Jamaican Music History
Dub Music: An Electronic Sound Revolution
Dub music, born through the works of sound engineers and sound system operators of 1960s Jamaica, represents a groundbreaking sonic revolution that transformed the global music landscape. The genre’s origins can be traced back to the experimentation of Jamaican music producers, notably King Tubby, who pushed the boundaries of studio technology to create a unique sonic experience.
Dub is characterized by its instrumental remixing, deconstruction, and emphasis on the rhythm section. Sound engineers like King Tubby, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Scientist played a crucial role in shaping the genre, stripping down tracks to their essential elements, enhancing the role of bass and drums, and adding effects like reverb and echo. Dub became a canvas for sonic exploration, a space where the studio itself became an instrument and the engineer a performer.
A quintessential example of early dub is King Tubby’s production of “King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown” by Augustus Pablo. This track not only showcases Tubby’s mastery of studio techniques but also epitomizes the atmospheric and experimental nature of dub. Lee “Scratch” Perry’s “Disco Devil” is a dub version exemplifying Jamaican dub music’s groundbreaking invention of the now famous remix technology used by music producers all over the word. Jamaican Dub music created the breeding ground for the emergence of Dub Poetry with outstanding and world renowned performers such as Mutabaruka “Every Time a Ear de Sound” and UK-based Linton Kwesi Johnson “Sonny’s Lettah”.
In the United Kingdom, the impact of Jamaican dub music was profound. British reggae artists like Steel Pulse “Steppin’ Out (Dub Version)”, Aswad “Dub Fire” and Dennis Bovell “No Other Way by Jack Johnson, the Dennis Bovell Dub Remix” are great examples. The Police’s “Walking on the Moon” drew inspiration from dub style mixing, creating a global hit that resonated with audiences far beyond Jamaica.
Dub’s influence is not just heard but felt across continents, in genres as varied as reggae, dancehall, punk, hip-hop, and EDM (Electronic Dance Music).