Dubstep originated in the UK, rising from the dark and filthy underground music scene to claim mainstream appeal in the UK and now the world. Ever since then some of the most interesting and innovative Dubstep artists have grown out of the UK. Modestep is definitely a product of its environment with amazing and intricate music

One of the main criticisms of electronic music is that it lacks the human element of a live rock show. While spinning decks and live mixing takes undeniable skill, it just isn't as stunning to watch as a live guitar solo. EDM artists know this, and use the many ways to make live shows more fun to watch. Extensive light shows with blasting lasers, LED bars, and strobes make for quite the spectacle. Artists like Gramatik and Pretty Lights have live guitarists or drummers play with them, adding that human element back to the performance. Surprisingly though, there are very few real EDM bands. Pendulum does an incredible job with Drum and Bass, but here we have Modestep for the dubstep/complextro element.

While no full album has been released yet, the band has told us that they are in the process of writing one. Hopefully we'll see it soon! Modestep also runs a fantastic radio show every Sunday from 9-10pm UK time (thats 4-5pm for Eastern US time). Focus is on the local grime scene including some of the newest and best Dubstep. Check it out!
Radio Show: http://www.modestep.co.uk/live/

So something came up on my radar recently that I think is well worth sharing. An amazingly long list of artists including DJs, bands and singers have come together in this one project called RE:GENERATION. The idea is that each DJ pairs up with a musician from a genre completely separate from EDM, and they come together to make music. What a beautiful concept! Check out the preview below:

DJ Premier, Nas, and the Berklee School of Music Orchestra (Classical)

Pretty Lights, Leann Rimes and Ralph Stanley (Country)

Crystal Method, Martha Reeves (R&B)

Skrillex, The Doors (Rock)

Mark Ronson, Dap Kings, and Trombone Shorty (Jazz)

While this is very exciting, it is kind of strange. This strikes me as odd because the project is produced and organized by the Grammys. Think about that for a second. EDM has gotten so mainstream and accepted by the public that it has caught the attention of the Grammys. They're not dismissing EDM as something that only nerds and Europeans listen to, they're representing it as a genre with true depth and potential. This is very exciting for people like me who have been listening to EDM way before it became popular. We just need to be careful to not turn into hipsters!

Look forward to new posts about upcoming October releases and as always, happy listening!