The Windish Agency

Magnetic Man is the supergroup formed by dubstep dons Skream, Benga and Artwork. Rising out of the early ‘00s underground, they spent the early part of the decade co-building the dark, bassy genre now known as dubstep from their HQ, Big Apple records in Croydon. As with many superheroes, their lair no longer exists but the trio have moved on to bigger and better conquests, namely blowing up clubs and festivals worldwide.

As individuals their records, in both senses of the word, speak for themselves. Arthur Smith made UK garage and techno before penning a dubstep anthem (Artwork’s “Red”) so ahead of its time the genre didn’t yet have a name. He began mentoring two errant teenagers fresh out of school and the rest is, well, carnage.

Both found their calling in life making this dark new sound and would go on to pen anthems of their own for the seminal DJ Hatcha, played on influential station Rinse FM. Benga Adejumo began producing as Benga, has released two albums and co-wrote smash hit “Night.” Oliver Jones began producing as Skream. His ‘06 anthem “Midnight Request Line” took the dubstep sound and brought it to the nation: his ’09 remix of La Roux’ “In For the Kill” sent it global and earned him his first gold disc with the remix itself achieving over 60,000 sales in the UK alone.

In 2010, these three superstar DJs, producers but first of all friends, came together to take on the world with their brand of humour, stage diving and mutant basslines. “With all three of us doing it it’s going to get ultra-no-holds barred” says Skream. “This is Magnetic Man. It’s no longer three people: it’s a whole.”