Turn It Up: A Short History of Drum & Bass

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Music Uncovered: Turn It Up: A Short History of Drum & Bass: 8. Staying Power

Where did D&B come from? Flight traces the music to its roots: the halcyon days of rave.

1. The Birth

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Music Uncovered: Turn It Up: A Short History of Drum & Bass

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Music: Dance & Electronica: Drum & Bass

DJ Flight, Storm and other genre-defining contributors tell the story of D&B.

In the mid-1990s, beyond the antics of the Spice Girls and Britpop, an exciting subculture was blowing up. A futuristic kind of music that melded hip hop, rave and dub seemed to appear from nowhere and was suddenly everywhere: drum & bass. Multicultural crowds flocked, often from small towns and sleepy suburbs, to basements in Bristol, London and Coventry to dance to this thrilling new sound. DJ Storm and her partner Kemistry emerged from the Midlands to set up, with Goldie, Metalheadz, a club and record label that stood for D&B's after-hours vibe and the huge cultural influence it went on to have. With the help of fans who were there, she tells the story of a scene that represented the UK more than any 'Cool Britannia' magazine cover, that showed the way for many female DJs, that brought her unbearable tragedy as well as incredible success, and that keeps blowing up, again and again.

8. Staying Power

BBC - Music Uncovered, Turn It Up: A Short History of Drum & Bass, 8. Staying Power

D&B emerges from the pandemic with more purpose. What lies ahead for this radical sound?

D&B emerges from the pandemic with more purpose. Old and new faces come together to celebrate the longevity of D&B - and to future-proof a culture that’s weathered so much loss.

30 years on from the birth of the genre, drum & bass is still adapting. When the global pandemic closes nightclubs in 2020, a period of soul searching follows - but D&B emerges with more purpose. The community expands to welcome in new talent like Nia Archives. Old and new faces come together to celebrate the longevity of D&B - and to future-proof a culture that’s already weathered so much loss. Storm and Flight reflect on just how far this music has travelled, and the distance it still has to cover…

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Music Uncovered

Turn It Up: A Short History of Drum & Bass

8. Staying Power

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