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Droid Sector

Get to know more about up-and-coming Australian dubstep DJ / producer Droid Sector and download an exclusive free track.

Please introduce yourself briefly...
I'm 25, currently residing in the town of Geelong near Melbourne, Australia. I've been producing dubstep under the alias Droid Sector for about 2-3 years now. I had my first vinyl release on Tech Itch's dubstep label Ascension earlier this year.

When did you first try your hand at DJing and producing?
I started playing around with simple tracker programs around 2001 while I was still in high school. From there it evolved from just mucking around to something a bit more serious, and eventually I decided to concentrate my efforts on making music that would be good enough for release. That was about four years ago. I've mixed using vinyl since about 02 but have recently converted over to CD mixing and am finding that really enjoyable.

What kind of stuff did you listen to while you were growing up?
As far as electronic dance music goes I've always been heavily into drum & bass, particularly the techier stuff from around 98-02. I lost interest in dnb a few years ago and that's when I was introduced to dubstep. Dance music has never been the centre of my musical obsession though, and I grew up listening to a lot of underground metal like Emperor and Abigor, and from there explored a variety of genres ranging from the stuff Cold Meat Industry was putting out (everything from neofolk to industrial noise) to 'backpack' hip hop (Jedi Mind Tricks, 7L & Esoteric etc). So yeah, you could say I grew up listening to a bit of everything... as long as it was weird hehe!

Who have been your biggest influences?
I've always tried to do my own thing and not let other producers sounds influence what I make, but I think in the end it's inevitable that producers takes cues from others within the genre, so I guess I'd have to say Distance, Vex'd and more recently SPL have played a part in shaping my sound. Oh and, of course, Tech Itch, he gave me my first vinyl release (Ascension008 Crimson Tears / Bipolar) and has inspired me to keep doing what I'm doing.

How would you describe your sound?
Deep, dark and techy dubstep. Music that works in the club as well as at home.

Who or what inspires your music?
I like to think that I draw influences from everything around me. The music I listen to, the films I watch these are all things that I feel shape how I make my music.

Who would you like to collaborate with?
I'd love a chance to collab with Tech Itch, hopefully it'll happen next time he's out here in Australia. I'd also love to get in the studio with Komonazmuk and the Babylon System boys.

What do you have coming out soon?
I've got quite a bit of stuff forthcoming. On vinyl I have a track called Abandoned on the Obsidian EP on Terminal Dusk, a track called Broken Hopes and a remix of Phonecall's 3AM on an EP on Bassism and Fathomless is on a various artists EP on Paradise Lost. I have a three track EP on Life In Headphones featuring Binary Plague, Clear Water and Kate's Song. My remix of TKR – Beat N Up will be on the flip of the original and will be out on Bassim. 12 Gauge, the collab with Dubtek, is out on Rogue Plates and Jah Is Coming is out now on Terminal Dusk. Digitally I have a split EP on Betamorph with Aussie producers Kilafoe & J Nitrous. It will feature Nightwalker and a remix of Full Spektrum's Psychopath and, finally, I have a free release on Paul Reset's Nerve Breaks label.

What are you currently working on in the studio?
I recently took a month off work to lock myself in the studio and really pump out a whole lot of tunes. All those tunes are finished and signed at the moment so I'm at the stage now where Im preparing to write my next batch of tunes by putting together ideas that I'll eventually turn into complete tracks.

Done any interesting remixes recently?
I remixed TKR's Beat N Up which I'm really happy with. It's on a trancey tip with lots of epic pads, leads, buildups and a wicked vocal sample but still retains a hard, techy dancefloor edge.

What's the next challenge for you?
My goal for 2010 is to really get my name out there and become associated with the particular style of dubstep I make. I intend to start playing out a lot more too, so hopefully I get a chance to visit Europe or the US sometime next year.

Are you making any other styles of music?
No, I don't really have time to make anything else, dubstep keeps me busy enough as it is, although I've been thinking of having a go at making some J Tek. So you never know, you might hear some Droid Sector J Tek tunes floating about!

What tracks, producers and labels are you feeling at the moment?
As far as labels go Terminal Dusk are the ones to watch out for. Their past output has been a bit eclectic in terms of style, but their new focus seems to be on the sorta dubstep I make / play, so they're definitely a label to keep on the radar in 2010. My favourite producers at the moment are Dubtek, Triage, Bassist, Matt U and The Abyss (Boot & Sook). Black Sun Empire are also making some hot dubstep at the moment.

What's the dubstep scene like in Australia just now?
Things seem to be really picking up down here. Almost every capital city seems to have a decent scene, and we've got more and more people getting into it all the time. As far as labels goes we have the mighty Aquatic Labs based in Sydney, and a plethora of producers emerging from the woodwork, with my favorites being The Abyss boys (Boot & Sook) and Spherix.

Anything else you want to tell us about?
I'm in the process of starting a label with German dnb producer / DJ Rusher, although it's only in its infant stages, so I don't want to talk too much about it just in case it doesn't happen. But the idea is currently being developed and we've got some great producers on board so watch this space!

Photography: Angela H King