Tag Archives: tempa

Rewind Wednesday: Where The Weight Comes From.

Posted by Bassweight Society on

What’s up everybody.  Today we are going to take a little journey back in time.  First we are going to go back to a time when Dubstep was just starting to gain the title ‘Dubstep’, as it began to branch off the Dark Garage that was being made in the late 1990’s – early 2000’s.  From there we will slowly ascend into the later years of the 21st century highlighting tunes that really began to cement Dubstep’s foundation as a musical genre and, most importantly, as a culture.  For some of you this might be preexisting knowledge, and if that’s the case there is nothing wrong with hearing classics one more time, but for some of you this could very well serve as a great history lesson of the music you love.  We believe that regardless of what particular style of Dubstep you fancy, be it the aggressive ear-piercing saw waves, or be it the deeper, spacious, and more meditative sounds, it is important to understand the roots of where it all came from.  So here we go.  Today we have 6 songs for everybody that, in a very incomplete manner, show the evolution of Dubstep.

This first tune is one produced by, arguably, the most influential person in the early formation of Dubstep music.  Lewis Beadle, aka El-b, is a man who has been innovating sounds since the days when we were just elementary youth’s.  Owner of Ghost Recordings and all-around badman, he has been keeping sounds fresh and forward-thinking.  The tune that we have for you today is one from late 2002, titled ‘Buck & Bury’, still has many elements of garage but also shows the emphasis on low-end bass-lines that had began to show in the music.  Just a heads up, the HIGHLY anticipated album, ‘Ghost Chaser’, from Ghost Recordings is due out soon.  This is something you should definitely keep your eyes open for as it will surely be a milestone release for bass music.

El-b ft. Juiceman – Buck & Bury

The second tune is from another frontman of Dubstep.  Running the FWD> nights and spreading music through hand-to-hand exchanges of CD’s, Hatcha was a busy man, as he still is today!  Catch Hatcha alongside Crazy D every Tuesday on Kiss FM 12-1 am.  The tune we have for you from the badman Hatcha is titled ‘Dub Express’ and was released on Tempa back in 2003.  Again, we see that Garage break-style drum sequence, but the bass-line has much more presence.  Lend your ears.

Hatcha – Dub Express

The next track hails from the productions of Digital Mystikz.  Composed of two unrivaled producers, Mala and Coki, this production group has released some of the most prolific tunes in the history of Dubstep.  But these guys are more than just a musical icon.  Their philosophies on life, love, and the spirituality of human being’s is of utmost admiration.  These philosophies show through their music as they incite an immense amount of emotion with each tune.  The one we have for you today is a release from 2004 called ‘Pathways’, released on Big Apple Records.

Digital Mystikz – Pathways

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The next track is one that EVERY SINGLE person who calls themselves a “Dubstep head” should know.  If you don’t know this track just pretend that you do, because not knowing is just embarassing.  The production, titled ‘Midnight Request Line’, is by far one of the largest tunes that was, and still is, ever released.  Coming from the world-acclaimed production of Oliver Jones, aka Skream, this tune perpetually flooded the airways of every radio station exhibiting Dubstep music.  Nuff’ said about this one, just turn the sub up and skank out.  Released 2005.

Skream – Midnight Request Line

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This next one is from the likes of Walsh and Kromestar and is a melodic roller with vibes similar to the Dub music made in the late 1980’s from influences such a King Tubby and Scratch Perry.  This one, released in 2006, is truly a spliff riddim’, despite its title of  ‘Panik Room’.

Walsh & Kromestar – Panik Room

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The final tune that we have for everybody today hails from the deepest dungeons of Dubstep music, the archives of Distance.  This tune, ‘Radical’, gave way to many of the purely evil sounds that have been adopted by so many producers today.  Owner of Chestplate Records and some of the heaviest tunes to reach peoples ears, Distance is one our favorite producers to ever grace this earth.  This one was released in 2007 and is an absolute necessity to any heads’ collection.  Be afraid.

Distance – Radical

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Alright people hope that history lesson broadened your horizons a little bit.  That’s all for today.  Be sure to check back Friday for new heat.

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To the gods.

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-Bassweight Society

7 Questions for Seven : Exclusive Interview with One of UK’s Finest.

Posted by Bassweight Society on

Tonight, Bassweight Society sits down with the badman Eddy Woo, aka Seven.  If you haven’t heard this name circulating around clean your ears out, because Seven’s ability to produce low-frequencies in such a HUGE fashion is hard to miss.  We here at  Bassweight Society recognize the talent that Eddy exhibits and show MAD support for his music.   Receiving a huge amount of support from long-time friend, Youngsta, Eddy’s transition into the dubstep scene was almost inevitable.  Acclaimed by many as one of “…the most technical DJ’s on the market today”, Seven takes his stage performance very seriously.  Eddy is a man who has truly dedicated his ENTIRE life to his music.  Especially lately with his debut album on the verge of release, which we’ll find out more about in our interview.  So lets get down to the business at hand, representing UK Dubstep worldwide across the globe…. Seven from Black Box Records, Wheel & Deal, Tempa and Subway Recs:

BWS:  How do you view the US dubstep scene? and How does it compare to the UK?
  • Seven: It’s kinda become its own thing really. It’s followed suit from the bro-step uprising which came out of the UK, produced by many dnb artists having a try at dubstep. But it varies greatly from the music we are making in the UK now. We have been through that era and although some UK parties and commercial radio stations still play that kinda music, the forward thinking nights and radio shows are all playing true UK dubstep at its finest. I think the sound will catch on in the USA.   As it did in the UK, people will just get bored with the same old noises over n over and the scene there will evolve and reshape.

BWS: What other musical influences outside of dubstep do you incorporate into your productions?

  • Seven: I get asked this a lot. I’m not even really that sure to be honest. I guess my dnb past plays a role in terms of the darkness i like to incorporate into my tunes. That whole 1996 – 1999 era of jungle/dnb shows through in the atmosphere I create in my tracks.
BWS: Listening to your mixing, you have a very technical style.  How do you play out live? and What do you want the audience to take home from your performances?
  • Seven: I use Serato and Technics 1210s. I grew up mixing on decks with vinyl, so it’s the only way I know how to do my thing the best I can.  When was a kid I used to chill with friends after big nights out and talk about tracks, DJ’s and mixes with so much enthusiasm. I hope people talk about me and my tunes like that after they come to see me perform live.  I love to DJ. I want people to enjoy what I do, like I enjoy doing it. It’s what comes natural to me and before any productions, so I put all my heart and soul into my sets. I treat it like a performance, in hope people go home and remember my set and anticipate seeing me again. I try to make the sets as intricate and exciting as I can. I try to make it all about euphoric build ups and big double drops with cutting edge music and future proof vibes.
BWS: What are your favorite production mediums? DAWs? Hardware? Software?
  • Seven: Mac Pro running Logic Pro. Moog and Virus Ti synths. UAD2 QUAD and various plug-ins. Mackie 824mk1 monitors.
BWS: Do you have any side projects in the works?
  • Seven: No, I have literally focused all my time on my album which is due for release anytime soon. I do make other music genres, but I am solely focused on what I’m doing right now. The album.
BWS: What motivated you to switch your sounds up to dubstep?  We know you used to make a lot of well-known drum and bass before your appearance in the dubstep scene.
  • Seven: DJ Youngsta is a close friend of mine. Around 2006 he asked me to make him a track to play in his sets. He knew my productions standards were of a professional level and was keen to hear me make a dubstep track for him. It didn’t take my persuading as I had found my sound to be very formulated in dnb. It felt more like a production line, than a fun vocation. So I went into the studio and made a track I named “Changing Lanes”. Youngsta played it in all of his sets and it encouraged me to make more.  So it was a turning point for me, and a huge one too. I began to make lots more dubstep. It really brought the fun back into production times.   I got caught up in a whirl wind with it after that and had a string of successful releases which cemented my roots into the scene.
BWS: Are there any releases that people should keep their eyes out for in the near future?
  • Seven: Yes. My debut album on Black Box Records. Titled “Evolution” we are just rounding up the project now and we’re hoping we can get it out before the end of the year.   It will feature 13 tracks by myself. No collabs apart from vocals inclusions. But I think people will be pleasantly surprised by who I have chosen. But that’s a surprise. It will be available on both vinyl, CD and digital formats and showcases my sound from all one side of the spectrum to the other.
Seven’s Soundcloud:
There you have it people, from the man himself.  Make sure you keep your eyes out for the full length album from Seven, due out very soon.
A special thanks from BWS to Seven for his support.
-Bassweight Society