John B. Williams (musician)
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Jon B.
, an American R&B/soul singer.
John B (born John Bryn Williams, 1977, Maidenhead
, Berkshire
, England
) is an English
DJ and electronic
music producer. He is widely recognised for his eccentric
clothing and wild hair and his production of several cutting edge drum and bass
tracks.
John B ranked #76 in DJ Magazine 's 2010 Top 100 DJs annual poll, announced October 27, 2010.
Beta Recordings, together with its more specialist drum and bass sub-labels Nu Electro, Tangent, and Chihuahua. He also has releases on Formation Records
, Metalheadz
and Planet Mu
.
Williams was ranked 1st drum and bass DJ on the 2009 DJMag's
top 100. and #92 on the DJ List as of October 3, 2009.
He attended Durham University
.
influenced fusion of electro
and drum and bass, which was dubbed 'electrostep'. At first (around early 2002), this style seemed odd and comical
to some in the drum and bass community. However, this move has given John the ability to carry his style of drum and bass forward. He has dabbled in darkstep
, jazzstep and various other styles in his time. When he DJs, he is known to spin both drum and bass and electrohouse, sometimes with other genres such as disco
and rock
, in the same sets.
Jon B.
Jon B. is a Grammy nominated American R&B singer and songwriter.-Early life:...
, an American R&B/soul singer.
John B (born John Bryn Williams, 1977, Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
DJ and electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
music producer. He is widely recognised for his eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
clothing and wild hair and his production of several cutting edge drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
tracks.
John B ranked #76 in DJ Magazine 's 2010 Top 100 DJs annual poll, announced October 27, 2010.
Biography
Williams started producing music around the age of 14, and now is the head of drum and bass record labelRecord label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Beta Recordings, together with its more specialist drum and bass sub-labels Nu Electro, Tangent, and Chihuahua. He also has releases on Formation Records
Formation Records
Formation Records is a Leicester-based drum and bass label that was founded in 1989 by DJ SS and his partner Eidris. The label came to prominence from 1992 onwards releasing countless classics of darkside hardcore/jungle over the next couple of years...
, Metalheadz
Metalheadz
Metalheadz is a pioneering drum and bass record label based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1994 by Kemistry & Storm and Goldie, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue....
and Planet Mu
Planet Mu
Planet Mu is an electronic music record label run by Mike Paradinas . It was based in Worcester until March 2007, then moved to London and has recently relocated to Broadstairs, Kent...
.
Williams was ranked 1st drum and bass DJ on the 2009 DJMag's
DJMag
DJ Mag is a British monthly magazine dedicated to Electronic dance music and DJs. Founded January 31, 1991, the magazine is translated monthly to Portuguese, Polish , Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Chinese, Bulgarian, Spanish, French, German and Italian.- DJ Blackbook :In January 2008, the magazine...
top 100. and #92 on the DJ List as of October 3, 2009.
He attended Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
.
Style
While his trademark sound has evolved through the years, it generally involves female vocals and trance-like synths (a style which has been dubbed "trance and bass", "trancestep" and "futurestep" by listeners). His most recent concentration is an 1980s electroclashElectroclash
Electroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
influenced fusion of electro
Electro (music)
Electro is a genre of electronic dance music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 drum machines, Moog keytar synthesizers and funk sampling...
and drum and bass, which was dubbed 'electrostep'. At first (around early 2002), this style seemed odd and comical
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
to some in the drum and bass community. However, this move has given John the ability to carry his style of drum and bass forward. He has dabbled in darkstep
Darkstep
Darkstep is a subgenre of drum and bass that fuses elements of darkcore with uptempo breakbeats and ambient noises . Darkstep music is typically composed in a chromatic scale...
, jazzstep and various other styles in his time. When he DJs, he is known to spin both drum and bass and electrohouse, sometimes with other genres such as disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, in the same sets.
Discography
- Visions (1997)
- Catalyst (1999)
- Future Reference (2001)
- Brainstorm (2002)
- In:transit (2004)
- American Girls (2004)
- Electrostep (2006)
- To Russia With Love (2008)