Downtempo Music Definition

50 to 90 BPM. Downtempo (a.k.a. downbeat) music really comprises of many genres of electronic and acoustic-electro based music. It is an umbrella for low-fi music with moody tones, chilling to passionate vocals, and mellow beats. And in some cases, it has no beat.

Downtempo is also a term used to specifically describe chillout music that has a slow, rolling groove. Some would say it is based on hip hop beats but this definition has grown to include instrumental-based music from jazz, experimental, film scores, dub and reggae, african drummers, tibetan monks, and various world music.

EXAMPLES:

Here is a list of some music sub-genres that downtempo music can be attributed to:

• Ambient music


• Trip hop


• Chillout


• Low-fi


• Acoustic Electro


• IDM (Intelligent Dance Music)


• Crossover Indie


• Dream Pop


• Romantic Blues


• Deep House


• Deep Trance


• Acid Jazz


• Dub


• Psychedelic Dub

Some downtempo artists include: Zero 7, Thievery Corporation, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Baby Mammoth, Beanfield, dZihan & Kamien, Goldfrapp, Yonderboi, the Murgatroyd trio, and to some respects Radiohead.

AUTHOR: Shane Keller | Copyright (c) www.deepintense.com. All rights reserved.