By the turn of the millennium, the London dance music underground was changing rapidly. As the innovation in genres like jungle and garage waned, fans and artists alike grew tired of the breakbeat-led aggression of the former and the flashy aesthetics of the latter. Looking for something fresh and different to coalesce around, these outsiders started making 140BPM beats that went back to the fundamentals of soundsystem culture: bass, space and togetherness.
In London, a handful of producers, DJs and music lovers created connections through Croydon’s legendary Big Apple Records store; playing the instrumental b-sides of garage records, without the MC, as main tracks in their own right. Horsepower Productions, El-B, Groove Chronicles, Zed Bias and DJ Zinc were some of the foundational acts in this moment. Taking inspiration from the darker elements of garage and jungle, as well as Jamaican dub and Detroit techno, the sound of dubstep emerged alongside grime as the UK underground’s hottest new sound.
Leading the way with dubstep were DJs and producers such as Mala, Skream, Benga, Hatcha, Youngsta, Loefah, Coki, Kode9 and Artwork. They cut this darker, stripped back sound to dubplate, played it at parties like FWD>> and DMZ, and spread the word on pirate radio stations like Rinse FM. UK labels like Big Apple, Hyperdub, DMZ, Swamp81, Tectonic Recordings, Tempa, Hotflush Recordings, Skull Disco, Hessle Audio, Planet Mu and DEEP MEDi MUZIK innovated the sound, while major events such as BBC Radio 1’s Dubstep Warz, and Caspa and Rusko’s Fabriclive.37 DJ mix CD broadcast played a role in thrusting dubstep into the international spotlight.
By the late 2000s, global file-sharing culture and new social media platforms had spread dubstep to North America, Europe and beyond. Dubstep’s impact in America, in particular, has been seismic. American kids who fell in love with dubstep’s increasingly uptempo, energetic direction were among the first wave of EDM acts that transformed American popular culture. Most notably, Skrillex rose to prominence, crediting UK dubstep as a key part of his musical journey. Over the last 20 years, dubstep has evolved into myriad sub-genres and inspired artists to push deeper into EDM territory — with high-definition digital sounds like riddim — or take it back to the UK source, and focus on the possibilities of bass and space, drawing from garage and dub influences.
In 2025, the underground dubstep sound is in good health, and a new generation of DJs and producers, some of whom grew up listening to the original dubstep sound, have been reshaping the genre in their image. Dive into this collection of new tracks — featuring SICARIA, Mia Koden, BAKEY, Main Phase, Flava D, Skream, Benga, Coki and more — and listen to the contemporary sound of dubstep, from the UK and beyond.
LISTEN TO THE NEW ERA DUBSTEP PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
Main Phase, “Temporal Shift”
Danish DJ/producer Main Phase makes a contemporary blend of dubstep and garage. This EP dropped on Darwin’s SP:EC label.
SICARIA, Emz, Lou Nour, “MOVING FWD>>”
London’s SICARIA links with MC Emz for this grime-tinged dubstep track from SICARIA’s 2025 ‘ANTI NIHILO’ EP.
Flava D, Stush, “Energy”
DJ/producer Flava D and vocalist Stush collaborate on this high energy track, which dropped in 2025 on UKF.
Hamdi, Issey Cross, “Nightmares”
Breakout UK DJ/producer Hamdi links with vocalist Issey Cross on this dancefloor-ready track. His latest EP, ‘Abomination,’ dropped in 2025.
Sub Focus, bbyclose, “On & On (Taiki Nulight Remix)”
Taiki Nulight delivers a subtle dubstep remix of this soaring track by legacy drum & bass producer Sub Focus and vocalist bbyclose. You can hear more about Taiki Nulight’s career journey on this episode of Sound Advice here.
Skream & Benga, “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait”
Two of dubstep’s original artists, Skream and Benga, collaborate on this 2025 track, which blends their classic dubstep with trance and rave elements.
Coki, “Not Today”
One-third of London dubstep trio DMZ, Coki delivered this old school, buzzsaw track from the vaults for Tempa.
Caspa, Ternion Sound, “Never Serious”
UK DJ/producer Caspa makes a Transatlantic connection with Minneapolis artist Ternion Sound on this heavy 2025 track.
Subtronics, “Stratosphere”
Philadelphia DJ/producer Subtronics dropped this arena-ready track on his 2025 album, ‘Fibonacci.’ You can hear more about the album and Subtronics’ journey through dubstep on his episode of Sound Advice.
SHOSH, “Count That”
SHOSH is a garage DJ/producer who crosses over into the 140BPM dubstep sound. This track dropped in late 2025.
A Hundred Drums, “Fearless”
LA-based DJ/producer A Hundred Drums dropped her latest EP on Subtronics’ label, Cyclops Recordings.
Mia Koden, “Movements”
UK DJ/producer Mia Koden dropped her latest EP, ‘Keep It Steppin,’ in 2025. Her sound is influenced by the old school halfstep sound.
Beatrice M., “Dresscode”
A rising name in dubstep’s new school, Beatrice M. dropped this track via her latest EP, 2025’s ‘Eurotrash,’ released on Tempa.
Carré, “Body Shell”
The iconic UK dubstep label Tempa continue their comeback streak with the ‘Body Shell’ EP from DJ/producer Carré.
HØST, “Push”
Drum & bass producer HØST leans into the dubstep darkness on this track for Incursion Audio.
Wraz & Substance, “LV-426”
Producers Wraz and Substance collaborate on this track from their 2025 ‘Nostromo’ EP, for Artikal Music.
Kercha, “Mind Extraction”
Russian producer Kercha dropped this track on DNO Records, taken from his 2025 EP, ‘Protection.’
BAKEY, “BACKROOMS”
A key figure in the current 140BPM scene, Manchester’s Bakey blends dark garage and dubstep. His latest album, ‘Tribute,’ dropped in 2025.
Die By The Sword, “Swerve”
Denver-based Die By The Sword dropped this latest, rumbling track in 2025, on UK DJ/producer Enigma Dubz’s Morii Records.
MYTHM & Combine, “Scarface”
Leaning into the maximalist, tougher side of dubstep, this track by US artists MYTHM and Combine came out via UKF in 2025.
Klinical, “Answer”
UK drum & bass producer Klinical moves into dubstep territory on this spacious 2025 track.
White Pony, Riko Dan, Flowdan, “Do It Like Me
Two legendary UK MCs, Riko Dan and Flowdan, ride this heavy beat produced by White Pony.
En:vy, “Alert”
Austrian producer En:vy blends minor key dubstep melodies and 140BPM beats with a drum & bass edge for Critical Music.
PEEKABOO, borne, “Want It”
Detroit’s PEEKABOO brings a hard Midwestern edge to dubstep, as exemplified on this track with Montreal’s borne.
Seek:id, Delta, “181”
London’s Seek:id dropped this track on Macrocell Records, which focuses on dark, 140BPM dance music.
Bukkha, “Abstract”
Spanish producer Bukkha dropped this track on his latest EP, ‘Solace,’ which he released via French label Five Alley.
Rotate, “Natural Combination”
On this 2025 track, from his EP ‘Ace of Hate,’ DJ/producer Rotate represents the Gemini Gemini label.
Woven Thorns, “The Pain Of Infinity”
Blending drone and experimental ambience into the dubstep blueprint, LA-based Woven Thorns brings the drama on her ‘Devour’ EP for Ruins.
SHASHOU, “XKV”
Florida-based DJ/producer SHASHOU is part of the riddim sub-genre, a digital, high impact evolution of US dubstep.
DOUVELLE19, “Skin to Skin (Club Mix)” feat. Kaisha
Welsh DJ/producer Douvelle19, known for his upbeat remixes, dropped his album, ‘Love Me Not,’ in 2025.
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