Skream - Midnight Request Line
Over the last couple of years, dubstep has had a massive surge in popularity, with at least one dedicated night taking place in the vast majority of the UK’s urban centres every month. In some cities, such as London, Bristol and Birmingham, it’s hard to avoid dark and heavy basslines if you’re out at the weekend.
This is most definitely dubstep’s time, then, but for those who are still unfamiliar with the genre’s sound (if not its name), we’ve put together this essential playlist of must-listen tracks. Once you’re heard this lot, you’ll have a much better idea of what dubstep is all about, and you might just be inspired to fire up your DAW and contribute to the genre yourself.
Let’s start with Skream’s Midnight Request Line: widely recognised as the first major crossover dubstep hit, this track helped launch the scarily young and prolific producer who’s also known as Olly Jones.
La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey Mix)
With a number of daytime plays from Radio 1, this has to be considered the best-known dubstep track ever.
In For The Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Mix) on YouTube
La Roux - I'm Not Your Toy (Nero Remix)
La Roux’s Elly Jackson is almost the standard choice for vocal dubstep remixes, and this one is top notch.
I’m Not Your Toy (Nero Remix) on YouTube
Mistabishi - Printer Jam (Barbarix Remix)
There are plenty of memorable dubstep remixes out there, but this one is particularly noteworthy, with the huge bassline effortlessly switching into Mistabishi’s crazy cut-up printer samples.
Printer Jam (Barbarix Remix) on YouTube
16Bit - Chainsaw Calligraphy
About as mental as a dubstep track can possibly be – this 16Bit number takes the genre’s reputation for chainsaw-like basslines to its logical conclusion.
Chainsaw Calligraphy on YouTube
Zomby - Gloop
Another Hyperdub artist, Zomby harks back to the videogame soundtracks of the ‘80s with his use of arpeggiated synth sounds in this subtly layered dubstep tune.
For a step-by-step guide to producing dubstep, check out the latest Computer Music Special, Make Dance Music (CMS42), which is on sale now.
Liked this? Now read: A-Z of dubstep
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