Hardstyle

Infobox Music genre
name=Hardstyle
bgcolor=silver
color=#000000
stylistic_origins=Hard Trance, Gabber
cultural_origins= Early 2000s Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia & UK
instruments= Various software synthesizers, Sequencer, Sampler, Filtered
popularity= Formative, huge following in Netherlands & among Melbourne shuffle dancers in Malaysia, & Australia, particularly Melbourne
derivatives=
subgenrelist=:Category:PAGENAME
subgenres=
regional_scenes=
other_topics=

Hardstyle, in the United Kingdom sometimes referred to as hardbass, is a genre of electronic dance music that is closely related to hardcore and hard trance. Being a fusion of both hard trance and hardcore (also known as gabber), hardstyle is grouped in the hard dance section. Its sound is usually characterized by a four to the floor kick beat and an off-beat gabber style bass line, hard trance like synth stabs and sweeps and miscellaneous samples. Tracks often feature excessive reverb and/or other effects, breakdowns and occasionally small breakbeat sections. The average tempo is between 130 and 150 bpm, around 30 slower than nu style gabber.

Type of hardstyles

Hardstyle scenes can be found in various countries [http://www.globalhardstyle.com/forum/events.php] around the world. As with many formative sub-genres, the hardstyle category is itself split into several subcategories, such as:

*Dutch Hardstyle (Also known as early hardstyle)- Typically harder and darker than other hardstyle, mostly known for its hard off-beat reverse bass line, wicked kicks, dirty vocals and soft synths.
*Italian Hardstyle - More serious, usually has a bigger melodic breakdown and typically 'gangsta'-themed lyrics. The synths are much harder than dutch hardstyle.
*Nu-Style - Usually a softer bass line than normal hardstyle, mashed out with samples and lower use of reverse bass and/or reverb. The kick is often filtered and distorted to create a grungey overdriven bass drive. Melodies are emphasized, and put more into focus. In this type of Hardstyle, it seems Dutch Hardstyle is more Hard-dance influenced using more flat kicks and more commercial vocals. Italian Nu-Style seems to follow the typical Hardstyle more, still using reversed basslines and extremely rough synth.

One major event group in the hardstyle scene is Q-dance, arranging massive events in football stadiums, sports grounds, public arenas and airports.

Popularity

Hardstyle is popular Europe wide, especially in its home lands such as the Netherlands and Germany, but its also popular among countries were the "hard dance" scene is big - such as Russia the U.K, Italy etc. Hardstyle is also hugely popular in Australia and some Asian countries such as Malaysia because of the "Melbourne Shuffle" In Australia hardstyle was first seen in underground clubs, and has started to spread to Sydney and Brisbane and even overseas to Malaysia over the past seven years. Norway is also getting with the flow!

Notable events

*Sensation Black
*Q-dance events
*Qlimax
*DefQon 1
*InQontrol
*Q-Base
*X-Qlusive
*Loudness (event)
*Euphoria
*Hard Bass
*Decibel Festival
*Utopia

Notable artists

*Dj Zany
*Lady Dana
*Technoboy
*Headhunterz
*The Prophet
*Brennan Heart
*Tatanka
*Duro
*Donkey Rollers
*D-Block & S-Te-Fan
*Josh & Wesz
*Luna
*Noisecontrollers
*Southstylers
*Blutonium Boy
*DJ Isaac
*Showtek
*Blademasterz
*David Sonar
*Builder
*Abject
*Cosmic Gate
*Masif
*Audio Damage
*Dj Zaga
*Bass Modulators
*Frontliner
*Hardstyle Masterz

Record labels

* Fusion Records
* Q-dance
* Scantraxx
* Ipnotika
* Superplastik
* SAIFAM Group
* Activa Records
* StraightOn Records

ee also

* Hard dance
* Sensation Black

References