Where dubstep comes from
Dubstep began in South London around 2001 to 2005, influenced by UK garage and dub reggae, with producers like Skream, Benga and Digital Mystikz. The louder, more aggressive "brostep" style that followed in the US around 2010 is the version most people know.
What makes a track sound like dubstep
- Half-time snare on beat 3
- Bass as the lead instrument
- Big contrast before the drop
- Heavy use of sound design
Typical structure
Intro, build, drop, breakdown, second build, second drop that varies the bass sounds.
Vocals in dubstep
Dubstep vocals are usually short: a sung line in the build, then chopped or growled fragments in the drop. Ask for "a melodic vocal in the build" so the bass still owns the drop.
Prompting tips
Say "UK dubstep" for deep, dub-influenced and spacious, or "brostep" for aggressive, loud and mid-range heavy. "Riddim" asks for repetitive, minimal wobbles.
Asking for too many melodies crowds the drop. Let the bass carry it and keep the lead for the breakdown.
Prompts to start from
Heavy brostep at 150 BPM, aggressive growl bass, half-time drums, cinematic build and two different drops
Deep UK dubstep at 140 BPM, spacious reverb, wobbling sub bass, dub sirens and sparse snares
Melodic dubstep with an emotional piano breakdown, soaring lead and a huge bass drop, for a gaming montage