Nu skool breaks
Encyclopedia
Nu skool breaks is a term used to describe a sub-genre of breakbeat
. The sub-genre is usually characterized by its darker and heavier bass lines that are normally dominant throughout the track. Typically, tracks range between 125 to 140 bpm.
and Adam Freeland
, who used it to describe the sound at their night Friction, which was launched at Bar Rumba in 1996, with promoter Ian Williams. In 1998, the label was used on two compilations, Nu Skool Breaks, Volume 1 and 2, compiled with Danny McMillan and released through UK based Kickin Records. The first volume of these was recorded live at the aforementioned London club night Friction.
In the late '90's the UK Garage scene was developing many sub genres including Breakstep, and Nu skool breaks. Stemming from such labels as (UK based) Cyberfunk, Nova mute, Funkatech and Bochit Scraper. Promoting arists such as DJ Mutiny, Si Begg, Deekline, and DJ Quest. Who the later of are referenced as being Breakstep producers as well.
In the 1990s pirate radio stations Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and Rinse FM gave artists a chance to play out the latest tunes to gain public attention and popularity becoming anthems such as Nu skool producers' Groove Armada's "Super Stylin'"in 1999*. Besides club nights which were put on by these artists or promoters, pirate radio was the only way someone could listen to this music unless a person bought the DJ's vinyl records. By the mid 2000's Nu skool begins to blend the boundaries from breaks to Breakstep and then Dubstep, with many producers from these sounds blurring the genres.
Splitting up the Funky House, and 2-Step beat of the 1990s Garage into new sounds, producers would take the big bassline driving tracks of Garage, to influence whole new forms of dance music including: Drum and Bass, Bassline, Breakcore, Breakstep, Nu skool breaks, Electro breaks, Funky breaks, Grime, and Dubstep. All these genres showing a variance in sound that split the music into groups of producers that would collaborate by making tunes that would line up musically through the BPM and beat pattern.
and his label mate on Fuel Records (UK) in the late 90's Ils
, followed by the likes of Plump DJs, NAPT
, Überzone
, Freq Nasty, Stanton Warriors
, Aquasky
and Hybrid. The major producers have remixed and/or produced tracks for acts such as Orbital
, Fatboy Slim
, 'N Sync
, Kelis
and New Order
. Much of the music of The Prodigy
, especially their more recent work, can be classified as Nu Skool Breaks.
In the UK the scene is currently dominated by the Stanton Warriors
, Plump DJs and NAPT
. Up coming noteworthy acts include B.S.D, Beat Assassins, Plaza De Funk and Far Too Loud. In the USA, known for its more acid
-based breaks sound, the sound has gained popularity, especially on the West Coast. North American artists include Pillform, Funk Lab, Keith Mackenzie, Cereal Killaz
, and Überzone
. Australia also has a burgeoning scene with popular artists including Kid Kenobi
and Dopamine
.
instrumentation, sometimes applying hoover
and reese
basslines. In their song "Stereo:Typical", Ctrl-Z and Screwface claim to be "pioneers of the tear-out sound"; other notable artists include Antiform, The Autobots and Duel Calibre.
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
. The sub-genre is usually characterized by its darker and heavier bass lines that are normally dominant throughout the track. Typically, tracks range between 125 to 140 bpm.
Origins
The term is widely attributed to Rennie PilgremRennie Pilgrem
Rennie Pilgrem is an electronic music producer from England who is often considered responsible for the creation of the nu skool breaks genre. Before moving into breaks Rennie produced techno and acid house and was part of the influential rave group Rhythm Section along with Ellis Dee. Rennie is...
and Adam Freeland
Adam Freeland
Adam Freeland is an English DJ and producer associated with breakbeat based electronic music. He was a resident of Brighton, moved to Los Angeles where he recorded second album Cope™ but is now based back in Brighton...
, who used it to describe the sound at their night Friction, which was launched at Bar Rumba in 1996, with promoter Ian Williams. In 1998, the label was used on two compilations, Nu Skool Breaks, Volume 1 and 2, compiled with Danny McMillan and released through UK based Kickin Records. The first volume of these was recorded live at the aforementioned London club night Friction.
In the late '90's the UK Garage scene was developing many sub genres including Breakstep, and Nu skool breaks. Stemming from such labels as (UK based) Cyberfunk, Nova mute, Funkatech and Bochit Scraper. Promoting arists such as DJ Mutiny, Si Begg, Deekline, and DJ Quest. Who the later of are referenced as being Breakstep producers as well.
In the 1990s pirate radio stations Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and Rinse FM gave artists a chance to play out the latest tunes to gain public attention and popularity becoming anthems such as Nu skool producers' Groove Armada's "Super Stylin'"in 1999*. Besides club nights which were put on by these artists or promoters, pirate radio was the only way someone could listen to this music unless a person bought the DJ's vinyl records. By the mid 2000's Nu skool begins to blend the boundaries from breaks to Breakstep and then Dubstep, with many producers from these sounds blurring the genres.
Splitting up the Funky House, and 2-Step beat of the 1990s Garage into new sounds, producers would take the big bassline driving tracks of Garage, to influence whole new forms of dance music including: Drum and Bass, Bassline, Breakcore, Breakstep, Nu skool breaks, Electro breaks, Funky breaks, Grime, and Dubstep. All these genres showing a variance in sound that split the music into groups of producers that would collaborate by making tunes that would line up musically through the BPM and beat pattern.
Artists
Recognized nu skool producers include Pioneering artist TipperTipper
Tipper is a British composer and producer specializing in electronic music that ranges from Ambient, through Trip Hop, to uptempo Nuskool Breakbeat...
and his label mate on Fuel Records (UK) in the late 90's Ils
Ils (producer)
Ils is an English musician and producer, who has released records on labels including Marine Parade and Distinct'ive Records. Ils started his production career on LTJ Bukem's drum and bass label, Good Looking Records. He was signed to Marine Parade by owner Adam Freeland, who cited Ils' unique...
, followed by the likes of Plump DJs, NAPT
NAPT (electronic music artist)
NAPT are a multi award winning British electronic dance music production and DJ duo consisting of Ashley Pope and Tomek Naden. NAPT's productions fall under the umbrella of their self coined N-Funk sound....
, Überzone
Uberzone
Überzone is Anaheim, California native Timothy Wiles, is an electronic musician. He has also been known as Q, named after the popular character in the James Bond series....
, Freq Nasty, Stanton Warriors
Stanton Warriors
Stanton Warriors are the breakbeat duo Dominic Butler and Mark Yardley. They are a DJ and producer team. Originally from the West Country, the pair now play sets at nightclubs such as Fabric and Ciros in the UK, and travel the globe with international work in Europe, Canada, America and Australia...
, Aquasky
Aquasky
Aquasky is a breaks and jungle group composed of Dave Wallace, Kieron Bailey & Brent Newitt. In early 1995 they got together to produce their own music. Shortly afterwards they sent a demo tape to Moving Shadow records and the seeds of a musical alliance were sown...
and Hybrid. The major producers have remixed and/or produced tracks for acts such as Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
, Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
, 'N Sync
'N Sync
N Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...
, Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
and New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
. Much of the music of The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, especially their more recent work, can be classified as Nu Skool Breaks.
In the UK the scene is currently dominated by the Stanton Warriors
Stanton Warriors
Stanton Warriors are the breakbeat duo Dominic Butler and Mark Yardley. They are a DJ and producer team. Originally from the West Country, the pair now play sets at nightclubs such as Fabric and Ciros in the UK, and travel the globe with international work in Europe, Canada, America and Australia...
, Plump DJs and NAPT
NAPT (electronic music artist)
NAPT are a multi award winning British electronic dance music production and DJ duo consisting of Ashley Pope and Tomek Naden. NAPT's productions fall under the umbrella of their self coined N-Funk sound....
. Up coming noteworthy acts include B.S.D, Beat Assassins, Plaza De Funk and Far Too Loud. In the USA, known for its more acid
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
-based breaks sound, the sound has gained popularity, especially on the West Coast. North American artists include Pillform, Funk Lab, Keith Mackenzie, Cereal Killaz
Cereal killaz
Cereal Killaz is an international producer and DJ consisting of Alan Linhart . The music style of the act is classified as breakbeat and Nu skool breaks, and has many other influences including Nu Metal, Florida breaks, Drum n Bass, Industrial and Indie Rock...
, and Überzone
Uberzone
Überzone is Anaheim, California native Timothy Wiles, is an electronic musician. He has also been known as Q, named after the popular character in the James Bond series....
. Australia also has a burgeoning scene with popular artists including Kid Kenobi
Kid Kenobi
Kid Kenobi is an Australian DJ who won People's Choice NSW DJ of the Year in 2001 at the Australian Dance Music Awards, and Technics Australian DJ of the Year in 2001-2005. He took out first place three years running in the annual DJ poll. He has been featured in FHM, Rolling Stone, Ralph and URB...
and Dopamine
Dopamine
Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter present in a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the brain, this substituted phenethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five known types of dopamine receptors—D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5—and their...
.
Tear-out / hardcore breaks
Tearout breaks emerged with the birth of Hardcore Beats Records - the sound, while following the intricate drum programming of nuskool, featured more of the aggression of modern drum and bassDrum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
instrumentation, sometimes applying hoover
Hoover sound
Hoover sound refers to a particular synthesizer sound in electronic music, commonly used in Hard House music and other styles. Originally called the "Mentasm" or "Dominator", the name that stuck was the one likening the sound to that of a vacuum cleaner.-The sound:The Hoover is a complex waveform...
and reese
Kevin Saunderson
Kevin Saunderson is an American electronic music producer. At the age of nine he moved to Belleville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit where he attended Belleville High School and befriended two students, Derrick May and Juan Atkins...
basslines. In their song "Stereo:Typical", Ctrl-Z and Screwface claim to be "pioneers of the tear-out sound"; other notable artists include Antiform, The Autobots and Duel Calibre.
External links
- http://www.nubreaks.com
- http://nsbradio.co.uk/
- https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/genre/detail/9/Breaks
- http://www.nuskoolbreaks.co.uk
- http://www.thisisbreaks.com