Dub FX

Biography

Benjamin Stanford (born 11 June 1983), better known by his stage name Dub FX (stylised as Dub Fx or DubFx), is an Australian musician and worldwide street performer.
Born in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, at the start of his career he was singing in a local alternative rock and rapcore band initially known as Twitch, which would later change its name to N.O.N (Never or Now). In 2004 they released a debut and the only album Exeunt Omnes. Soon after he moved to Italy and began a solo career. His trademark is creating rich live music using only his own performance aided by live looping and effects pedals combined with his voice. He creates intricate hip hop, reggae, and drum and bass rhythms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic Dub FX moved from Victoria, Australia to Lisbon, Portugal with his wife Sahida, and two daughters Sahara and Kalila.

Associated acts

Stanford used to travel and perform with his former fiancée Shoshana Sadia aka Flower Fairy. Dub FX first met her in Manchester, after which she joined him on his travels around the globe to busk for the public. Flower Fairy would usually be seen selling CDs during Dub FX's performances or on stage alongside Stanford when they perform several tracks together. She is also featured singing on tracks from Everythinks a Ripple, "Wandering Love", "Flow", and "Time Will Tell". To his travels also joined his friend and manager CAde, who is on tracks with Stanford like: "No rest for the wicked×No Rest for the Wicked5 April 2012 · Single · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1No Rest for the Wicked7:06", "Supernova Pilot×Supernova Pilot8 August 2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Supernova pilot7:20", "Easy", "Fresh" and others...
Two songs from Everythinks a Ripple, "Flow", and "Wandering Love", feature a street saxophonist named Mr. Woodnote, who also uses similar looping techniques as Dub FX, using a saxophone.
After his first summer traveling through Europe in 2006, he came home to Melbourne where he shared a flat with Melbourne-based producer Sirius. Stanford showed Sirius this new style from the UK called dubstep. and by 2010 together they released the album titled Dub FX and Sirius – A Crossworlds×A Crossworlds6 February 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1The Immaterial Part of One Self // A Long Wondering and Eventful Journey4:382Slope of the Famous TB-3035:313Immeasurably Extended in Time and Space // Traveling Freak Show3:154Equator3:325A Marina4:216Extensively Wherever, Everywhere Far and Near // Member of an Irregular, Usually Indigenous Military or Paramilitary Unit Operating in Small Bands3:487Bizarre or Dream Like5:038Press Play4:599The Largest Moon of Saturn // Rhythmically Walking3:5310C.B.D // To Move Furtively and Hurriedly3:3911Resembling the Stars // Cloud4:5112A Region That Encompasses Southwestern Asia and Egypt // Foot Race3:3713To Land an Aircraft or Spacecraft in an Emergency3:2714A Dub FX Song... Remix3:1215Esoteric3:0716Emitting Visible Light as a Result of Being Heated // Light Beyond a Prevailing Line or Surface4:2017At What Time Is the Transition Period From One Day Over to the Next // One Acting as a Medium Between Visible and Spirit Worlds4:14. Dub FX does not beatbox on this album.
Dub FX is also part of the dubstep act Kila Mega Giga Tera, the other half being Glade Kettle (Distro)(aka Sirius). To date they have released one song on Aquatic Lab Sessions Volume 1, a CD and limited edition vinyl compilation released in 2009. Kila Mega Giga Tera also released an album, which was released in 2010. This album is called A Crossworlds.

Music

Dub FX is completely independent, using only live performance, word of mouth, internet social networking, and a number of easily accessible free samples. Dub FX is also the main founder of the label Convoyunltd, which could be described as a co-op label for Dub FX's own work and that of other artists. To date, artists that have released albums on Convoyunltd are: Flower Fairy, Sirius, Mr. Woodnote, and Dub FX, with additional featured artists on separate songs of each album. Every album released through Convoyunltd has been produced by Dub FX with the exception of Dub FX & Sirius's release, A Crossworlds, a collaboration album released in 2010 which revealed a much darker and instrumental sound.
Dub FX's lyrics address both general world events and contemporary angst, while suggesting individual-based revolution through self-determination and engagement. He also addresses issues of social importance, the most notable example being the song Society's Gates, loosely based on the life of the philosopher Socrates.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.