Get to know Compa, producer of new school dubstep laced with echoes of the past

“You could only do three things at the after-school programme I used to go to”, Manchester-based producer, DJ and label head Compa recalls; “play PlayStation, stand outside chatting or learn to DJ. I chose the latter – and quickly became obsessed.” Almost a decade on, he’s regarded as one of the UK’s most accomplished new-school dubstep exports. Though he sometimes splits opinion among the genre’s purists for exploring new approaches to classic sounds, the reach of his music (he recently returned from a sold-out US tour) speaks volumes. He says his sound draws on an “amalgamation of influences”, spanning dub and reggae to the drum ’n’ bass and dubstep he grew up listening to, of whom Mala, Skream and Kode 9 were some of his favourite producers. “‘Blue Notez’ by Mala was the first record that really resonated with me”, he says.