How To Introduce Your Friends To Drum And Bass

There comes a point in your life that you want to introduce your friends to drum and bass. There have been many times in the Amen Breaks team life that we have wanted to introduce people to the wonderful world and community of drum and bass. It can be a challenge at times though. DNB, from an outsider’s point of view, is a strange and intimidating beast. Overly loud, fast and non-rhythmic to the untrained ear, it also has the unfortunate connection of being part of what would be considered the dark-side of society. 

We know this to be far from the truth. The drum and bass community is a warm, open and friendly community where the music is beautifully crafted, complex and varied, whilst being best experienced on a huge sound system so that all the hidden dynamics can be heard and felt.

Unfortunately, because we are such fanatics about the drum and bass world, many of us introduce our friends to drum and bass in a way that puts them off. In this article we talk about the different aspects you need to consider to be able successfully introduce your friends to drum and bass.

The Culture

From the outside looking in, and with good reason at this point in time, drum and bass can seem like an overtly alpha-male dominated boy’s club. Most of the people who attend raves are men and a huge proportion of the dj’s are men too. Now this bit really only applies to women and minority groups, but it’s still valid all the same. The last thing someone wants is to go into what they perceive as a hostile environment and feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. 

The second aspect of this is the culture of the sound. Drum and bass is deeply ingrained in reggae and dancehall music, a lot of which has some pretty tough sounds and some even tougher sounding lyrics. People who aren’t already inclined towards electronic music, or at least more underground versions of it, may find the lyrical aspect of drum and bass unwelcoming. 

People are pretty bad at thinking laterally at the best of times, and so the connection between what sounds cool, the people who listen to it and if they subscribe to those actions and lifestyle described are linked. We can pretty much guarantee that everyone who listens to drum and bass is not carrying a gun or belongs to a gang.

The second, and pretty major turn off for many newcomers or first time listeners to drum and bass is the heavy connection with illegal substances. The problem with this, is that it’s true. We all know that at every rave there will be people buying, selling and using all manner of substances. If you’ve never seen people on these drugs before it can be an eye opening experience (excuse the pun). 

Drug use and raves have been vilified by the press, again with varying levels of validity. It can be worrying for people who have never been before who haven’t been educated about drug use, their effects and tell tale signs. We have met first timers at a rave who have been absolutely petrified that some drug crazed lunatic will come and either slip something into their drink or force them to take something they don’t want to. 

When trying to introduce your friends to drum and bass, it would be a great place to start by talking about the vibe, excitement and community. We all know that drum and bass has an open and accepting community. People from all over the world come together to enjoy the music and are free to choose their level of involvement within the rave. 

Talk about the many positive experiences that you have had when at raves, rather than the negative ones we have all invariably seen. Talking about the history and roots of the scene is also a great way to highlight its inclusiveness. The scene is all about creativity and sharing, and this can be seen through one very positive aspect of dubplates. You can even set up some interest in the sharing culture and genre crossover potential by diving into the history of the dubplate and what it represented. Spark some interest in the culture that created it before what it evolved into.

The Venue

Everyone has been to a rave in a dingy, underground basement where when things get going, sweat literally drips from the ceiling. Sweaty people are rubbing up against each other and you can almost see the venue’s air turning into its own weather system. The sound system will be absolutely thumping and there’s a good chance some seriously naughty basslines will be ripping through the club; pummeling your chest with a sub bass that could give your nan a heart attack. Whilst that sounds like an absolute dream to you and I, it sounds like something from a horror movie to your friend who has only just started listening to drum and bass.

Likewise, when trying to introduce your friends to drum and bass, a dedicated venue or label night might not be the best option. These places are specifically chosen for their acoustic and visual aspects, which can be intimidating, disorientating and scary. Not to mention cramped, hot and loud. Whilst many people have been to gigs and events in other places with other music, the drum and bass crowd is very unlike any other when it gets going. You are very likely to bump into lots of people and your personal space will definitely be invaded, so if your friends aren’t comfortable with that, then they are going to be stuck in a small space all night long not enjoying themselves.

Usually, the venue is unavoidable. Except the jungle dungeon, don’t take a first timer there. What is a good way to get people introduced is a multi room, multi genre night. If that’s not available then a venue that will have some drum and bass playing at some point. 

People get the option to dip in and out as they please whilst still getting an insight into the wide and varied audience that will attend. It’s surprising how much more likely people are to have a positive experience with drum and bass like this. The many different genres allow for different reference points musically, so new associations can be made. 

Typically places that put these types of events on are likely to be a bit nicer to go to as well, more familiar and better accepted by your friends.

A word to the wise on festivals. Everyone loves a good festival and it is very likely that whatever festival you go to will have a dance section where you will be able to introduce your friends to drum and bass. The venue won’t really be an issue here as you will be outside and it is very unlikely to be packed to the rafters at any set. That is, unless, you somehow manage to get them to go to one of the many all drum and bass festivals across Europe. Frankly, if you manage to get them to go to that and they have a bad time, that’s their fault…

Drum And Bass Music

When you want to introduce your friends to drum and bass, the temptation is to put on the latest neuro banger. You know the sort, something that has a face

 melting bass wobble and drums so punchy they wouldn’t be out of place in a boxing convention. 

Us junglists are an enthusiastic sort. We desperately want you to enjoy the wonders of a heavy bass line and a crazy break. We know how incomparable it is to be stood in the crowd when the DJ drops a huge tune that just makes you lose control, being moved by the rhythm, euphoria washing over you as you literally feel the vibe. 

Because we know what that’s like, it’s difficult to convey that emotion to someone who doesn’t and the best way we know how is to play a track that replicates that feeling for us, or at least, brings back a memory of such an occasion. The trouble with this, is that the person you’re trying to convince to make the move to listening to drum and bass, has never experienced this. You’re trying to sell a genre of music to someone based on emotion; an emotion they have yet to experience, so there is simply no connection for them. It can be weird and confusing for someone to listen to such a track and subsequently make you feel disappointed when they don’t.

Lets not forget that drum and bass is an incredibly musical and melodic genre when it wants to be. Liquid is always a good entry point for people. Liquid, as you well know, often uses emotionally charged vocals which follow a strong melody. It’s easier for people to relate to this as it is similar to the music they will have heard and liked before. It closes the gap and often surprises people. All of a sudden, drum and bass is not this scary monster but this complex melodic intrigue. 

Remixes of famous songs are also a great way to get people interested and listening. If they hear something that is familiar to them, it is way easy to make the connection. Even the most die hard ant drum and bass fan can’t help but nod along to Urbandawn’s Come Together remix. That track personifies the brilliance, uniqueness, complexity and raw savagery of DNB. We’ve yet to play this to someone who hasn’t conceded that it’s a banger of a track.