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Icewind Junior Member
Canada
127 posts Joined: Jun, 2013
Posted - 2024/07/04 : 08:18:41
I know these threads get made every now and then, about the current state of hardcore, and it's future. It seems to me that hardcore has never been in worse shape than it is now and it is so sad to see. I look around and see a dying scene.
For instance, when I look to djs for new music, I notice that their sets are no longer just hardcore but a blend of hard dance, with some hardcore sprinkled in. Is it because there is not enough hardcore tracks being produced these days, so djs are forced to pad out their mix with other similar genres? It seems like hardcore cannot stand on it's own anymore. I also have a hard time accepting that the slower edm/tomorrowland core is the way forward. Is that what hardcore is now?
Hardcore underground was really the last label that was pushing the boundaries so to speak, and now that's over. Stamina records are on hiatus I think? What is left for the future of hardcore? It is getting harder and harder to find new tracks that I like, and it also appears as if the fan base is shrinking too. I guess the kids are more into techno these days?
Most of the legendary djs are playing old skool sets and rehashing it's glory days but I'd hate to think that all we have left is to look to the past. I know that there is some good music still coming out but less and less as time goes on. Just a real shame.
I guess what I'm wondering is, is hardcore going to make it through this phase and onto the next? What will that look like? Is it possible to return hardcore to a point where producers are really trying to push the boundaries with it again? Or is it maybe that the formula has gotten stale because there is nowhere left to go with it?
warped_candykid Advanced Member
United States
3,961 posts Joined: Jan, 2004
Posted - 2024/07/04 : 17:10:27
I like these posts because it helps get the conversation going.
For instance, when I look to djs for new music, I notice that their sets are no longer just hardcore but a blend of hard dance, with some hardcore sprinkled in.
There's plenty of 170 bpm material. My thinking is this is simply just DJs trying to crowd please. But this also leads to why artists are now making 160 bpm songs and calling it "Hardcore" so that it can be played with Hard Dance/Hardstyle. For whatever reason, this current generation of party goers just aren't a fan of a 4/4 beat at 170+bpm.
I also have a hard time accepting that the slower edm/tomorrowland core is the way forward. Is that what hardcore is now?
I am convinced Tomorrowland brought forth a generation of ravers who no longer see "EDM" as an umbrella term/acronym for all genres of Electronic Dance Music. These new ravers see "EDM" as it's own genre within dance music, and it's that synthy Trance/House blend DJs were churning out in the Tomorrowland events. you can identify these people quickly because they'll say things like, "That DJ's playing Hardstyle, not EDM!", or "I listen to EDM, that's House." - They simply don't see the term "EDM" as "any genre that is electronic dance music." I also think this has led to a lot of mis-labeling genres as well. Many terms the 30+ year old crowd know aren't being used, so the younger crowd are just prescribing their own terms for genres. For example, the new crowd is touting around the term "Hyper Techno" as if it's a new thing...Hyper Techno as a genre has existed since the 90s produced in Italy and played in Tokyo nightclubs for TechPara dancing.
I guess the kids are more into techno these days?
This, Trap, and this new thing called "Wubs and dubs". I'm just thankful I got to experience the world of rave when I did.
As far as the future of Hardcore, we still have artists trying to stay true to the genre. I don't think making slower songs and still calling it Happy Hardcore is the way forward, unless you're modeling the tracks after the 1994/1995 breakbeat style, or the bouncy techno style. We went through that phase in 1999-2003. And in late 2003 into 2004, artists went right back to producing at 170.
Alert moderatorEdited by - warped_candykid on 2024/07/04 17:22:30
DJ_FunDaBounce Advanced Member
Colombia
2,011 posts Joined: Nov, 2001
Posted - 2024/07/04 : 20:54:23
The "unity" has faded. Kids/people/birds will just follow their sense to where they do feel it.
We had a common voice back in the late 90's. heck, I still felt it ten years ago, be it a somewhat evolved version of itself.
Gotta ask, though, what was it that brought us together in the first place?
To me it was a moment in time kinda like what the 60's and Woodstock were for that generation.
I think we've seen this go in cycles but I do agree that the fan base seems like nothing compared to other times. As always, If things are to change they either will because we did something about it or didn't.
__________________________________
"Fun with a capital F-D-B!"
warped_candykid Advanced Member
United States
3,961 posts Joined: Jan, 2004
Posted - 2024/07/05 : 01:29:43
quote:Originally posted by DJ_FunDaBounce:
The "unity" has faded.
I think we've seen this go in cycles but I do agree that the fan base seems like nothing compared to other times. As always, If things are to change they either will because we did something about it or didn't.
100% on the Unity part. We don't have genre staples to bond over anymore, at least here in North America. In the late 90s & 2000s, we had CD series (Happy2bHardcore), essential events (Hullaballoo), and a sub culture (the candy ravers) to bond within. The CD series are gone. The essential events are gone, and that era of the candy ravers are gone (we're all in our 30s-40s now). While in the UK, yall have always had CDs & events post 2004-2005, we over here have not. So you have 2 generations now of ravers over here who have not had those experiences, so that unity piece has fallen. Which I believe is one major reason happy hardcore has taken the fall over here. The few that are left are in small pockets just hangin on by a thread of love for the music.
Smoogie Advanced Member
United Kingdom
6,502 posts Joined: Mar, 2006
Posted - 2024/07/06 : 12:50:55
I think the problem is there are too many genres now that all overlap each other. It is hard to try anything new with electronic music now because it has all been done before. Certain styles will get their boost and peak phase before another genre starts getting the limelight again. TikTok seems to be the place where people share music now of all places.
I think that attitudes towards raves and hard dancing is different from today's generation than it was 20 odd years ago. Social media plays a big part in that as well
possys2 Senior Member
United Kingdom
287 posts Joined: Mar, 2021
Posted - 2024/07/06 : 21:50:04
deffo the social media thing plays apart... i remember 95% of ravers going out to get ****ed up and dance, i bet over the last 8/10 years, its now its like football matches, just turn up, take a few pics, post and then go home.
Smoogie Advanced Member
United Kingdom
6,502 posts Joined: Mar, 2006
Posted - 2024/07/06 : 22:31:25
quote:Originally posted by possys2:
deffo the social media thing plays apart... i remember 95% of ravers going out to get ****ed up and dance, i bet over the last 8/10 years, its now its like football matches, just turn up, take a few pics, post and then go home.
No one wants to have pictures of themselves online pilled up to the eyeballs or passed out in some club. Your boss could see that. Your parents can see that as well as a potential boyfriend/girlfriend. I do think a lot of young people know this very well so the attitudes are different.
I also think attitudes to socialising is different in general. Some 20 years ago going to town was a good chance to meet people, be seen or at least catch up with friends. Some guys (and women) would go out 'on the pull' but with the rise of dating apps (although I think these are declining in popularity) I think a lot of people feel less need to be out in the club seen to keep up with everyone else.
Some people will just swipe their way through their phones to get a date. Sometimes all you need to do is send a cheeky friend request and get talking to someone. A few years back you would have not been able to do that. Old mobile phones where just phones and social media sites where barley in existence.
Looking back 2004 would have been closer to 1994 that say it was to 2014 if that makes sense?
rafferty Advanced Member
United Kingdom
639 posts Joined: Feb, 2012
Posted - 2024/07/07 : 02:54:16
I wouldn't even call Stamina a Hardcore label. They were a freeform label which I never bought from.
Not sure if you have been living under a rock but there are literally loads of Hardcore labels still going. Fracus & Darwin started their own independent labels with Music Blocks Media (Fracus) & Brutal Kuts (Darwin).
Here's a list of ones that are still going strong. It's not even all of them.
Then HTID down in Australia got the biggest turn out ever earlier this year for a UK Hardcore Event. Klubfiller & Dougal played to a crowd of 20,000 people.
Smoogie Advanced Member
United Kingdom
6,502 posts Joined: Mar, 2006
Posted - 2024/07/07 : 10:50:16
quote:Originally posted by DJ_FunDaBounce:
quote:Originally posted by Smoogie:
Looking back 2004 would have been closer to 1994 that say it was to 2014 if that makes sense?
yes. in a somewhat deppressing way. lol!
2004 was probably closer to 1984 than it was to 2014 and especially compared to 2024. I mean there would have been no Hardcore in 1984 but there was the 'predecessor' scene somewhere
Sc@r Advanced Member
United Kingdom
663 posts Joined: May, 2013
Posted - 2024/07/08 : 21:08:38
Depends where your looking at for music. Hardcore right now is alive and stronger then its been since before the pandemic! There's so many new artists producing and releasing their own productions on various platforms, line ups are more exciting again with fresh names coming through, there is events all over the country of various sizes and depending what type of raver you are, there is always something going on whether your into your old-school sounds, your harder or underground raves
As a label owner, I am releasing monthly releases from the Scarred Digital family and guest artists, I'm struggling to keep up as they are throwing me so much music that I'm now focusing more on artist albums to showcase these up and coming producers. I'm now running a bi-monthly event which is all about pushing our active and fresh artists with Future Focus and the last 3 have been sold out.
Music is obviously in the eye of the beholder but there is so many subgenres now in hardcore and something for everyone. For me its a very exciting time to apart of the scene, I am more inspired then I have been for a few years and i'm excited to see whats ahead for our scene as its forever evolving
Sc@r Advanced Member
United Kingdom
663 posts Joined: May, 2013
Posted - 2024/07/08 : 21:10:34
quote:Originally posted by rafferty:
I wouldn't even call Stamina a Hardcore label. They were a freeform label which I never bought from.
Not sure if you have been living under a rock but there are literally loads of Hardcore labels still going. Fracus & Darwin started their own independent labels with Music Blocks Media (Fracus) & Brutal Kuts (Darwin).
Here's a list of ones that are still going strong. It's not even all of them.
Then HTID down in Australia got the biggest turn out ever earlier this year for a UK Hardcore Event. Klubfiller & Dougal played to a crowd of 20,000 people.
Legend and thats only some of them! theres alot of independent artists also releasing on bandcamp and various platforms
and ravepool is another big thing to keep an eye out for ;)
warped_candykid Advanced Member
United States
3,961 posts Joined: Jan, 2004
Posted - 2024/07/08 : 21:53:56
Sc@r, I just have to say, you're amazing! I've been slow on getting my Toadette Treasure Tracking Jukebox mixes out, but I have several tracks from your label lined up for some future volumes of my "series". Same with FundeBounce!
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Posted - 2024/07/04 : 08:18:41
