A true veteran DJ, producer and engineer, A Sides has an epic collection of releases to his name making him one of the most prolific and versatile artists in drum & bass. 

Over the course of his extensive career, A Sides has never limited himself to a single style and has proved to be a highly capable selector whatever style he is drawing for. 

Reaching out with a sound that has truly global appeal, A Sides continues to tour the world over and 2013 has seen him grace the turntables in places like Sardinia, Russia, Poland, Amsterdam, Hungary, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. 

Jason Cambridge (aka A Sides) has been producing music since 1990 and has released well over 500 tracks to date across many of the scene’s biggest labels. 

He established his own label Eastside Records in 1996 and has since put out over 85 releases, including two compilation albums (Eastside Jamz Volumes 1 & 2) as well as A Sides solo albums "Follow The Groove" "Worldwide" "Mysterious Vibes" and the most recent album album "Based Upon Bass"

A highly accomplished engineer as well as an artist in his own right, A Sides has collaborated with the likes of Calibre, Makoto, DJ Marky, Break, Jo-S, Kemo, Deeizm, Mc Mc, Randall, Jenna G, Mark de Clive-Lowe and jazz musician Nathan Haines (under the guise of Sci-Clone) 

His long-standing partnership with MC Fats has borne some of his biggest tracks to date, including the massive hit "What U Don’t Know" which featured on A Sides’ debut long-player in 2003.
To catch the pair performing live is to hear drum & bass at it’s finest, with the deep soul sound of MC Fats bringing the perfect complement to A Sides razor sharp beats.

With tracks released on many other labels such as Metalheadz, Valve, True Playaz, Bingo, Innerground, Reinforced, Advanced, Liqweed Ganja and Hospital to name but a few, A Sides has a discography of truly epic proportions. 

A veteran of the scene from the early days, through hardcore to jungle to drum & bass, his influence has been immense. Over the years he’s taken on the role A&R for many labels, including of course his own imprints Fuze and Eastside, and was among the first to recognize and nurture the talent of producers such as Break.

Always moving forward and shaping new styles, in 2008 he established BassHead Music together with Juan BassHead aka DJ Burn to showcase the finest in dubstep and bass heavy beats. 

After a successful debut (feat. 12th Planet and Skream) there have been releases from Otto Von Schirach, Noah D feat. Einstein, Datsik, Bassnectar, Silver, Bare, Break, Serum, Figure, Hulk, Zed's Dead & The Killabits & Wheez-ie. Following this a compilation album All Killer No Filler was also release seeing Basshead regulars stepping up alongside new artists such as Mr Explicit, Total Science, DJ Sneak, Jah Free, Code 305, Animal Crackerz, Agzilla and Bats.

With a diverse music policy, encompassing not just dubstep but other bass-heavy beats, BassHead has some exciting projects in the making over the next 12 months. To add icing on the cake Basshead have also just won the 2013 Red Bull Culture Clash in Miami making them a force to be reckoned with. 

A Sides has also recently added a digital arm to Eastside Records and made the entire back-catalogue available for mp3 download from digital store Beatport. For most of 2013 he has been the figurehead behind a fundraising album for his good friend MC Fats who has been suffering with health problems. He has managed to compile an album with over 30 tracks from many high profile artists. Those involved are S.P.Y, Makoto, Command Strange, Goldie, Bailey, Serum & Bladerunner, D-Bridge, London Electricty, DJ Zinc, DJ Hype, Potential Bad Boy, Will Miles, Random Movement, Brother, DJ S.I.N, Crix, Cleveland Watkiss, Total Science, Calibre, Need For Mirrors, Quadrant , Iris & Kid Hops, TC, Cabin Fever, Break & Die, Basher, Alix Perez, Emtek, LAOS, Mackadena, MC Random, XRS, Regina, Ego Trippin & Mr Explicit. 

Other projects set for 2014 are a new A Sides solo album and also a joint collaboration album with Japanese producer  Makoto. The future is looking bright!

For bookings please contact me direct on djasides@gmail.com



Optical is owner of Virus Recordings, Music Producer and DJ from England.
Bookings: UK/ROW: mark@esp-agency.com
USA: saleem@amodeagency.com

This page is dedicated to my sons: Aidan and Solomon, they are the inspiration for everything I do in life now.

"He is best known for his work with Ed Rush, fellow head of the Virus Recordings label, and as a pioneer of the techstep and neurofunk sound. His first single for Metalheadz, 'To Shape the Future'/'Raging Calm' (1997) and his collaborative material with Ed Rush, such as the Wormhole, album (1998) were archetypal developments in the style. The duo followed this debut album with The Creeps (2000) and The Original Doctor Shade (2003), as well as countless singles and remixes. More recently, the duo have returned to form with their (2009) LP 'Travel The Galaxy' containing the modern classic 'Chubrub' and 'No Cure' LP in 2015."

"He also notably did all of the engineering and production work for Grooverider's album Mysteries of Funk, and work on Goldie's 'Saturns Return' LP. In addition, he has produced solo for many labels including Virus, Metalheadz, Prototype, 31 Records, Metro and released in collaboration with many artists, including Ed Rush, Trace, Dom and Roland, Fierce, and his brother Matrix. The first Optical release was in 1996."

"Matt Quinn's savage dance floor productions as Optical (for, among many others, Groove's own label Prototype) have earned him a place in drum'n'bass's premier division.”

"Optical's pure, unchallenged talent shines through on his solo tunes, showcasing an artist well ahead of his time. No doubt the modern sounds of the likes of D-Bridge, Instra:mental and the rest of the minimalist dark revival heads, draw heavy influence not only from Optical himself, but from his inspirations in Jazz, such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. His ability to blend Jazz, Funk and futuristic, technical soundscapes is masterful. From his early work on Metalheadz and Prototype Recordings to his collaborative work on Virus Recordings and the classic Mysteries of Funk (Grooverider's landmark LP), Optical can perhaps qualify as one of the most underrated musicians of the modern era. His mind has crafted sounds which were never before heard, moods which were completely original, and his vision of the future, although ultimately dark and disjointed, is beautifully vivid and addictive. Its a world he pulls you into with each and every track and only a handful of artists can begin to dream of being this successful in their work."

Virus Recordings has become a DnB scene favourite and continues to release the ultimate in DnB vibes, with artists like C4C, Audio, Optiv & BTK, The Upbeats, Noisia, Gridlok, Ram Trilogy, Matrix, Rymetyme, Sonic & Silver, Pendulum, Mefjus,  InsideInfo

Bookings:
➣ UK & Europe
tom@clockworkartists.co.uk
➣ USA & Canada
eventbookings@grandgrooves.org
➣ Australasia
stuart@posterchild.com.au

Artist/DJ/Producer @RAM RECORDS 

bookings - Caroline - thekollectiveagency@gmail.com

17x Award winning DNB MC

Instagram : www.instagram.com/Eksman_mc

Being a major player in the drum ‘n’ bass movement is one thing, but continuing to push boundaries through an ever-changing sonic versatility is quite another. In a career spanning almost two decades, Simon Bassline Smith has been at the forefront of it all, setting new standards with his Technique Recordings label and rinsing dancefloors with ruthless, stealth-like precision. Together with razor-sharp duo Drumsound, the group have slam-dunked drum ‘n’ bass into the 21st century releasing some of the genre’s most pivotal club killers, whilst maintaining a DJ cred second-to-none.

Wind it back to the beginning and Simon Smith (who later adopted the middle name of ‘Bassline’ after destroying his fair share of speakers) fell in love with music as a 16 year old, visiting record stores every Saturday to buy up big on electro, jazz, funk, soul and house records. The Derby-born youngster would also spend his weekends travelling up and down the country with mates to attend ‘all dayer parties’ where they’d put their breakdancing skills on full display. It was during one of these ritualistic missions that Bassline got his Djing big-break, by getting the chance to take command of the dex at Nottingham’s Rock City club.

As the rave scene grew throughout the 90s, Smith was right there at the forefront, winning over crowds and promoters alike with his ball-tearing brand of hardcore and jungle. As his reputation swelled, he began being booked by some of the UK’s biggest dance organisations including Perception, Mythology, Raindance, Dance '91 and World Dance & AWOL to play slots alongside fellow contemporary jungle stars Grooverider, Fabio, Mikey Finn & Jack Frost.

In 1991 Bassline Smith launched his own record label Absolute 2 – one of the early pioneering d’n’b imprints. So astute was the man’s ear for a quality tune, that the label birthed future stars Doc Scott, Nookie, Ray Keith and Danny C (Twisted Anger/Primary Motive), releasing Doc’s seminal ‘Surgery EP’, Nookie’s ‘Give a Little Love EP’ and Keith’s controversial ‘News at Ten’.

In 1998 Smith’s career took a massive turn skywards, when he met the Drumsound duo of Andy and Benn G. The trio’s chemistry was instantaneous, with the decision being made to launch a combined imprint in which to showcase their shared musical vision – it was then that Technique Recordings was born.

Since its inception the label has gone from strength to strength, with Bassline and Drumsound utilizing their knowledge and enthusiasm to build an imprint of global proportions. Over the past 10 years the label has released over 40 high quality dancefloor killers and sold 150,000 units globally from some of the world’s most respected d’n’b artists including Roni Size, DJ Fresh, MC Tali, DJ Friction, Teebee and many others. The label is also involved in nurturing the talents of up and coming artists of the calibre of Phetsta, Skyver & D Jon, Youngman, Terravita.

Amongst all of this, it’s been Bassline’s stunning production work that’s shined the brightest. Having first ventured into the studio in the early 90s to knock out a couple of early d’n’b anthems ‘Music and Life EP’, ‘Palomino’ and ‘Midnight’, the Brit’s career has continued to build with each new year. Together with the Drumsound lads, Bassline has dropped two critically acclaimed LPs ‘Nature of the Beast’ and last year’s ‘Street Technique’ that ripped up the drum ‘n’ bass rulebook with contributions from Roni Size, DJ Friction, J-Magik & Wickaman, DJ Fresh and many others.

When it comes to dishing up a red-hot anthem, the trio have plenty of experience under their belt too. In 2004, they dropped the all-time classic ‘Odyssey’, with the track reaching no.1 in the UK dance charts and Mixmag judged it the ‘10th biggest all-round dance anthem’ for that year. No surprise Grooverider snapped it up for his legendary Prototype label. Recently, their form has shown no sign of subsiding, with a blazing ‘Street Technique’ re-rub of their ‘Skumbag/Booty Call’ bombs going straight into the drum ‘n’ bass charts at no.4. Their ‘Cold Turkey/Stories of the Future’ cuts are also shining brightly, receiving big support from Hype, Roni Size, Grooverider and Zane Lowe & Annie Mac on Radio 1.

Along with a string of club bangers on Technique, Bassline remains one of the most versatile men in the d’n’b game, with releases on virtually every major label in the genre including Protoype, Full Cycle, BreakBeat Koas, V Recordings, Good Looking, Creative Source and Trouble on Viny /Flex.

As a DJ, Smith is prolific as ever, spinning the Technique sound over virtually every continent, including appearances in America, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Iceland, Spain, Holland, Sweden, Ireland, Czech Republic, Brazil, Poland, Switzerland, Uruguay, Norway, Italy as well representing for some of the biggest UK organisations such as Slammin Vinyl, Accelerated Culture, One Nation, Detonate, Movement – the list goes on.

Currently Smith is hard at work playing out every weekend in the UK and abroad, whilst spending his weekdays locked away in the studio with Drumsound focussing on producing tracks for their next album out in 2008.

With so much going on, it’s almost unbelievable to think Simon has time to run his famed Interface club night in Derby, yet true to form, the multi-talented man throws some of the finest d’n’b shindigs in the country. With so many strings to his bow, there’s little doubt this pioneer will continue to set the standard for years to come.


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