What is Liquid Drum and Bass
Liquid drum & bass is a subgenre of drum & bass that focuses on musicality and melody. It is influenced by other genres such as jazz, trance and ambient music. Liquid drum & bass is also known as liquid DnB.
The name “liquid” comes from the soft and flowing nature of the music. Liquid drum & bass is softer than other drum & bass styles and is often characterized by a slower tempo and a more relaxed beat.
One of the key elements that make up Liquid Drum & Bass is the focus on evolving melodies. Each track features a constantly evolving melody that takes the listener on a musical journey, rather than simply providing a beat to dance to.
If you’re looking for something different from the typical drum’n’bass sound, don’t hesitate to check out Liquid Drum’n’Bass’ tracks.
Why is it Called Liquid Drum and Bass
The name Liquid comes from the soft and flowing nature of the music. Liquid drum & bass feels smoother than other drum & bass styles, often has a slower tempo and a more relaxed beat.
One of the key elements that make up Liquid Drum & Bass is the focus on evolving melodies. Each track features a constantly evolving melody that takes the listener on a musical journey, rather than simply providing a beat to dance to.
This evolving melody and relaxed style set it apart from other drum’n’bass tracks and are the reason why it is called “fluid”. For those who want to move to the rhythm of a melodic and smooth beat, Liquid Drum & Bass is the perfect genre.
Who Started Liquid Drum and Bass?
Liquid Drum & Bass was created during the first wave of popularity of Drum & Bass in the 1990s.
At that time, producers experimented with different sounds and styles, and several subgenres emerged. Liquid drum’n’bass, which combines the smooth, flowing sounds of ambient music with the steady beat and heavy bass lines of drum’n’bass, was one of these early subgenres.
It is said that drum’n’bass champion Fabio (DJ), along with Sarah Sandy, experimented with what they called liquid funk.
The birth of Liquid Drum and Bass as a New Style
While many of the subgenres of drum ‘n’ bass, dancehall, and reggae have become very heavy around the turn of the century, a new, lighter genre has emerged. Fluid Drum and Bass.
Of the late 1990s, Heymac says, back then, it was almost like a competition to see which drum ‘n’ bass producer could make the hardest, most technical beats, and “eventually we got to a point where we couldn’t get any dirtier and harder. That was when Liquid Drum and Bass really started.
This dreamy new drum’n’bass features more melodic, atmospheric and soulful vocals.
What Distinguishes Liquid Drum and Bass from Regular Drum and Bass?
Compared to other drum’n’bass styles, Liquid Drum’n’Bass is more melodic, smooth and relaxed. It features a slow tempo, relaxed beat and evolving melodies, taking the listener on a musical journey.
Because Liquid Drum & Bass focuses on musicality rather than aggression, it also differs from other drum & bass styles that feature heavier beats and distorted sounds.
What BPM is Liquid Drum and Bass?
Most drum & bass songs are played between 170 and 175 BPM.
Liquid drum & bass songs have in common that they focus on musicality rather than aggression, which leads to slower, calmer songs.
The Current Drum and Bass Scene in North America
After years of EDM being more about the shows and gimmicks than the music, it’s no wonder people are looking for something different. And Canada’s thriving scene offers just that and more.
Heymac puts it this way. “The Canadian scene has always been about the music, promoting artists, bringing people together at memorable events and building a community united by a love of a style of music. …. Liquid Drum and Bass. But drum and bass, and liquid drum and bass, is not just music of the past.
While veteran artists like Nu:Tone and groundbreaking labels like Hospital Records continue to release new material, a young, unique and dynamic scene is emerging.
The fact that Heymac’s most recent release, “Night Garden/Ode to What Was,” reached #61 on the Juno Download Top 100 is a testament to the quality of new music and the current popularity of the genre.
The amount of music being produced by new Ontario artists like Bensley and Polaris is keeping the genre fresh and exciting,” says Heymac. genre, but the wave of talented artists from Canada and the U.S. has finally put North America on the map, so we’re looking forward to the future.
