Chris Reed (born 30 October 1982), also known as Plastician (formerly Plasticman), is an electronic musician from Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon.
Plastician | |
|---|---|
 Plastician | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Chris Reed |
| Also known as | Plasticman |
| Born | 30 October 1982 |
| Origin | Croydon, London, England |
| Genres | Dubstep, grime, breakstep |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, producer |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Terrorythm Recordings, ROAD, Slimzos, Soulja, Trouble & Bass, Owsla |
History
editPlastician, real name Chris Reed is a DJ from Croydon in South London. He began playing UK garage records in 2000, playing early shows in the local area of Croydon. Reed began to take interest in the darker side of the sound, specialising in sets featuring tracks from the likes of Wookie, Zed Bias, El-B, Groove Chronicles, Steve Gurley and working alongside MCs Tricks & Spellz as part of the "Fearless Crew". They held radio slots on South London's inconsistent pirate station "Desire FM" before moving to 2GFM before the split of Fearless Crew in 2002. It was then that Reed was to begin using the name Plasticman for future works, which he later changed to Plastician due to the similarity to Canadian-British techno artist Richie Hawtin's "Plastikman".[1]
Toward the middle of 2001, Reed had been experimenting with production on FruityLoops.[2] Being based in Croydon, Reed was part of a close-knit community of young producers attempting to make dark garage tracks that would catch the ear of Big Apple Records resident DJ Hatcha so that he could support them on his popular pirate radio show.[3] Other young producers in this circle included Skream and Benga, amongst more experienced heads Artwork / Menta, Benny Ill & Horsepower Productions. By the end of 2001, although Plasticman's tracks were somewhat overlooked by DJ Hatcha, they were however picked up by East London Grime pioneer, DJ Slimzee. Slimzee signed Reed's first 12" release (Venom / Shockwave) to his Slimzos imprint which was released early into 2002.
By 2003, Reed had been supported by DJ Hatcha on tracks such as Hard Graft, which saw his grimy take on the instrumental sound being welcomed by the FWD contingent, leading to releases on Ammunition Promotions' Soulja, and ROAD imprints, a weekly slot on Rinse FM alongside Mark One (MRK1) & Virus Syndicate, and in the summer saw Reed's first appearance at the world-famous FWD event at Plastic People, London. Soon after, Reed had established himself as a FWD favourite and was announced as one of 4 residents at the club in 2004, alongside Dubstep royalty, DJ Hatcha, Youngsta and Rinse FM owner, DJ Geeneus.[4]
In 2006, Reed was offered a slot on BBC Radio 1's "The Residency". This soon turned into "In New DJ's We Trust". This was the tipping point for an ongoing legal struggle which forced him to change his name from Plasticman to Plastician.[5] He spent 18 months on the station before returning to Rinse FM to continue his weekly slot, which he had been continuing under the alias "Blue Stripe" during his time at the BBC. He returned to the airwaves on Rinse FM alongside MC Nomad.
2007 saw the release of "Beg to Differ", Reed's debut LP and his first release under the Plastician moniker. It received critical acclaim, and contains some of Reed's most recognisable works such as "Japan" and "Intensive Snare" with North London MC Skepta of Boy Better Know.[6]
Plastician also played a role in putting together the "Cashmere Agency Presents Mr. Grustle & Tha Russian Dubstep LA Embrace The Renaissance Vol.1 Mixed by Dj Plastician" mixtape that was released in June 2009. The tracks were curated by Plastician and featured Dubstep and Hip Hop collaborations involving Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and more. Plastician is unique in that he is respected as one of the true pioneers of both the Dubstep and Grime genres.
Terrorhythm Recordings
editPlastician runs his own record label, Terrorhythm Recordings, formed in 2002. Best known for signing both Om Unit and Joker's first releases as well as releasing Plastician's critically acclaimed Beg to Differ album, it also saw early releases from Macabre Unit, Maniac, Crissy Criss, and Mark One. Moving into more recent times, the label has broadened its sonic palate – as has Plastician. Terrorhythm currently represents some of the most exciting young musicians associated with today's future beats movement, housing artists such as AWE, GANZ, Louis Futon and Krane among others within its ranks; many of whom have been releasing on the label since their debut releases.[7] More recently, Plastician has been exploring the experimental trap offshoot, wave music for which his "Wavepool" mixes have become recognized as the main reference point for the birth of the genre.[8] He has recruited artists representing the wave sound such as Noah B, Sorsari, Deadcrow, Glacci, & Yedgar to release via Terrorhythm and bring the underground internet sound to new ears from 2016 onward.
Terrorhythm Recordings releases
edit| Year | No. | Artist | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | TERR001 | Mark One | Fight / Fight (Plasticman Remix) |
| 2004 | TERR002 | Plasticman | Cha EP |
| TERR003 | Value Beats EP | ||
| TERR004 | Macabre Unit | Lift Off EP | |
| 2008 | TERR005 | Joker | Top of the Game EP |
| 2010 | TERR006 | Crissy Criss | Blow Your Head Off / Humans |
| TERR007 | Maniac | Thug / Wreckage | |
| TERR008 | Om Unit | The Corridor EP | |
| 2011 | TERR009 | Psy:am & Stinkahbell | Don't Tell Mum About Ibiza |
| 2012 | TERR010 | Plastician | Straight Outta Croydon EP |
| TERR011 | Stinkahbell & Psy:am | Hot Poo | |
| TERR012 | Stinkahbell | Film Noir EP | |
| 2013 | TERR013 | Mojo | Blues EP |
| TERR014 | AWE | Eagle Soul EP | |
| TERR015 | Alexandre | Dead Silent EP | |
| TERR016 | Anton F | Crimson EP | |
| TERR017 | Louis Futon | Dozing / Plastic | |
| TERR018 | GANZ | Purple Cwtch EP | |
| TERR019 | Curl Up | Missed U EP | |
| 2014 | TERR020 | AWE | Crystals |
| TERR021 | Skit & Tijani | Sweat | |
| TERR022 | Varsity | Grunt / Lingerer Dub | |
| TERR023 | JD. Reid | Maneki Neko EP | |
| TERR024 | Parkinson White & Kyle Cook | Sapphire EP | |
| TERR025 | Deon Custom | Bliss EP | |
| TERR026 | KRNE | Zero Zero One EP | |
| TERR027 | Plastician | Plasticman Remastered | |
| TERR028 | Plasticman Remixed I | ||
| TERR029 | Plasticman Remixed II | ||
| TERR030 | Plasticman Remixed III | ||
| TERR031 | AWE | Griffin | |
| 2015 | TERR032 | Color Plus | Mangata Sequence EP |
| TERR033 | Gunkst | Bodied EP | |
| TERR034 | GANZ | Dino War EP | |
| TERR035 | Anton F | Indigo EP | |
| TERR036 | Mace | Love Songs EP | |
| TERR037 | BeauDamian | Pleione EP | |
| TERR038 | Skuls | Lost Knowledge EP | |
| TERR039 | Plastician | Sorcery | |
| TERR040 | Patrick Brian | 8 Months EP | |
| 2016 | TERR041 | Noah B | Night's Edge EP |
| TERR042 | Mace | Touch Me (2XA Remix) | |
| TERR043 | Plastician | Do What You Feel | |
| TERR044 | Glacci | Lucid EP | |
| TERR045 | ZEKE BEATS | Meltdown EP | |
| TERR046 | Deadcrow | Night Wonder EP | |
| TERR047 | Sosari | Worlds Away EP | |
| TERR048 | Skuls | Transient EP | |
| TERR049 | Terminal EP | ||
| TERR050 | Celaeno | The Celaeno EP | |
| 2017 | TERR051 | ONHELL | Noself EP |
| TERR052 | Klasey Jones | Foreign Buyers Club EP | |
| TERR053 | Deadcrow | Light Trails EP | |
| TERR054 | Patrick Brian | Strings & Squares EP | |
| TERR055 | Various Artists | Plastician Presents - Wavepool 2 | |
| TERR056 | Glacci | Lifeforce LP | |
| TERR057 | Klasey Jones | Eleven LP | |
| TERR059 | Compa | Awow EP | |
| 2018 | TERR058 | Om Unit | The Corridor (Remixes) |
| TERR060 | Flechewave | Kinetics EP | |
| TERR061 | Klasey Jones | Starlight One EP | |
| TERR062 | Plastician | Overdue EP | |
| TERR063 | Boy Racers | Exit Strategy EP | |
| TERR064 | Plastician | Anyway EP | |
| 2019 | TERR065 | Klasey Jones | Blood Money EP |
| TERR066 | Rapture 4D & gl00my | Green Boson EP | |
| TERR067 | Vexxy & Jato | Night Shift / Nylon | |
| TERR068 | Klasey Jones | Arrival EP | |
| TERR069 | ONHELL | Graveyard Shift | |
| TERR070 | Kill Your Self Doubt EP | ||
| TERR071 | Tracksuit Goth | Blacksmith EP | |
| 2020 | TERR072 | Juche & Plastician | eNight (Revisited) |
| TERR073 | Plastician | Deep In The Drives | |
| TERR074 | Mod Sens | Hollow E.P. | |
| TERR075 | Plastician | Process | |
| TERR076 | Various Artists | Plastician Presents - Wavepool 3 | |
| 2021 | TERR077 | Yedgar | Life Cycle E.P. |
References
edit- ^ ""I was going to close it off, get a job, I'd had enough": self-help tapes, lovemaking music and the redemption of Plastician". Factmag.com. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ DaMetalMessiah (2 December 2024). Plastician talks Big Apple Records, FWD & Rinse FM [Interview]. Retrieved 4 December 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Joseph 'JP' Patterson (24 June 2013). "Joseph 'JP' Patterson: MTV IGGY: Plastician: "It Feels Like I'm Starting All Over Again"". Josephjppatterson.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "The VICE Oral History of Dubstep". Vice.com. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ Dave Jenkins (24 September 2014). "Flashback: Five Big Moments In The Life Of Plastician". Ukf.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Exclusive Interview: Plastician talks to RWD backstage after his set at Ibiza Rocks Hotel | RWD". Rwdmag.com. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "MTV News At Snowbombing 2013: Plastician Interview". Mtv.co.uk. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Has Plastician Just Uncovered A New Genre? | News | Clash Magazine". Clashmusic.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.