DENVER DUBSTEP

Jerad Howard aka KING, DJ/Producer from Las Vegas, just hooked up Sub.mission with the latest installment of our podcast series. Not limiting himself to specific genres or tempos, KING hits the whole spectrum of bass music in his hour+ mix. Check back here tomorrow for a free download of KING's mix! For now check out this interview with KING and get to know this badman! 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kingsdubstep

Soundcloud:  http://soundcloud.com/king

Coleman: Name? Where are you from originally? Where do you live 

King: My real name is Jerad Howard - I used to DJ and produce as Jaye Ruue a while back. I do everything under the name KING now. I'm originally from San Diego but have been here in Vegas for about the last 15-16 years.

Coleman: What is your musical background? How long have you been producing/djing? 

King: I've been DJ'in for as long as I can remember.. probably about 14 years. Producing, about 10 now. But I really didn't start taking it seriously til about the last 5 or so. As far as any traditional training.. I played drums in school, and sang in choir for a few years.

Coleman: What kind of tunes were you djing when you first started / what genre did you first start producing

King: I started out with Jungle and Drum & Bass. Held strong with that til I heard dubstep. Luckily. I was pretty burnt out with dnb at the time and dubstep keep me interested and in the game. 

Coleman: What genres are your biggest influences? 

King: That's a hard one. I'd have to say I grab a lot from UK garage, classic garage, house, soul, funk, and afrobeat.

Coleman: Who are your biggest influences right now? 

King: They change from time to time.. but right now Jamie XX, MJ Cole, Redlight, James Blake. Wayy to many to even think of right now

Coleman : Tell me a bit about your tune selection for the podcast- you cover a lot of different genres and tempos- how does this mix compare to your live sets?  

King: This mix is EXACTLY what my live sets are like. I usually do really heady mixes that will work in the car, at home, and for people to jam to but not necissilary hype. But this mix is definitely more of how I play out. I'm really stoked on how it came out. As far as the tempos. Yeah that's kinda been my thing over the last few years. There is so much good music out there! No need to stick with 140 strictly. 

Coleman: Obviously you are feelin all the tunes in your mix but if you had to choose one what tune are feeling the most right now and why?

King: This is probably going to sound bad but, Animal Calypso VIP. I finished the Animal Calypso original a little over a year ago. And I'm super stoked on that track. I don't think I've made anything that well even since. We recorded the vocals from a local vocalist out here named Galaxy Queen in about 15min. It's gotten a lot of support and is actually coming out on Starkey's Seclusiasis imprint really soon. The VIP is a slightly more funked out version. But still has that dark vibe of the original.

Coleman: Nah doesn't sound bad at all! gotta rep your originals! So you've got some tunes coming out on Seclusiasis - big up on that - what other labels have you released on? do you have any other releases coming out other than Seclusiaisis?

King: I have previously released on Shift, Play Me, Betamorph, Tuff Love Dubs, Slit Jockey, and of course 119 Sound (a label I run along with a few partners: Josh Swissman, and HavocNdeeD). As far as what just came out.. My side project 'Bad Dudes' just had a single come out called Blackout, I just came out with a single called 'Read You' and the video should be out any day now. As far as what' else is coming out.. I have a few remixes coming out, one that I did for HavocNdeeD's new single due out in a month or so, and I have a new single coming out on 119 sound in the Spring/Summer

Coleman: Who is the other half of Bad Dudes?

King: Air Stegosaurus is the other half of Bad Dudes. He is a super-talented local artist we are developing at the moment.

Coleman: What are your goals for this next year?

King: My goals for the next year are to get out and play more shows, and release quality music. Whether it be from myself or from the label.

Coleman: Awesome man - Thank you so much for doing this interview! We really appreciate it! Is there anything else you want us to know?

King: Yeah. Our monthly dubstep event out here in Vegas is called SMASH! It has being going strong since 2008. I throw it with my partner Rob Scott (80 Dub). We have had appearances by N-Type - Hatcha - Caspa - Lazer Sword - Kastle - Chefa - Arkist - Hulk - SPL - Seven - Ginz - 6BLOCC - DJG - Matty G - Mary Anne Hobbs - Reso - MRK1 - 16bit - and  a slew of others! It is pretty much what got me into to dubstep and bass music! 

Check out KING's latest release of DS1's Lost Memories on Slit Jockey Records on Beatport here: http://www.beatport.com/track/lost-memories-king-remix/3219277

Check out KING's collab project - Bad Dudes - latest release on 119 Sound on Beatport here: http://www.beatport.com/track/blackout-original-mix/2011090

EZ