We throw the term downtempo quite a lot around here, but in every discussion that involves more than 2 people on the team, I've realized that it is quite difficult to align on what exactly the genre entails. Hence, I thought of digging around and read what other people on the internet say.
While there are hundreds of obscure genres (Black MIDI, I am looking at you), downtempo music is fairly out there. So much, that most of the distributors and major players in the field like Spotify and Apple Music have their own category with that name.
Origins and History of Downtempo Music
The way I understand downtempo music, is basically a more beat-driven and focused ambient music with a slow-paced beat and BPM in the 90 - 110 range. People often use trip-hop as a synonym, but I feel there are 2 schools of thought.
Downtempo is the kind of music you could play both as a background soundtrack to whatever chill thing you do at home, but also as warm-up music before a live show or in the early hours in a bar. Its slowness and melody-heavy build-ups make it the perfect end of a set in case you're playing in the early hours of the day as the sun is slowly making its way up.
I often find that downtempo music has this scent of mysticism around it. Not that it's a must, but a lot of artists find inspiration in the Asian and Middle-Eastern cultures. Just a pure observation.
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Genre's origins are intertwined with the wave of slow-paced electronic music that has gained popularity in the late '80s and early '90s. With the rise of the Ibiza rave culture mid to late '90s, DJs had brought this popularity by playing such music towards the end of their sets, just like I mentioned a few paragraphs up in this article. That's around the time when the popularity of downtempo, chillout, and ambient electronic music truly gained popularity amongst the masses. I believe that's the time when the term electronica was born and it basically served the purpose of combining all of those similarly vibed genres.
[ Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Lofi House ]
Best Downtempo Artists
I think one can not talk about downtempo and leave Thievery Corporation out of the discussion. I got into downtempo music much later in my life, but even in my post-hardcore period in the early 2000s, I was already enjoying the music of the DC electronic duo. That being said, I credit Bonobo's Days To Come as my personal reason, and the first time I heard about this genre. While I have you, Lu wrote an awesome guide of all of his albums ranked, in case you feel like reading something much better written than this piece..
My love for Bonobo sparkled looking into Massive Attack, Zero 7, Boards of Canada and RJD2. The rest is history.
If you’re into downtempo, chill out, instrumental hip hop, trip hop, or anything in between, I've made a list of my top 10 favourite artists downtempo nowadays, regardless of their... freshness?
- Bonobo
- Tycho
- Catching Flies
- Nightmares on Wax
- Bibio
- Quantic
- Little People
- Zero 7
- Boards of Canada
- Massive Attack
- Thievery Corporation
- RJD2
- Emancipator
Best Downtempo Playlists
Finally, the time for selfish self-promotion ad I'll start with our Ambient Space selection, which I carefully curate. Yes, that's lots more than just downtempo, but I bet you'll love it.
Just like the genre is prone to rather expansive "reading", when looking for downtempo playlists you might find very different sounds. Still, the feeling of slow-paced chill is definitely pervasive.
For Spotify users, I would recommend their Downtempo Beats editorial and while it hasn't been updated in a while, I love the selection on it. I'll throw in Night Shift in here too.
If you're looking for something more mystic and deep house-influenced, stop by Joanna Hengstebeck's Downtempo Deep Electronica. For those of you who are on the journey to achieving pure zen, then my go-to playlist is Liquid Beats' Downtempo Chill, a selection that's quite frequently refreshed with some of the most relaxing chilled out sounds out there. Last, but not least - our friends from S!X Music and their downtempo / trip-hop selection.
In case you're Apple Music playlist, I absolutely love their Pure Focus. I think their description says it all.
Sharpen your senses with this mix of introspective electronic soundscapes.
I frequently check The Lounge too, and while it's a bit more mixed, it often covers a lot of downtempo music.
Here's a mix of downtempo indie rock, jazzy electronic, and outré hip-hop that holds the vibe without rocking the boat. Whether you're reading, cooking, or just laying back and chilling out, put this on and let it ride.
Best Downtempo Albums
Personally, I always find those lists subjective, but here are some records that will forever be my go-to when it comes to downtempo.
Bonobo - Days To Come
Yeah, no surprise here, as that was my eye-opening release. For a long, long time I actually thought the whole circle were just rolls of toilet paper. Yeah, I know.
The album's "Intro" is the best way to explain what's ahead of you. Drenched in mysticism, the 50 seconds transport the listener into far away land. The record is packed with vocal-driven downtempo and trip-hop, and Bajka's singing truly shines and is a major reason to fall in love with Days To Come. That being said, my favourite track on the album is "The Fever". Feeling very bossa nova-ish every time I listen to it.
Tycho - Dive
Tycho's first 2 albums are definitely a great prelude to ambient-driven downtempo. I will never forget the day we interviewed Scott Hansen back in 2014. Past Is Prologue and Dive have gotten me out of anxiety many times.
Tycho is definitely on the more uplifting side of the downtempo spectrum and not the typical music you would expect on the early hours of an Ibiza set, but still - a high-mark when it come to slow-paced electronic music.
Thievery Corporation - Richest Man In Babylon
The list can go on forever, but I can't leave out Thievery's 2002 Richest Man In Babylon. Listening to "Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes" featuring Emiliana Torrini's vocals feels as if I'm being sun-kissed and life instantly becomes light.
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