Post by Curt Busch
STREAM: Mary Anne Hobbs: DJ Joker guest mix
Yesterday morning I did two things. I listened to Joker’s new 45-minute guest mix on Mary Anne Hobb’s BBC radio program on my iPod and I put an “I [heart] Vagina” sticker on my laptop. I got the sticker at the Seattle Hempfest and upon receiving the sticker thought “I can agree with this.” I mean, who am I to disagree with this. I mean, I came from a vagina. Actually, I cannot imagine anyone would oppose the sticker’s endorsement and choose to dislike vagina if just for the fact alone that it is responsible for your existence.
So, Hobbs is a BBC radio DJ who seems to break many dubstep/nu-beat artists in the UK and the States on her radio program, which is essential for anyone interested in this kind of music. Dubstep for those of you in the dark is basically a blend of drum and bass, 2-step, garage, glitch and hip-hop – maybe even some minimal techno/dance. It seems like it is called dubstep because the music is traditionally produced at 70 and 140 beats per minute, so you can either bob your head at double-time or at half-time, sort of like Southern rap at a slower pace.
Lately I’ve been thinking “do people dance to dubstep, like really dance?” and I don’t know exactly. The music feels very masculine, like, in a way that implies to me many dudes bobbing their heads at varied paces, geeking out about the DJs skills, vaguely commenting on the heavyness of the bassline and modeling street wear. Although, it seems a lot of girls like to dance to club rap, and that music is about as macho as the man Randy Savage, so who really knows.
It probably should already have been noted that Joker makes really great music. Loud beats with hard drums, skilled synth melodies and sharp arrangements. He also spins records really well. I missed his show in Seattle in late 2009, but he played a popular dance club, so probably, in fact, dubstep must be great dancing music. Access the link at the top of this article to form your own hypotheses.
Before I even finish reading yr first post I have to mention what happened to me today: This white dude with hella-curly hair (don’t know why that’s important) asked about dubstep within earshot — saying his little brother is obsessed with it; a pretty telling interaction actually; he was also asking about vinyl in general, which is always nice to hear; get it, hear? — and I realized how little I know about this stuff. I did recommend Major Lazer but that’s hardly sufficient for a guy that’s supposed to have his finger not only ON but IN the pulse … I’m glad you’re here to make up for my ignorance …
yeah, not too keen on Major Lazer but i guess its cuz im not too interested in Diplo doing dancehall dubs or whatever. Skream, Rustie, Gemmy, Guido, and Joker are tops, and also prove UK DJs don’t get too creative in naming themselves
see I don’t know any of those dudes, and not by choice. maybe we should do a co-post on this stuff (hit both ends of the spliff, as it were)
So, i’ve been following joker for a while, at least since i heard ‘holly brook park’. And I dont really consider the man pure dubstep. I feel he’s more west coast g-funk evil synth by way of crisp garage drum beats melodic shit in your face. I caught his show in denver last april and people were dancing for sure. Well at least they were more swaying then having seizures to the beat. But, it wasnt like the dancing at a caspa or 16 bit shit– its hard to dance to just the evil electro wobble. And i guess thats why i like joker so much– he’s really about the melody (props to james blake as well for being another cat who is exploring the melodic possibilities) and everything else that entails, the dedication and vision to pursue a unique sound.
Cuz nobody else sounds like him.
You get a feel for that around 3:09 on the mary anne mix.
ooh, I’ll be interested to see what Curt thinks about this (the Joker post was his). As I’ve mentioned, I’m slow on the take regarding this whole 16-bit/post-g-funk/dubstep thing so I have to defer to C. Busch. I do, however, like what I’ve heard so far.
Thanks for the comment Zach W.! (Why does your full name sound so familiar to me?)
@zack – you’re right. joker (along with bristol’s ‘purple trinity’ – Guido and Gemmy) are more of a hybrid. they are adding grime and a strong melodic sound which, by definition, is the antithesis of dubstep, but they still keep that double rhythm.
i think the new glasgow cats (Rustie, Hudson Mohawke, Mike Slott) are doing the same w/ maybe more of a southern rap feel whereas, yeah, Joker and the bristol gang are g-funk’d out. its all very american influenced i think, which probably turns off UK drum heads.
dub step is kind of stupid name as it is. not even sure it exists in its original form anymore (which originted from who? from El-B maybe?) although Burial has revitalized the early century london 2-step thing and i haven’t checked out the new Skream yet and that kid sticks to dark, rigid dubs as well.
ACID G-FUNK!!!