- DJ DB
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DJ DB Birth name DB Burkeman Origin London, UK Genres Electronic dance, drum 'n' bass, dubstep, jungle Occupations Musician, disc jockey, record producer Labels Breakbeat Science Associated acts DJ Dara Website [2] DJ DB (also known as DB Burkeman) is a British jungle/drum and bass DJ who moved from London to New York in 1989. He was an early pioneer in rave culture in the U.S. Also, he was partly responsible for bringing drum and bass to America. He was the co-founder of Breakbeat Science recordings & store, the first record store in the United States to specialize in drum and bass.
Contents
Career
Arriving in New York in 1989 from London [3], where he was resident DJ and promoter at the London version of The Limelight,[1] he soon had DJing residences at MARS, Red Zone and MK and throwing outlaw club events known as DEEP [4].[2] In 1990 he was hired by Cory Robins of Profile Records to work with VP Gary Pini as A&R scout. He has served as A&R director for Sm:)e communications and later went on to co-found the F-111 imprint.[2][3]
Since 1992 DB has become known in the U.S. for pushing and promoting Drum & Bass,[3][4] first with in 1992 his hardcore Breakbeat club NASA at The Shelter,[4] (featured in the Larry Clark film Kids[5] then with Gary Pini by launching Sm:)e communications for Profile Records and releasing the first Jungle singles and compilations in the U.S,[4] as well as signing DJ Dara, thus kick starting his artist career. He and Dara then opened Breakbeat Science,[2] dedicated to Drum & Bass.[3] It was the first record store solely devoted to Drum & Bass in the U.S.[5] In 2006 Breakbeat Science was responsible for the first compilation in the U.S. of the new sub genre of Drum & Bass, Dubstep.
In 1993 Gary Pini and DB were responsible for getting Robot Wars started by convincing Profile records to back the project, originally conceived by ex-Industrial Light & Magic model maker Mark Thorp, they staged the first live events in San Francisco.
In 2007 he released an artist album project called "Deep" with partner Stakka under the name Ror-Shak, focusing on pushing the limits on the more musical side of the D&B. The pair sold two of the songs to the CSI (franchise) before licensing the album to KOCH Records in the U.S & various EU labels.[6]
Between 1994 and 2008 DB has released 13 mixed CDs.
In 1997 DB and Andrew Goldstone were hired by Warner Bros. Records to set up an electronic imprint, F-111 records.[2][4] Two years into their contract, Ministry Of Sound poached the duo to head up A&R duties for the launch on an America version of the label.[1]
In 2007, an essay by DJ DB was published in the book "Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs" edited by Phil Freeman.[7]
In 2010 DB, now using his full name DB Burkeman, expanded into another creative field by publishing a book on sticker art. DB had been collecting stickers since the 80's via punk rock & skate boarding, he and a partner (Monica LoCasio) created a history book, "Stickers- from Punk Rock to Contemporary Art" AKA Stuck-Up Piece Of Crap (for Rizzoli Publishing) on the subject of stickers, artists who've used the medium and their effect on popular culture. The pair are currently working towards touring the project as a museum quality exhibition for 2011. Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art features the art of over 4000 stickers by more than 1300 artists.[8]
He can be heard on the publicly funded online radio, Art International Radio on his weekly show called BLURRINGradio. The show is a "mix-tape" of music, past & present that has, or is inspiring to him. The shows concept of a non genre, non decade specific show, was sparked by the fond memory of DB growing up listing to the late John Peel in London.
Notes
- ^ a b O'Connor, B: "Breakbeat Scientist", DJ Times, January, 2002.
- ^ a b c d Paoletta, M: "DB Beat-Mixes Gentler Drum'N'Bass On Breakbeat Science", Billboard, July 21, 2001.
- ^ a b c Stein, M: "Popular Science", issue 304. Time Out NY, July 19, 2001.
- ^ a b c d Ressler, D: "Scientist", Fader, 2000.
- ^ Segal, D: "DB", Alternative Press, issue 158. September, 2001.
- ^ Mayers, N: "Ror-Shak: Deep Review", Prefix Magazine, March 6, 2007.
- ^ [1] Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs, edited by Phil Freeman (Da Capo Press, July 2009)
- ^ Swerdloff, A: "The Subversive and the Sticky", Paper, Aug 10, 2010.
References
- Romano, Tricia. "This Old House". Village Voice. Jan 28 2003
- Mixmag. "DJ DB Review". Mixmag. 2000
- Stein, Maggie. "Popular Science". Time Out New York. July 19, 2001
- Ressler, Darren. "Scientist". Fader Magazine. 2000
- Paoletta, Michael. "DB Beat-Mixes Gentler Drum'N'Bass On Breakbeat Science". Billboard Magazine. July 21, 2001.
- Segal, Dave. "Low Profile: DB". Alternative Press Magazine. September 2001
- O'Connor, Brian. "Breakbeat Scientist". Dj Times. January, 2002
- Dodger, Rodger. "New York 2Step". Fader Magazine. September 9, 2001
- Huey, Steve. "Biography: dB". Allmusic. Retrieved August 2, 2010
- Lagon, Chanté. "DJ DB". Lunar Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2010
- Sinagra. "Listings". New York Times. May 27, 2005
- Swerdloff, Alexis. "The Subversive and the Sticky". Paper Magazine. Aug 10, 2010
External links
Categories:- Living people
- Drum and bass musicians
- Punk literature
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