My first experience with dub music was at a rave.
The peak of the night had passed. My body was exhausted, but my mind was still wide awake. My friends and I were searching for a place to hang out and recap our adventures from the evening.
We left the main room looking to escape the high-tempo trance beats. As we walked out of the building and into the open air, we could hear the slow hypnotic bass lines off in the distance. The sound was a gentle energy that seemed to speak to us, “This is the perfect place to chill.”
Arriving on the scene we discovered that the the sound was coming from an Ice-Cream truck that had been converted into a reggae-dub sound system. It was parked on the lawn next to a pond. May people had gathered around it. Some were sitting in circles talking while other were lying down. A few stood and dance to the gentle bouncing beats.
At the time, I was not familiar with the concept of sound healing but looking back on it now, that is exactly what the dub sound system did for us that night. Hours of high tempo music had left us raved-out and craving a different vibe. The sound of the dub nourished our soul. It brought us down in a gentle manner.
My dub experience that night left an impression on me. I was intrigued by the power of dub and I wanted to learn everything I could about it. Where did it come from? What was the culture surrounding it? And most importantly, how could I make it myself?
My research uncovered a rich history and culture around dub music. I discovered that dub is the musical manifestation of a mind under the influence of cannabis. This explained the meditative effect that it had on listeners and explained why it had been so effective at bringing us down at the rave.
I also learned that it wasn’t an accident that I had encountered dub music at a rave. Rave promoters had long been utilizing dub in chill-out rooms as a means of providing a haven for tired dancers.
In the years since my first dub experience, I have developed a close relationship with dub. I’ve spent countless hours listening to the classics. As a bass player, I’ve devoted myself to learning the art and science of dub basslines.
When it comes to chill-out music, I have discovered no greater teachers than the reggae dub masters. They possessed an unvriavaled understanding of how to create the laid back vibe that we all love.
Having played these bass lines countless times, the patterns have become a part of me and I have learned to utilize them in my own music creations.
When you listen to Heads Adrift you will hear the riddims of the dub masters echoed within. Let the vibe enrich your soul.
-Steve-C, Bass Player Heads Adrift
