Dr Dubplate / ec2a
about the artist
Dr. Dubplate is no stranger to the limelight. Since the age of 15, he's been deeply entrenched in the world of nightlife, starting with Midnight Drop at Ladbroke Grove's Neighbourhood. Since 2020, he has headed up ec2a, his record label which has revitalised underground dance music with a model based on exclusive vinyl dubplates and USBs, and running the gamut of UK bass and even broader styles. Sidestepping the cliques and fakery, Dubplate has independently carved a path to renowned venues and festivals across the globe.
Cutting his teeth in the Bristol nightlife scene, Dr. Dubplate quickly built a reputation…
MoreDr. Dubplate is no stranger to the limelight. Since the age of 15, he's been deeply entrenched in the world of nightlife, starting with Midnight Drop at Ladbroke Grove's Neighbourhood. Since 2020, he has headed up ec2a, his record label which has revitalised underground dance music with a model based on exclusive vinyl dubplates and USBs, and running the gamut of UK bass and even broader styles. Sidestepping the cliques and fakery, Dubplate has independently carved a path to renowned venues and festivals across the globe.
Cutting his teeth in the Bristol nightlife scene, Dr. Dubplate quickly built a reputation for his ability to connect the dots across genres with his PIFF events brand and record label. Receiving guidance from industry legend Marco Bernardi, PIFF's original parties turned struggling Wednesday nights at Timbuk2 into a popping midweek event, pulling the likes of Hot Since 82, Roy Davis Jr, Tom DeMac and Shanti Celeste.
Dubplate's DJ style reflects the wide range on offer at PIFF, feeling like a high-octane megamix. "I've literally always had a desire to be running parties, playing at parties, supplying records for people to run at parties – literally just everything and anything for the dance," he says, reflecting on his journey from promoter to DJ to label boss.
Raised by artists and labels as far-reaching as Oneman, Night Slugs, Hessle Audio, DMZ, Chase & Status and Theo Parrish, Dubplate once felt like an outsider for not fitting in with the "clique mentality" that pervades much of dance music. Now, he's shelling out iconic venues and festivals from Corsica Studios to Glastonbury, Warehouse Project to Circus Tokyo, as well as holding down a residency at Rinse FM. "I've really travelled the world and I haven't even dropped a record," he says. It's clear Dr. Dubplate has solidified his status as a master prescriber of quality club tunes.
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ec2a
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Dubplate, ec2a is a Bristol-based UK bass label that has become a premier name for its buzzing fanbase and innovative methods of distribution. They create exclusive output for an inclusive community – "for the people, not the heads," as they coined it – and have accelerated the rise of producers such as Main Phase, Fonzo, Introspekt, Silva Bumpa and Skeptic.
In a few short years, ec2a has become known for their signature limited-run dubplates which have become highly sought-after collector's items that sell out within minutes, as well as a steady stream of digital releases and pioneering USBs as a format of shipping packs of material. Their catalogue ranges from UK garage, jungle and hard house to bassline and more. It's an intentional variety designed to reflect the extinction of genre boundaries and gated scenes.
The success of the label can also be seen in their influence on fashion and vinyl distribution. Their clothing line is defining the look of modern garage and UK club culture, while they are also half of a growing vinyl distribution empire, Untitled Distribution, in collaboration with fellow Bristol label Hardline. Their full takeover of London's iconic Fabric nightclub alongside Hardline cements their position in the scene, bringing together the likes of Bullet Tooth, ESC, INVT and Soul Mass Transit System into one room. ec2a are continuing to think big while remaining resolute: "People think I'm crazy, but I'm thinking XL if dance music remained the main focus," says Dubplate. "I want ec2a to be regarded as being responsible for a lot of future stars and one of the best labels from our generation."