Dubstep has become an increasingly popular form of electronic music in the US within the last year. With its roots deeply planted in the drum & bass scene (via the UK), the style and essence of this music is deeply reliant on pounding, driving bass as the main force that propels the songs. It is one of those movements that has such a unique feel and vibe to it that its effects are starting to be felt in other genres of music such as hip hop and pop. One of the emerging artists at the forefront of this rise in exposure for dubstep is the man known as 12th Planet. Anyone who has heard his tracks or seen him spin knows exactly the type of chest rattling basslines and thumping beats that are quickly becoming the definition of dubstep, both here and abroad.

I had the chance to meet up with 12th Planet, during a rare break from working on his music, to chat about the genre, the scene that it has created, and where he ultimately hopes it can and will go. Enjoy the video and check out a 12th Planet/Ras Kass track!

Photo by Paul Sun

West Coast Dub – 12th Planet vs Ras Kass

Lorin Ashton, the man behind the musical project called Bassnectar, once described his musical style as “maximalism”. More so than ever before that phrase really represents the songs that make up Bassnectar’s upcoming full length album, “Cozza Frenzy”. The tracks smash, destroy, and melt together every genre from hip-hop and drum & bass to the newest dance trend of the moment, dubstep. With the wobbly bass, chopped up vocals, and ever changing time signatures of tracks like “Boombox” and title track “Cozza Frenzy”, the album really does hit like an audio stampede in overdrive. Coming off recent performances at Lollapalooza, Street Scene, and Burning Man, Bassnectar is taking his new tracks and extensive remix catalogue on a US tour in the fall that starts with a performance in Dallas and a set at the Austin City Limits festival. “Cozza Frenzy” will be released digitally September 29th, which will then be accompanied by a physical release on October 27th.