Skream

There’s obviously a great deal of talent in dance music, but Skream stands out in his prodigy. Not only does the UK-born and based DJ/producer (real name Oliver Jones) boast a prolific discography spanning genres and generations, Skream was one of the early and most influential hands in the development and popularity of the dubstep genre.

Jones’s love for music started early, through an introduction by his older brother, Hijak. It was a natural fit, and by the time he was 11 he decided to try his hand behind the decks for the first time. By 15, he was making music.

Listening to his 2006 debut album, ‘Skream!,’ the early sounds of modern dubstep and bass music clearly rise to the surface: eerie melodies, dark low-end frequencies, and unexpected samples. It’s clear that many of today’s bass music heavyweights are still plodding the same trails that Skream blazed in the early 2000’s.

After making his mark on the bass music world, Skream pivoted his focus to house, techno and disco, releasing influential tracks like “Rollercoaster” feat. Sam Frank and his remix of Duke Dumont’s “Need You.” Around this same time, in 2013, Jones closed his label, Disfigured Dubz, and minted a new imprint, Of Unsound Mind, soon after. With this imprint, Jones focused on shining light on industry newcomers and members of Skream’s own community.

Still a young man in all considerations, Skream is a wild card, still shaking the industry up and releasing tracks that are somewhat undefinable. He still recognizes his past—through throwback sets like his 2019 B2B with RUSKO at EDC Las Vegas—but it’s fair to say with some certainty that the dance music world just doesn’t know quite what future holds for Skream. As for the future of dance music, he might just be helping to make it.