REALHARDSTYLE

Hardstyle is an electronic dance music genre mixing influences from hardtrance, hardcore and rave music. The average tempo is between 140 and 160 bpm (beats per minute).

The hardstyle sound typically consists of a “heavy” sounding kick, intense reverse basslines, and “adrenaline-rushing” melodies. It bears some similarities to hard trance. Many hardcore artists produce hardstyle tracks as well.

Hardstyle is mainly produced in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia and Australia.

Contents

1 History
2 Notable Hardstyle related events
3 Notable Hardstyle artists
4 Notable hardstyle labels
5 References
 

1. History
Hardstyle originated from hard trance, gabber and rave music with influences from UK hard house and jumpstyle. The place of origin is believed to be the Netherlands,where the first hardstyle events started near the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000.

In 2007 the style started becoming popular in several countries in the world, including Belgium, Poland, Estonia, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and United Kingdom.

The English sound was very popular in the Netherlands for a short time, but it soon appeared that the Dutch public preferred a harder bassline. Artists like Dana and Pavo & The Prophet combined the English sound with new productions. This sound also gained some popularity in Germany, where it was picked up by the German label Tracid Traxxx (who defined their own sound as a combination of trance and acid), and later also by Blutonium Records and Resident E Recordings.

Afterwards, hardstyle productions briefly became popular in Italy, and later in Germany. Q-Dance organised a monthly event now called the North Sea Venue under the name Qlubtempo, an event which could be called the melting pot of the Hardstyle.

2. Notable Hardstyle related events
Black (formerly Sensation Black)
Qlimax 
3 Notable Hardstyle artists
Abyss & Judge
Activator
Alpha Twins
Blutonium Boy
Brennan Heart (Formerly Brennan & Heart)
Coone
Donkey Rollers
Dozer
D-Block & S-te-Fan
Deepack
DJ Isaac
Dutch Master
Frontliner (aka Abject)
Headhunterz
Josh & Wesz
Max Enforcer
Noisecontrollers
Pavo
Scope DJ
Showtek
Takaewondo
Tatanka
Organ Donors
The Pitcher
Technoboy
The Prophet
The Beholder
Trance Generators
Wildstylez
Zany
Zatox
Q-Wun 

4 Notable hardstyle labels
Activa Records
Dance Pollution
Dutch Master Works
Fusion Records
Q-Dance
Scantraxx
Superplastik
Theracords
Titanic Records
Zanzatraxx