Melodic Dubstep is a subgenre of Electronic Dance Music that emerged during the early 2010s. As its name suggests, melodic dubstep evolved from scenes of early 2010s Dubstep trends not long after Brostep did, but ultimately became distinct from both dubstep and brostep due to a number of major stylistic differences. Like brostep and unlike 2000s dubstep, melodic dubstep implements buildup-drop structures that are more aimed at being emotional, intense, and bittersweet rather than groovy and atmospheric.
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Melodic Dubstep is a subgenre of Electronic Dance Music that emerged during the early 2010s. As its name suggests, melodic dubstep evolved from scenes of early 2010s Dubstep trends not long after Brostep did, but ultimately became distinct from both dubstep and brostep due to a number of major stylistic differences. Like brostep and unlike 2000s dubstep, melodic dubstep implements buildup-drop structures that are more aimed at being emotional, intense, and bittersweet rather than groovy and atmospheric. Unlike brostep, melodic dubstep is based around melodious, tuneful drops, utilizing rich, lush synth leads, powerful stretched chords, as well as lighter and more harmonious sound design, different from the gritty and sometimes atonal leads typical in brostep. Melodic dubstep producers frequently feature singers (especially female singers) who usually deliver sentimental, passionate verses as to fit the drops.
Melodic dubstep appeared around the same time as brostep and Chillstep, causing the genre to take influence from both of them and influence them too. Though it was and still is sometimes referred to as chillstep, melodic dubstep grew to be a separate genre, albeit with similar roots. It shares chillstep's relative accessibility compared to brostep and carries similar features from dubstep, such as a tempo of around 140 BPM, half-time beats and less often prominent sub-basses, but ultimately lacks chillstep's downtempo influence and relaxed, laid-back atmospheres. That being said, certain producers like Aether or Elliot Berger dabbled in both chillstep and melodic dubstep, similar to brostep producers like Au5 or Xilent who made both melodic dubstep and brostep. Fusions of the aforementioned genres remain relatively common today.
Some of the genre's pioneers include producers who were initially known for producing brostep, like MitiS, Adventure Club or Nero, as well as chillstep producers like Blackmill and Azedia. Another early influence on melodic dubstep was Trance music (especially Uplifting Trance), as evident in the works of Seven Lions, who began as a trance producer, or MitiS. The genre played a significant role in the development of Future Bass, as producers who started as melodic dubstep producers such as Said the Sky, Illenium or T-Mass would later become popular for producing future bass. Future bass influences, like vocal chops, upbeat synth leads or 7th chords became more widespread in melodic dubstep in the latter half of the 2010s. The genre became popular partially thanks to promotional YouTube channels and labels like MrSuicideSheeep (along with Sheepy's label, Seeking Blue), NCS or Monstercat, who often featured and released melodic dubstep.
