While neuro got louder and jump-up got bigger, a smaller group of producers spent the 2010s going the other direction. Minimal DnB. Less stuff per bar, more space, more bass.

The core artists

Skeptical, Sam Binga, Halogenix, the Exit Records crew around dBridge. None of them are household names outside the genre, but their records show up on every other minimal-DnB-focused mix on Soundcloud.

Why it took a while to catch on

Festival stages and large venues do not flatter minimal DnB. The records need a tight room and a good soundsystem. On a big festival main stage they get lost. The genre lives in smaller venues and dedicated late-night sets.

Where to hear it

The 02:30 to 04:00 slot at SELECTA nights when the headliner has finished and the closing DJ takes over. Most close-out DJs reach for the minimal end of the catalogue. The shift is one of the most identifiable moments of a SELECTA night.