THE ROOTS OF BRITISH DUBSTEP What is

THE ROOTS OF BRITISH DUBSTEP

What is “dubstep? ” Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated on Croydon, South London. It emerged in the late 90' from styles such as 2 step garage, drum and bass, jungle, dub and reggae. In the UK the origins of this genre can be traced back to the growth of the Jamaican sound system party scene in the early 1980's. Generally features of dubstep is a syncopated drums and percussions patterns with bass lines that contain prominent sub bass frequencies. Dubstep rhythm have shifted center of gravity, it constantly swinging. Swing as rhythm part's trick was known for years before dubstep. The method of bass producing hasn't changed – 2 low frequency oscillatiors, tuned for the needed condition.

Motherland of genre Motherland of dubstep is a Croydon – one of districts of South London. There was vinyl shop in eastern part of this district named Big Apple Records. Main seller in this shop was Hatcha. Later he'll take Skream as his apprentice, which is delivers good hope now and spends his all post-school time in “Big Apple” sells thematic oldschool music, classic jungle, drum and bass, 2 step and house releases.

Ammunition Promotion Neil Jolliffe and Sarah Lockhart found little LLC named Ammunition Promotion in 2000. They had very good understanding of situation in deep underground. They like new music, but this music needed an organisation that could pull it from depths to the surface. In 2000 Jolliffe starts 3 record labels – Tempa, Soulja, Shelf. Life. Tempa takes a leader position and became a keypoint label of dubstep music.

Image of the genre Ammuntion Promotions LLC grew fast, they had very stylish minimalistic posters of FWD>> weekly parties, neat text logos, nice coverarts and professional musicians shoots. This was a desert of Stuart Hammersley (Give Up the Art) and photographer Shaun Bloodworth. But genre still stay unnamed. In July, 2002, XLR 8 R magazine releases 60 th issue with photo of Horsepower Productions on the cover, and over this photo was a simple header. “Dubstep”. This finished image of the genre.

Origin of the genre’s name There are many dusputes about creator of word “dubstep”. Was it Kode 9 or one of Ammunition Promotions founders Neil Jolliffe? Some people (and not a last man in genre, Plastician) says that Neil was first. “Dubstep” word specify the influense of Jamaican dub music. (cause South London have big amount of migrants from Caribbean islands). We know, that Neil said it when he heard first remix from Horsepower Productions on Kingstone MC Elephant Man. This magic word appears in press-releases of AP promo group over the year, and finally reveal itself on the cover of the US magazine. Also, in 2002 Kode 9 releases mix named “dubsteppa”. Some people says that dubstep word take origins in the name of this mix. By the way, this is dark and mysterious story about the origins of genre's name. But the fact of creating genre name in the genre scene is very important.

Jamaican roots One of roots of dubstep genre lays deep in Jamaican dub. Holy dub emerged from Jamaican reggae music. First DJ's discover that wrong version of song (without lyrics) grooves people on the dancefloor as good as lyrics versions. Dubstep adopted from dub his main trait: instrumentality. And main difference between Jamaican dub and reggae lays in instrumentality of dub music. In 70 th Kingstone record labels issued many 7” vinyls with vocal version of track on the A side, and instrumental version (dub) on the B side. As time went on, 2 step eventually goes deeper and deeper in “darkness”, and finally became more oriented on low frequency bass, not on vocal. It serve as characteristic of some kind of. . . “dubness”, switch to the other way that was closer to dub music.

“Big Apple” and Dubplating In 2002 “Big Apple” became record label (for 10 years anniversary). It was founded by Hatcha and Arthur Smith (under the nickname Artwork). Godfathers and masters of dubstep released first tracks of 16 years old Benga and Skream (sic). By this time Hatcha's sets from FWD>> parties, that was translated on Rinse FM station, consist of dubplates by young musicians. Dubstep is still near to dub music in plan of embracing (adopting) its traditions of auditory tastes testing. DJ's make “dubplates” before official releases. Dubplates of this years was a soft and cheap 7” acetate discs, which wore after several playbacks. Then discs sells for scrap and was melted. So, DJ's and label owner always know what they can release on good PVC.

Dubstep on BBC Radio 1 In 2003 dubstep got in sight of official radio stations. John Peel – the famous radio presenter promote dubstep on BBC Radio 1 station. Years ago he opened the way for punk music and ambient, and in 2003 he create phone vote. In result of this vote dubstep took 29 position from 50 main music events. Anyone who turned BBC Radio One in this days can hear Mala, Mark One, Distance and Plastician – and it was main radio- and TV broadcasting corporation. Before 2003 you can hear in FM only on Rinse FM which is pirate radiostation. So, dubstep goes out from underground.

Out of FWD>> In 15 october 2003 happens first dubstep party, that wasn't held by Forward. Chris Reed and David Karlys has organized Filthy Dub party in One 92 One club (in Croydon). This event was a ticket to the stars for many dubstep producers, it allowed them to gain some experience. Behind the turntables – Skream, Benga, Loefah, Welsh, Chief, Cirus and many others. For many of them it was first event. In 2004 Tempa released first genre compilation – Dubstep Allstars vol. 1. There was some compilations before Dubstep Allstars, but this compilations contain unreleased content (like on Tempa Allstars comp). And this was a first try to summarize of work that was done for all this years. Compiler for volume 1 was Hatcha.

Historical meet In march of 2005 Mala and Coki (as Digital Mystikz) with MC Sgt. Pokes has organized DMZ party in the Third base (that was outbuilding of Brickstone club Mass). This was a very good reflection of the substant of genre: party in one of worst, and most dangerous districts of London. Dirty streets. Old, decrepit buildings. Destroyed lanterns, rats that crossing your road, and. . . low frequency echo that reflected from the walls Chris Reed meets the acceptor of John Reed from BBC Radio 1 – Mary Ann Hobbs on this party. She came in Third Base because she suddenly heard a War Dub release.

Dubstep Warz Of course, there was Rinse FM – very influent radio station, but you can't compare it with wide net of BBC's broadcasting – this is 50 mln auditory (UK population is about 60 mln). Mary Ann Hobbs night show listens only 6 mln, but that's enough to make dubstep a world phenomenon. In the night of 9 january 2006 Hobbs make a special air – Dubstep Warz. For two hours Mala, Skream, Kode 9, Vex'd, Hatcha, Loefah, Distance plays their 15 min sets for all world.

Hard way of Rinse FM In 2006 main dubstep station got some changes. Sarah Lockhart became station director, then united with Geenius (Rinse FM creator) and tried to get broadcasting license. In ‘ 06 dubstep has out from underground but this process needed an additional kickstart. Rinse FM start casting in 1994, when founders was 16 y old. Serious radio stations just don't want to give them job. So, they start an own radio. At first they played jungle music, then d'n'b, then 2 step, and finally in 00 they get a dubstep auditory. But destiny of all pirate radio stations are similar; founders living like on mine field. Police may come and arrest you at any moment. Station founder was arrested over 20 times. So, Geenius and Lockhart tired from this and got a broadcasting license in 2010 year – after 4 years of petitions and official letters.

Dubstep in 2006 was very bright for dubstep. Main genre revolutioners (Skream and Benga) released their debut LP's. But they was outshined by release of unknown amateur Burial. Music censors makes huge excitement for his first LP, named Burial, and second LP, named Untrue. Hyperdub, that take care of Burial is on the up grade.

Burial Burial's music is very charming, atmospheric and multilayered. No one before Burial tries wrap main melodies in complex of misty, wistful, sorrowful and desperate affirmations. Before Burial dubstep was mathematically accurate and in the same key. So, Burial in his big but anonymous interview score out experience of his colleagues. He write his music not in sophisticated sequensors but in simple sound editor, putting samples aurally. And he get a fame. The Wire magazine (January 2007) placed Burial LP on the first place of top 50 releases of the past year.

Anonymity Burial's sound is a mix of dubstep, ambient, 2 step and trip-hop. Dubstep wasn't main part of sound. Tracks that compile LP was written in different time (from 2000 to 2006), but in LP conception they sounds very smoothly, just like if they was created in a float. He is grieve about lost time, culture, manners, events and heroes. Maybe his nickname – Burial – means funeral. Funeral of all of this things. Burial was anonymous person for 2 years, until his second LP (Untrue) takes first place in Mercury Prize Awards. He needs anonymity as tribute to white labels culture – when release was pressed without any marks on apple. This music wrote nobody. No one. Listener liked this releases for music, not for name of musician that wrote this material.

Nowadays. n 20 aug 2008 year Mary Ann Hobbs make special air named Generation Bass. In this air plays new wave of dubstep musicians – Silkie & Quest, Kulture, Joker & MC Nomad, Starkey, Chef, Oneman, Cyrus. But two years later she leaves BBC Radio 1 and teach students in Sheffield (but she'll return in 2011). Many of dubstep lovers think that with her leave ends an era of genre. Chapter that started in january, 2006 has come to an end. In new decade Benga and Skream work on BBC Radio 1. In april, 2012 they get constant air in fridays in hour before London's midnight. So, dubstep music finally became mainstream music and start to born new subgenres. Is this good or bad? I don’t know. So… choice is yours.

Thank you for your attention.

Источники Фото на фоне: Шон Бладсворт, Вечеринка FWD>> Фотографии деятелей жанра и прочие иллюстрации: http: //images. google. ru Блоги сайта http: //dubstep. net (EDM Network) http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Dubstep