Wikipedia

Skream

This article is about the dubstep producer. For his self-titled album, seeSkream!

Oliver Dene Jones(born 1 June 1986), known professionally asSkream,is an Englishelectronic musicproducer based inCroydon.[1]Skream has released records on several British record labels, such asTempa,Tectonic,andBig Apple Records,[2]and has performed throughout Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan,[3]as well as the UK.[4]Skream is known as an early and influential architect of thedubstepgenre.[5][6]

Skream
Skream in 2009
Skream in 2009
Background information
Birth nameOliver Dene Jones
Born(1986-06-01)1 June 1986(age 38)
West Wickham,London, England
OriginCroydon,South London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • DJ
Instruments
Years active2002–present
Labels
Member ofMagnetic Man

Skream and longtime collaboratorsArtworkandBengaco-founded a music group calledMagnetic Man.[7]Their debut album,Magnetic Manwas released in 2010.

Since 2013 Skream has primarily focused onHouse musicandDisco.

Origins

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Jones was born inWest Wickham,Bromley,London.[8]As a teenager, he worked at Big Apple Records, aCroydon-based record store that was at the centre of the early dubstep scene; even prior to this, Jones had become acquainted withHatcha,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](usingFruityLoops)[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 inShoreditch.

Career

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Skream in 2009

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 Judgmentin 2003, andHydroin 2004. 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 theLA Timescalled the track "dubstep's most recognizable crossover hit".[11]and has been praised by producers as diverse asgrimeproducerWiley,andminimal technoproducerRicardo Villalobos.[12]A writer forThe Wirewrote that the song has "an epic change of key and tempo that recall[s] the classicist mannerisms ofDerrick May."[13]

As dubstep attracted the attention of mainstream media outlets such asThe Guardian[5]andPitchfork Media,[6]Jones' music started to diverge from the darker,UK garage-influenced sound of early dubstep artists such asHorsepower Productions,and to incorporate elements ofdubandhouse 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 weeklyRinse FMshow called Stella Sessions.[15]In 2010,Bengajoined the broadcast, which was renamed The Skream and Benga Show.[16]

In 2007, "Angry" and "Colourful" fromSkream!,as well as an exclusive mix, were featured in theE4teen dramaSkins.This marked the first instance dubstep was featured on television.[17]Skream was also featured onBBC Radio 1'sEssential Mixthat same year.[18]

In September 2008, Harmless releasedWatch the Ride,an album mixed by Skream. On 2 October 2008 Skream featured in a fly-on-the-wall German TV showDurch die Nacht mit…alongsidedrum and bassartistGoldie.In this, Skream stated that he currently hadwriter's block,but he was working on music in other genres, also mentioning a possible Skream & Goldie collaboration.

Writing forThe Guardianin 2009, music journalistTim Jonzeattributed the success ofLa Roux's single "In for the Kill"to Skream's remix," Let's Get Ravey ".[19]

In 2010,Tempa Recordsreleased Skream's second album,Outside the Box.Spinmagazine rated the album 7 out of 10.[20]Later that year, further commercial success was seen through the release ofMagnetic Man,the debut album under the live electronic music project with fellow dubstep pioneers Benga and Artwork. The album peaked at number 5 on theUK 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 replaceAlex Metricin his 'In New DJs We Trust' slot onBBC 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 toLa Roux,he has produced for and collaborated with the likes ofKelis,Miles Kane,andChromeo,[23]as well asKaty BandJohn Legendas 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 ofdisco,house,andtechnoin 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 toPete Tong's All Gone Miami 2013 onDefected Records,a leading house label that releases yearly compilations dedicated to Miami and Ibiza.Resident Advisorwrote 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 thefabricclub in London. Following this show, additional shows were announced for April 2024, to be held at The Black Box inDenver, Colorado.[27]

Personal life

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

Jones is the brother ofjungleDJ Hijak.[29]

Discography

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Main article:Skream discography

Solo albums

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With Magnetic Man

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References

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  1. ^abcO'Connell, Sharon (4 October 2006)."Dubstep".Time Out London.Archived fromthe originalon 27 December 2008.Retrieved13 June2007.
  2. ^"Skream releases – Toolbox records – your vinyl records store".Toolboxrecords.com.Retrieved24 July2020.
  3. ^Smart, Richard (18 May 2007)."Viral sounds from South London".The Japan Times.Retrieved13 June2007.
  4. ^Madden, Joe (12 October 2006)."Skream if you wanna go deeper".Collective.Retrieved13 June2007.
  5. ^abWarren, Emma (22 April 2007)."Various, Dubstep Allstars 5 – Mixed By DJ N-Type".The Guardian.Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2007.Retrieved13 June2007.
  6. ^abClark, Martin (20 July 2005)."Column: The Month in Grime / Dubstep".Pitchfork.Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2007.Retrieved13 June2007.
  7. ^IMO Records"Skream Biography",IMO Records,London, 20 October 2011. Retrieved on 22 November 2011.
  8. ^abc Clark, Martyn (27 August 2005)."Interview with Skream".Retrieved30 June2007.
  9. ^Heller, Josh (27 December 2008)."Benga and Skream Interview".The Comment Tree.Archived fromthe originalon 20 February 2009.Retrieved10 April2009.
  10. ^abc"The Primer: Dubstep".The Wire(279).
  11. ^Hampton, Justin B (12 April 2007)."Dubstep: music dark enough to tug the guts".Los Angeles Times.Archived fromthe originalon 27 December 2008.Retrieved13 June2007.
  12. ^Cowdery, James (6 April 2006)."Bass in the place".Collective.Retrieved15 June2007.
  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".BBC.Retrieved10 February2024.
  15. ^"Skream on rinse fm 100.3 tonight 1–3".Dubstep Forum. 13 March 2006.Retrieved2 May2013.
  16. ^"Bye Bye Stella Session's: (".Dubstep Forum. 21 April 2010.Retrieved2 May2013.
  17. ^"Skins Music Guide: series 1, episode 8".E4.Retrieved2 May2013.
  18. ^"BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix Tracklisting".17 June 2007.Retrieved19 June2007.
  19. ^Jonze, Tim (23 May 2009)."La Roux: Killer Queen".The Guardian.Retrieved8 December2009.
  20. ^"Skream, 'Outside the Box'".Spin.
  21. ^"UK album chart // 2010-10-23".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 May2013.
  22. ^"UK singles chart // 2010-10-23".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 May2013.
  23. ^Finlayson, Angus (18 March 2013)."Interview: Skream".Retrieved3 May2013.
  24. ^Jones, Oliver (I_Skream) (7 March 2013)."YES I WILL BE PLAYING TECHNO/HOUSE/DISCO AT ALL FUTURE SHOWS".Retrieved2 May2013– via Twitter.
  25. ^Carter, Dan (1 April 2013)."Skream's changing sounds:" It isn't new to me, but it will shock people. "".Beatport.Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2013.Retrieved2 May2013.
  26. ^Ryce, Andrew (21 March 2013)."RA Review: Skream & Pete Tong – All Gone Miami 2013".Resident Advisor.Retrieved2 May2013.
  27. ^Yopko, Nick (2 February 2024)."Skream, Benga and SGT Pokes Announce Four Nights of Open-to-Close Sets in Denver".EDM.com.Retrieved10 February2024.
  28. ^Wolfson, Sam (3 December 2011)."Skream and the perils of going pop".The Guardian.Retrieved3 December2011.
  29. ^Churchill, Tom (1 November 2006)."Skream: The dubstep scene's hottest property".Clash.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2013.
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