sign in sign up
<<
Home , Basic Channel, Bass music, Datsik (musician), Digital Mystikz, DJ Fresh, DJ Zinc

DEADROP MAGAZINE This is the first edition of deadrop magazine. We will be covering the lat- est news around the dub- step and genres. We will interview upcoming producers as well as producers who already have a big name in the music world. A subscription to deadrop magazine keeps you up to date around everything you want to know about your favourite music gen- res. I hope you enjoy reading this magazine as much as I did creating it.

Job Poels

2 3 IN THIS EDITION

Interview Rameses B 6

Deadrops Spotlight - Liquicity 10

A new day, a new subgenre 16

Upcoming events 24

Deadrops recomendations - “” 26

4 first of all, How did you come up with the name Rameses B? RAMESES B It’s actually my real name - Rameses Booth Okay cool. For how long have you been producing music? And when was the mo- ment you decided that your songs were good enough to post online? I started in 2003 when a friend of mine gave me a ps2 game called Music Generator 2. I was instantly hooked! I was never off it and just loved putting sounds together. Of course for the first few years it was pretty much experimen- tation with sounds and learning by listening to other pieces of music.

But I decided to carry it on as my future pro- fession so I applied for Leeds College of music, passed with 3 distinctions and then went to study creative sound and music technology at university. While the music I made before university was still kind of sketchy it’s when I started uni in 2009 that I took a new musical direction and decided to create and facebook accounts to push my music out there.

I had my old music up before this, but I was posting up my newer stuff on youtube in 2010 and that’s when I got in touch with mrsui- cidesheep to promote my original ‘New Hori- zons’, then it progressed from there

Okay awesome! As a producer I really wonder what plugins and programs you use for producing music. Could you tell us about the one’s you use? Obviously I can’t give away all my secrets but the ones I use mainly in my tracks are Massive, Sylenth1 and Nexus along with a great sampler called Kontakt. These are the ones I use to make my synths basses and leads, layer them up.

I understand. Another question, what is your view on mainstream electronic mu- sic? Does it inspire you? And do you He is one of the big names within his gen- the mainstream music will get influenced res. He doesn’t create the typical ‘dirty’ by genres like drum and bass and dub- step? nor does he creat cliche drum All music inspires me. I think it’s important to and bass. And that is what makes him a understand that mainstream music is just de- great producer. Ofcourse I was really glad signed to connect with a much larger audience when he agreed to do an online interview. but the way electronic musicians like 6 7 DJ Fresh and etc manage to fit their own style to a larger population than many underground artists I think is a great achieve- ment and it’s worth taking inspiration from. At the same time I’m sure they take influence from the drum and bass scene and more under- ground cultures I mean that’s how it all started out so it’s always great to go back to your roots and implement it into your new style of produc- tion.

Okay that’s cool. Another thing that really interests me is the way you got the recog- nition for your music. You didn’t have any managers that promoted you with media like tv etc. Did you choose on purpose not to have any of this ‘old-fashioned’ promo- tion. Or was it something that happened ocasionally? I used to apply to a lot of labels, emails, post etc but I never had any luck with them so I just decided to do things myself and see how far I got. Luckily I made the right choice about being independent because now I can sign different songs to different labels so there’s a lot of free- dom. I think the internet is a great tool and I have it to thank for my progress over the years since it brings labels, artists and listeners to- gether through sharing and social networking.

Cool One final question, can you tell the readers of the magazine about your up- coming plans in music? At the moment I plan to release a few singles, start work on an EP with heavier music for the dance floor and then work on an after that. I will also look into selling some merchan- dise such as T-shirts and hoodies. There’s a lot going on at the moment and a lot of work to do if I want to achieve those goals and reach higher prospects. I know where I want to go and I can get there if I keep at it, with the help of so much support from listeners such as yourself it makes it a whole lot more enjoyable

So thank you and good luck with your school assignment, you better get a high mark Rameses.

Thanks for the interview!

Interview by Job Poels 88 9 Deadrops spotlight

iquicity promote Liquid, Ambi- Lent & Drum and Bass. They are a unique channel within the drum and bass world. This is because they have an constant unique style of drum and bass songs. And this is not just it. When the song plays, they always have incredible back- grounds that match the song you’re listening to. Everybody keeps won- dering where they get these pic- tures, but let’s just state that this is liquicity’s secret. The picture you see in the background is one of these incredible pictures. When you see this picture you can im- agine a liquid drum and bass track would totally match the atmos- phere of this picture.

10 11 iquicity is the channel where you need to from the Amens and 808’s and brought Lbe if you want to be updated of the best new sounds to the drum and bass scene. latest ambient and atmospheric drum and On the 1 October 2007 brought bass . The main name for the genre they liquid back to the mainstream with his produce is: Liquid Funk. Liquid funk (alterna- album, Tough Guys Don’t Dance, releasing tively, liquid drum & bass, liquid DNB or liq- tracks such as If We Ever (Featuring Diane uid) is a sub-genre of drum and bass. While Charlemagne) which made Radio 1’s Dance it uses similar and bar layouts to singles chart, Kiss Kiss bang Bang and Tread other styles, it contains fewer bar-oriented Softly. This ended up “crossing over” and be- samples and more instrumental layers (both coming one of the most listened to Drum and synthesized and natural), harmonies, and Bass album’s of 2007. The success of liquid ambience, producing a calmer atmosphere funk never left the mainstream, and was fol- directed at both home listeners and night- lowed by Mistabishi’s ‘No Matter What’ be- club audiences. 2000, Fabio began champi- ing played on daytime radio, Chase & Sta- oning a new form of drum and bass he called tus’ “More Than Alot”’ album charting and “liquid funk”, with a compilation release of the Brookes Brother’s single ‘Tear You Down’ the same name on his Cre- hitting Dance charts. ative Source label. This “Liquicity has one was characterised by in- What makes liquicity fluences from and of the better com- special? , and wide- You probably wonder spread use of vocals. Al- munities” what makes liquicity spe- though slow to catch on at cial. There are thousands first, the style grew massively in popularity channels on youtube that promote liquid around 2003–2004, and by 2005 it was es- funk, and still liquicity is the biggest one tablished as one of the biggest-selling sub- in its genre. The first thing is its outstand- genres in drum and bass, with labels like ing quality. As the community states: They Good Looking Records (although this label never fail to amaze you with their songs. is strongly cross-genred with atmospher- And there is the community around liquicity. ic drum and bass), , Liq- It’s one of the better communities within uid V, Shogun Limited, Fokuz Recordings, youtube. Everyone seems to get along and and artists like Calibre, Netsky, High Con- share the same opinion. You may think trast, , Elektricity, Nu:Tone, this is a small thing, but a community that and Solid State among its main proponents. comforts the listener makes him visit the liquid funk is very similar to intelligent drum channel more often. Also this makes room and bass, but has subtle differences.Liquid for sharing opinions without insulting eacho- funk has stronger influences from soca, lat- ther. Believe it or not, this is a rare thing on in, disco, , and funk music, while IDB the internet these days. Third, the pictures. creates a calmer yet more synthetic sound, This may seem like a small thing, but this using smooth synth lines and samples in is not the case with liquicity. The pictures place of the organic element achieved by match the music just perfect. You hear a use of real instruments. A second wave of relaxing intro while you see a nice hill with liquid music started from 2006–09 with a sunlight shining over it. Then when the drop rise of artists such as Eveson, Alix Perez, kicks in, it starts to rain softly. It resembles Zero T, Lenzman and Spectrasoul to name the emotion of the music just perfect. And a few. Like the Liquid preceding it, it came this is one of the many examples I can give. predominately from the UK. Although more Every song is just as interesting to watch as of it was coming internationally. These in- to listen to. novative artists tended to steer away Article by Job Poels 1212 13 14 A new day

A new subgenre

16 ubstep has become quite diverse, spread- tempo of around 140bpm, is dark, bass Ding beyond its origin as a UK Garage off- heavy, and most importantly focuses on MC shoot, but still focused on being being bass- vocals. and are the best heavy, syncopated in a known artists of the genre, and many pro- tempo of 138-142 bpm. That said, there are ducers also make Dubstep and 2step music. a few subgenres and historically related gen- /UK Funky - Essentially contemporary res that do have established usage among es- developments of UK garage. Bassline is cen- tablished musicians, labels, and journalists, tered around Sheffield, UK. Both are around130- though in the end there is a lot of crossover. 135bpm and tend to have 2step and 4/4 dance rhythms, vocal choruses, and a variety of per- 2step - The genre of Garage that served as pro- cussive elements borrowed from other genres. to-dubstep, through influential productions by and , among Other influential genres: others. Unlike dubstep, it focuses on uptempo Dub - The genre of reggae developed in the pacing and heavy use of syncopated . 70s that remixed and re-edited existing tracks It is often noted that works by are more into ore instrumental songs focusing on per- arguably more 2step than “typical” Dubstep, cussion, bass, and sound effects. Echo, reverb, as his music references older Garage music. and other studio effects formed an essential Half-step - Lesser used descriptive term for re- part of the process, as does the concept of son- leases that focus almost entirely around slow- ic “space.” Dubstep has often referenced dub er 70bpm rhythms instead of 140bpm. Certain and reggae (the work of Digital Mystikz and early works by FWD>> DJ’s , , The Bug for ) but is not directly relat- , and Digital Mystikz can be described ed in terms of development, just musically sim- as such. These works especially rely on sub- ilar. Prominent London DJ Youngsta, of Rinse bass as a driving force, but contain even FM, has noted that use of reggae and dub con- sparser mid-range melodies, triplet rhythms, tributed to the term dubstep being adopted by and minor-key notes to create more “dread.” those at the label Tempa as well as at Ammu- , , , and nition Promotions, who ran the club Forward>> “Post-Dubstep” - These are terms that have Dub - Techno music that shared the emerged in wake of the style diversification of techniques of , emerged in the 90s dubstep as well as it’s growth in popularity as in with works by , Pole, an electronic style (see Brostep and . Like Dub, it has been influential below). Future Bass has become a self-descrip- but not directly related. Techno artists like 2562 tion used by notable dubstep artists, for exam- and Martyn both began producing dubstep in the ple the name of a compilation by Soul Jazz Re- mid-2000s and infused Techno traits into Dub- cords. Bass Music is a common “catch-all” term step, but they are not producers. used by many fans and producers. Post-Dubstep - A broad term to describe vari- has been used by many journalists to describe ous electronic productions that use off-kilter newer diverse productions evoking other gen- rhythms, odd time signatures, and detuned/ res (house, dnb/jungle, 2step, r&b, early 90s pitchbent syhtms and melodies, usually in hip- ), especially those closer to 130bpm tempo, hop tempos. Brainfeeder (LA) is a notable such as the work of , Joy Orbinson, collective that has been associated with the FaltyDL, , and many other artists sound. Some producers like and Joker since 2010. Future Garage has largely replaced have made Dubstep productions described as Post-Dubstep when referring to these artists. “wonky” but it is not a subgenre of Dubstep. Juke/ - variants of Ghettohouse music Closely related genres: of Chicago, created for local dance styles. Tem- UK Garage - The ancestor of 2step, Dub- po is around 150-160bpm and utilizes odd time step, Grime, Bassline, and UK Funky. Dance signatures and triplet beats. Has had influence music that emerged in the UK in the ear- on some Dubstep releases including Addison ly 90s, inspired by House music in the US. Groove’s “Footcrab,” which retain the dubstep Grime - Emerged in early 2000s and coincid- bpm range but utilize juke/footwork rhythms. ing very much with Dubstep and sharing its 1818 19 are merely one-off tongue-in-cheek descriptions in this format: verb+”-step” and at most can describe one artist or release, and therefore aren’t genres at all. Example: gorestep (oft to describe Brogore’s productions.) Emostep, drill- step, blah blah. Mostly youtube tags anyway.

The most popular joke “subgenre” is Brostep, (or Bruvstep in the UK) a disparaging term aimed at the glitchy, noisy, and “dirty” sound- ing dubstep that focuses especially on bass drops and production more akin to EDM and Electro-house. Many point to works by veteran producers Coki and as the origin, though the latter has come out vocally as against the “subgenre.” , Skrillex, Nero, DZ, and a plethora of others (I won’t try listing them all) have been labeled as such. Some fans have cheekily adopted the term and likewise oth- er Dubstep fans have begun calling Dubstep by other names (Future Bass, Bass Music, Post-Dubstep). Critics that typical Brostep tracks share nothing more than the tempo and “drop” formula of Dubstep, lack heavy sub-bass and bass, “Dub” elements, syncopation, and instead focus on mid-range leads and 4/4 beat patterns. Ironically, “Brostep” has become the most popular form of Dubstep recently.

Article by Joshua Bradshaw

20 21 rum and Bass is a wild, unpredictable beast. mentation to accompany the electronic percus- DJust when you think it is dead and gone, it sive undertone. rises up again with more subgenres attacking you from all sides with obscure melodic inter- pretations on top of the driving percussion. 5. / There is no stopping the DnB Hydra. Artists of note: , , Let’s take a look at 7 of its most prominent sub-genre heads… A harder, funkier take on DnB, this head brings together heavily synthesized percussion with positively demented basslines – This often 1. / Darkstep overlaps with the Darkstep sub-genre to bring a crushing, industrial overtone to the drops and a Artists of note: Noisia, Spor driving backbeat to the builds.

Between 150bpm and 160bpm lies the Dark- core, or Darkstep head – this one is a terrifying 6. sight, using samples from old horror films and chromatic scales to create a chilling, dark at- Artists of note: Venetian Snares, Bong-Ra mosphere. Brain-meltingly high BPMs have pushed this head over the edge into positive insanity. 2. Drumstep Breakcore mashes practically anything together, from complex classical to heavy metal, all over Artists of note: Crissy Criss, Taxman some of the most complex and intricate drum programming imaginable. An unpredictable offshoot of the DnB Hydra is Drumstep, with beats around 170-180bpm, but generally dabbling in half-time percussion, mak- 7. Jump Up ing it seem like dubstep at times! Artists of note: DJ Zinc, Hazard

3. Jazzstep / Intelligent Drum and Bass A light hearted head that is probably too busy bopping away to cause any real damage, at Artists of note: LTJ Bukem, Photek least intentionally, Jump Up is a simple genre with big, clean basslines and hip hop samples to This head clearly thinks it is musically above give it that catchy edge. the others with a name inferring that the other sub-genres aren’t capable of matching its IQ. Categories: Genre Definitions, Top Tips Count- Obscure chord progressions and Jazz, Lounge down and Ambient influences bring together a mel- lower, but still dancefloor-friendly take on the Drum and Bass vibe.

4. Liquid / Liquid Funk

Artists of note: High Contrast, Mistabishi, Chase and Status

This head will often be found in a chilled-out daze; Liquid DnB is a much more chilled take on the genre, with heavy usage of authentic instru- 22 23 UPCOMING EVENTS

HALLOWEEN: TEMPLE OF MADNESS ing. It’ll make you dance gauranteed. But I This is one of those parties where you can go almost forgot the best thing: It’s free! The only completely crazy. They will provide the most costs you will have are traveling to “Doornroos- raw drum and bass you can find. No melo- je” in Nijmegen and the beer. dies, no singing, just pure madness. It will take place in the Willemeen in Arnhem. DJ’s like 8 november Destruction Industry will spice things up a bit with some heavy uk hardcore. Hellcreator is NETSKY @ MELKWEG AMSTERDAM the one who organises the party, so don’t wor- You all probably already know him for the great ry, the drum and bass will be of high quality. things he added to the drum and bass genre. For the people who don’t know him, a quick recap: Net- 27 oktober sky produces music of the liquid funk style – drum and bass music with many instrumental layers and SUBCITY frequent vocals. A large musical influence to him Subcity will take place at the Willemeen in arn- came from High Contrast’s ‘Gold Digger’ . hem. Join again into an exploration of the lower In late 2009, Netsky signed a recording con- frequencies with none less than JACK SPARROW tract with Hospital Records, the same la- (UK - , Deep Medi Musik, and more) and bel as other well known liquid artists such his very unique take on the dubstep sound. With a as High Contrast and . host of releases, featurings and the collab known In less than 12 months, the Belgian musician as ‘Author’, we just could not resist inviting him! secured releases with record labels including New on the roster this time is also AGENT Liq-Weed Ganja, Spearhead and Talkin Beatz. ORANGE (NL). We are looking forward to He also won a nomination as “Best Upcoming his take on the deeper sounds, as he can Producer” within just months of his first release go anyplace between DnB and UK Bass. at the Drum + Bass Arena Awards. So every For some added spice, we have once again in- drum and bass fan that is around Amsterdam vited producer and DJ THIRTEEN (NL) after the 21th of november: You know what to do. his stunning performance last time. Check out his work @ http://soundcloud.com/thirteennl 17 november But its not all going to be deep and dark - res- ident POELECK will allow you to feast on the LBC PRESENTS CHAMPION SOUND FT. heavy and gritty servings. Last but not least, , MADUK & DISONATA GEMINEYE is present as well with a brand new At LVC in Leiden there is another awesome drum set, venturing into the front lines of experimental and bass party planned. It’s gonna be dirty drum bass music. All in all, a night not to be missed! and bass, more wob wob than melodie produced by dj’s like Loadstar, Maduk & Disonata. But there’s 3 november more awesomeness: besides drum and bass there will be dubstep, drumstep and . TACTICS ft. G-Bee & The Nose Prepare for a layer of pure flith. Where are you Liquid drum and bass! A genre that is becoming waiting for? Bassline madness is waiting for you more and more popular the last few months. More melodie than wub wub. But still it’s mov- 17 november 24 25 2011 was a great year for Skrillex. No only did the electronic producer receive 5 Grammy nom- inations (one for best new artist) but this 23 year old musician has won over the hearts and minds of a new generation as well as enrag- Deadrops ing the previous. Few musicians can claim the titles “highly revered” and “violently despised” in the same breathe. Skrillex’s work in dubstep is similar to the work of Spanish conquistadors — whereby a larger force invades a smaller yet flourishing civilization appropriating styles and exploiting aspects for commercial gain. Prepare Recomendations yourself for the McDonalds on top of a Mayan temple.

All joking aside, the current work of Skrillex, along with other producers (Rusko, Liquid Stranger, ) is just one popular evolu- tion of a constantly evolving style. Dustep was songs center around an unearthly bass drop a mid 00’s UK phenomenon which combined along with mechanical sounds similar to De- various electronic styles into a dark hybrid cepticons engaged in rough yet consensual genre. The current evolution (often referred anal sex. What is new on the Bangarang EP is to as “Brostep” and also not really dubstep by a desire to expand with growing outside contri- design) has been criticized for transforming a butions — including spots from British electro once heady (and underground) genre hinged indie folk star , based on texture and nuance into a one dimension- and members from a no name 60’s pop al frat party fueled by Four Loko and chest rock group . I honesty forgot what bumps. From basements to arenas, Dubstep planet I lived on when seeing the title “Skrillex has come a long way and for good or ill, Featuring the Doors,” but when processed, I Skrillex’s mark on dubstep will be profound. assumed it was a fucked up yet “fun as hell” Whether or not that mark will resemble a nu- world. When analyzed from a purely numerical clear detonation is of course for the historians standpoint, then the Bangarang EP maximizes to decide. accessibility and positions itself to be genet- ically superior to its predecessors. It is more Skrillex follows a string of short EPs with, once varied than previous releases and expands its again, another EP. The Bangarang EP is 7 new palette outside Skrillex’s conventions. There is songs with a rap album guest list. This scenic of course discussion related to soul and spirit route to a full length is often optioned by elec- — but then again what is the point? tronic music artists who feel the need to dodge album responsibilities (Kavinsky, I’m looking Article by Kaptain Carbon at you). Well to be fair, it is not like anyone is really paying attention. One of Skrillex’s Gram- my nominations was for the 2010 6 song / 3 remix EP Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites. I doubt anyone at the Grammys even listens to music let alone the nominations. But what the fuck ever. This is a Skrillex album and for all intents and purposes, it does exactly what it is designed to do.

Skrillex continues his collegiate tradition of songcraft by writing a 2 minute section and having it repeat in a four minute song. The 26 27 28