NEM#239: Adrian Sherwood’s Dub Productions

Adrian has applied his distinctive, spacey dub mixing techniques to numerous recordings since 1978, often released under his On-U Sound label, and has effectively served as a key band member in groups like Creation Rebel, African Head Charge, Tackhead, and New Age Steppers. He has produced and/or remixed many artists including Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sinéad O’Connor, and Spoon and has released nine albums under his own name since 2003.

We discuss “Body Roll” from The Collapse of Everything (2025), “Starship Bahia” from Survival & Resistance (2012), and “Sharp as a Needle” by Barmy Army from The English Disease (1989). End song: “Make Up Your Mind” by Coldcut (Ninja Tunes), On-U Sound, Ce’Cile, Toddla T, Adrian Sherwood from Outside the Echo Chamber (2017). Intro: “Movement in Space” by Creation Rebel from Starship Africa (1980), remixed for Adrian’s Five Decades of Destruction – 80’s (2024). More at adriansherwood.com.

Hear all of “Movement in Space.” Watch an animated video for “Dub Inspector” from the new album. Listen to “Swiftly (The Right One),” a track from the Creation Rebel 2023 reunion album. Watch Adrian live with that band in 2017. Watch him performing live solo in 2025; on his new tour, he plays with a band. Watch a full live DJ set from 2012. Here’s one of his tunes with Lee Scratch Perry. Here’s a tune he did with Sinéad O’Connor and others. Hear one of his remixes for Spoon. Watch Adrian muck around with his equipment.

Check out my interview with Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah from African Head Charge; Adrian is a co-writer and producer for all songs by that project.

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