This week's CMJ Sonicbids Spotlight Artist is Dub Gabriel, the project of an NYC-based musician, producer, DJ and promoter named Gabriel Freedman. In the mid '90s, Freedman's live shows, original beats, innovative remixes and legendary parties began to bring him out of Brooklyn and into the downtown New York City scene, and over the years have continued to push him as far as Berlin and Beijing. Freedman began his recording career in 2003, with his first full length, Ascend (Baboon). Following that was Bass Jihad (Azra) in 2005, which landed him a spot on CMJ's charts for two months and on several best-of-the-year lists. While living and performing in Berlin's electronic music scene in 2006, he began work on his most recent album, Anarchy And Alchemy, which will come out September 9 on his own newly founded label, Destroy All Concepts. "[Destroy All Concepts] will be based as a label co-op instead of a company," says Freedman. "With the climate of the industry these days, it's harder than ever for an artist to make a living. Before my own career took off, I had worked at various labels around New York as a label manager, in distribution and in publicity, so I come from that school. But now it is time to rethink the school. Some people think the music industry is dead, I just think it is more like the wild west right now, and you need to cut out your own path." After recording with various artists around Europe, Dub Gabriel returned to the US in 2007 to complete the album, collaborating with musicians and producers in New York at Mix B Studio, James Iha's Stratosphere Studio and Scotty Hard's Greenpoint studio. He also traveled to California's Hyde Street and Prairie Sun to work with Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Bill Laswell). During all of these sessions, he worked with Michael Stipe, Dr. Israel, Yo Majesty, the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra and numerous others. "It has been amazing working with so many people on this project," said Freedman. "All of the guests who are on the album are truly wonderful to work with and have incredible careers in their own right, so it was an honor." myspace.com/dubgabirel
