Dubstep Then… And Now
I (Katie) was looking over old photos and emails from my time in England (2004-05) the other day, which prompted me to look through a brief part of 2006 when this label was founded.
I’m a fairly sentimental person – which I fully own up to being (especially around this time of year). What amazes me, though – is how much dubstep has broke through the typical “I listen to x genre and my music is better than yours” barriers present within the electronic music scene and become so popular.
3 years ago, membership on dubstepforum.com was about 5,000. Today? 37,250. That’s impressive growth!
When I started getting into dubstep, I never imagined that it would play such a prominent role in my life. Moving to Bristol was an experience in and of itself, and to be a part of such an emerging and growing genre’s popularity while I was there? That was immense.
Moving back to the states (east coast), I paid attention to Dub War, which was at the time, the closest event to me (at over 600 miles away!). I flew up for the 1st anniversary – which was an insane experience as well as the start of some great friendships.
Dub War is a great example – the first anniversary was held at Avalon, and at the time the event was quarterly, and the crowd was small and close-knit. I attended the 4th anniversary event at Love earlier this year, and my how Dub War has grown!
WMC was another crazy experience, growing from a 50-person room at the ViRAM party in 2008 to the largest area in 2009.
We may be hard at work on ISSUE003 behind the scenes, but we’re always paying attention to why we do this. We’re a part of something much larger than ourselves, and the talent we want to expose only keeps growing as time goes on.
So here’s to looking back and seeing where we came from, as well as looking forward to see where we’ll be going.
ISSUE003 Submissions and Voting

As mentioned before, ISSUE003 is well underway.
We alluded to the fact that some things have changed in our previous posts, and here’s where you’ll notice the most difference.
Background
For ISSUE 001 and 002, the community submitted tracks for consideration by the committee, who selected the top 10 tracks. These were put up for a vote on dubstepforum.com and the top 2 tracks were released.
We learned a lot during the process of releasing 001 and 002. Some things worked, and some didn’t.
One of the major struggles with 002 was because of the success of 001. We received 200+ submissions for 002 alone, and as you can imagine, these took some time to sort through and figure out which would be put up for a vote.
Now, for typical labels, it tends to be pretty easy to sign a track. For more popular artists, the label has the option of signing them to an exclusive contract – stating (in layman’s terms) that they’ll ONLY release music on their label. Great for the label, great for the artist… but shit! That means that Pressing Issues can’t ever release music from that artist.
If the label doesn’t feel like signing the artist on to an exclusive contract, they can just sign the individual track and release that way.
Both ways are decently quick for an artist, and the label has the ability to pounce when it hears something hot.
Not Us!
For ISSUE001 and 002, we hadn’t “built in” any way to pounce on these tracks when they came through. By design the label was 100% democratic. What the public saw was the voting progressing on 10 nameless faceless tracks. Behind the scenes we knew the names and faces that belonged to which track, and we also oftentimes knew that other labels were asking to release that specific tune during the voting period.
It’s a tough position to be in as an artist, and we often encountered people who were less willing to submit their tunes for a vote by the public, as they felt it was strong enough to be released by a label without any voting. They were right in many cases, and we absolutely supported their decision to shop the tune around some, instead of submitting it for a public vote.
However, as a business, this left us in a bit of a tough position. If we came across an extra hot tune, we needed the ability to sign that tune, without breaking the model of being a democratic label (still the only one in the world…).
ISSUE003
So for ISSUE003 what you’ll see is a slight compromise. We’re still accepting track submissions, and we’re still putting up a poll for a vote. However, we’ve already signed one side of the release (and the tune is LARGE).
We have a few options which we’re still discussing. Namely, do we release 2 tracks on the AA side, in order to still have 2 votes?
This is a change from how we’ve operated in the past, and we made this decision in order to position the label for long-term success (layman’s terms: we like doing this and want to make sure we continue to put out top-notch tunes).
Every release will still be voted on, and we’re working to come to a solution for how to handle the situation in which we jump on a tune before the next public vote comes around. There are quite a few solutions possible, and we’re weighing our options.
We don’t want to become “just another dubstep label”. This label was founded by the community FOR the community, and we’re dedicated to that intention from start to finish. However, this label is a business, and we’re also concerned with making sure we can keep on existing.
Here’s where we need your opinions. What do you think of the change? Do you have any suggestions for us? Feel strongly one way or the other? Comment and let us know.
Attention All DJ’s – Sonorasaurus Has Been Released!
We’re excited to announce that the iPhone DJ app, Sonorasaurus, is now for sale in the Apple iTunes store. (buy here)
This app has received a bit of attention pre-release, including a mention on The Unofficial Apple Weblog, and a review by PI’s own Katie Morse on candidkatie.com.
Sonorosaurus is a project by Pajamahouse Studios, one of who’s members is also a PI committee member (CEDE).
Here are some answers to common questions about the app:
What is the Sonorasaurus App?
It is the first complete deejay setup for the iPhone. Sonorasaurus includes two independently controllable decks and a mixer with built in effects. Upload any MP3 you want and start playing.What does Sonorasaurus mean?
We love dinosaurs. In addition to the Sonorasaurus being a large dinosaur it is also a play on words in that it references the term ’sonorous, which means to produce a full or loud sound. In saying that we hope to make a musical impact with the Sonorasaurus App.What audio formats does Sonorasaurus support?
Currently MP3 only, but additional formats will be supported in the near future.
The tutorial video is below, and the app can be bought from the iTunes store for $9.99 here.
PI Members Cure and Hexadecibel feat. in Discorder Magazine
DJ Cure and Hexadecibel, two of our committee members, were recently featured in Discorder Magazine. We’re slightly bias, but we happen to think a lot of these two guys!
Check out the article here – or read the article below (emphasis ours):

Article text:
Cure & Hexadecibel
Big Bass Booming
By Dashiell Brasen
Cure & Hexadecibel — Art by Aisha Davidson
Local residents DJ Cure and Hexadecibel are helping take Canadian bass music to new heights. Together the two DJs have served up hysteria inducing dub tracks for the last year at Goldie’s Lounge, turning the basement of a Pender pizza joint into one of Vancouver’s (literally) hottest night spots.
Cure and Hexadecibel are not alone in popularizing the dubstep movement. With dubstep artists like Rusko remixing Katy Perry and Kanye West on big time indie electronica imprint Mad Decent and Chase & Status lending their “Eastern Jam” out to Snoop Dogg for “Snoop Dogg Millionaire” (which was coproduced by R&B and hip-hop mainstays Kurupt, Murs and John Legend, and features Slumdog Millionaire star Tanvi Shah), yesterday’s underground subgenres are crossing over into the main stream.
“I like to try and create music that can be felt, whether someone is on the dance floor or listening in headphones. I like to fuse traditional musical elements and instruments with futuristic sounds and palettes. I want to keep the listener interested. For this reason, I often try new techniques on different projects, just to keep things different,” he said, explaining his own style.
“When I DJ out, I go hard or go home. I like to play big tunes with lots of energy. I tend to touch down on all ends of the spectrum on my radio show on SUB FM. I’ll play anything from bangers to deep, techno influenced [music], to hip-hop-fused weirdness,” said Cure. Mirroring Cure’s experimental ear, his label Aufect’s releases are dark, techy, glitchy and unafraid of the 4/4. [ed. Ironically in dubstep the 4/4 time signature is considered experimental.]
While Aufect Recordings (www.aufect.com, www.myspace.com/aufectdigital) is showcasing the best the Canadian beat scene has to offer, Hexadecibel’s sets for Rob Booth’s Electronic Explorations podcast has attracted unprecedented attention for Canadian dubstep. Hexadecibel first recorded a collaborative set with Vancouver’s most prominent bass crew, Lighta Sound. Booth then selected him to mix one of his own. Both sets have been downloaded over 10,000 times.
“This podcast was very significant to me,” said Hexadecibel. “It gave me the opportunity to showcase some of my newest songs, demonstrate my mixing skills, and, most importantly, promote my current and future releases … [EDIT FOR POSTERITY] Once my release [Prism EP] on Mindset hits shelves, the snowball really gets rolling, as I have four more vinyl releases lined up over the next 12 months.” Prism is available on websites like Boomkat, Juno, Chemical and Redeye.
Back at home, energized by bass music’s constantly merging and shifting array of new styles, Cure envisions his label “mutating into an out of control beast,” housing a “sub-sub-genre not even invented yet.” With Aufect’s digital releases reaching the top 10 on electronic music website Juno’s online music downloads, it’s a good indicator that Cure’s mutations will be heard soon enough.
Cure owes Aufect’s early success to knowing some talented producers. DZ, who was featured in ATM Magazine’s “Leaders of the Nu Skool” article, and Loetech, of Bombaman and XI, put their faith in him and helped him get Aufect started. “Now I run the label myself … My girl does all the accounting and paper work, and my boy Nick Lazerface is A&R and is repping as a DJ in Montreal,” Cure said.
Cure brought his girlfriend from Ontario in 2007 with the express intention of starting a dubstep label in Vancouver. He describes the crowds here as “real music lovers,” who “just go off!” He feels the city can stake a claim as “one of the top three cities representing dubstep in North America, maybe even number one.”
Hexadecibel agreed, “People’s acceptance of the sound in general, and willingness to hear new music, [makes Vancouver’s dubstep scene unique and special] … The ‘heads’ in this city are well versed in electronic music … the local producers, DJs, promoters, etc. It seems like a very fertile place for creative people, and what’s better is that almost everybody involved in the scene here is cooperative and helpful.”
“I think dubstep is showing signs of going mainstream,” Cure added. “[But] I’ve never been happier with bass music as a whole.”
Hexadecibel followed up, saying: “It’s an exciting time right now, with bass music reaching around the globe and more and more talented people joining the ranks daily. I am truly amazed, literally every single day, with the level of creativity and talent I see from younger and younger producers, not to mention the old hats who have been at it in the music biz for years who are again hitting their stride with a renewed interest in music. I think dubstep is a conduit, a place where people from so many other disciplines are coming and bringing their experience to create something totally new and fresh.”
In the same vein, Hexadecibel has helped to revive the audience driven label Pressing Issues, to keep things different. Hexadecibel is one of the label’s committee heads, who are responsible for whittling down demos presented by their online community and presenting them to be voted on for potential pressing and releasing. The label has successfully released two 12-inch vinyls which are distributed by ST Holdings UK and is getting a third installment going.
“We will be creating an active poll for dubstep fans to vote on in mid-November, and the vinyl will likely hit shops in late December or early in the new year,” Hexadecibel added. “We’ve pre-signed our A-side for the album, [XI’s ‘Gravity’]. ‘Tis a big tune.”
In the meantime, if you want to catch Cure, he’ll be at Goldie’s on Nov. 6.
“Goldie’s Fridays will be no longer be a crunked-out-thrust-womp-raver-bass party spot. Not to worry, though, the night will still be there. Just chilled out though with more of a house and two-step vibe,” he said. On Nov. 13 he’s opening up for the Dub Police label owner, Caspa. He’ll play Nov. 20 at the Suave Assassins One Year anniversary party, and on Nov. 27 at a venue that has yet to be announced, so keep your eyes peeled and ear to the ground. He also has a new residency, Whatever’s Dope Wednesday, every Wednesday in the backroom at Shine, hosted by Emotionz. Check out his radio show every Thursday 6 to 8 p.m. on SUB FM.
Hexadecibel regularly releases tracks on his website at soundcloud.com/hexadecibel.
A Brief History of Pressing Issues
Once upon a time….
Ok, so it’s not like that. But we do have a cool story, and for those that are new, we want you to really see how this label started.
It all started with a post by boomnoise on dubstepforum.com. The post went something like this:

Discussion picked up and went on for a total of 9 pages, spawning numerous ideas and debates.
Some major issues quickly arose, including
- How will we select what to release?
- Who will be involved?
- How will we brand the label?
- Will we make money from this?
- Who will press and distribute the records?
Each of those questions was solved by the members of dubstepforum.com.
Highlights
It was decided almost immediately to keep this label about the community. Yes, it takes time, and no, it’s not easy to manage (it’s not meant to be…), but we strongly felt (and still feel) that the community made this project happen, so naturally all proceeds should be reinvested into the community.
Numerous forum members suggested that we look at ST Holdings for the P&D side of things, so we did and inked a contract shortly thereafter. We’re working with them again on ISSUE 003 and ISSUE004, and we hope many more after that to come.
The community came up with the idea for this label.
The community chose the committee.
The community voted on the logo.
The community donated some start-up funds to pay for things like web hosting.
The community voted on the releases.
The community bought the records.
The community did it all again for ISSUE002.
In chronological order, here are the posts:
- General Mish-Mash
- Packaging
- Budgeting
- Intros
- Committee Positions
- Status Update
- Press Materials
- Logo Discussion
- Business Plan
- Project Tool Up and Running
- Logo Competition Announcement
- Pressing Issues MySpace Page
- Logo Competition – Initial Vote
- FINAL Logo Competition Vote
- Logo Competition Winner Announcement
As you can see above, EVERYTHING was decided on by the community.
Watch, listen, vote, comment, participate, and support us as we move towards releasing ISSUE003.
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- Dubstep Then… And Now December 21, 2009I (Katie) was looking over old photos and emails from my time in England (2004-05) the other day, which prompted me to look through a brief part of 2006 when this label was founded. I’m a fairly sentimental person – which I fully own up to being (especially around this time of year). What amazes me, [...] […]
- ISSUE003 Submissions and Voting December 4, 2009As mentioned before, ISSUE003 is well underway. We alluded to the fact that some things have changed in our previous posts, and here’s where you’ll notice the most difference. Background For ISSUE 001 and 002, the community submitted tracks for consideration by the committee, who selected the top 10 tracks. These were put up for a vote on [...] […]
- Attention All DJ’s – Sonorasaurus Has Been Released! November 23, 2009We’re excited to announce that the iPhone DJ app, Sonorasaurus, is now for sale in the Apple iTunes store. (buy here) This app has received a bit of attention pre-release, including a mention on The Unofficial Apple Weblog, and a review by PI’s own Katie Morse on candidkatie.com. Sonorosaurus is a project by Pajamahouse Studios, one of [...] […]
- PI Members Cure and Hexadecibel feat. in Discorder Magazine November 18, 2009DJ Cure and Hexadecibel, two of our committee members, were recently featured in Discorder Magazine. We’re slightly bias, but we happen to think a lot of these two guys! Check out the article here – or read the article below (emphasis ours): Article text: Cure & Hexadecibel Big Bass Booming By Dashiell Brasen Cure & Hexadecibel — Art by Aisha Dav […]
- A Brief History of Pressing Issues October 27, 2009Once upon a time…. Ok, so it’s not like that. But we do have a cool story, and for those that are new, we want you to really see how this label started. It all started with a post by boomnoise on dubstepforum.com. The post went something like this: Discussion picked up and went on for a total [...] […]
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