bass music, complex sound design, spattered percussion and atmosphere. Dubstep focuses on the sub frequencies modulating and Brostep focuses on the mid frequencies modulating.
If you would like to learn more about this genre of electronic music, are ready to find the right DJ equipment to start putting together your own dubstep track, or just want to connect with other dubstep artists in the space, make sure to reach out to the DJ City team today.
