DJ DB
Encyclopedia
DJ DB is a British jungle
/drum and bass
DJ who moved from London to New York in 1989. He was an early pioneer in rave culture in the U.S. Also, he was partly responsible for bringing drum and bass
to America. He was the co-founder of Breakbeat Science
recordings & store, the first record store in the United States to specialize in drum and bass.
, he soon had DJing residences at MARS, Red Zone and MK and throwing outlaw club events known as DEEP http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-01-28/nyc-life/this-old-house/.
In 1990 he was hired by Cory Robins of Profile Records
to work with VP Gary Pini as A&R scout. He has served as A&R director for Sm:)e communications and later went on to co-found the F-111 imprint.
Since 1992 DB has become known in the U.S. for pushing and promoting Drum & Bass, first with in 1992 his hardcore Breakbeat
club NASA at The Shelter
, (featured in the Larry Clark film Kids
http://www.lunarmagazine.com/features/db.php then with Gary Pini by launching Sm:)e communications for Profile Records and releasing the first Jungle
singles and compilations in the U.S, as well as signing DJ Dara
, thus kick starting his artist career. He and Dara then opened Breakbeat Science
, dedicated to Drum & Bass. It was the first record store solely devoted to Drum & Bass in the U.S. In 2006 Breakbeat Science was responsible for the first compilation in the U.S. of the new sub genre of Drum & Bass, Dubstep
.
In 1993 Gary Pini and DB were responsible for getting Robot Wars
started by convincing Profile records to back the project, originally conceived by ex-Industrial Light & Magic model maker Mark Thorp, they staged the first live events in San Francisco.
In 2007 he released an artist album project called "Deep" with partner Stakka under the name Ror-Shak, focusing on pushing the limits on the more musical side of the D&B. The pair sold two of the songs to the CSI (franchise) before licensing the album to KOCH Records
in the U.S & various EU labels.
Between 1994 and 2008 DB has released 13 mixed CDs.
In 1997 DB and Andrew Goldstone were hired by Warner Bros. Records
to set up an electronic imprint, F-111 records. Two years into their contract, Ministry Of Sound poached the duo to head up A&R duties for the launch on an America version of the label.
In 2007, an essay by DJ DB was published in the book "Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs" edited by Phil Freeman.
In 2010 DB, now using his full name DB Burkeman, expanded into another creative field by publishing a book on sticker art. DB had been collecting stickers since the 80's via punk rock & skate boarding, he and a partner (Monica LoCasio) created a history book, "Stickers- from Punk Rock to Contemporary Art" AKA Stuck-Up Piece Of Crap (for Rizzoli Publishing) on the subject of stickers, artists who've used the medium and their effect on popular culture. The pair are currently working towards touring the project as a museum quality exhibition for 2011. Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art features the art of over 4000 stickers by more than 1300 artists.
He can be heard on the publicly funded online radio, Art International Radio
on his weekly show called BLURRINGradio. The show is a "mix-tape" of music, past & present that has, or is inspiring to him. The shows concept of a non genre, non decade specific show, was sparked by the fond memory of DB growing up listing to the late John Peel
in London.
Oldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
/drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
DJ who moved from London to New York in 1989. He was an early pioneer in rave culture in the U.S. Also, he was partly responsible for bringing drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
to America. He was the co-founder of Breakbeat Science
Breakbeat Science
Breakbeat Science Recordings is a drum and bass record label based in a record store of the same name in Brooklyn in New York City, New York; both the label and the store were founded in 1996, and a website was launched in 1997...
recordings & store, the first record store in the United States to specialize in drum and bass.
Career
Arriving in New York in 1989 from London http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-01-28/nyc-life/this-old-house/, where he was resident DJ and promoter at the London version of The LimelightThe Limelight
The Limelight is the name of a chain of nightclubs that were owned and operated by Peter Gatien, located in Atlanta, Hollywood, Florida, and London, and formerly in New York City and Chicago.-History:...
, he soon had DJing residences at MARS, Red Zone and MK and throwing outlaw club events known as DEEP http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-01-28/nyc-life/this-old-house/.
In 1990 he was hired by Cory Robins of Profile Records
Profile Records
Profile Records was a record label that specialized in many types of urban-oriented music, such as hip hop, active until 1996..- History :In 1980, at 23 years old, after working briefly for MCA, Cory Robbins was looking to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be...
to work with VP Gary Pini as A&R scout. He has served as A&R director for Sm:)e communications and later went on to co-found the F-111 imprint.
Since 1992 DB has become known in the U.S. for pushing and promoting Drum & Bass, first with in 1992 his hardcore Breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
club NASA at The Shelter
The Shelter (New York City)
The Shelter was a New York City EDM, house and techno nightclub in early 1990s. It was located at either :* 6 Hubert Street in Manhattan* 157 Hudson Street in Manhattan...
, (featured in the Larry Clark film Kids
Kids (film)
Kids is a 1995 drama film written by Harmony Korine and directed by Larry Clark.The film features Chloë Sevigny, Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Harold Hunter, and Rosario Dawson, all of them in their debut performances...
http://www.lunarmagazine.com/features/db.php then with Gary Pini by launching Sm:)e communications for Profile Records and releasing the first Jungle
Oldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
singles and compilations in the U.S, as well as signing DJ Dara
DJ Dara
DJ Dara is an Irish drum and bass DJ operating mainly in North America. He is a member in the D'n'B group known as the Planet of the Drums...
, thus kick starting his artist career. He and Dara then opened Breakbeat Science
Breakbeat Science
Breakbeat Science Recordings is a drum and bass record label based in a record store of the same name in Brooklyn in New York City, New York; both the label and the store were founded in 1996, and a website was launched in 1997...
, dedicated to Drum & Bass. It was the first record store solely devoted to Drum & Bass in the U.S. In 2006 Breakbeat Science was responsible for the first compilation in the U.S. of the new sub genre of Drum & Bass, Dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
.
In 1993 Gary Pini and DB were responsible for getting Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
started by convincing Profile records to back the project, originally conceived by ex-Industrial Light & Magic model maker Mark Thorp, they staged the first live events in San Francisco.
In 2007 he released an artist album project called "Deep" with partner Stakka under the name Ror-Shak, focusing on pushing the limits on the more musical side of the D&B. The pair sold two of the songs to the CSI (franchise) before licensing the album to KOCH Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
in the U.S & various EU labels.
Between 1994 and 2008 DB has released 13 mixed CDs.
In 1997 DB and Andrew Goldstone were hired by Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
to set up an electronic imprint, F-111 records. Two years into their contract, Ministry Of Sound poached the duo to head up A&R duties for the launch on an America version of the label.
In 2007, an essay by DJ DB was published in the book "Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs" edited by Phil Freeman.
In 2010 DB, now using his full name DB Burkeman, expanded into another creative field by publishing a book on sticker art. DB had been collecting stickers since the 80's via punk rock & skate boarding, he and a partner (Monica LoCasio) created a history book, "Stickers- from Punk Rock to Contemporary Art" AKA Stuck-Up Piece Of Crap (for Rizzoli Publishing) on the subject of stickers, artists who've used the medium and their effect on popular culture. The pair are currently working towards touring the project as a museum quality exhibition for 2011. Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art features the art of over 4000 stickers by more than 1300 artists.
He can be heard on the publicly funded online radio, Art International Radio
Art International Radio
AIR, Art International Radio is an online, non-profit cultural Internet radio station at ARTonAIR.org that is also home to the Clocktower Gallery...
on his weekly show called BLURRINGradio. The show is a "mix-tape" of music, past & present that has, or is inspiring to him. The shows concept of a non genre, non decade specific show, was sparked by the fond memory of DB growing up listing to the late John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
in London.