Dub FX
| Dub FX | |
|---|---|
 Dub FX performing at Larimer's Lounge in Denver, CO 6 October 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Benjamin Stanford |
| Born | 11 June 1983 |
| Origin | St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia |
| Genres | Beatboxing, dub, reggae, hip hop music, dubstep, drum and bass |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, vocalist, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, Beatbox, Loop Station, Effects Pedal, Guitar |
| Years active | 2005 – present |
| Labels | Convoyun.ltd |
| Associated acts | Flower Fairy, Mr. Woodnote, CAde, Kila mega giga tera, Sirius |
| Website | Official site |
Dub FX, stylised also Dub Fx and DubFx, (real name Benjamin Stanford) is a worldwide street performer and studio recording artist from St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.[1] After playing and singing in a band called Twitch, he set out solo when he moved to Europe. His trademark is creating rich live music using only his own performance aided by Live looping and effect pedals combined with his voice.[2][3] He creates intricate hip hop, reggae and drum and bass rhythms.[2]
Associated acts
Stanford travels and performs with his fiancée, Flower Fairy.[1][4] Dub FX first met her in Manchester, after which she joined him on his travels around the globe to busk for the public. Flower Fairy can usually be seen selling CDs during Dub FX's performances or on stage alongside Stanford when they perform several tracks together. She is also featured singing on tracks from Everythinks A Ripple, Wandering Love, Flow, and Time Will Tell.
Two songs from Everythinks A Ripple, Flow and Wandering Love, feature a street saxophonist named Mr Woodnote, who also uses similar looping techniques as Dub FX using a saxophone.
In 2010 Dub FX collaborated with Melbourne based producer Sirius and released the album titled: Dub FX and Sirius - A Crossworlds. Dub FX does not beatbox on this album. Any information on how Dub Fx and Sirius came to collaborate or met is unknown.
Dub FX is also part of the dubstep act Kila Mega Giga Tera, the other half being Glade Kettle (Distro)(aka Sirius) They have one song release to date on aquatic lab sessions volume 1. A CD and limited edition vinyl compilation released in 2009. Kila Mega Giga Tera also have an album[5] which was released in 2010. This album is called A Crossworlds.
Music
Dub FX is completely independent using only: live performance, word of mouth, internet social networking and a number of easily accessible free samples. Dub FX is also the main founder of the label Convoyun.ltd which could be described as a co-op label for Dub FX's own work and other people's.[2] To date artists that have released albums on Convoyunltd are: Flower Fairy, Sirius, Mr Woodnote, and Dub FX. With additional featured artists on separate songs of each album. Every album released through Convoy Un.Ltd has been produced by Dub FX with the exception for Dub FX & Sirius's release, A Crossworlds, a collaboration album released in 2010 which revealed a much darker and instrumental sound.
His lyrics both address generalized world events and contemporary angst while suggesting individual based revolution through self-determination and engagement.
He also addresses issues of social importance, the most notable example being the song "Society's Gates", loosely based on the life of the philosopher Socrates.
Equipment
Dub FX started off with a Boss GT-6 multi-effects pedal which was then traded up for the GT-8 and now uses a Boss GT-10B Bass guitar effects pedal for nearly all the effects used over his voice, he also used an akai headrush pedal for a loopstation originally but has since also upgraded this to a Boss RC50 Loop station and then the Boss RC505 Loop station respectively. Note that he also uses an SYB-5 Bass synth to add an extra depth to the bassline. On stage he uses a DR-880 Rhythm Machine for some songs (with permission from the crowd). In the past he has toyed with other equipment like the boss A/B footswitch (an add-on for the RC50) as well as a green slicer pedal as seen in his ghent performance. As for live vocal microphone nowadays he favours the RØDE M1 mic, however at the heart of his recording studio lies the soundelux U195 Condenser microphone.
Discography
- 2007 - Live in the Street - A collection of live street performances performed in various countries throughout Europe during the beginning stages of his busking.
- 2009 - Everythinks a Ripple - The first Dub FX studio album. The promotional material says "all sounds on the album were created with his voice using a Roland effects & loop pedal."
- 2010 - A Crossworlds - With Sirius as Kila Mega Giga Tera
- 2013 - Theory of Harmony
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Moses, Allan (2010) "Dubbing into Dub FX", The Hindu, 26 November 2010, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wickrematunge, Raisa "Dub FX in Sri Lanka", Sunday Leader, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ http://www.itchylondon.co.uk/article.cfm/11/39/5676/London-City-Guide/article/DubFX
- ↑ Banerjee, Debesh (2010) "Medley Score", The Indian Express, 25 November 2010, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uz1MaHinVc