The Hype and Hate: The Death if Dubstep
"Dubstep has reached its post-moment." says Gabe Vodicka of www.clatl.com. Vodicka writes a lengthy article about Borgore and his unique take on dubstep but mentions the new statement that everyone seems to be making-- dubstep is dead. This is an article written in December of 2011. So, doesn't this mean that dubstep is long gone? Not necessarily.
A few years ago, dubstep made its way into just about any genre it could. A popular hardcore band named Enter Shikari regularly incorporates gratuitous yet mind-bending dubstep into most of their breakdowns to add some flair into the genre. Nowadays a person can't even turn on the radio without hearing a wobble; Britney Spears and Flo Rida have had hit songs that include a dubstep drop or two.
A few years ago, dubstep made its way into just about any genre it could. A popular hardcore band named Enter Shikari regularly incorporates gratuitous yet mind-bending dubstep into most of their breakdowns to add some flair into the genre. Nowadays a person can't even turn on the radio without hearing a wobble; Britney Spears and Flo Rida have had hit songs that include a dubstep drop or two.
After Skrillex released his chart-topping EP Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites in 2010, dubstep fans all around the world disregarded his fame and popularity and coined his music as brostep. This term seems to classify dubstep artists like Skrillex and even EDM artists like Deadmau5 as mainstream. Justin Janich, 18, remembers the impact that Skrillex had on people around the world. "Remember when everyone was listening to Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites? Like any form of music, it will have its die-hards and the fanboys, but the majority of casual listeners will hunger for something different and I believe that EDM as a genre will continue to evolve and change." Janich compares dubstep to the autotune trend that took the world by storm just a few years ago. "The phase of excessive autotuning hasn't gone away completely, but its prominence has fallen from being featured in whole albums to rare occurrences. The same will hold true for dubstep." It's clear that the epitome of dubstep lies in the hands of fans and haters.
"I wouldn't call it dead, but definitely dying," says Dylan Rodin, 17, when asked about his opinion on dubstep's fate. "It's like all great music; once money becomes the main factor, the creativity goes down the drain." Rodin believes that underground music and small labels produce music that is not necessarily popular because it is the music that they love to make. "Yes," says Trevor Dodson, 18, "[because] the technology required to produce dubstep is nothing but a computer." Dodson expresses his opinion that people want to hear something that can be played by musicians on a stage with instruments, not a dude with a laptop and a mixing table. (Trevor, check out Pendulum's live set along with The Qemists' live set and you will be surprised by their live dubstep and EDM performances!)
Is there anyone who believes that dubstep lives? "No, I do not believe that dubstep is dead," says Michael Franke, 17. "I think that the 'old dubstep' is not really being made much anymore because of the immense change in the scene. Although it does not sound the same as the 'old stuff,' it is still alive." Franke believes that dubstep has taken a new form. "Yes, the original dubstep is disappearing, but the new form is growing and becoming more popular. No matter what, clubs and festivals would not be the same without that hardcore dubstep bass stage." You said it, man!
As Vodicka said, dubstep has reached that post-moment. Wikipedia calls this era's genre "post-dubstep." Although people like myself and others at Tunage don't believe in dubstep being killed, there is no denying that its prime is over. However, as 17-year-old Michael Franke stated, dubstep has taken a new form. It is very alive and completely ever-changing as every genre in the world should be.
Do you agree with the popular opinion or are you on dubstep's side? Voice YOUR opinion in the comments below!
Written by Jordan Mafi
- Tunage
"I wouldn't call it dead, but definitely dying," says Dylan Rodin, 17, when asked about his opinion on dubstep's fate. "It's like all great music; once money becomes the main factor, the creativity goes down the drain." Rodin believes that underground music and small labels produce music that is not necessarily popular because it is the music that they love to make. "Yes," says Trevor Dodson, 18, "[because] the technology required to produce dubstep is nothing but a computer." Dodson expresses his opinion that people want to hear something that can be played by musicians on a stage with instruments, not a dude with a laptop and a mixing table. (Trevor, check out Pendulum's live set along with The Qemists' live set and you will be surprised by their live dubstep and EDM performances!)
Is there anyone who believes that dubstep lives? "No, I do not believe that dubstep is dead," says Michael Franke, 17. "I think that the 'old dubstep' is not really being made much anymore because of the immense change in the scene. Although it does not sound the same as the 'old stuff,' it is still alive." Franke believes that dubstep has taken a new form. "Yes, the original dubstep is disappearing, but the new form is growing and becoming more popular. No matter what, clubs and festivals would not be the same without that hardcore dubstep bass stage." You said it, man!
As Vodicka said, dubstep has reached that post-moment. Wikipedia calls this era's genre "post-dubstep." Although people like myself and others at Tunage don't believe in dubstep being killed, there is no denying that its prime is over. However, as 17-year-old Michael Franke stated, dubstep has taken a new form. It is very alive and completely ever-changing as every genre in the world should be.
Do you agree with the popular opinion or are you on dubstep's side? Voice YOUR opinion in the comments below!
Written by Jordan Mafi
- Tunage
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