A while ago I heard someone say: “Rotterdam is the Dutch dubstep capital.” And I would have to confirm that.
A while ago I heard someone say: “Rotterdam is the Dutch dubstep capital.” And I would have to confirm that.
Pic (at Perron) courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/BoydDercksenPhotography
I remember when I was first introduced to dubstep and drum n bass about four years ago. We were in a little bar in central Rotterdam and while I was dancing a friend of mine yelled to me. “Well! This is dubstep! What do you think?” There were maybe 40 people in the whole bar, maybe even less. But there was a good vibe between all the people inside. Back then when I told others about dubstep almost no one knew what I meant, but these days I hardly hear anyone that has not heard of it. It is ubiquitous.
A while ago I heard someone say: “Rotterdam is the Dutch dubstep capital.” And I would have to confirm that. Every weekend there is a dubstep or drum n bass party somewhere in Rotterdam. And some of the biggest of these parties in Holland, such as SubwayXL or PRSPCT XL, are always held in the city. For instance, there is an old grain silo transformed into a party venue, called Maassilo, (you can still see the old machines in there), where over 600 people will dance and jump like mad when there is a new Subway XL or PRSPCT XL night. Another good place for a party is Perron. This place looks like an old basement where someone has just installed a few party lights and a PA, and then invited all his friends along.
Dubstep and drum n bass feels “big” and “small” at the same time, and that is what I love about the whole thing. Although it has grown very popular here it has not lost its simple underground vibe. It still feels like a party where everyone knows each other and it is hosted by the same guys you are dancing with on the floor. In this scene people just look to let their frustrations out through dance. They do not give a damn how they look, or who they want to impress. No one is looking for a fight with anybody; this doesn’t have any of the attitudes you can run up against elsewhere in this city: they are there to have a good time.
This is a large genre, and it feels like the music is getting more new sub genres every week. The sound is very energetic and raw, but also very melodic, (that is what makes it so enjoyable, if you want my personal opinion), and it seems it’s a fluid genre too: DJs make up new sounds that surprise me each and every time. People do seem to be choosy in liking one subgenre and not another at present, but then that’s how I suppose it reaches so many different people. Besides that, this music has humour in it: just listen to the samples DJs use in their music. Cookie monsta used “Cookieeeeee” right before he drops the bass, Skrillex with Oh My God! and mr Delirous used “Hah, Gaaaayy’” from the TV series Community.
Anyway, as I said, it is not just the music but it is also the people that make it so wonderful. They make it happen in Rotterdam.