There are few artists in the dubstep sound who can truly be credited with driving the genre forward - while paying homage to the rich heritage of music built on 140bpm.
Vivek Sharda, youll likely know him under the V.I.V.E.K alias, is one such artist. He comfortably stands within this small group of dubstep tastemakers and influencers.
Much like the sound he is known for, V.I.V.E.K has a rich and varied background - gained from combining his own Indian roots with early experience gained while producing both DnB and dub at the turn of the millennium.
Announcing his dubstep efforts with a 2007 debut via On The Edge; the producer has subsequently built and released anthem after anthem on some of the most respected imprints in the dubstep genre - DEEP MEDi, Tectonic and most recently via SYSTEM MUSIC, his own imprint.
Each release, whatever the label, catalogues V.I.V.E.Ks ability to combine his musical influences to form sounds characterised by sharp midranges, light snares and heavy low-end rumbles. Not to mention some truly beautiful melodic presence.
In addition to his music, the London-based producer is also a well respected event promoter, mixing his love of dub and dubstep with a custom-built sound system and a clear effort to champion both pure sound and extraordinary bass weight. In a time where 100% dubstep line ups are disappearing, both in and outside of the UK, and the term ‘dubstep’ is still associated with the commercial noise, SYSTEM has stepped up to become the event for fans of the original dubstep sound.
Today, the SYSTEM events and SYSTEM MUSIC are two of the most instantly recognisable brands in bass music. These are just two powerful examples - and there are many more - of just how much of an impact V.I.V.E.K has made on 140bpm music since his debut release. Hes a truly inspirational dubstep figurehead whos done more in seven short years than some producers manage in their entire careers.
Fixate
Declan Curran, aka Fixate, comes from a generation that isnt locked to the notion genre, he is product of UK musical innovation with his sound pallet & productions traversing styles such as drum & bass, jungle, dubstep and grime.
His debut release, ‘Pum Pum’ / ‘System Malfunction’ on Different Music, immediately caught the ears of the great and good of the electronic music world with it’s discombobulating rhythmical patterns and clever fusion of multiple genres. Support came from DJ’s as diverse as Toddla T, Sam Binga, Alix Perez & dBridge amongst others, with the latter releasing two of his collaborations with Manchester’s Chimpo, ‘Bun It’ & ‘Dumb’, on Chimpo’s ‘Out An Bad’ EP a short while later.
Following on from the success of these initial tracks, he was tasked with writing his first solo EP for dBridge’s hugely respected, taste-making label Exit Records. The ‘Throwback Therapy’ EP was released in May 2015 to much acclaim, with the 4 tracks demonstrating the wide ranging influences and artistic flair of their creator.
He has since become a flagship artist for the label, with his follow up ‘March On’ EP and work as part of D&B supergroup ‘Richie Brains’ garnering praise from critics and fans alike. November 2017 sees the release of his biggest and most ambitious project to date, the 6track mini LP ‘What Goes Around’. With 4 solo cuts as well as collaborations with Dismantle & Skeptical, it builds on everything that has come before and cements his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in UK bass music today.
