An intro into Hardstyle: Final Draft
OK, this is the last draft I do, so please help me correct any mistakes by pointing them out, and this is your last chance to point out anything that is missing. After this, i'll do a finished version, then hopefully this can be made a sticky topic...
An Introduction to Hardstyle
by Voorheez
Hardstyle - it’s a new genre of dance music that is gaining popularity worldwide, but you might not understand exactly what it is. This guide will take you through the short history of the genre, as well as recommending labels, tunes and DJs to look out for.
What is hardstyle? - It’s a style that combines elements from many different types of hard dance music to form it’s own individual genre. It was mainly an evolution from hard trance but also borrows heavy inspiration from both hardcore and hard house.
The Beginnings – It started with a bassline…
Germany – 2000. Hennes & Cold release ‘The Second Trip’ on Tracid Traxxx records and in it they debut a new style of bass line that would go on to revolutionise the hard trance genre. Prior to this, hard trance had been mainly based on the trance riff but the popularity of this track, and in particular the Dj Scot Project remix started a trend of hard trance tracks that were driven by an ultra hard bassline before driving into a beautiful and dramatic trance breakdown.
The new style of hard trance was popular because nothing quite like it had been heard before. Labels dedicated to the sound like Overdose, Pulse and Tracid Traxxx records became massive worldwide, as did producers such as Dj Wag, Kai Tracid and in particular Dj Scot Project.
Over time people grew tired of the strict formulaic layout of hard trance. Tracks were becoming all too obvious. A new trend began to emerge of producers using the basslines associated with hard trance but leaving out the trance breakdowns, which led to the tracks becoming much more darker, and more full on. Whilst this trend was undoubtedly started in Germany, with producers like Uberdruck and Warmduscher, many of the German producers failed to realise that their productions were growing stale and it was up to another nation to take charge.
Adaptation the evolution of a revolution…
Italy – 2001. Labels previously dedicated to hard trance begin to give more release to tracks with little or no trance breaks. One label in particular, Future Sound Corporation released tracks much harder than anyone else. Good examples include Trance Generator’s Connected and Radium’s Only A Test unquestionably the hardest tracks around at the time within the genre, and were hugely popular.
Also on the rise are a group of producers on the Saifam group which includes Technoboy a.k.a Dj Gius, who had shot to fame with his massively successful remix of Zombie Nation’s Kernkraft 400 as well as Luca Antoli DJ. Working under many aliases and managing many labels such as Dance Pollution, Titanic, BLQ and Green Force, this talented stable have produced more hardstyle tracks than any other, and are without doubt the most well known.
Labels such as Sigma and Stik found new popularity, producers like DJ Vortex and DJs like Danielle Mondello became big names. Italy however, was not where this new Italian style was most popular…
Extreme Popularity – going dutch…
Holland 2002 - the new Italian sound is embraced with open arms. Talented dutch DJs help the genre to spread like wildfire with many crossing over from hardcore such as Lady Dana, The Prophet and Pavo whilst many Italian DJs flock in to fly the flag for their country. Many club nights start playing the style but one club night in particular becomes dominant over all others – Qlimax. It is here that the name ‘Hardstyle’ was born. The popularity of hardstyle in Holland is unrivalled, and still is to this day. Qlimax host a variety of parties, some of which are absolutely huge, held in stadiums and playing only hardstyle.
http://pictures.q-dance.nl/6338/pics/0565-flo-2299.jpg
Further Evolution
2003 – The popularity of hardstyle in Holland inevitably leads to a Dutch influenced style forming led by labels like Seismic and producers like DJ Isaac. This dutch sound is influenced by hardcore and hard house and tracks are fun, light, bouncy. This style of Hardstyle is the most accessible. Possibly as a reaction to this lighter dutch sound, an extremely dark, hard and minimal style comes out of Italy. With almost no riff and changing basslines, it is easy to see that this branch of hardstyle is highly influenced by gabba. Labels at the forefront of this sound include 59 Records and Italian Masters of Hardstyle. Meanwhile, the Germans start to make their own hardstyle, with labels such as Blutonium and Uberdruck producing high quality tunes, and the classic Italian style remains highly popular.
The Future
2004 – Hardstyle is still growing in popularity. New labels, producers and DJs emerge every day and events grow bigger in size. As long as fresh talent emerges and the sound continues to evolve hardstyle will be around for a long time.
Sound Definition – the staple elements of a hardstyle track
Incredibly, to this day, most hardstyle tracks today are still built around the orginal bassline by Hennes & Cold. When hardstyle evolved from hard trance it took the bassline with it. Many variations have become popular, Technoboy’s own version is popular, as is the Trance Generators’, but the original is still the most used.
A distorted gabba style kick at the end of a bar is another common element. It’s roots lie in the Derb mix of Warmduscher’s Hardcore Will Never Die, before being used by the FSC particularly in Simon J Bergher’s Ultimo Respiro. The most influential track to use it is without doubt Brain Ovulation’s Kicks & Bass, and since then it has become a familiar element in most tracks around.
Where to buy Hardstyle
www.Italiantrance.com UK based store
www.juno.com UK based store
www.recessrecords.nl Dutch based store
www.only-djs.com Dutch based store
Recommended Tracks
Brain Ovulation – Kicks & Bass
Julian DJ & Davide Sonar – Techno Noise
Technoboy – Hardrive
Ard urn Jorn – 16
Tamok – Resistance Is Futile
Deepack – Here’s Johnny
Joaquin DJ – Petting 69
Atlantic Wave – Reforced
Tuneboy – Housensation
Jimmy the Sound – Modulo
Recommended CDs
Italian Hardstyle Volume 1 – Mixed by Technoboy
Qlimax 5 – Mixed by the Prophet
ID&T Present Lady Dana
X-Qlusive Holland – Mixed by Dj Luna vs Dj Pila
My Style Is Hardstyle – Mixed by Pavo
Copyright 2004 Dj Voorheez. No Reproduction without Permission.
