Wonky (music)
Encyclopedia
Wonky is an often debated term used to describe a tendency to use mid-range
unstable synths, complex and unusual time signatures that appeared before summer 2008, among a range of musical genres
, including hip hop
(particularly glitch hop), IDM
, grime
, chiptune
, dubstep
, 90's g-funk
, crunk
, electro, skweee
, breaks
& broken beat
.
released "Get Yuh Own" and "N.A.S.A" on Kindred Spirits/Label Who. Jneiro Jarel
could be considered one of the pioneers of the wonky rhythm aesthetic. A few years later, wonky developed in various places around the world simultaneously. Starkey is one of the main proponents of the wonky sound. The American wonky sound has also been dubbed "street bass".
On the other side of the Atlantic, Glasgow
in Scotland
could be considered one of the birthplaces of the sound - with the Glasgow wonky sound also being dubbed 'aquacrunk', a term originating from Glaswegian wonky musician Rustie
. Glasgow night Numbers, local record shop Rub-a-dub, labels like Wireblock, Stuff and Dress 2 Sweat are associated with the aquacrunk/wonky sound in Glasgow.
and jazz
music and the music itself has organic feeling, while the Glasgow aquacrunk and Bristol purple sound scenes are influenced by the sound of crunk music and instrumental grime/dubstep, respectively. Aquacrunk is also characterised by the slow rhythm, basslines, that are described as 'morphing', and the use of synths.
Range (music)
In music, the range of a musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play. For a singing voice, the equivalent is vocal range...
unstable synths, complex and unusual time signatures that appeared before summer 2008, among a range of musical genres
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
, including hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
(particularly glitch hop), IDM
IDM
IDM may refer to:Science and technology* Identity management, the management of the identity life cycle of an entity* IDM Computer Solutions* Integrated Data Management...
, grime
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
, chiptune
Chiptune
A chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
, dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
, 90's g-funk
G-funk
G-funk, or Gangsta-funk, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that emerged from Westcoast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. G-funk incorporates multi-layered and melodic synthesizers, slow hypnotic grooves, a deep bass, background female vocals, the extensive sampling of P-funk tunes, and a high-pitched...
, crunk
Crunk
Crunk is a music style that originated in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-to-late 1990s and gained mainstream success around 2003–2004. Performers of crunk music are sometimes referred to as crunksters. An archetypal crunk track most frequently uses a drum machine rhythm, heavy bassline, and...
, electro, skweee
Skweee
Skweee is a musical style, with origin in Sweden and Finland. Skweee combines simple synth leads and basslines with funk, r'n'b or soul-like rhythms, overall rendering a stripped-down funky sound. The tracks are mostly entirely instrumental, though there are exceptions. The name Skweee was coined...
, breaks
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,...
& broken beat
Broken beat
Broken beat is an electronic music genre that can be characterized by syncopated rhythm typically in 4/4 meter, with staggered or punctuated snare beats and/or hand claps....
.
Overview
In 2002, American producer Rodney Jerkins preceded wonky with the R&B song “What About Us” , written for American singer-songwriter Brandy. In 1997 Brookly-Based MC Sensational included the first wonky beat. Then, on Feb 1, 2004, American artist Jneiro JarelJneiro Jarel
Jneiro Jarel is a United States-based music producer. For over a decade he has provided listeners with an eclectic mix of sounds ranging from hip hop, to electronica, to electro-pop, to Brazilian funk, to bass music. Noted for his abstract style, he is also known for his beat-making alias Dr...
released "Get Yuh Own" and "N.A.S.A" on Kindred Spirits/Label Who. Jneiro Jarel
Jneiro Jarel
Jneiro Jarel is a United States-based music producer. For over a decade he has provided listeners with an eclectic mix of sounds ranging from hip hop, to electronica, to electro-pop, to Brazilian funk, to bass music. Noted for his abstract style, he is also known for his beat-making alias Dr...
could be considered one of the pioneers of the wonky rhythm aesthetic. A few years later, wonky developed in various places around the world simultaneously. Starkey is one of the main proponents of the wonky sound. The American wonky sound has also been dubbed "street bass".
On the other side of the Atlantic, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
could be considered one of the birthplaces of the sound - with the Glasgow wonky sound also being dubbed 'aquacrunk', a term originating from Glaswegian wonky musician Rustie
Rustie
Rustie is a Scottish electronic musician from Glasgow.Rustie's first singles were released in 2007 and 2008, and the producer signed with Warp Records in 2010 for the release of a digital EP. In October 2011 he released his debut full-length on Warp....
. Glasgow night Numbers, local record shop Rub-a-dub, labels like Wireblock, Stuff and Dress 2 Sweat are associated with the aquacrunk/wonky sound in Glasgow.
Characteristics
Though wonky music is united by the tendency to use unstable mid-range synths and unstable time signatures, every wonky music scene has its own specific traits in sound. The American wonky 'street bass' scene is influenced by broken beatBroken beat
Broken beat is an electronic music genre that can be characterized by syncopated rhythm typically in 4/4 meter, with staggered or punctuated snare beats and/or hand claps....
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music and the music itself has organic feeling, while the Glasgow aquacrunk and Bristol purple sound scenes are influenced by the sound of crunk music and instrumental grime/dubstep, respectively. Aquacrunk is also characterised by the slow rhythm, basslines, that are described as 'morphing', and the use of synths.