doctor echo
dub, poetry, dance, reggae, electronic
1
songs
16
plays
mix that hits like bricks mix that hits like bricks
Band/artist history
Considered as the most prominent dub artist on the West Coast, doctor echo has built a solid underground fan base that ranges from ska/reggae lovers to punk and electronic heads. From downtown Sacramento, California, Justin DeHart, a.k.a. doctor echo, has long been involved in reggae, dub, and other trance styles from various cultures. Originally a drummer, doctor echo started mixing dub music in 1992, when he received a 4-track recorder from a friend. He immediately began acquiring more gear to build a 8-track studio to open to the public. Soundlab studio was born in 1996 when frequent noise complaints from neighbors forced him to relocate. doctor echo's first release in 1999 on Jumpstart Records, "Cure for the Dubless", featured dubs from the bands that he was playing drums and recording with at that time. Bands such as the rock-steady/reggae titans; Steady Ups, live dub band; The Defendants, and world music Who Knows, as well as some of the doctor's original tracks were included on this album. Other bands that he has worked with include Blackalicious, Filibuster, Frank Jordan, and The Original Heads.
The next few years found the doctor busy recording and producing many reggae and electronic projects. With the advent of an ADAT multi-track recorder, doctor echo began playing live shows mixing previously recorded dub rhythms. doctor echo also spent nine months in South India during 2000-2001 studying the traditional drumming there in order to broaden his music and vocabulary. The year 2004 marks doctor echo’s long awaited self-titled follow up album on Anicca records. The entire album was recorded on a 1/2” 8-track machine, between the years of 1997-2002. All rhythm tracks were laid down without sampling/sequencing, and only a few were tracked with the help of a metronome. Featured musicians on the album include international recording artists Nkosazana Divine on vocals, Tyler Pope from Outhud, !!!, and LCD Sound System, and Harley White Jr., previously in Papa’s Culture. Despite the fact that some final mixes have been edited in the digital realm, the album largely remains a truthful representation of the doctor’s live mixing aesthetics. Although obviously steeped in the legacy and tradition of dub masters such as King Tubby and Lee Perry, doctor echo’s music is forever moving to transcend genres by allowing various musical styles to be represented.
Presently, the doctor resides in Los Angeles, collaborating with various artists’ recording projects, as well as mixing live dub shows.Your musical influences
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