From Sacramento, California, Justin DeHart, a.k.a. doctor echo has long been involved in mixing various sounds with electronic effects. Originally a drummer, doctor echo began mixing dub music in 1992, while playing drums in Sacramento’s live dub band, The Defendants. The Defendants included guitar guru Tyler Pope, Justin Vandervolgen on live mixing/guitar/misc., Jason Dudley on bass, and many other random guests at various times. Initially recording on a Tascam 4-track that he received as a gift, he eventually began acquiring more gear to build an 8-track studio to open to the public.
Soundlab Studio was born in 1996 when frequent noise complaints from neighbors forced him to relocate from his flat at 1406 F Street downtown to a commercial building across town at 1821 17th Street. Sacramento’s reggae/rocksteady group Steady Ups, as well as roommate and artist Craig “Lab Assistant†Oliveira, collaborated in building the new studio. The space was outfitted with rehearsal rooms as well as full recording facilities. Living and working at this studio, the doctor laid the foundation for many mixes to eventually be released.
After the 17th Street Studio, doctor echo moved further downtown into an 3000 sq. ft. old abandon clothing store called “Joe’s Style Shopâ€. Here he left the sign up and set up the recording studio once again along with rehearsal rooms. The place was spacious enough and conveniently located to warrant building a stage and hosting art as well as music shows regularly. With the help of Harley White Jr. and other community members, they set up a non-profit organization to give free music lessons to children.
The next few years found the doctor busy recording with and producing many reggae and electronic projects, such as The Storytellers, Blackalicious, Filibuster, Frank Jordan, and The Original Heads. With the advent of an ADAT multi-track recorder, doctor echo began playing live shows mixing previously recorded dub rhythms, sometimes adding live instruments to the mix. Always hungry for new influences, and passionate for drums and percussion, doctor echo traveled to South India in the year 2000 to spend nine months studying the traditional drumming there as well as collaborate with various artists.
In 2002, the doctor moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music degree at CalArts while continuing to mix dub music live and in the studio. The doctor launched his own record label in 2004 to release original dub music. Dubbed Anicca Records, the label is now celebrating its 4th release “Dub Sac†featuring Sacramento reggae group The Storytellers as well as many other local artists.
Presently, the doctor resides in La Jolla, CA. He can be found collaborating with various artists’ projects, as well as mixing live dub shows.
www.doctorecho.com
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