Darkstep
Encyclopedia
Darkstep is a subgenre of drum and bass
that fuses
elements of darkcore with uptempo breakbeat
s and ambient noises (similar to those characteristic of neurofunk
). Darkstep music is typically composed in a chromatic scale
. The amen break
, the firefight break, and other breakbeat samples
feature prominently.
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
that fuses
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
elements of darkcore with uptempo breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
s and ambient noises (similar to those characteristic of neurofunk
Neurofunk
Neurofunk is a subgenre of drum and bass which emerged between 1997 and 1998 in London, England as a progression of techstep. It was further developed by juxtaposed elements of heavier and harder forms of funk with multiple influences ranging from techno, house and jazz, distinguished by...
). Darkstep music is typically composed in a chromatic scale
Chromatic scale
The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone apart. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the half steps are the same size...
. The amen break
Amen break
The Amen break is a brief drum solo performed in 1969 by Gregory Cylvester "G. C." Coleman in the song "Amen, Brother" performed by the 1960s funk and soul outfit The Winstons...
, the firefight break, and other breakbeat samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
feature prominently.
Notable Darkstep record producers
- Black Sun EmpireBlack Sun EmpireBlack Sun Empire is the stage name of a team of Dutch disc jockeys and Drum & Bass music producers Rene Verdult and brothers Milan and Micha Heyboer....
- CalyxCalyx (artist)Calyx is a UK based drum and bass act, specialising in the techstep style. Previously the duo Larry Cons and Chris Rush , it is now a solo project of Larry Cons....
- Concord DawnConcord DawnConcord Dawn, is a New Zealand drum and bass group, active since mid 1999. It consists of Matt Harvey and Evan Short...
- CounterstrikeCounterstrike (drum and bass group)Counterstrike, is a drum and bass producer duo from Cape Town consisting of Justin Scholtemeyer and Eaton Crous. They are considered to be one of the pioneers of the South African drum 'n bass scene...
- DJ HiddenDJ HiddenDJ Hidden is a Dutch Electronic music producer and DJ from Goes. DJ Hidden's sound is known for its hardcore, IDM and breakcore influences.-Biography:...
- EdgeyEdgeyEdgey is an experimental music, industrial and breakcore musical project from New York City. Stephen James Knight is the production mind behind the creations, also denoting a side project, for this moniker...
- Enduser
- Evol IntentEvol IntentEvol Intent is a hardstep drum and bass group formed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. in 2000. The group is composed of The Enemy , Knick , and Gigantor ....
- LimewaxLimewaxLimewax is a drum and bass producer and DJ from Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine, whose style tends towards the harsher sounds of hardstep and darkstep. However he is most recognisable as a Skullstep artist....
- NanotekNanotekNanotek, born Mark Christiansen, is an international Drum & Bass and Dubstep producer and DJ from Wellington, New Zealand. Nanotek gained international recognition in 2007 with releases on darkstep labels such as Freak Recordings and Obscene Recordings...
- NoisiaNoisiaNoisia, stylized as NOISIΛ , is a Dutch Electronic music trio consisting of members Nik Roos, Martijn van Sonderen and Thijs de Vlieger from Groningen, The Netherlands. They now produce a wide variety of music including drum and bass, dubstep, breakbeat and house music...
- The Panacea
- PhacePhacePhace is the alias used by Florian Harres, a drum and bass producer and label owner from Germany. With long time friend Michael Braeuninger, more widely known as Misanthrop, they both teamed up to create the record label, Neosignal, in 2008...
- TeebeeTeebeeTeebee or DJ Teebee is a Norwegian DJ and producer of drum and bass. Real name Torgeir Byrknes, Teebee began DJing in 1990 and released his first record in 1996...
- SPLSPL-Sporting Leagues:*Scottish Premier League, or Clydesdale Bank Premier League, the highest professional football league in Scotland*Saudi Premier League, or Zain Saudi Premier League, the highest professional football league in Saudi Arabia...
- Spor
- TypecellTypecellTypecell is a producer of drum and bass / dubstep music and D.J. presently residing in Germany.-Career:He started his career around 1992, performing under the alias DJ P.M.C. In 1996, he started producing...
See also
- BreakcoreBreakcoreBreakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums , break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a...
- Filthcast
- Techstep
- Skullstep
- List of jungle and drum'n'bass artists