My first encounter with SubCode, I will never forget. He was the warm up act at SMOG dubstep Sundays at Cinespace. His chill lounge music pumping through the venue’s enormous subwoofer set the stage for a stimulating style of sound.
SubCode, your style of dubstep is a little different than the traditional stuff out there. How would you explain it in your own words?
Well, I started out playing drum and bass in 1999. I was heavily involved in the electronic music scene back then and have been progressing from there. I’ve had some notoriety after releasing records for a bunch of different labels. After I did the whole DJ thing, flying across the country and playing gigs and stuff like that, all the while producing, I decided I needed something more to get involved in. I started listening to two-step, which opened the door into dubstep later. When I started listening to two-step, people said, “He has fallen off the drum and bass train, this guy.” I went into my own direction. That’s why I say that I come from a different background, but also I incorporate a bunch of different styles into my production style, even back then.
Because of the two-step thing, SMOG had approached me in their beginnings, about 5 years ago, and asked me to work with them. About 6 years ago, dubstep was nothing like it is today. It was very dubby, very raw influences, just rude-centric as far as the style. It was very progressive back then. I was spinning vinyl in 1999, mostly stuff within the LA circuit. Around 2005, you could hear it really blow up. You could hear sets go from 180 BPM to 140 BPM. You would hear a lot of criticism like, “I don’t like that dubstep record, it’s too slow.” I mean, really? When dubstep first started out around 2005, no one wanted anything to do with it. Now it seems like everyone is jumping on the dubstep bandwagon. The music started to change – it still is! You hear it becoming very, very hard and a lot more aggressive. It’s a crowd pleaser; people live the aggressive sound with rock and rock and bass influences.
I’ve been there and done that. Did dubstep. Did two-step. Now I am changing again and going in a different direction. I did SMOG 4 two years ago and brought down all the hard dubstep tracks around. My set was very progressive and hardcore at the same time. As a good DJ, though, you want to play for the crowd at the time you are playing. I thought, “I need to find some different music to play that is more chilled out.” That was two years ago.
From 1999 to today, what do you find yourself throwing into sets?
Since I am an American producer I play a lot of other American producers. A lot of Bay DJs and stuff like that. “Phunckateck” used to be my go to when that was big.
Are there any upcoming projects you are excited about?
I am actually producing for some children’s TV shows. I have a friend involved in the OWS movement. Some of the documentaries put together about Occupy LA have my scoring in them. I like doing that background music stuff.
Where can people find that documentary?
Right now you can go to the Occupy LA website. It’s probably up there somewhere…
I am also doing this project for children. Can you imagine dubstep for kids?
I want to see a kindergarten class get down to some heavy wobble beats.
That’s the kind of stuff I like doing. I keep my influences and background well rounded. That is absolutely what I’m looking forward to in 2012. And more DJ sets. I just launched my website, Chilldub.com. There is a lot of music up there right now. I am doing a podcast for people with Apple products who love music.
Do you have any upcoming performances?
On and off, I’m at SMOG. There will be more performances to be announced.
To wrap things up, SubCode, we are doing an article about the male and female perspective of oral sex. Could I get your two cents on the subject?
Hahahaha! I think men and woman look at it different. Men get it as simple gratification for pleasure. It can be a bisexual thing, but I think people enjoy the sensation. It’s not as taboo as people think it might be.
Not’s not, really, but I find it surprising that some people don’t do it at all. I guess some people have a block against it, but I find that a majority of people enjoy oral sex.
It’s not exactly a conversation friendly topic, is it? If I am talking to a friend about a relationship and something like that does come up, I don’t think people talk that much about it but everyone does it. It’s a very taboo subject. They might talk about going to bed with that person but they won’t talk about what they do with their mouth.
Would you say you are a giver or receiver?
I am all for it. I like to give it and I like to get it.
Is there anything else you’d like to add before we go?
I think you guys are doing a hell of a job at what you do. It’s important for artists to get recognition for what they do. I don’t thing we are glorifying people’s creative endeavors as much as we should; whether it is music or writing or acting or painting. Everyone needs art in their life.
Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us, Subcode.
Thank you.
Download Subcode’s, “The Catalyst” FREE here.