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

After cutting his teeth on Boka Records with his first 12” (‘Sentence/‘Beginning’) in 2012, it wasn’t long before Mala and Deep Medi came knocking. “Mala regularly played at Just Skank in Manchester”, Compa recalls, “and every time he’d visit I’d cut a dubplate especially for him”. Eventually Mala asked if Deep Medi Musik could put out some of the music he’d been sharing. It was 2013’s ‘Narabeh’ that touched wax first – and the rest is history, Compa going on to release on Killa Sound, Lion Charge and Boka (this time on a split 12” with Ipman), before returning to Deep Medi for a scorching follow-up in 2016. The next step was starting his own label, CPA Records, which launched last month with the release of Compa’s double single ‘No Hype’ feat Footsie / ‘In Check’. “I’m really glad I went for it,” he says, “and I’m already feeling ready and inspired to release another record when the time is right.”

Compa’s predicting a bright future for the wider dubstep sound too – as long as artists continue to experiment. “Look at Gantz,”, he says. “He’s merging his Turkish influences with dubstep and creating a hybrid sound all his own. Commodo is doing a similar thing, merging hip hop much like I’m trying to do with grime and trap.” As for his own future plans? “Working non-stop as per, and giving thanks every minute”, he says. We’re just grateful he didn’t pick up the PlayStation.

‘No Hype’/‘In Check’ is out now on CPA