Drum & Bass
Drum & Bass is an electronic music genre defined by its fast, intricate breakbeat rhythms, often utilizing a 2-step rhythmic structure, and propelled by heavy, low-frequency basslines, with melodies typically minimal and emphasizing percussion. Emerging in the UK, particularly Bristol, around 1996-1997, it evolved from jungle music, with the term "drum and bass" itself appearing earlier to describe breakbeat hardcore. Iconic artists like Goldie, Roni Size, and Andy C are central to its development. Its high-energy sound and deep bass have profoundly impacted electronic dance music culture.
More about Drum & Bass
Drum & Bass (D&B) has its roots in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, evolving directly from hardcore rave and jungle music, themselves drawn from the Jamaican sound system scene. The genre crystallised around 1993-1994 in Bristol and London, when producers such as Goldie, LTJ Bukem, and Shy FX began stripping down and radically accelerating breakbeats. The decisive break from jungle came through replacing reggae-dancehall samples with a more urban and cinematic aesthetic. A child genre of Electronic music, D&B has since spawned an extremely prolific family of subgenres.
Musically, Drum & Bass is defined by very fast breakbeats, typically between 160 and 180 BPM, and deep, rolling bass lines that contrast strikingly with this speed. The 2-step rhythmic structure — featuring an irregular, syncopated snare — is the genre's signature. It differs from Techno through the organic nature of its breaks (often sample-based), and from Trance by its rejection of repetitive melody in favour of rhythmic complexity. Dubstep and Jungle are its most iconic sibling subgenres.
Today's D&B scene is among the most dynamic in global electronic music. PENDULUM brought the genre to worldwide audiences with a rock-inflected live approach. Andy C, a true institution, is widely regarded as one of the world's finest vinyl mixing technicians. Sub Focus bridges D&B and mainstream electronic music with polished productions. Chase & Status have written some of the most anthemic D&B tracks of the past two decades.
FestT lists nearly 159 Drum & Bass festivals, from intimate club nights to major summer stages. To explore related sonic worlds, check our Dubstep and Breakbeat pages.