Raggamuffin profiles: DJ Dubhead

DJ DUBHEAD

DJ Dubhead arrived in New Zealand from the U.K. with his family in 1969 and grew up in Maraetai Beach, South of Auckland.

He became active as a DJ in 1983 and has played reggae, funk and hip-hop at all manner of events around the country since then. He hosts a weekly specialist radio show on Auckland's 95bFM which has broadcast continuously since 1990.

The Rhythm Selection airs every Monday night from 9pm - 11pm and can also be heard worldwide as a live audio stream at www.95bfm.co.nz.

From 2000 to 2004 he was bFM's Programme Director and during this time was responsible for securing airplay for countless local artists, particularly those from New Zealand's reggae and hip-hop underground.

Since 2000 he has been an executive producer for eight New Zealand music compilations, including "Dub Combinations Chapter 3'', which won the 2003 bNet New Zealand Music Award for 'Best Compilation'.

He has produced his own music under the name of The Sound Foundation, which has been released here and in Australia and Europe on the Deepgrooves, Kog Transmissions and Stereo Deluxe labels.

His writing has been previously published in magazines such as Back 2 Basics, Planet, The Fix and Debate. He currently works for Auckland Student Movement at AUT, is the reggae buyer for boutique record store Beat Merchant, holds a DJ residency at Shadows Tavern and is writing a book about the history of Reggae in New Zealand.