WOMAD

RSD featuring Joe Peng

From United Kingdom

RSD, perhaps better known as Bristol bass and drum music stalwart Rob Smith (one half of respected production duo Smith and Mighty), has been pushing bass heavy rhythms for more than two decades.

Under the moniker RSD, Rob Smith produces fresh, innovative bass music that simultaneously pays dues to his deep soundsystem roots while pushing things ever forward. He remains firmly at the forefront of Bristol's endlessly inventive music scene. With a staggering discography and a range of projects encompassing dub, drum and bass, 2-step and dubstep, Rob Smith has has his finger squarely on the bass-pulse. From his musical beginnings playing guitar in local roots reggae band Restriction, Rob's music has always had a strong dub aesthetic.

Forming the, now legendary, production duo Smith and Mighty with collaborator Ray Mighty in 1987, the pair's early releases on the Three Stripe label were influential in laying the groundwork for both the trip hop and jungle scenes for which Bristol would become renowned. A period of chart success and major label involvement in the early nineties was followed by a return to their underground rootsfor Smith and Mighty. During this time they worked with Peter D. Rose to release groundbreaking music on their More Rockers imprint.

Rob Smith also went on to collaborate with local roots reggae producers Henry & Louis. This fruitful relationship culminated in 2001 with the release of the fantastic, yet criminally overlooked 'Time Will Tell' LP. Smith and Mighty's addictive 2002 jump-up vocal cut "B-line fi blow" featuring Niji 40 may still be firmly lodged in many listeners' brains.

Rob Smith has found a new home in 2009, as RSD, comfortably adapting to the rolling, sub- heavy rhythms of dubstep. With releases on respected labels including Punch Drunk, Earwax and Tectonic, RSD's sound is typified by impossibly heavy soundsystem-testing sub-lines and junglist dub breaks. The irresistible energy of tunes such as 2007's infectious breaky roller "Pretty Bright Lights", 2008's bubbling summer-vibed "Speakerbox" and the speaker destroying dread-fuelled stepper "Jahway" has rapidly cemented them as anthems.

An experienced, effortless and exhilirating DJ and selector.
(Biography Supplied by Artist)