Chillstep Music Guide: 4 Characteristics of Chillstep

Chillstep is a subgenre of dubstep dance music that tends to be more relaxed and less frantic than its parent musical genre. Chillstep combines the steady rhythms of deep house, the prominent basslines of dub and dubstep music, and the relaxed qualities of ambient music.

Chillstep blends smoothly with other dance music styles. DJs frequently add chillstep songs to playlists featuring a wide array of electronic music including EDM, drum and bass, UK garage, melodic dubstep, brostep, and future garage. In dance clubs, chillstep sometimes functions as a downtempo palette cleanser that can reset a mood after frenetic dubstep or drum and bass track.

The history of chillstep aligns with that of dubstep music.

• Dubstep's beginning: Dubstep originated in 1990s London as an offshoot of UK garage, jungle, and dub reggae music. It quickly gained recognition for its syncopated beats and heavy use of tuplets, which amplified the frenetic energy of the raves in London, New York, and Kingston.
• Chillstep as a mellow alternative: Chillstep emerged alongside dubstep as its more mellow, relaxed cousin. It featured less syncopation, lower volumes, and slower tempos. Thanks to artists like Seven Lions, Skrux, Rusko, Rameses B, and MitiS, chillstep began surging among dubstep fans, peaking in the early 2010s. Eventually, popular dubstep songs would receive their own chillstep remixes.
• Chillhop: Chillstep caught the attention of hip-hop artists who then released chillstep mixes of certain tracks. Artists like ChilledCow started a genre called lo-fi hip-hop, or chillhop, that applies the relaxed feel of chillstep to hip-hop music for a simple, repeating style that functions well as background music.
• Competition with other dubstep subgenres: The modern dubstep scene often emphasizes other subgenres besides chillstep. American DJ Skrillex, for instance, has pushed harder-edge music like brostep, which contains influences from electro-house and even heavy metal. Chillstep has waned in popularity in recent years but remains common on relaxation playlists.

Chillstep music is best characterized as a mellower version of dubstep music.

1. 1. Wobble bass: Dubstep is known for a particular synth bass sound called wobble or "the wub." It involves manipulating a sustained note with a low-frequency oscillator. This sound can also be heard in chillstep.
2. 2. Sub-bass: In addition to normal basslines, dubstep and chillstep feature sub-bass, a very deep frequency that adds depth to the overall mix.
3. 3. Slower tempos: Chillstep is usually played at slower tempos than dubstep—most commonly 120 to 140 beats per minute (bpm).
4. 4. Simpler rhythms: While dubstep is filled with syncopated rhythms that keep dancers on their toes, chillstep is simpler and more repetitive. It often functions as ambient music, and it works just as well in a modern restaurant as it does at a rave.

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