338 pages Edited by Lauren Martin Designed by Allie Allen, Max Marshall & Graeme Bateman 24,1 x 17,7 cm Language: English Hardback Publisher: Velocity Press 2026
At the turn of the millennium, a new sound began to emerge from London’s underground. Drawing on jungle, garage, techno, rave and the deep-rooted traditions of dub and soundsystem culture, dubstep developed around a shared fascination with bass, space and collective experience, eventually becoming one of the most influential electronic music movements of the 21st century.
In Aftershock: The Seismic Impact of Dubstep, music writer Lauren Martin reconstructs the birth and evolution of the genre through an extensive oral history. First-hand accounts from key figures of the scene are brought together with photographs, flyers and previously unseen archival material, documenting the artists, labels, clubs and parties that shaped its distinctive identity. Skream, Mala, Coki, Loefah, Horsepower Productions and Rusko appear alongside pivotal names such as Hyperdub, Tempa, DMZ, FWD>> and Skull Disco.
More than a history of a musical genre, Aftershock captures the community and creative energy behind a movement that grew from a small London underground scene into a global cultural phenomenon. Through the voices of those who experienced it first-hand, the book explores how experimentation, collaboration and a powerful DIY spirit transformed dubstep from a local sound into an international force.
