Skream

{{Infobox musical artist |

| name = Skream

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1986|6|1}}

| birth_place = West Wickham, London, England

| image = Skream at Metropolis Leeds.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Skream in 2009

| origin = Croydon, South London, England

| birth_name = Oliver Dene Jones

| instruments = {{hlist|Music sequencer|samplers|drum machine|personal computer|turntables}}

| genre = {{hlist|Dubstep|UK garage|dub|disco|house|techno|drum and bass|jungle|grime}}

| occupations = {{hlist|Record producer|DJ}}

| current_member_of = Magnetic Man

| years_active = 2002–present

| label = {{hlist|Tempa|Tectonic|Disfigured Dubz|Deep Medi Musik|Owsla|Nonplus}}

}}

Oliver Dene Jones (born 1 June 1986), known professionally as Skream, is an English electronic music producer based in Croydon.{{cite web | author= O'Connell, Sharon | title= Dubstep | work= Time Out London | url= http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/2083.html | date= 4 October 2006 | access-date= 13 June 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081227132828/http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/2083.html | archive-date= 27 December 2008 | url-status= dead }} Skream has released records on several British record labels, such as Tempa, Tectonic, and Big Apple Records,{{Cite web|url=http://www.toolboxrecords.com/en/artist/Skream|title=Skream releases – Toolbox records – your vinyl records store|website=Toolboxrecords.com|access-date=24 July 2020}} and has performed throughout Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan,{{cite web | author= Smart, Richard | title= Viral sounds from South London. | work= The Japan Times | url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fq20070518a3.html | date= 18 May 2007|access-date=13 June 2007}} as well as the UK.{{cite web | author= Madden, Joe | title= Skream if you wanna go deeper. | work= Collective | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A16144904 | date= 12 October 2006|access-date=13 June 2007}} Skream is known as an early and influential architect of the dubstep genre.{{cite web|author=Clark, Martin |title=Column: The Month in Grime / Dubstep |work=Pitchfork |url=http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/10331-column-the-month-in-grime-Dubstep |date=20 July 2005 |access-date=13 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606102644/http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/10331-column-the-month-in-grime-dubstep |archive-date=6 June 2007 }}

Skream and longtime collaborators Artwork and Benga co-founded a music group called Magnetic Man.IMO Records [https://archive.today/20120804021041/http://www.imorecords.co.uk/Dubstep/skream-biography/ "Skream Biography"], IMO Records, London, 20 October 2011. Retrieved on 22 November 2011. Their debut album, Magnetic Man was released in 2010.

Since 2013 Skream has primarily focused on House music and Disco.

Origins

Jones was born in West Wickham, Bromley, London.

{{cite web

| last = Clark

| first = Martyn

| title = Interview with Skream

| date = 27 August 2005

| url = http://blackdownsoundboy.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_archive.html

| access-date = 30 June 2007}} As a teenager, he worked at Big Apple Records, a Croydon-based record store that was at the centre of the early dubstep scene; even prior to this, Jones had become acquainted with Hatcha, another dubstep pioneer, because Jones' brother worked on an adjacent floor in Big Apple Records. As a result of this encounter, Hatcha was the first DJ to play Skream dubplates.

He began producing music at the age of 15, (using FruityLoops) and later claimed to have roughly 8,000 tracks in various stages of development.{{cite web | author= Heller, Josh | title= Benga and Skream Interview | work= The Comment Tree | url= http://www.thecommenttree.com/2008/12/benga-and-skream-interview.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090220032147/http://www.thecommenttree.com/2008/12/benga-and-skream-interview.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= 20 February 2009 | date= 27 December 2008 | access-date= 10 April 2009 }} He reports that he was frequently truant when he was a teenager, and spent a considerable amount of time at Big Apple Records. On occasion he attended FWD, a club night that was first hosted at the Velvet Rooms but later moved to Plastic People in Shoreditch.

Career

File:Skream.jpg

Skream's early productions were stark and sinister works he co-produced with another frequenter of Big Apple, Benga.{{cite journal|url=http://thewire.co.uk/archive/issues/279 |journal=The Wire |issue=279 |title=The Primer: Dubstep}} Together, they produced several tracks that Big Apple Records published on two EPs: The Judgment in 2003, and Hydro in 2004. One of his first solo singles, 2005's "Midnight Request Line," has been credited as a key factor in the evolution of a more melodic sound in the dubstep music. Justin Hampton of the LA Times called the track "dubstep's most recognizable crossover hit".{{cite news | author= Hampton, Justin B | title= Dubstep: music dark enough to tug the guts | newspaper= Los Angeles Times | url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-wk-Dubstep12apr12,1,6618326.story?coll=la-entnews-music | archive-url=https://archive.today/20081227145457/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-wk-Dubstep12apr12,1,6618326.story?coll=la-entnews-music | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 December 2008 | date= 12 April 2007 |access-date=13 June 2007}} and has been praised by producers as diverse as grime producer Wiley, and minimal techno producer Ricardo Villalobos.{{cite web | author= Cowdery, James | title=Bass in the place. | work= Collective | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A10695684 | date= 6 April 2006|access-date=15 June 2007}} A writer for The Wire wrote that the song has "an epic change of key and tempo that recall[s] the classicist mannerisms of Derrick May."{{cite journal|title=Review of Dubstep Allstars vol. 4, on Tempa records.|journal=The Wire|date=1 August 2006|first=Derek|last=Walmsley|issue=270|page=1}}

As dubstep attracted the attention of mainstream media outlets such as The Guardian{{cite web | author= Warren, Emma | title= Various, Dubstep Allstars 5 – Mixed By DJ N-Type | work= The Guardian | url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329781715-111639,00.html | date= 22 April 2007 | access-date= 13 June 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070623072353/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329781715-111639,00.html | archive-date= 23 June 2007 | url-status= dead }} and Pitchfork Media, Jones' music started to diverge from the darker, UK garage-influenced sound of early dubstep artists such as Horsepower Productions, and to incorporate elements of dub and house music.

In 2006, after producing several singles, he released his first full-length album, Skream!, considered to be one of the more influential entries in the early dubstep period.{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Chris |title=BBC – Music – Review of Skream – Outside the Box |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/25gw/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |publisher=BBC}} Around the same time, he began hosting a weekly Rinse FM show called Stella Sessions.{{cite web | title = Skream on rinse fm 100.3 tonight 1–3 | publisher = Dubstep Forum | url = http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1982&p=24793#p24793 | date = 13 March 2006 | access-date = 2 May 2013}} In 2010, Benga joined the broadcast, which was renamed The Skream and Benga Show.{{cite web | title = Bye Bye Stella Session's : ( | publisher = Dubstep Forum | url = http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=139427&p=1763231 | date = 21 April 2010 | access-date = 2 May 2013}}

In 2007, "Angry" and "Colourful" from Skream!, as well as an exclusive mix, were featured in the E4 teen drama Skins. This marked the first instance dubstep was featured on television.{{cite web | title = Skins Music Guide : series 1, episode 8 | publisher = E4 | url = http://www.e4.com/skins/music/series1-episode8.html | access-date = 2 May 2013}} Skream was also featured on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix that same year.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/essentialmix/tracklistingarchive.shtml?20070617

| title=BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix Tracklisting | date=17 June 2007 | access-date=19 June 2007}}

In September 2008, Harmless released Watch the Ride, an album mixed by Skream. On 2 October 2008 Skream featured in a fly-on-the-wall German TV show Durch die Nacht mit … alongside drum and bass artist Goldie. In this, Skream stated that he currently had writer's block, but he was working on music in other genres, also mentioning a possible Skream & Goldie collaboration.

Writing for The Guardian in 2009, music journalist Tim Jonze attributed the success of La Roux's single "In for the Kill" to Skream's remix, "Let's Get Ravey".{{cite web| author= Jonze, Tim | title=La Roux: Killer Queen | work= The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/23/la-roux-interview | date=23 May 2009 | access-date=8 December 2009}}

In 2010, Tempa Records released Skream's second album, Outside the Box. Spin magazine rated the album 7 out of 10.{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/skream-outside-box-tempa | title=Skream, 'Outside the Box'|website=Spin}} Later that year, further commercial success was seen through the release of Magnetic Man, the debut album under the live electronic music project with fellow dubstep pioneers Benga and Artwork. The album peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20101017/7502/ | title=UK album chart // 2010-10-23 | publisher=Official Charts Company | access-date=2013-05-03 }} and its lead single, "I Need Air" reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20100801/7501/ | title=UK singles chart // 2010-10-23 | publisher=Official Charts Company | access-date=2013-05-03}}

In January 2011, he and Benga left Rinse to replace Alex Metric in his 'In New DJs We Trust' slot on BBC Radio 1. The duo was eventually given a weekly slot on Radio 1, which began in April 2012.

Jones has worked with many prominent pop artists. In addition to La Roux, he has produced for and collaborated with the likes of Kelis, Miles Kane, and Chromeo,{{cite web | last = Finlayson | first = Angus | title = Interview: Skream | url = http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/skream-interview | date = 18 March 2013 | access-date = 3 May 2013}} as well as Katy B and John Legend as part of Magnetic Man.

In response to his success, Jones launched his Skreamizm tour to offer himself a change of pace from arena and festival performances, opting to play three-hour sets in small clubs. These shows saw a greater incorporation of disco, house, and techno in his sets. Productions from this time period increasingly veered away from dubstep into these various genres, seen in tracks such as "Sticky," "Bang That" and "Kreepin'". He addressed the change in direction on his Twitter{{cite web | last = Jones | first = Oliver (I_Skream) | title = YES I WILL BE PLAYING TECHNO/HOUSE/DISCO AT ALL FUTURE SHOWS. | via = Twitter | date = 7 March 2013 | url = https://twitter.com/I_Skream/status/309775851535339521 | access-date = 2 May 2013}} and in interviews, noting that he was inspired to do more varied sets by the likes of Jackmaster.{{cite web |last=Carter |first=Dan |title=Skream's changing sounds: "It isn't new to me, but it will shock people." |publisher=Beatport |date=1 April 2013 |url=http://news.beatport.com/blog/2013/04/01/skreams-changing-sounds-it-isnt-new-to-me-but-it-will-shock-people/ |access-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514050909/http://news.beatport.com/blog/2013/04/01/skreams-changing-sounds-it-isnt-new-to-me-but-it-will-shock-people/ |archive-date=14 May 2013 }} In March 2013, he contributed a house mix to Pete Tong's All Gone Miami 2013 on Defected Records, a leading house label that releases yearly compilations dedicated to Miami and Ibiza. Resident Advisor wrote that with the release, he gained "entry to one of the most established institutions in house music."{{cite magazine | last = Ryce | first = Andrew | title = RA Review : Skream & Pete Tong – All Gone Miami 2013 | magazine = Resident Advisor | date = 21 March 2013 | url = http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=12554 | access-date = 2 May 2013}}

In 2023, Skream returned to the stage with Benga and SGT Pokes for the first time in 10 years at the fabric club in London. Following this show, additional shows were announced for April 2024, to be held at The Black Box in Denver, Colorado.{{Cite web |last=Yopko |first=Nick |date=2024-02-02 |title=Skream, Benga and SGT Pokes Announce Four Nights of Open-to-Close Sets in Denver |url=https://edm.com/events/skream-benga-sgt-pokes-denver-2024-four-night-run |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=EDM.com}}

Personal life

In July 2011, Jones had his first child, a son.{{cite news |last=Wolfson |first=Sam |date=3 December 2011 |title=Skream and the perils of going pop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/dec/03/skream-magnetic-man-dubstep-global?INTCMP=SRCH |access-date=3 December 2011 |work=The Guardian}}

Jones is the brother of jungle DJ Hijak.{{cite journal |last=Churchill |first=Tom |date=1 November 2006 |title=Skream: The dubstep scene's hottest property |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/skream |url-status=live |journal=Clash |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207125425/http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/skream |archive-date=7 December 2013}}