Hardstyle
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Hardstyle is a sub-genre of trance that is closely related to nu style gabber and hard trance. Hardstyle, or sometimes refered to as hard dance or hardbass, sounds very similar to nu style gabber but is usually about 30 bpm slower. The average tempo is between 140 and 150 beats per minute. The sound is characterized by thunderous beats and an anthemic enthusiasm. Many hardcore artists produce hardstyle songs, which sound very similar but are more accessible. Hardstyle is generally played along side NRG and Hard House in the UK and aside hard trance or hardcore in the rest of Europe.
History
Hardstyle evolved from German, Italian and Dutch Hard House which blended with influences from hard trance and oldschool hardcore in the year 2000. It originates from The Netherlands where the first Hardstyle events were held in late 1999, early 2000. One of the key figures in it's development is Dana van Dreeven, also known under her alias Dana. At a later time more of her colleagues from the hardcore-era joined the club, such as Pavo and The Prophet.
Current status
Hardstyle is mainly produced by artists from The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Germany; yet other producers from around the world are starting to pick up the sound.
Currently, the scene is booming in various countries around the world besides these founding countries. Scenes worth mentioning are: Poland, Estonia, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and the UK.
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External links
- Global Hardstyle Forum (http://www.globalhardstyle.com) (discussion about this music genre)
- Screamer Hardstyle (http://www.screamer-hardstyle.com)
- Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music (http://www.ishkur.com/music/)
- Q-dance (http://www.q-dance.nl) (Dutch Hardstyle event organisation and one of the founders of the genre)
Record Labels:
- Blutonium (D) (http://www.blutonium.de/)
- Danamite (NL) (http://www.danamite.nl/)
- DigiDance (NL) (http://www.digidance.cc/) (Tuff Stuff)
- DJS Records (NL) (http://www.djs-records.com/)
- Edinet (I) (http://www.edinetmusic.com/) (Activa, Kattiva)
- Future Sound Corporation (I) (http://www.futuresoundcorporation.com/)
- Fusion (NL) (http://www.freaky.nl/) (Fusion, Superplastik)
- GM04 Records (I) (http://www.mtnrecords.com/)
- impMusic (NL) (http://www.impmusic.nl/)
- Ipnotika (I) (http://www.ipnotika.net/) (Droppin' Beats, Ipnotika, Wicked)
- Hitland (I) (http://www.hitland.com/) (Audible Soundz, Damage, Fateful Bass, Italian Masters of Hardstyle, Kickin' Tunes, Subway, Suntec)
- MoltoRec (I) (http://www.moltorec.com/) (STIK)
- Q-Dance (NL) (http://www.q-dance.nl/)
- Resident-E (D) (http://www.resident-e.de/)
- Saifam (I) (http://www.saifam.com/) (BLQ, Dance Pollution, Green Force, Red Alert, Titanic)
- Scantraxx (NL) (http://www.scantraxx.com/)
- Sector Beatz (CH) (http://www.sector-beatz.ch/)
- Seismic (NL) (http://www.seismicrecords.nl/)
- Sigma (I) (http://www.sigmarecords.com/)
- SO-Recordings (NL) (http://www.so-recordings.com/)
- State 28 (NL) (http://www.state28records.com/)
- SYS-X (NL) (http://www.sys-x.nl/)
- Tindy Tunes (UK) (http://www.tindytunes.com/)
- TMMC (I) (http://www.tmmc.it/) (GAS Records, Sound Barrier)
- Trance Communications (I) (http://www.trc.dj/) (DJ's United, Trance Communications)
- VIP Records (NL) (http://www.vip-records.com/) (Beltdrive, Confusion)
- X-Rate (NL) (http://www.x-raterecords.com/)
- 029 Records (NL) (http://www.zero2ninerecords.com/)
- Zoom (I) (http://www.zoomrecords.it/)