THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE DUBSTEP FORUM
Category: Music
When Ivan Meets G.I. (GrimeStep International)
Lots of people have visited the Dubstep Forum - at least once - in the last 10 months. It's where the action is for all things dubstep. However, few know about Ivan - the brain behind the forum. Even those who know his name ignore that he's from Croatia. We thought it was time to let the man himself tell his story. The interview took place in August 2006 through myspace messaging. Enjoy.
- Who created the Dubstep Forum?
Me
- When and how did that happen?
It happened on 06 Oct 2005, right after duplate.net forum was down. We lost our meeting point. Dubsteppas all over the world were disconnected and unable to communicate.
- How long have you been involved in the project and what are your responsibilities?
I've been the forum administrator since I created it... I make sure that everything is working smoothly, I pay the bills, but I'm also involved in moderating and basically everything around the forum. But I have to mention my friends who are helping me with the forum and supplying me with fresh ideas and advice: Elemental, Paul, Boomnoise, Deapoh and especially Seckle (he is a moderator).
- Who were the guys behind Dubplate.net?
Ammunition Promotions Ltd.
- Why did they close Dubplate.net?
I don't know why.
- What are the main differences between Duplate.net and dubstep forum?
In essence - not much. Same crowd, same music... but if we go in details, Dubstepforum is maybe more concentrated around dubstep itself, while dubplate.net was covering whole underground UK garage. Dubstepforum evolved with time, so it's much bigger today and has a very versatile membership.
- In october this year, Dupstep Forum will be one year old. What were the key moments and debates over that period?
I would say that our key moment was January 2006. After the Breezblock show (Dubstep Warz Special) when dubstep exploded all around the world: the number of our members doubled in just one month. As for key debates, there were too many to mention. But I remember a time in the beginning when there were constant debates (led by scene leaders) about what is dubstep, who is dubstep, how should it sound and how should we call it. These were interesting times...
Dupstep Warz - january 2006
- What can you say about the role of the forum as a vehicule for promoting dubstep abroad?
There were/is not many dubstep sites, so basically the only place where you could/can find information about dubstep was/is Dubstepforum. It is also a place where you can promote yourself and contact other people - because everyone is there.
- How did you select the moderators?
I choose enthusiasts with lot of energy - people who love dubstep and want to help: thrust and knowledge are most important of course.
- What kind of relations existed between the moderators before the dubstep forum and how did their relations evolve after? Were they friends of yours or did you got in touch with them once the forum was online?
We were all members of Dubplate.net forum - that's where we met and started collaborating on different projects.
- Were there any complaints from participants who considered some moderators biased in their tastes and or interests?
No. Never.
- Based on the nationalities involved, which countries outside the UK are most active on the Dubstep Forum?
United States, Canada, Australia, Germany.
- Vol.1 of our DVD will focus on Europe. It appears Germany is the most active country for Dubstep outside the UK. Do you have any comment or insight you can share with us?
Germany always had strong dub/electronic scene from Basic Channel's dub techno to Al Haca, The Tape, RQM, Tolcha, Modeselektor, Jahcoozi, etc. I guess dubstep is just a logical continuation.
- When did you get into the dubstep sound and how did you discover it?
In 2004, through
http://www.hyperdub.net and dubplate.net.
- Which track(s) infected you so much that you had to go online and spread the word about this new sound?
Nude - Inspiration (ShelfLife 007), Stereotyp - Jahman (G-stone 12020), Dub war - Generation (Tempa 004), Benny Ill Kode9 & The Culprit - Fat Larry's Skank (Tempa 007), Dj Abstract - Touch (Tempa 009), Kode9 - Sign of the dub (HYP001), Mala - Neverland (DMZ 005)
- Is there a dubstep or grime scene in Croatia? If yes how large is it and who are the key actors of such a scene?
I can't say it's a scene really... just a few of us, based around CFSN crew, pushing the sound.
DJ Distance with CFSN crew members - Filipa and Ivan (aka Dubway)
- Which scene(s) or sound(s) were you into before dubstep?
Dub, dancehall, jungle, UK garage.
- Based on your experience with the Dubstep Forum, what can you tell anyone who doesn't know anything of that scene about dubstep in CENTRAL and EASTERN europe?
The dubstep scene is not big here, but it's very well connected - I talk to pretty much every dubstep dj here on a daily basis... it's a healthy scene and it's been growing fast lately.
- Between the creation of the Dubstep Forum and today, would you say dubstep has progressed as a sound and a scene?
Yes, i think it did. The most significant and innovative figures of this new wave of dubstep were/are definitely DMZ (Mala, Coki and Loefah).
- What innovation should we expect on Dubstep Forum in the next few weeks and months?
We are just in the middle of building a dubstep database which will help people find all information about dubstep in one place: labels, artists, releases, shops, promoters, websites, charts, interviews, contacts etc. all listed there. The first release from our forum co-operative label will be available soon too.
- Have you planned to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the forum?
We are preparing a little present for our forum members for our 1st forum anniversary - dubstepforum.com mix - seleceted and mixed by DJ N-Type. The tunes were made by fresh talents from our forum (Headhunter, Wedge, Gravious, Forsaken...) it will be available as free download.
- Thank you, Ivan.
Cheers.
