Paul Rose, otherwise known as Scuba (SCB), is a British DJ whose melodic breed of dubstep has redirected the genre into softer, more musical arrangements. His label, Hotflush Recordings, has laid out releases responsible for the breakouts of Mount Kimbie and Joy Orbison. The label has not only rounded Scuba out to festival performances — like his spot at Coachella this coming April — but has also given him credibility in the studio as a professional. Scuba’s seamless transitions and refined, progressive arrangements distinguish him as a DJ, his minimalist ballads expertly juxtaposing romantic ambience with his epic, industrial foundations.
The Varsity: How did the British electronic scene influence your music, if at all?
Scuba: I grew up in London, so the UK scene is where I come from musically. I played various instruments when I was a kid, but quickly I figured out that I didn’t have the patience to do the practice that it takes to get to the top level as an instrumentalist, and what I really liked was writing music. I got a four-track tape recorder, and started messing around and gradually, over a number of years, that turned into being a full-time producer.
TV: You launched Hotflush Recordings in 2003. What was it like watching artists like Mount Kimbie grow because of the opportunities you provided to them through your label?
SCB: There have been artists that we’ve brought through on Hotflush that have given me a huge amount of personal satisfaction, seeing them become successful and grow into really big things. I think it says a lot about the label and how particular we are about who we sign, that we are still friends with every act who has left to go on to bigger things. Mount Kimbie was a big thing for me, because I was very closely involved with how they developed from the very start, and seeing where they are now makes me very happy. That’s really what motivates me most with the label giving people a chance and watching them take it.
TV: For those who wish to start a label of their own, what is the best advice you can give?
SCB: Don’t expect to make any money, never cut corners, and always put the music first.
TV: What was the first platform you began producing on, and how has that changed, given your success in the industry?
SCB: I never really had a breakthrough “hit.” I mean, I’ve had big tunes, but generally it’s been a cumulative process for me. With producing, I started out using an ancient PC with a bunch of outboard, and I’ve gradually reduced it, so now I work almost entirely with software. It depends a bit on what kind of thing you’re doing, but generally software these days is just as good as anything you can actually touch.
TV: What do you anticipate it’ll be like, going from a Boiler Room sort of atmosphere to a stage at Coachella? What sort of venues do you feel are best suited to your breed of sound?
SCB: I’ve played a lot of big festivals, so I’m really looking forward to playing Coachella. As a DJ, you have to take your surroundings into account to an extent; obviously, what is going to work in a small club environment won’t necessarily have the same impact on 20k people in a field, and vice versa. So it’s about judgment, and trying to stay true to your overall sound while getting the crowd going at the same time.
TV: What has been the most exciting opportunity you’ve been given as an artist?
SCB: Being given a regular night at Berghain in 2008 was without a doubt the most excited (and scared) I’ve ever been about anything.
