Plastician

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Plastician
Plastician at Beauty Bar.jpg
Plastician
Background information
Birth nameChris Reed
Also known asPlasticman
Born (1982-10-30) 30 October 1982 (age 40)
Origin Croydon, London, England
Genres Dubstep, grime, breakstep
Occupation(s)DJ, producer
Years active1999–present
LabelsTerrorythm Recordings, ROAD, Slimzos, Soulja, Trouble & Bass, Owsla

Chris Reed (born 30 October 1982), also known as Plastician (formerly Plasticman), is an electronic musician from Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon.

Contents

History

Plastician, real name Chris Reed is a DJ from Croydon in South London. He began playing UK garage records in 2000, playing early shows in the local area of Croydon. Reed began to take interest in the darker side of the sound, specialising in sets featuring tracks from the likes of Wookie, Zed Bias, El-B, Groove Chronicles, Steve Gurley and working alongside MCs Tricks & Spellz as part of the "Fearless Crew". They held radio slots on South London's inconsistent pirate station "Desire FM" before moving to 2GFM before the split of Fearless Crew in 2002. It was then that Reed was to begin using the name Plasticman for future works, which he later changed to Plastician due to the similarity to Canadian-British techno artist Richie Hawtin's "Plastikman". [1]

Toward the middle of 2001, Reed had been experimenting with production on FruityLoops. Being based in Croydon, Reed was part of a close-knit community of young producers attempting to make dark garage tracks that would catch the ear of Big Apple Records resident DJ Hatcha so that he could support them on his popular pirate radio show. [2] Other young producers in this circle included Skream and Benga, amongst more experienced heads Artwork / Menta, Benny Ill & Horsepower Productions. By the end of 2001, although Plasticman's tracks were somewhat overlooked by DJ Hatcha, they were however picked up by East London Grime pioneer, DJ Slimzee. Slimzee signed Reed's first 12" release (Venom / Shockwave) to his Slimzos imprint which was released early into 2002.

By 2003, Reed had been supported by DJ Hatcha on tracks such as Hard Graft, which saw his grimy take on the instrumental sound being welcomed by the FWD contingent, leading to releases on Ammunition Promotions' Soulja, and ROAD imprints, a weekly slot on Rinse FM alongside Mark One (MRK1) & Virus Syndicate, and in the summer saw Reed's first appearance at the world-famous FWD event at Plastic People, London. Soon after, Reed had established himself as a FWD favourite and was announced as one of 4 residents at the club in 2004, alongside Dubstep royalty, DJ Hatcha, Youngsta and Rinse FM owner, DJ Geeneus. [3]

In 2006, Reed was offered a slot on BBC Radio 1's "The Residency". This soon turned into "In New DJ's We Trust". This was the tipping point for an ongoing legal struggle which forced him to change his name from Plasticman to Plastician. [4] He spent 18 months on the station before returning to Rinse FM to continue his weekly slot, which he had been continuing under the alias "Blue Stripe" during his time at the BBC. He returned to the airwaves on Rinse FM alongside MC Nomad.

2007 saw the release of "Beg to Differ", Reed's debut LP and his first release under the Plastician moniker. It received critical acclaim, and contains some of Reed's most recognisable works such as "Japan" and "Intensive Snare" with North London MC Skepta of Boy Better Know. [5]

Plastician also played a role in putting together the "Cashmere Agency Presents Mr. Grustle & Tha Russian Dubstep LA Embrace The Renaissance Vol.1 Mixed by Dj Plastician" mixtape that was released in June 2009. The tracks were curated by Plastician and featured Dubstep and Hip Hop collaborations involving Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and more. Plastician is unique in that he is respected as one of the true pioneers of both the Dubstep and Grime genres.

Terrorhythm Recordings

Plastician runs his own record label, Terrorhythm Recordings, formed in 2002. Best known for signing both Om Unit and Joker's first releases as well as releasing Plastician's critically acclaimed Beg to Differ album, it also saw early releases from Macabre Unit, Maniac, Crissy Criss, and Mark One. Moving into more recent times, the label has broadened its sonic palate – as has Plastician. Terrorhythm currently represents some of the most exciting young musicians associated with today's future beats movement, housing artists such as AWE, GANZ, Louis Futon and Krane among others within its ranks; many of whom have been releasing on the label since their debut releases. [6] More recently, Plastician has been exploring the experimental trap offshoot, wave music for which his "Wavepool" mixes have become recognized as the main reference point for the birth of the genre. [7] He has recruited artists representing the wave sound such as Noah B, Sorsari, Deadcrow, Glacci, & Yedgar to release via Terrorhythm and bring the underground internet sound to new ears from 2016 onward.

Terrorhythm Recordings releases

YearNo.ArtistTitle
2003TERR001Mark OneFight / Fight (Plasticman Remix)
2004TERR002PlasticmanCha EP
TERR003Value Beats EP
TERR004Macabre UnitLift Off EP
2008TERR005 Joker Top of the Game EP
2010TERR006 Crissy Criss Blow Your Head Off / Humans
TERR007 Maniac Thug / Wreckage
TERR008 Om Unit The Corridor EP
2011TERR009Psy:am & StinkahbellDon't Tell Mum About Ibiza
2012TERR010PlasticianStraight Outta Croydon EP
TERR011Stinkahbell & Psy:amHot Poo
TERR012StinkahbellFilm Noir EP
2013TERR013MojoBlues EP
TERR014AWEEagle Soul EP
TERR015AlexandreDead Silent EP
TERR016Anton FCrimson EP
TERR017Louis FutonDozing / Plastic
TERR018GANZPurple Cwtch EP
TERR019Curl UpMissed U EP
2014TERR020AWECrystals
TERR021Skit & TijaniSweat
TERR022VarsityGrunt / Lingerer Dub
TERR023JD. ReidManeki Neko EP
TERR024Parkinson White & Kyle CookSapphire EP
TERR025Deon CustomBliss EP
TERR026KRNEZero Zero One EP
TERR027PlasticianPlasticman Remastered
TERR028Plasticman Remixed I
TERR029Plasticman Remixed II
TERR030Plasticman Remixed III
TERR031AWEGriffin
2015TERR032Color PlusMangata Sequence EP
TERR033GunkstBodied EP
TERR034GANZDino War EP
TERR035Anton FIndigo EP
TERR036MaceLove Songs EP
TERR037BeauDamianPleione EP
TERR038SkulsLost Knowledge EP
TERR039PlasticianSorcery
TERR040Patrick Brian8 Months EP
2016TERR041Noah BNight's Edge EP
TERR042MaceTouch Me (2XA Remix)
TERR043PlasticianDo What You Feel
TERR044GlacciLucid EP
TERR045ZEKE BEATSMeltdown EP
TERR046DeadcrowNight Wonder EP
TERR047SosariWorlds Away EP
TERR048SkulsTransient EP
TERR049Terminal EP
TERR050CelaenoThe Celaeno EP
2017TERR051ONHELLNoself EP
TERR052Klasey JonesForeign Buyers Club EP
TERR053DeadcrowLight Trails EP
TERR054Patrick BrianStrings & Squares EP
TERR055Various ArtistsPlastician Presents - Wavepool 2
TERR056GlacciLifeforce LP
TERR057Klasey JonesEleven LP
TERR059CompaAwow EP
2018TERR058Om UnitThe Corridor (Remixes)
TERR060FlechewaveKinetics EP
TERR061Klasey JonesStarlight One EP
TERR062PlasticianOverdue EP
TERR063Boy RacersExit Strategy EP
TERR064PlasticianAnyway EP
2019TERR065Klasey JonesBlood Money EP
TERR066Rapture 4D & gl00myGreen Boson EP
TERR067Vexxy & JatoNight Shift / Nylon
TERR068Klasey JonesArrival EP
TERR069ONHELLGraveyard Shift
TERR070Kill Your Self Doubt EP
TERR071Tracksuit GothBlacksmith EP
2020TERR072Juche & PlasticianeNight (Revisited)
TERR073PlasticianDeep In The Drives
TERR074Mod SensHollow E.P.
TERR075PlasticianProcess
TERR076Various ArtistsPlastician Presents - Wavepool 3
2021TERR077YedgarLife Cycle E.P.

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References

  1. ""I was going to close it off, get a job, I'd had enough": self-help tapes, lovemaking music and the redemption of Plastician". Factmag.com. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. Joseph 'JP' Patterson (24 June 2013). "Joseph 'JP' Patterson: MTV IGGY: Plastician: "It Feels Like I'm Starting All Over Again"". Josephjppatterson.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. "The VICE Oral History of Dubstep". Vice.com. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. Dave Jenkins (24 September 2014). "Flashback: Five Big Moments In The Life Of Plastician". Ukf.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. "Exclusive Interview: Plastician talks to RWD backstage after his set at Ibiza Rocks Hotel | RWD". Rwdmag.com. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. "MTV News At Snowbombing 2013: Plastician Interview | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  7. "Has Plastician Just Uncovered A New Genre? | News | Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.