Downtempo - Definition and Overview

Downtempo is a laid-back electronic music style intended more for listening and socializing than dancing, though some releases are danceable in their own right. Often it is named lounge music, but this name also refers to another style of music. The genre draws heavily on dub, hip hop, jazz, funk, soul, and pop and is often confused with closely-related styles like IDM, trip hop, and acid jazz.

Kruder & Dorfmeister from Austria and the Thievery Corporation from the United States are amongst the most known bands of the genre. Both founded their own influential labels: G-stone and Eighteenth Street Lounge. A third important label promoting downtempo music is Stereodeluxe (Germany) and Akara Music (UK) with their artist Glideascope.