SBTRKT is Aaron Jerome, the London-based English producer who helped define post-dubstep behind his signature masks, starting with the 2011 self-titled debut on Young Turks. That first record — heavy on Sampha vocals — is still the place to start, with Wonder Where We Land (2014) next. Explore SBTRKT vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Aaron Jerome, performing as SBTRKT (the name a vowel-removed phonetic of 'subtract'), is an English electronic music producer based in London. He launched his SBTRKT project around 2009 and signed with Young Turks (the XL Recordings imprint) for his 2011 self-titled debut album. He has been associated with the contemporary UK bass music, electronic, post-dubstep, and broader electronic music scenes alongside contemporaries like James Blake, Mount Kimbie, and Bonobo. He performs anonymously, wearing distinctive tribal masks (use of African and Pacific Islander mask aesthetics, controversial cultural appropriation debate) during public appearances. He has collaborative work with vocalist Sampha (Sampha being featured on his debut album and subsequent material, parallel work as Sampha himself launched after SBTRKT collaboration). He has continued releasing material across multiple decades.
SBTRKT's sound combines electronic, UK bass, post-dubstep, future garage, electronic R&B, ambient, alternative dance, and atmospheric electronic with multi-vocalist arrangements (use of guest vocalists including Sampha, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, others), atmospheric production approaches, and arrangements drawing on classic UK garage, 2-step, and post-dubstep traditions alongside contemporary electronic R&B influences.
Young Turks and self-released pressings of the SBTRKT catalog have been issued in color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings.
Listeners new to SBTRKT typically start with SBTRKT (2011) or Wonder Where We Land (2014).
