Skream

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Skream
Skream at Metropolis Leeds.jpg
Skream at Metropolis in Leeds, 2009
Background information
Birth nameOliver Dene Jones
Born (1986-06-01) 1 June 1986 (age 37)
West Wickham, London, England
Origin Croydon, South London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • musician
Instruments
Years active2003–present
Labels
Member of Magnetic Man

Oliver Dene Jones (born 1 June 1986), known as Skream, is an English electronic music producer based in Croydon. [1] Skream has released records on several British record labels, such as Tempa, Tectonic, and Big Apple Records, [2] and has performed throughout Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan, [3] as well as the UK. [4] Skream is considered an early and influential exponent of the dubstep genre. [5] [6]

Contents

Skream and longtime collaborators Artwork and Benga co-founded a music group called Magnetic Man. [7] Their debut album, Magnetic Man was released in 2010.

Origins

Jones was born in West Wickham, Bromley, London. [8] As a teenager, he worked at Big Apple Records, a Croydon-based record store that was at the centre of the early dubstep scene; even prior to this, Jones had become acquainted with Hatcha, another dubstep pioneer, because Jones' brother worked on an adjacent floor in Big Apple Records. [8] As a result of this encounter, Hatcha was the first DJ to play Skream dubplates. [1]

He began producing music at the age of 15, [8] (using FruityLoops) [1] and later claimed to have roughly 8,000 tracks in various stages of development. [9] He reports that he was frequently truant when he was a teenager, and spent a considerable amount of time at Big Apple Records. On occasion he attended FWD, a club night that was first hosted at the Velvet Rooms, but which moved to Plastic People in Shoreditch.

Career

Skream's early productions were stark and sinister works he co-produced with another frequenter of Big Apple, Benga. [10] Together, they produced several tracks that Big Apple Records published on two EPs: The Judgment in 2003, and Hydro in 2004.

Skream in July 2009 Skream.jpg
Skream in July 2009

One of his first solo singles, 2005's "Midnight Request Line," has been credited as a key factor in the evolution of a more melodic sound in the dubstep music. [10] Justin Hampton of the LA Times called the track "dubstep's most recognizable crossover hit". [11] and has been praised by producers as diverse as grime producer Wiley, and minimal techno producer Ricardo Villalobos. [12] A writer for The Wire wrote that the song has "an epic change of key and tempo that recall[s] the classicist mannerisms of Derrick May." [13]

As dubstep attracted the attention of mainstream media outlets such as The Guardian [5] and Pitchfork Media , [6] Jones' music started to diverge from the darker, UK garage-influenced sound of early dubstep artists such as Horsepower Productions, and to incorporate elements of dub and house music. [10]

In 2006, after producing several singles, he released his first full-length album, Skream! , considered to be one of the more influential entries in the early dubstep period. [14] Around the same time, he began hosting a weekly Rinse FM show called Stella Sessions. [15] In 2010, Benga joined the broadcast, which was renamed The Skream and Benga Show. [16]

In 2007, "Angry" and "Colourful" from Skream! , as well as an exclusive mix, were featured in the E4 teen drama Skins. This marked the first instance dubstep was featured on television. [17] Skream was also featured on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix that same year. [18]

In September 2008, Harmless released Watch the Ride, an album mixed by Skream. On 2 October 2008 Skream featured in a fly-on-the-wall German TV show Durch die Nacht mit … alongside drum and bass artist Goldie. In this, Skream stated that he currently had writer's block, but he was working on music in other genres, also mentioning a possible Skream & Goldie collaboration.

Writing for The Guardian in 2009, music journalist Tim Jonze attributed the success of La Roux's single "In for the Kill" to Skream's remix, "Let's Get Ravey". [19]

In the summer of 2010, Tempa Records released Skream's second album, Outside the Box . Spin magazine rated the album 7 out of 10. [20] Later that year, further commercial success was seen through the release of Magnetic Man, the debut album under the live electronic music project with fellow dubstep pioneers Benga and Artwork. The album peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart [21] and its lead single, "I Need Air" reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. [22]

In January 2011, he and Benga left Rinse to replace Alex Metric in his 'In New DJs We Trust' slot on BBC Radio 1. The duo was eventually given a weekly slot on Radio 1, which began in April 2012.

Jones has worked with many prominent pop artists. In addition to La Roux, he has produced for and collaborated with the likes of Kelis, Miles Kane, and Chromeo, [23] as well as Katy B and John Legend as part of Magnetic Man.

In response to his success, Jones launched his Skreamizm tour to offer himself a change of pace from arena and festival performances, opting to play three-hour sets in small clubs. These shows saw a greater incorporation of disco, house, and techno in his sets. Productions from this time period increasingly veered away from dubstep into these various genres, seen in tracks such as "Sticky," "Bang That" and "Kreepin'". He addressed the change in direction on his Twitter [24] and in interviews, noting that he was inspired to do more varied sets by the likes of Jackmaster. [25] In March 2013, he contributed a house mix to Pete Tong's All Gone Miami 2013 on Defected Records, a leading house label that releases yearly compilations dedicated to Miami and Ibiza. Resident Advisor wrote that with the release, he gained "entry to one of the most established institutions in house music." [26]

In 2023, Skream returned to the stage with Benga and SGT Pokes for the first time in 10 years at the fabric club in London. Following this show, additional shows were announced for April 2024, to be held at The Black Box in Denver, Colorado. [27]

Personal life

In July 2011, Jones had his first child, a son. [28]

Jones is the brother of jungle DJ Hijak. [29]

Discography

Solo albums

With Magnetic Man

Related Research Articles

UK bass, also called bass music, is club music that emerged in the United Kingdom during the mid-2000s under the influence of diverse genres such as house, grime, dubstep, UK garage, R&B, and UK funky. The term "UK bass" came into use as artists began ambiguously blending the sounds of these defined genres while maintaining an emphasis on percussive, bass-led rhythm.

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the early 2000s. The style emerged as a UK garage offshoot that blended 2-step rhythms and sparse dub production, as well as incorporating elements of broken beat, grime, and drum and bass. In the United Kingdom, the origins of the genre can be traced back to the growth of the Jamaican sound system party scene in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastician</span> Musical artist

Chris Reed, also known as Plastician, is an electronic musician from Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon.

Tempa is a garage and dubstep music label founded in 2000 by Neil Jolliffe, who also coined the term "dubstep" in 2002.

<i>Skream!</i> 2006 studio album by Skream

Skream! is the self-titled, debut album by dubstep producer Skream. It was released in 2006 on the Tempa label. The album is considered to be an important stepping stone for dubstep. BBC Music described it as having "accelerated dubstep’s transformation from hyped underground scene to [a] sort of influential [genre]", as it fuzes more "old-school rave" sounds with more accessible "pop" sounds. The album predates the highly popular and influential dubstep works by producers such as Skrillex, sometimes disparagingly referred to as "brostep". It essentially serves as an accessible entry into "classic dubstep".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benga (musician)</span> British musician

Adegbenga Adejumo, known as Benga, is a British musician from Croydon, known for being a pioneer of dubstep record production. He has been featured on a variety of compilations including Mary Anne Hobbs's Warrior Dubz, Tempa's The Roots of Dubstep and the BBC Radio 1Xtra anniversary mix.

Horsepower Productions are an English electronic music duo, initially a larger musical collective who released experimental garage recordings, and helped pioneer the dubstep genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rinse FM</span> London-based radio station, critical in the emergence of dubstep and grime

Rinse FM is a London-based community radio station, licensed for "young people living and/or working within the central, east and south London areas". It plays garage, grime, dubstep, house, jungle, UK funky and other dance music genres popular in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnetic Man</span> British electronic music project

Magnetic Man is an English electronic music project from London, consisting of dubstep producers and DJs Benga, Skream and Artwork. The trio first met in the late 1990s at the Big Apple Records store in Croydon. They performed using three computers, one playing drum samples, one playing basses and the third playing leads and other samples. Artwork controlled the master laptop, to which the other two are synchronised via MIDI. Their sets usually consisted of a mix of original tracks produced together, and live remixes of Benga and Skream's tracks, accompanied by synchronised projected visuals by Novak Collective. They signed to Columbia Records in 2010. Magnetic Man completed their first full-length sellout tour on 5 November 2010. Their self-titled debut studio album, Magnetic Man, was released through Sony by Columbia Records on 10 October 2010.

Geiom a.k.a. Hem, is a Nottingham based producer, live electronic musician and DJ. He is also the owner of the Berkane Sol label. He was known for being part of a group of producers along with 2562 and Shackleton who blended techno, garage and dubstep.

<i>Diary of an Afro Warrior</i> 2008 studio album by Benga

Diary of an Afro Warrior is the second album by dubstep producer Benga. Released in 2008 it was met with favourable reviews and has been credited – along with fellow Tempa artist, Skream – with introducing the genre to a more mainstream audience.

Tectonic is a British electronic music label, founded and run by Rob Ellis (Pinch) which focuses primarily on dubstep and its related genres. As one of the founding dubstep labels, alongside Tempa, DMZ, Hyperdub, and Hotflush, Tectonic became a focal point for the Bristol scene, as well as introducing artists and releases that were among the first to bridge a gap between dubstep and techno.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katy on a Mission</span> 2010 single by Katy B

"Katy on a Mission" is a song performed by British recording artist Katy B. It was released by Rinse accompanied by a B-side titled "Louder" as her debut single and lead single from her debut album, On a Mission, on 22 August 2010. The song was co-written by Benga, Katy B and Geeneus, and produced by Benga. Musically, the song is constructed around beats, synths and a bassline found most prominent in the dubstep music genre. It achieved charting success in the United Kingdom where it topped the UK Dance Chart and UK Indie Chart while peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. The single was accompanied by a music video which was directed by Johny Mourgue.

<i>On a Mission</i> (Katy B album) 2011 studio album by Katy B

On a Mission is the debut studio album by British singer Katy B. The album was released on 1 April 2011, by Rinse and Columbia Records and in the United States on 13 September. Katy worked with producers and writers DJ Zinc, Benga, and Rinse FM founder Geeneus. Katy had been recording songs for the album since June 2007 and continued recording for three years until December 2010. The album was heavily influenced by the singer's life experiences and her journey into the music world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Getting Nowhere</span> 2011 single by Magnetic Man featuring John Legend

"Getting Nowhere" is a song by English electronic music project Magnetic Man featuring American singer John Legend. It is the third single to be released from their debut album Magnetic Man. It was released on 18 February 2011. It only managed to peak to number 65 on the UK Singles Chart but had some success in Flanders where it reached number four. The song was also used in a Sony PlayStation Move advert in November 2011.

Oliver Dene Jones, known as Skream, is an English electronic music producer based in Croydon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Hatcha</span> British producer and DJ

Terry Leonard, better known as DJ Hatcha or simply Hatcha, is a South London producer and DJ notable for his seminal work in the musical genre dubstep. He is divorced from defected DJ Sam Divine. He had a regular show on the prominent pirate radio station Rinse FM in the early 2000s, before bringing dubstep to a wider audience with his regular show on mainstream radio station Kiss FM.

Rowan Tyler Jones, known by his stage name Route 94, is an English record producer and remixer from Richmond, London. Initially producing dubstep as Dream, Jones worked with the likes of Skream, Benga and Katy B. He then began producing house music. His single "My Love" was a commercial success, reaching number one in three charts.

Tony Williams, better known as Addison Groove, is an electronic music artist from Bristol, United Kingdom. Noted for his fusion of styles such as Techno, Jungle, Soul, Juke and Dubstep, he released his first album 'Nomad' on Tempa in 2008.

Big Apple Records was a record shop and label in Croydon, South London that opened in 1996 closed in 2004. It is known for pioneering the sound of dubstep in the early 2000s, with dubstep DJs and producers working in and frequently visiting the shop. The record label was the first to sign Skream and Benga.

References

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  2. "Skream releases - Toolbox records - your vinyl records store". Toolboxrecords.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. Smart, Richard (18 May 2007). "Viral sounds from South London". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  4. Madden, Joe (12 October 2006). "Skream if you wanna go deeper". Collective . Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  5. 1 2 Warren, Emma (22 April 2007). "Various, Dubstep Allstars 5 – Mixed By DJ N-Type". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  6. 1 2 Clark, Martin (20 July 2005). "Column: The Month in Grime / Dubstep". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  7. IMO Records "Skream Biography", IMO Records , London, 20 October 2011. Retrieved on 22 November 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Clark, Martyn (27 August 2005). "Interview with Skream" . Retrieved 30 June 2007.
  9. Heller, Josh (27 December 2008). "Benga and Skream Interview". The Comment Tree . Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "The Primer: Dubstep". The Wire (279).
  11. Hampton, Justin B (12 April 2007). "Dubstep: music dark enough to tug the guts". LA Times . Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  12. Cowdery, James (6 April 2006). "Bass in the place". Collective . Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  13. Walmsley, Derek (1 August 2006). "Review of Dubstep Allstars vol. 4, on Tempa records". The Wire (270): 1.
  14. Power, Chris. "BBC - Music - Review of Skream - Outside the Box". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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  16. "Bye Bye Stella Session's : (". Dubstep Forum. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  17. "Skins Music Guide : series 1, episode 8". E4 . Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  18. "BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix Tracklisting". 17 June 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
  19. Jonze, Tim (23 May 2009). "La Roux: Killer Queen". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
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  21. "UK album chart // 2010-10-23". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  22. "UK singles chart // 2010-10-23". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  23. Finlayson, Angus (18 March 2013). "Interview: Skream" . Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  24. Jones, Oliver (I_Skream) (7 March 2013). "YES I WILL BE PLAYING TECHNO/HOUSE/DISCO AT ALL FUTURE SHOWS". Twitter. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  25. Carter, Dan (1 April 2013). "Skream's changing sounds: "It isn't new to me, but it will shock people."". Beatport. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  26. Ryce, Andrew (21 March 2013). "RA Review : Skream & Pete Tong – All Gone Miami 2013". Resident Advisor . Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  27. Yopko, Nick (2 February 2024). "Skream, Benga and SGT Pokes Announce Four Nights of Open-to-Close Sets in Denver". EDM.com. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  28. Wolfson, Sam (3 December 2011). "Skream and the perils of going pop". The Guardian . Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  29. Churchill, Tom (1 November 2006). "Skream: The dubstep scene's hottest property". Clash . Archived from the original on 7 December 2013.