Sapere Magazine: DubFX's Theory of Harmony: Insight on Music & Humanity

DubFx also known as Benjamin Stanford, is an international street and recording artist who hails from Australia. His Australian and Italian background gave him a strong love for music, but it was not until he reached England did his life begin to gradually change. In 2006, he started out as a street performer and had to make conscious efforts to maintain the public's interest. It was work, but his unique blends of Dubstep, Drum & Bass, Hip Hop and Reggae with his natural voice loops and beatboxing was sure to capture people's interest. In some interviews, he describes himself as a "very accurate person who calculates everything before acting." His calculations not only give his listeners intricate beats to groove to, but also deep lyrics that can make us think about our paths a little bit more intently. DubFX has an inspiring focus on humanity and shares it in his music. He is currently on a world tour for his album, the Theory of Harmony and took a few moments to speak with interviewer, Angela Butkus. Many thanks go out to you, Dub and your crew!

Starting out as a street performing artist, you had to exude a massive amount of energy and pull focus on the intricacy of your production. What has been an important element that has kept your music innovative?

I just do my best to make music that i would want to listen to.. I don’t think about how to make something totally original or pushing boundaries.. I just try to keep it as soulful as possible! I guess that I am also classed as dance music so I need to stay up to date with current production standards but i don’t get too caught up in that...

You mix beat-boxing, reggae, hip-hop, dub step and drum & bass together in your sound. What would you say that these genres have most in common?

Soul! They all come from raw dance music that is mainly driven by a bass line...

The unique and unified structures of your songs stem from the loops of your own voice patterns attract music listeners. Which sound textures do you feel combine the best with your dub and drum & bass beat box rhythms to achieve the intentions of your songs?

I’ve always said that in order to turn peoples heads you need 5 elements

1. A funky drum break

2. A dirty and (or) melodic bass line

3. Conscious lyrics

4. An original delivery of all these things

5. Soul

At the moment you are touring in celebration of the Theory of Harmony, and the album appears to be lyrically focusing on the connectivity between humanity. What would you say connects us as a collective race and what is a major factor that keeps us separated?

So many things connect us, struggle, love, expression, hate ... We are a complex animal with so many different abilities-- everybody wants to feel appreciated and loved. Our desire to be alive is what connects us. In times of struggle we find our true potential and rise above the flames... being complacent and greedy is what keeps us separated, but for one person to struggle another needs to gain. The balance of the universe is so complex that their is no real answer to this question.

Do you ever use the form of your music to replicate the complications of human nature?

Not really... my music is designed to make you dance and my lyrics are designed to make you feel inspired and self empowered...

What have been the most difficult and gratifying parts of evolving and sharing your art?

The hardest thing is not repeating my self. I sometimes feel like I’ve already said all the things I care to say. The best thing is when people tell me my music helped them get through something hard.

I think one reason your fans respond to you so well is not just because of your musical talent, but you speak to worldly concerns and can be seen as a reminder that hope is always there. What has given you hope throughout your life?

Knowing that the only person in control of my life is my self, I have the choice to end my life now or get stuck in and build something. It’s too easy to think your life is at the mercy of someone else. It simply isn’t true... you can always remove your self from that situation and figure something out. It may take something incredibly dangerous or difficult to get you out of your hole, but doing so will only make you stronger, and if it kills you its better to die trying then to live like a zombie...