2-step garage
| 2-step garage | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | UK garage Drum and bass R&B |
| Cultural origins | Late 1990s, London, UK |
| Typical instruments | Sequencer - Turntables - Samplers - Keyboards - Drum machines - PC |
| Derivative forms | Dubstep Breakstep Grime |
| Other topics | |
| Dark 2-step | |
2-step garage, or simply 2-step, is a typically British style of modern electronic dance music, and a relatively popular subgenre of UK garage [1].
Characteristics
One of the primary characteristics of the 2-step sound - and the source of the term[citation needed] - is that the rhythm lacks the kick drum pattern found in house, techno or many other styles of electronic music with a regular four-to-the-floor beat. A typical 2-step drum pattern features a kick on the first and third beat, often with syncopation or shuffle applied to other elements of the percussion, creating a "lurching, falter-funk feel"[1], and resulting in a beat distinctly different from that Influence from hip hop[2] and drum and bass, particularly the hardstep subgenre[3], has been noted by other authors.
Instrumentation usually includes keyboards, synthesizers, and drum machines. There are occasional additions, such as guitar, piano and horns.[citation needed] The primarily synth-based basslines used in 2-step are similar to those in the style's progenitors such as UK garage and before that, drum and bass and jungle, but influences from funk and soul music can also be heard.[1]
Vocals in 2-step garage are usually female, and similar to the style prevalent in house music or contemporary R&B.[2][4] Some 2-step producers also process and cut up elements of an acapella vocal and use it as an element of the track.[1] Much like other genres derived from UK garage, MCs are often featured, particularly in a live context, with a vocal style reminiscent of oldschool jungle[1]
History
2-step rose to prominence as a genre on jungle-based pirate radio stations in London as an evolution of sounds such as speed garage, with garage shows often airing at "mellow moments in the weekend" such as Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. DJs would mix UK garage productions with those of US house and garage producers such as Masters at Work and Todd Edwards, pitching up the imports to around 130bpm to aid beatmatching. DJs favoured the instrumental (or 'dub') versions of these tracks, because it was possible to play these versions faster without them sounding odd.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f Reynolds, Simon. "Adult hardcore". The Wire (182).
A transcription of this article is available here as a PDF file. - ^ a b "The Techno Primer: The Essential Reference for Loop-based Music Styles". 2002. ISBN 0634017888.
- ^ "Popular Music Genres: An Introduction. 2004. ISBN 0748617450.
- ^ "Rave Culture and Religion". 2004. ISBN 0415314496.