Dubstep becoming too dark and masculine?

[corpsey]

We're talking about willow dildos now, though, aren't we?

[shonky]

Who are we to argue if some girls like it harder than others?

And some girls like it harder than other girls mothers

[pete_bubonic]

something random just reminded me of a blackdown article on pitchforkmedia where he wrote about how dubstep was becoming too dark and masculine and i was just sitting in the sun and thinking.. that guy couldnt be more right. now i love a dark, twisted, banger as much as the next guy but maybe more thats a bit lighter? anyways just my opinion..

sam

dubstep is growing like a tree, many branches.

No it isn't.

I personally agree with the sentiment of the original post and Martin Blackdown, I have been to so many nights where it's been the big boys playing the most monotonous wobble bangers all night. And no, playing the alicia refix as your variation for the night doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. Some people can pull it off, but chances are it's going to bore the shit out of the majority of people.

Maybe I'm bias and I'm not going to go into names, but so many 'popular' producers and dj's have bored the shit out of me recently and many people I know who used to rock to all the dubstep nights. But then, there's always one or two big names holding it together, but the new names are the ones who bring proper vibes to sets. I'd much rather see TRG, Peverelist, Appleblim and Martyn, hear some actual variation.

I'm not saying the odd wobble smasher isn't appropriate (Komoasmuk&Whiteboi - Shankstep instantly leaps to mind), but all this hype aggression and growly, wobbley sounds all the fucking time make for a fucking boring scene, no matter how hype and elbowy the apparent 'heads' that are crowding over the dj booth.

[vonboyage]

Oooh.. I hear that Bubonic.

i reckon its all going a bit fast for me.. its like

People are forgetting ALOT of tunes that got us here, alot of releases go unplayed, and DJS are favouring the "big names" tune jus cause they managed to get their mitts on an EXCLUSIVE.

i dont ever hear releases from like 6-10 months ago anymore.. and the music back then WEREN'T SHIT i tell yah.

I wud glady brock out to the older bits. its all gotta be NEW NEW NEW....

[richb]

^^ Here here! Been thinking about this for awhile. Be nice to hear some of the tunes from 2 yrs ago (been listening to old rinse sets recently rather than the new ones)

Dance music's always been a bit like this though, especially in a small new scene.

[slothrop]

Maybe I'm bias and I'm not going to go into names, but so many 'popular' producers and dj's have bored the shit out of me recently and many people I know who used to rock to all the dubstep nights. But then, there's always one or two big names holding it together, but the new names are the ones who bring proper vibes to sets. I'd much rather see TRG, Peverelist, Appleblim and Martyn, hear some actual variation.

So the obvious question is 1) are there any nights that have a (stated or implied) policy of booking DJ's who play a more eclectic mix of tunes and 2) if not, who fancies starting one? If this thread is anything to go by there's plenty of support for the idea.

I mean, I guess part of the reason there's a lot of wall-to-wall wobble nights around is that it's the sound a lot of Ammunition people are doing and they're the ones who've got the momentum to actually do lots of stuff.

I'm not saying the odd wobble smasher isn't appropriate (Komoasmuk&Whiteboi - Shankstep instantly leaps to mind)

Damn straight. Personally, if I hear a massive wobbler I brock out like a nuttah. It's just that each similar-sounding one I hear consecutively, I tend to brock out to a bit less. I don't get as excited if every tune sounds the same than if I have no idea what sort of madness is going to drop next, and if I'm not so excited I don't dance so much.

[corpsey]

I think there are nights like that already, on a small scale, in a lot of different places. Futureproof in Nottingham for example books acts like Bass Clef, Vex'd, Appleblim/Shackleton and Geiom regularly.

Unfortunately (or fortunately perhaps, depending how you look at it), it seems that dubstep outside of the standard wobble rinse out stuff has begun to be seen as 'leftfield' within the scene and so nights that cater for deeper stuff have become leftfield nights- which means small venues and lower turnouts. Which is basically how it is in DNB too- experimental stuff and a wide variation of styles have become sidelined and margianlised within the wider scene.

In a way its up to the DJs at big nights to be more adventurous and represent more variety in styles but at the same time they're catering for a large audience at these big nights and that large audience is increasingly going to be made up of people who think dubstep is a certain thing and want that thing for about six hours straight.

[dj phonetic]

What i like to see is parties like Dubstep changed my life who bring the party side of dubstep but book a name like shackleton too...

[alien pimp]

i don't see the difference between what's going on with dubstep and other consolidated styles of music, its wide range of approaches is still ok and still healthy for its evolution, everybody can find a tasty slice of the pie...

[slothrop]

I think there are nights like that already, on a small scale, in a lot of different places. Futureproof in Nottingham for example books acts like Bass Clef, Vex'd, Appleblim/Shackleton and Geiom regularly.

Unfortunately (or fortunately perhaps, depending how you look at it), it seems that dubstep outside of the standard wobble rinse out stuff has begun to be seen as 'leftfield' within the scene and so nights that cater for deeper stuff have become leftfield nights- which means small venues and lower turnouts. Which is basically how it is in DNB too- experimental stuff and a wide variation of styles have become sidelined and margianlised within the wider scene.

In a way its up to the DJs at big nights to be more adventurous and represent more variety in styles but at the same time they're catering for a large audience at these big nights and that large audience is increasingly going to be made up of people who think dubstep is a certain thing and want that thing for about six hours straight.

I'm all in favour of respecting other people's musical tastes, but anyone who thinks Geiom or Appleblim or Vex'd are "too weird and leftfield" really needs twatting round the head with a clue stick.

Yeah, maybe DJ's (and promoters) should be sticking to their guns more, being leaders not followers - yeah, these are the people who hung on through thick and thin in the early days and just played what they believed in even when noone was listening. But I'm not really comfortable, as someone whose net contribution to the scene has been turning up for some nights and buying some records, in turning round and telling the people who built the scene up from nothing that they're doing it wrong.

[chef]

EZ all.

To anyone that thinks Dubstep is just pure dark and aggressive then you need to open your ears because your missing out on a lot of Dubstep that isn't.

There's loads more different sounds in Dubstep than ever, it's up to you to find the music, Artist, DJ, sets or whatever that suits you.

Some people only like the dubby stuff, some people only like the techy or electro side of things, some people love just wobble, some people love the halfstep stuff more than the upbeat stuff, it's all about preference and background.

For me variety is the key and I like to play right across the board, a journey of the all the styles and flavours.
2 hours of wobble is just as bad as hearing 2 hours of plod, sometimes it isn't even about the tunes played but how they are played. Just the way that tunes are played and mixed can make it so much more interesting.

I'm happy to play Skream, Peverlist, Silkie, Toasty Boy, Conquest, Benga, Coki, Mala, Loefah, LD, Loefah, Distance etc etc in the same set but obviously I aint gonna play Infinity is now by Peverlist next to Spongebob by Coki, you just gotta know your tunes.

[alien pimp]

admins, pls close the topic at this point of discussion! )

[*decibella~~]

admins, pls close the topic at this point of discussion! )

AGREED!

your chest chef

amen

x x x

[slothrop]

EZ all.

To anyone that thinks Dubstep is just pure dark and aggressive then you need to open your ears because your missing out on a lot of Dubstep that isn't.

There's loads more different sounds in Dubstep than ever, it's up to you to find the music, Artist, DJ, sets or whatever that suits you.

Some people only like the dubby stuff, some people only like the techy or electro side of things, some people love just wobble, some people love the halfstep stuff more than the upbeat stuff, it's all about preference and background.

For me variety is the key and I like to play right across the board, a journey of the all the styles and flavours.
2 hours of wobble is just as bad as hearing 2 hours of plod, sometimes it isn't even about the tunes played but how they are played. Just the way that tunes are played and mixed can make it so much more interesting.

I'm happy to play Skream, Peverlist, Silkie, Toasty Boy, Conquest, Benga, Coki, Mala, Loefah, LD, Loefah, Distance etc etc in the same set but obviously I aint gonna play Infinity is now by Peverlist next to Spongebob by Coki, you just gotta know your tunes.

Damn straight.

[i-line]

EZ all.



I'm happy to play Skream, Peverlist, Silkie, Toasty Boy, Conquest, Benga, Coki, Mala, Loefah, LD, Loefah, Distance etc etc i

does that mean loefah always gets a rewind chef?

[pete_bubonic]

EZ all.

To anyone that thinks Dubstep is just pure dark and aggressive then you need to open your ears because your missing out on a lot of Dubstep that isn't.

There's loads more different sounds in Dubstep than ever, it's up to you to find the music, Artist, DJ, sets or whatever that suits you.

Some people only like the dubby stuff, some people only like the techy or electro side of things, some people love just wobble, some people love the halfstep stuff more than the upbeat stuff, it's all about preference and background.

For me variety is the key and I like to play right across the board, a journey of the all the styles and flavours.
2 hours of wobble is just as bad as hearing 2 hours of plod, sometimes it isn't even about the tunes played but how they are played. Just the way that tunes are played and mixed can make it so much more interesting.

I'm happy to play Skream, Peverlist, Silkie, Toasty Boy, Conquest, Benga, Coki, Mala, Loefah, LD, Loefah, Distance etc etc in the same set but obviously I aint gonna play Infinity is now by Peverlist next to Spongebob by Coki, you just gotta know your tunes.

IMHO you are are one of the few big name dj's I still follow, since your first set in Bristol (Dubloaded?) where you played a lot more Grime through to your current sets on Rinse where you seem to draw a lot more on the techno influence (like Peverelist). But don't you think you are a very small minority? I go to plenty of dubstep & grime raves in Bristol and London and the dubstep sets are getting that monotonous and tired. Your average big dj doesn't want to know about the 'leftfield' (agree with Corpsey 100%) stuff! Believe me, I know first hand there a huge range of stuff out there, from Ruckspin & Quark, Deim, Peverelist, Boxcutter, Forsaken, Toasty, S&D, SLT, Mala, Protocol X, Eleven Tigers, Joker, Gemmy, Rusko and Martyn! But the reality is, in the clubs, we are hearing the standard loefah vs. skream copycat wobble rinseouts, dj's sticking to the bangers and no longer really experimenting and taking the sound into new places like Youngsta used to. I dunno, maybe it's different in the heart of Croydon Chef, maybe you're surrounded by bare variety, but this is what it's like for a lot of people who are attending the raves regularly.

[pete_bubonic]

And I know this is going to sound like some proper self promotional whorage, but one of the few night who really does represent a good variation of dubstep is the night I'm resident at in Bristol.

Byte tonight for instance has:
PINCH [ Tectonic / Dubloaded ]
JOKER & GEMMY [ Earwax / Terrorhythm ]
ATKI2 - LIVE [ Werk Discs / Immerse ]
B-LAM - LIVE [ Ruff ]
PEVERELIST [ Punchdrunk / Rooted ]
BLAZEY [ Subloaded ]
BUBONIC [ Immerse / Inprint ]
MCs KOAST, BUGGSY, DUBZ, SCARZ

Now that sort of shit gets me excited, that's where the proper variation is!

And then for the birthday, it's even more varied to have
Bizzy B, Chef, Malice and Enzyme, Elemental - Live, Hundred Strong, Reso, Pirate Soundsystem
set over 3 days!

[kidkut]

And I know this is going to sound like some proper self promotional whorage, but one of the few night who really does represent a good variation of dubstep is the night I'm resident at in Bristol.

Byte tonight for instance has:
PINCH [ Tectonic / Dubloaded ]
JOKER & GEMMY [ Earwax / Terrorhythm ]
ATKI2 - LIVE [ Werk Discs / Immerse ]
B-LAM - LIVE [ Ruff ]
PEVERELIST [ Punchdrunk / Rooted ]
BLAZEY [ Subloaded ]
BUBONIC [ Immerse / Inprint ]
MCs KOAST, BUGGSY, DUBZ, SCARZ

Now that sort of shit gets me excited, that's where the proper variation is!

And then for the birthday, it's even more varied to have
Bizzy B, Chef, Malice and Enzyme, Elemental - Live, Hundred Strong, Reso, Pirate Soundsystem
set over 3 days!

Thinking and Myself are playing as well and we definitely play different.

Myself and Diccon have received lots of messages with regards to our radio show stating they enjoy it because we play alot different to most.

Coming back to your point pete i completely agree and to be honest i feel its down to the same people being booked all the time. There are plenty of dj's out there that keep it varied, but I only see a few different names on lineups for the majority of nights.

[jera]

wasn't tht long ago when u had 2 look in the leftfield sections in record shops 4 dubstep.

[bob crunkhouse]

also on the self promotional tip, at Square Roots we strive to book the most diverse line ups possible

heres two upcoming gigs

4th October - Volks, Brighton.

- Milanese
- Pinch
- Ital Tek
- High Rankin
- SQR DJ's

5th October - Square Roots @ Synergy - SE1, London

- Various Production
- Digital Mystikz (Coki)
- Boxcutter
- Pinch
- Ital Tek
- Shook
- Nagual
- SQR DJ's

brap