May 29, 2022, was the day I fell in love with drum & bass. Together with my friends, I went to Subquake Noisa, a drum and bass rave in Tilburg. They had all been to drum & bass parties before and convinced me to come along. I was excited, but nervous as well, even though I had been listening to the music for quite some time. Not knowing how the night would end, I stood there. When the second DJ of the night, Culture Shock, started his set, it hit me. Pure serotonin flowing through my entire body.
Drum and bass, commonly described as DnB, is music that can be identified by its bass and breakbeat. DnB has many subgenres. For example, liquid DnB is melodic and often led by beautiful vocals. On the other hand, there is Neurofunk DnB which is built by complex drum rhythms, distorted basslines, and funky sounds. DnB offers everything in between these ends. I could ramble about this for hours. However, this is no essay
The community is what separates DnB from other genres. As with any other genre, it is the music that brings these people together. However, I have never experienced parties where people look out for each other the way the people at DnB raves do.
Everyone is respectful, given enough space to dance and nobody will judge you for however you look. This gives the perspective that DnB is more than a genre, it has almost become a way of living. Last summer I went to Liquicity Festival, there I spoke to a couple Liquicity fans. They described the festival as a feeling of coming home, it is a warm blanket made out of amazing people and music.
For the reader that is not yet familiar with the DnB scene and is hangry for insider information. You might ask, how can you identify a raver showing their love to the DJ? The answer is rather simple: they show a bass face.I can understand you’re now asking , “what the hell is a bass face?”
Well, a bass face might look like the raver is fairly negative about the music. But for the real ravers under us, a bass face is the ultimate way to show the DJ love for their work.
I have been to several DnB raves after Subquake Noisa, and each time the same feeling of serotonin flows through my body again. It is the always varying drum rhythm combined with a deep bass that stimulates the intense feeling. Although the music is what drives me to go to DnB raves, for me, the community is what makes it feel like coming home.
Have I made you curious about the genre? If so, click here for a playlist and let the serotonin flow through your body. Would you like to experience the community yourself? I can recommend you join the next Subquake edition, which will take place on November 26 in Tilburg. For the new ravers among us, welcome to the family!
