The electrifying convergence of four of drum and bass’s most celebrated artists – Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, and 1991 – under the banner of WORSHIP, is not merely a musical collaboration; it is a strategic and ambitious undertaking to elevate the genre’s global footprint. This powerhouse collective, comprised of established British DJs who have individually carved out significant careers, has coalesced to demonstrate the expansive sonic palette and infectious energy of drum and bass to an ever-widening international audience. Their current North American arena tour serves as a powerful testament to this mission, culminating in a recent sold-out stop at Brooklyn Storehouse, where the pulsating heart of the genre was palpable.
The Genesis of a Genre and a Collective
The journey of drum and bass, a genre born from the vibrant UK rave scene of the early 1990s, is one of constant evolution and underground resilience. For the members of WORSHIP, their initial encounters with this nascent sound were deeply personal and often serendipitous, echoing the genre’s own organic growth. Nick Douwma, known globally as Sub Focus, recalls a pivotal moment during his school days. "In school during break time, my friend put on a compilation of jungle music, which was the genre that came before drum and bass," he shared. "There was a song called ‘Incredible,’ which was a big hit in 1994. It was the craziest style of music I had ever heard. I had never heard anything like it, and I was obsessed from that point onward." This initial immersion into the raw, breakbeat-driven sound of jungle laid the foundation for a lifelong passion.
Darren White, operating as Culture Shock, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the clandestine nature of early drum and bass discovery. "In between the mainstream radio stations, you would tune through the FM dial, and there would be these illegal pirate stations broadcasting jungle," he explained. "I didn’t even know what the name was back then, but it was these crazy sounds of chopped-up, sped-up drum beats." This underground accessibility, while initially obscure, fostered a sense of discovery and exclusivity that further fueled its appeal. Sub Focus elaborated on this early underground mystique: "That was one of the things that made it so exciting early on. It was extremely underground, and it took a while for it to filter into the mainstream."
From Underground Roots to Chart Dominance
The trajectory of drum and bass from its underground origins to mainstream recognition is a narrative WORSHIP is actively shaping. Sub Focus observed this transformation with a keen eye: "Now, in the UK, drum and bass has become a really popular genre, with a few select songs even reaching number one in the charts. It’s been an exciting journey to watch it grow, and I think our ambition is to expose more people to it, show them the type of drum and bass we’re into, and represent it in the best way we can." This ambition to showcase a specific, high-caliber representation of the genre is central to WORSHIP’s mission. The UK charts have indeed seen a resurgence of drum and bass in recent years, with artists like Eliza Rose and Fred Again.. incorporating its elements into chart-topping hits, indicating a broader cultural acceptance and appreciation for its rhythmic complexity.
Charting a Course for North America and Beyond
The current North American arena tour represents a significant milestone for WORSHIP, marking a concerted effort to penetrate a market that has historically been more receptive to other electronic music subgenres. For Dimension, whose real name is Liam Holyoak, this endeavor is both exhilarating and humbling. "It feels amazing and like a massive privilege to be pushing the genre here in North America," he stated. "Obviously, with that comes an element of responsibility. There’s a huge amount of culture deeply rooted here, and we want to honor and respect that while also making it accessible and open to new people, because I think that’s a really positive thing."
The group’s dedication to this North American expansion is not a recent development. Dimension revealed, "We set out to try and conquer America five or six years ago, and it’s been an amazing journey. We’re starting to do some really big shows, and this is our first-ever arena tour, which we never really thought would be possible." This multi-year strategic approach underscores the group’s commitment to sustained growth rather than fleeting trends. The success of their arena tour, a format typically reserved for established mainstream acts, signals a paradigm shift in drum and bass’s presence in North America.
Looking beyond the current tour, WORSHIP has its sights set on further global expansion. "The next territory we’ve really got our eyes on is Asia," Dimension announced. "We’ve been playing there, and we’re doing our first-ever show in China in a couple of weeks. For me, it’s an amazing territory with so much potential. That’s the next place on the horizon, so it’s exciting." The burgeoning electronic music scenes in countries like South Korea, Japan, and China present fertile ground for drum and bass’s rhythmic intricacies to captivate new audiences.
Sub Focus also highlighted recent forays into new territories: "It’s also worth mentioning that we just went to South America for the first time and played in Medellín at EDC. That’s another really exciting area." The inclusion of Latin America in their expansion plans aligns with the growing popularity of electronic dance music across the continent. Furthermore, the personal connections of the artists are being leveraged for deeper cultural integration. "Dimension is actually half Spanish, and we’re working on some Spanish-language music as well," Sub Focus added. "We really want to take drum and bass worldwide and bring it to some new places." This initiative to create region-specific content demonstrates a nuanced understanding of global market penetration.
The Alchemy of Collaboration: Crafting the WORSHIP Sound
The creation of new music within WORSHIP is a testament to the artists’ adaptability and shared vision, navigating the logistical challenges of individual touring schedules. Culture Shock offered a glimpse into their unconventional creative environment: "Laptops and planes! Because you’re constantly touring, it’s just little, short windows or where you’re in a hotel for a bit." This nomadic approach to production underscores their dedication to the project.
Dimension emphasized the unique synergy that arises from bringing together four accomplished solo artists: "One thing that really separates us from other groups is that we’ve all had our own individual and successful solo careers. We’re all masters of our craft, so when you put that together, we’re stronger than the sum of our parts. In a band, someone might play the drums or do one particular thing, but we’ve all done it ourselves, which makes us a lot stronger. That’s why I think it’s worked so well." This collective mastery allows for a more efficient and potent creative output.
Sub Focus elaborated on this multi-faceted skill set: "We’re all-rounders because we’ve done this individually as solo artists, but we’ve got studios in London and link up as much as possible. This year, we’ve been doing a lot of sessions together, and have been linking up to write a lot of tracks." The commitment to regular studio sessions, despite demanding individual careers, highlights the importance they place on nurturing their collaborative sound.
Culture Shock described the studio environment as a dynamic and collaborative space: "It’s fun being in a studio together because we’re used to operating on our own, maybe with a singer or songwriter. When there’s four of us together, we can joke around a lot, and when the vibe is really good and there’s a good idea, it gets very exciting quite quickly. You can make something really fast because everybody’s making different parts of the songs." The inherent competition within this creative process, as Culture Shock humorously noted, "And if you’re not fast enough, your idea gets vetoed!" serves to accelerate innovation and ensure that only the strongest ideas make the cut.
Individual Strengths, Collective Vision
The distinct contributions of each member are crucial to WORSHIP’s cohesive sound. Sub Focus articulated their individual roles: "I think our skill sets are similar, but they overlap a lot. Culture Shock is amazing at making sounds. I tend to look at songs from a more zoomed-out perspective, and I think I’m more into finishing things. 1991 is amazing at starting things and remixing things. Dimension’s stuff tends to be quite song-oriented. We all have our own strengths and different areas of specialization." This division of labor, while not rigid, allows for a comprehensive approach to track creation, ensuring every aspect of a song is meticulously crafted.
The Art of the WORSHIP Set: A Sonic Journey
Building a live set for WORSHIP is a collaborative process that prioritizes a cohesive and engaging experience for the audience. Sub Focus jokingly described the initial planning: "There’s so much arguing, and physical fights! (Just kidding)." He then clarified the actual approach: "It depends on the type of set we’re doing. Sometimes we’re very off the cuff, and sometimes we’re more planned. We spend a long time trying to figure out cool transitions and brainstorm together." This blend of spontaneity and meticulous planning allows for both reactive audience engagement and a carefully curated sonic narrative.
Culture Shock elaborated on their shared philosophy for set construction: "I think we have a similar mindset about how sets should flow. There’s a certain energy at the start, a different type of energy in the middle, and then something else at the end. It makes sense that we all play together now because we’re going on that same journey." This shared understanding of narrative progression in a DJ set is fundamental to their live performance.
Sub Focus further delineated their approach, drawing parallels to other electronic music genres: "We have quite similar musical inspirations. I definitely think about building a set the way a house or techno DJ would, where it’s a journey. Sometimes drum and bass mixing can be very jarring, with crazy double drops and things like that. Our style is to have really nice, smooth transitions and big build-ups. We’re approaching it from more of a house and techno perspective." This emphasis on smooth transitions and narrative arcs distinguishes their sets from more traditional, high-octane drum and bass performances, aiming for a more sophisticated and immersive experience.
The WORSHIP Experience: Converting the Unconverted
The ultimate goal of WORSHIP’s live performances is to foster an environment of exhilaration and introduce new fans to the unparalleled energy of drum and bass. "We hope people really enjoy the shows," Sub Focus stated. "We’re trying to showcase the side of drum and bass that we feel represents what it’s all about. We want new people to come to the shows, as well as existing fans, and have an amazing time." The intention is to cater to both seasoned drum and bass enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
1991, whose real name is Ben Knight, finds immense satisfaction in witnessing the genre’s expansion: "I really like it when you get a message from someone online saying, ‘That was my first drum and bass show,’ and it was a WORSHIP show. If we can convert more people into drum and bass fans, I think that’s a really cool thing." This desire to act as ambassadors for the genre is a driving force behind their collective efforts.
Dimension articulated the core ethos of their live shows: "The whole point is that it’s really fun. We take it seriously, but at the same time, we’re always having so much fun onstage, and we really want that energy to translate to the crowd. Getting people onstage with us is a big thing, too. We just want to convert as many nonbelievers as we can." The palpable joy they exude onstage is a key element in their ability to connect with and energize the audience.
Culture Shock elaborated on the unique power of drum and bass’s energetic impact: "Drum and bass has a unique energy because it’s faster than anything else. When it goes off and there’s a big reaction from the crowd, that reaction is like nothing else. There’s nothing that compares to it, so we want to bring that feeling to as many people as possible." The visceral, high-energy response that drum and bass elicits is a phenomenon they aim to share globally.
Dreams of Iconic Stages
As WORSHIP continues to ascend, their aspirations extend to playing at some of the world’s most legendary venues. Dimension reflected on their current success: "We’re quite spoiled in that our dream venues keep getting ticked off. After spending the week in New York, our next dream venue would be Madison Square Garden." This iconic arena represents a pinnacle of live performance achievement.
Culture Shock shared the immediate sentiment, "We were just outside taking a photo and thinking, ‘We really need to play here.’ That would be cool. It would be crazy." The palpable desire to conquer such an esteemed venue underscores their ambitious trajectory. 1991, ever the optimist, added, "We’re manifesting it right now."
The Future is Drum and Bass
WORSHIP’s journey is a powerful demonstration of how established artists can unite to propel a genre forward. By leveraging their individual expertise, collective chemistry, and a shared vision for global expansion, Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, and 1991 are not only achieving personal career milestones but are also fundamentally reshaping the perception and reach of drum and bass. Their current arena tour, a significant marker in this evolution, is paving the way for the genre to occupy larger stages and reach more diverse audiences worldwide. The ambition to perform at Madison Square Garden is a clear indication that WORSHIP is poised to etch its indelible mark on the global music landscape, proving that drum and bass has a rightful and powerful place on the world’s biggest stages.
For those eager to experience the phenomenon firsthand, tickets for upcoming WORSHIP tour dates are available.
