Rawstyle
Harder, stripped-back hardstyle with aggressive kicks, screeches and few melodies.
History
Rawstyle is a harder, darker form of hardstyle s1. It emerged in the mid-2010s s2. Producers stripped away some of hardstyle's melodies and focused on aggressive sound s2. Rawstyle uses heavily distorted kicks, screeches and dark atmospheres s1. It has a raw and visceral feel s2. The tempo is usually a little faster than hardstyle, around 150 to 160 beats per minute s1. Artists such as E-Force, Warface and Radical Redemption became known for the style s3. Rawstyle tracks often have little singing and fewer bright melodies s2. It is popular at large hardstyle festivals and has its own dedicated audience s3. Some newer tracks mix rawstyle with euphoric melodies, and this mix is sometimes called rawphoric s3. Rawstyle is often played in the later, harder part of a hardstyle event s3. Its producers sometimes also work with hardcore artists s3. The style shares its tempo and kick design with hardstyle s1.
Sound
- Heavily distorted kick drums
- Screeching lead sounds
- Dark atmosphere
- Fewer melodies and vocals
- A fast, aggressive drive
Key figures
- Radical Redemption — Dutch rawstyle producer
- E-Force — Dutch rawstyle producer
- Warface — Dutch rawstyle producer
- Sub Zero Project — Dutch act that mixes rawstyle and hardstyle
Labels
- Scantraxx — Beek en Donk , 2002
- Dirty Workz — Belgium , 2007
- Minus Is More — Netherlands , 2009
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Hardstyle
Sources
- The hitchhiker's guide to Hard Dance Music — Firebird Magazine
- Exploring Hardstyle: A Cornerstone of Dutch Dance Culture — Splice
- Hardstyle — Wikipedia