SKREAM - International DJ (England)

Skream is the undisputed forerunner of the underground sound known as Dubstep.

For those of you who have never heard of this "genre" don't worry... you have today.

Dubstep cannot be described, only experienced, and I encourage all of you to get out

and around your local dubstep scene (if it exists yet) put on your favourite pair of

sneakers and let the bass move you (literally).

Dubstep rose from the backstreet's and dirty garage sound of South London in the early 2000s.

It has since reverbed it's way across the pond settling into the underground music

scenes of New York and Toronto as smoothly as Grime and Drum n' Bass.

I discovered Dubstep accidentally one night while out in Brixton, London with my

Argentine friend Natalie. We were living in the area and were not too keen on

traveling to central London to go out, so we headed to Mass, a local club which

was once St. Matthews Church. We began climbing the steps of the church making

our way up the never-ending spiral staircase in utter amazement of the bass shaking

the steps as we walked. Once we met the entrance to the club door, we looked

at each other and instantly new it was going to be a fantastic night.

The doors swung open and we were nearly knocked off our feet by the vibration of the bass.

We walked into our first DMZ night at Mass in Brixton. Apparently the place to be for

all Dubstep followers. I scanned the crowd basking in black light, smoke, lasers and

strobe, flailing rhythmically to a beat of their choice. The sea of youths were anxiously

starring at the DJ and MC, hanging on their every beat and awaiting their favourite hooks.

It was incredible. About an hour later someone tapped me on the shoulder and

extended his palm with a little white pill at the centre. I looked at it and looked

at him and politely declined. He shrugged and moved on to the next.

My first impression of Dubstep was absolute shock. Shock at discovering this

incredibly massive scene with followers from hip hop lovers and punk rockers

to hipsters and Rastas. The crowd was so diverse and varied. Guys dressed in Goth,

others in hightops, some in designer dresses others in simple jeans and t-shirts.

My second impression was how amazing it was to find a place where people gathered

solely to enjoy the music, where every single person in the club had their eyes glued

to the DJ and MC up front.

When the Dubstep Anthem Midnight Request Line by Skream was dropped by the DJ

the crowd erupted in spontaneous applause and shout, and their dancing became

even more aggressive and impassioned. It was honestly a sight to behold. We danced

the hours away freely soaking up the atmosphere and music and eventually dripped

out of the church in the early morning as the crowd began to dwindle. I left there a

changed person that morning. I was armed with an experience truly unique, I was on

the cusp of a breaking sound that I had no way of explaining to friends back home,

except to say “You have to experience it”.

I could tell you which tracks to download and which DJ's to check out but it would

not do the genre justice. This music cannot be listened to on your ipod, or on your computer,

it has to be felt with an incredible sound system that will get you shaking in a frenzy.

So I'll list off some places that are hosting dubstep nights and encourage you to do

the legwork to find out what's going on in your city.

Peace-

Maria Daniel

TO

Crosstown hosts Gameover's Grime and Dubstep club nights in Toronto

Thymeless hosts Dubslingers club nights every wednesday in Toronto

Subtrac hosts dubstep events all around Toronto

Independents - Canadian Dubstep Label

Dubstep.FM - check out Toronto Bass w/ Bombaman on Dubstep.fm (It's a fantastic Mix)

OTW

Elgin St. Freehouse hosts Steppin' Up dubstep club nights in Ottawa

VAN/VIC

The Reef hosts Frames' Pacifiic Dubstep nights in Victoria

Pacific Dubstep and Subtone hosts dubstep events around the Vancouver area

Lamplighter Pub hosts Suave Assasins' Signature Sundays in Gastown, Vancovuer

check out Dubstep Radio – Vancouver

MTL

Zoobizarre hosts Dubstep Experiment monthly in Montreal

Check out the MTLGRIME blog for upcoming dubstep events in Montreal

Share and Enjoy!
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