Kode 9 is a somewhat of a legend and genre ‘main dog’ for anyone who considers themselves a Dubstep fan. Real name Steve Goodman born in Glasgow, Scotland, in his teens he traded in the chequered kilt for some turntables and beats with distinct Reggae, Hip hop, Jazz and Funk influences. He owns the largest, most successful and renowned Dubstep Record Label in the world, Hyperdub.
He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Warwick and lectures Sound/Music theory at the University of East London. He focuses on the science of Rhythm Analysis and how it effects life cycles, thought process and the fundamental power it has over nature, people and its ability to start wars. Fittingly, on this topic he has published a book titled Sonic Warfare: Sound, Affect, and the Ecology of Fear, which explores the use of acoustic force and how it affects whole populations. The book is published by MIT Press.
Ahead of his visit to South Africa for Rezonance NYE he had this to say…
The Days just before Dubstep
“I just remember loving the Reggae and Dancehall vibes in UK garage around 1999, and noticing how similar they were to jungle from 1994. For me early Dubstep was a continuation of that lineage. Now it’s somewhat different. In 2000 I was doing little nights in Brixton and also Forward was happening and a couple years later DMZ [regular night hosted by DMZ records] started. All these nights had a focused, intimate atmosphere, and everyone who attended seemed to be involved in the music in some way,” he says.
The start of his career
Goodman started deejaying in Edinburgh; he explains, “there were actually quite a few decent clubs and DJs playing a similar kind of mix of music. This was just at the same time that early hardcore was beginning to fuse all these elements into a single rave genre.”
The Jungle Effect
His first Jungle encounter; “The speed, the intensity, the bass and the way it wove together every music style I had ever been into. I can’t remember where I was, but I remember the feeling of shock and awe.” Kode 9’s influences range from a variety of Jungle producers who he says got under his skin. Namely El-B and Benny ill whom he credits as being instrumental in influencing many producers, himself included.
The new Dubstep Producers and the Pop Music Cross-pollination
Steve says his music these days is largely influenced by House music. “I moved on several years ago. I’m neither a purist nor welcome cross-pollination for its own sake. It is what it is. There are so many different strands of the genre now. I don’t even have an overview of the whole thing. There is certainly stuff I dislike and stuff I like. I play some in my sets, but not that much anymore.”
His radio show on Rinse FM
“Flying Lotus was a friend of mine in London, and he invited me onto the show as a regular feature. This brought together the worlds of Dubstep and West Coast beats properly for the first time for a lot of people, introducing them to the sound.”
The Reggae Influence
“It’s actually not that prominent in my production just now at all, apart from recent work with Spaceape, who because of Jamaican family origins obviously brings that flavour lyrically. But recently my music has been more influenced by house, than reggae.
South Africa anticipation
“I’ve been in North Africa but never South Africa, so yes this is my first visit. I work with the artists LV on Hyperdub who do a lot of recording with South African vocalists, so I’ve heard a lot from them. Also friends like Scratcha and Mala have been over and had a great time. But really I don’t know much, but my ears are open.”
Catch Kode 9 on the Technodubfest stage at Rezonance NYE festival – 30 December – 2 January 2012.
Connect with BPM