Dubstep for Dummies. Yes. That’s me, I’m a dubstep dummy and I’m not ashamed to say it. A few years ago I heard a cool song that a cool friend played and she told me “oh that’s dubstep” and I was like huh? You can ask 10 people and get 10 different answers. Even a search on the internet proves limitless in opinions. Is it music? Is it a dance craze? Is it fast or slow? Is it only for the after party scene?
I like music and I like to dance, but since I’ve kinda aged out of the club scene I feel a little lost when it comes to all the variety of sounds and I’m definitely not up on what to call half of the music styles I listen to. Spotify is now my go to music source and a quick look at my playlists shows I seem to gravitate to the more chill electronic sounding bass tunes that some people are calling Dubstep. So like learning the basics about how to order a decent wine on a date (yes guys you should all know how and you should all avoid the weird mouth swishing and gargling), or how to make sure your bra size is the correct fit (ladies you know how challenging this is and how often wrong we get it) … I wanted to figure out what to say when someone asked me what is Dubstep.
Like every question I consider, I first turn to the internet. Type in “what is dubstep” and WOW. Too many choices. Narrow to “Dubstep for Beginners” and I find this cool raw video produced by Andy Jennings sharing what a lot of kids think it is and interviewing some of the original players like Skream. The only problem is that since Dubstep originated in a few “garages” in neighborhoods in London, I really couldn’t understand what half of them were saying. Subtitles please like we get with much of our classier US reality TV shows like Swamp People. Here’s what I first got - typically 140 bpm (beats per minute) with drum bass, highlights and symbols with sounds of reggae, hip hop, and electronic sounds. Are all you DJs and experts cringing? Then I recalled the cool friend sharing this Dubstep Tutorial - considered by most to really spell it out. And now I can correct my lines above - so start with a kick and snare pattern, add hilites (not highlights) and cymbals (not symbols) to fill spaces, next add modulated bass lines and make them heavy, then the most important thing of all is to add the drums sound. No longer limited to London or UK, you can find this music all over the world with players coming from as far as Australia and Japan. And the styles within Dubstep vary from the chill I prefer to a darker pulsating grinding rhythm (glow sticks optional). But most would agree the best way to hear it is with BIG SYSTEM, BIG SPEAKERS AND BIG BASS.
And guess what? Dubstep is not a dance. But you can dance to it. And sometimes you will look as cool as the slow fight scenes in The Matrix or those amazing flash mob dance scenes in the Step Up movies. But for most of us we might look really ridiculous. But hey, you’re dancing and I was taught to dance like no one is watching. Check out www.Victorsho.com for an easy tutorial on how to “freestyle” dance to Dubstep with his catchy “slow - hit-hit-hit” method. Or my new favorite MrDanteStylez who really breaks it down beat by beat, hit by hit.
Try creating your own sound with one of the many video programs like GarageBand Dubstep Tutorial. And consider yourself a little less of a Dubstep Dummie.