Downtempo is a genre of electronic music that – as the name suggests – is set to a slower tempo (usually 120 bpm or less). The mood of downtempo is mellow and typically more conducive to relaxing and/or socializing than dancing. The terms “lounge music” or “chill out” are sometimes used loosely to refer to downtempo, but downtempo is actually a genre that encompasses a broader range of music than those two terms alone would indicate.
While downtempo was only recently established as a genre in its own right(sometime in the early to mid-90s); its roots can be traced back much earlier to the origins of ambient, a closely related style of music. The term “ambient” was first used in the late 70s by Brian Eno to characterize a style of music that would envelope, but not impose itself upon, its listeners.
Early ambient music was typically dreamy and without a beat; but in the late 80s and early 90s, ambient was influenced by genres such as dub, hip hop, house, jazz, techno, and others. It was in the midst of this melting pot of musical styles in the 90s that a strain of ambient evolved in the distinct direction of modern downtempo.
Today, an entire culture has emerged in association with downtempo. It is a culture closely tied to the scenes in trendy lounges, bars, and clubs in urban communities throughout the world.