Joe Muggs in discussion with Croydon's The World’s Biggest Bass Pioneers
For this panel discussion we have assembled generations of musical mavericks, who will try to get to the bottom of what Croydon life means to them and how it has affected their creative process and understanding of sound.
MAD PROFESSOR was instrumental in bringing British reggae into the digital age, and remains possibly the UK's most renowned reggae producer. Perhaps most famous for his reworkings of Massive Attack (music./albums/selected tunes – or the band – not clear??), he has produced over 200 albums since 1979 and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music. He remains innovative to this day.
Tony Thorpe aka MOODY BOYZ begun recording with the post-punk experimentalists 400 Blows – initially produced by Mad Professor. Since then he has brought an experimental dub sensibility to untold areas of British dance music. From his collaborations with the KLF to his current Studio Rockers dubstep album, he is truly one of the unsung heroes of electronic music.
Arthur Smith – ARTWORK – came of age in the rave years, releasing deep techno as Grain in the late 90s. In the Big Apple shop, he became a mentor to nascent dubstep musicians – particularly the then-teenaged Skream and Benga, with whom he formed the now-massive live project Magnetic Man. His records as Menta also remain vital documents of early dubstep.
DJ CHEF is known in dubstep as the DJ's DJ. With deep roots in Hip Hop b-boy culture, and the jungle explosion of the mid-1990s, his club and pirate radio sets in the 2000s helped establish the dubstep sound – and his DJing and production remains some of the most technically refined yet soulful in the genre. His Ringo and Sub Freq labels are connoisseurs' favourites.
As GOLDIELOCKS, 25-year-old Sarah Akwisombe is proving how the attitude and sonic force of dubstep and grime can be applied to create a new template for 21st century pop. As an accomplished producer (she worked for Mike Skinner's now-defunct The Beats label), songwriter, and stylist, as well as the boss of her own Gut Instinct label, she is no less than a modern musical auteur.
Peter Livingstone needs no introduction to dubstep lovers: as LOEFAH, his involvement with the DMZ club night and label created a hub and inspiration for the scene. His productions remain the touchstone for physical power and fearless minimalism in the sound. Lately though he has been looking to the future too: his Swamp 81 label has provided some of 2010's defining sounds, opening up new rhythms, tempos and possibilities for the dubstep generation.
19th November 6pm FREE with ticket to Croydon Dub Club
Black Sheep Bar 68 High Street Croydon CR0 1NA 020 8680 2233
