7 Dubstep Acts To Know In 2019 (And Beyond)

After dubstep had seemingly ran its course in the early 2010s—taken so far from its South London birthplace it was barely recognisable to those who sculpted it in the first place—several other genres and subgenres all enjoyed their time in the sun. UK funky, a UK garage revival, and something called post-dubstep dominated the underground at various points, but the embers of dubstep would continue to burn. Now, in 2019, we're shining a spotlight on some of the producers and DJs who have kept the dubby dream alive.

Originators like Plastician, Mala and others haven't turned their backs on dubstep by any means—the former still regularly spins 140 wompers to sold out crowds, and the spacious strain pushed by DMZ can still be heard in Mala's deep explorations of South America. Still, we wanted to focus on some of the newer names in the scene—names that are returning the sound to its cavernous, minimalist roots. The influence of dub, which became head-scratchingly absent from dubstep's later years, is back in and the ultra-heavy drops and mid-range screeching are out.

Here are seven names you need to know in 2019 and beyond.

Sicaria Sound is a name you've probably seen a lot over the past 12 months or so. Via some phenomenal DJ mixes and live appearances (their Boiler Room set from earlier this year is another essential listen), Sancha Ndeko and Imbratura Lou have muscled their way to the forefront of the current wave. Though the London-based pair's brand of dubstep is loyal to its UK (well, Croydon) roots, Ndeko's South Sudanese heritage and Lou's Moroccan heritage have both been woven into the fabric of their mixes and live sets, supplementing their strictly 'new music only' policy with hidden gems that nod to their respective heritages.

This one's a bit of a cheat since we're really giving you two artists, who are perfectly well established as individuals (and as part of the Bandulu Gang collective alongside Kahn & Neek) for the price of one. Though Boofy (who also runs Sector 7 Sounds alongside Lemzly Dale) and Hi5Ghost are formidable as solo selectors, their work as a duo is unforgettable. This Bristol pair DJ as if they were two halves of the same brain, and if you've ever seen them spin together IRL, you can no doubt attest to just how eerily cohesive they are together.

Armed with the blessings of Mala, London DJ and producer Samba is carving out his own lane in the dubstep scene as an individual, as one half of the unpronounceable ∆ (alongside Content) and as one fifth of Chonk Mob (alongside Sepia, Chokez, Rygby and Koma). Contributions as a producer to labels such as Crucial Recordings, System Music and Encrypted Audio have found fans in high places (see the beginning of this paragraph), as has a dedication to dubplate culture, that keeps his sets truly unique. 

Deep Medi Musik DJ and producer Egoless has been operating under that name for over a decade now, keeping the dubstep flame burning and—as this anniversary mix below proves—has remained dedicated to dubstep's fundamentals. His mixes (and productions) are always guided forward by a prominent half step rhythms and, more often than not, bursts of colourful brass and the kind of expansive basslines that are heaven-sent for towering soundsystems. No wonder he's enjoyed so much support from the Deep Medi team.

Casting our gaze beyond the UK shores, we had to bring Iceland-born Eva808 to your attention (if she wasn't already). As it turns out, her home country's reputation for sub zero electronics and ghostly vibes is a perfect fit for dubstep's cavernous atmospherics and club hits like "Marane" and "2CI" have made her a favourite both on wax and on deck. In her interviews, she appears reluctant to describe her music as solely dubstep, which is fair enough; elements of hip-hop, IDM and myriad other club elements also make themselves heard, but her dubstep credentials are undeniable. Not to mention the news that Eva would be releasing a new record with Bristol's Sir Hiss very soon.

The lines between Foamplate's dubstep and grime output is a little blurred, and the two will often sit side by side together. However, it's within dubstep's arena that Louis 'Foamplate' Sellers' name rings out the loudest. As a producer, DJ and now label head at his own Plantpower imprint, Foamplate has worked tirelessly both in and out of the UK. As dubstep's popularity increases once more, you'll be hearing a lot more of this guy soon.

New Zealand's own Headland has hopped from continent to continent with his dubby, techy, almost sci-fi-influenced sounds. His productions have been celebrated for being dark and gloomy, and his sets are often in a similar vein. With Rinse FM and Subtle FM paying attention not only to his productions, but also his mixes, Headland's becoming an increasingly permanent fixture in London's rejuvenated dubstep scene.