The Dubstep Phase
/The dubstep phase is a concept that does not exist in others' minds because some never come out of it, and others are unaware it is a genre that will satisfy for a limited time only. When I use the term “dubstep,” I am not referring to the sound of minimal synths, wobbling bass lines, and unconventional drum patterns that was popularized in London, England in the 1990s by artists like Kode9, Digital Mystikz, and Skream. No, I am talking about the loud, heavy electronic dance music that has somehow adopted the same name, even though it is a very different sound. The title of “brostep” has been ascribed to this new genre, but not many actually use it other than people talking about it ironically.
A photo I took in high school at a Zeds Dead (dubstep) show which took place in a church.
Dubstep has become a worldwide phenomenon that is likely to be heard at your local EDM festival, though it has been recently overshadowed by big-room house and trap music. Its main appeal is the fact that it’s noisy and hard-hitting, which is ideal music for a teenager going through a phase.
The features of dubstep that are appealing to the public are the same ones that repel me from it. It is intense and in your face, which I required at one time when listening to music, but no longer do. It’s also formulaic, typically featuring an ambient introduction with a synth or piano followed by a bass drop, then an ambient interlude followed by another bass drop. If there’s one thing you can expect when listening to a dubstep track, it’s that it will have a loud, epic “drop,” causing vigorous headbanging, similar to the effects of heavy-metal music. Indeed, it is a reliable genre, but lacks variation because of that. This is why fans of dubstep love it, and why I now dislike it.
I am discussing this concept that I’ve made up because I’ve experienced it, and would be lying if I said it didn’t play an important part in my progression of becoming a music promoter. Dubstep was both my introduction to electronic music and promotional music channels on YouTube. If not for dubstep, I’m not sure that the idea would ever cross my mind to start up a YouTube channel, let alone have it actually happen.
Daniel Cummer
Daniel is a self-proclaimed writer hailing from Mississauga, Ontario with an unhealthy addiction to the Internet. He is a music enthusiast and a lover of classic sci-fi art and battle rap. He also mixes music and curates a promotional music channel on YouTube called "Electronic Gems".
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