The book is 24cm x 17cm, and the 320 pages are printed on heavyweight paper in full colour with a hardback cover. The music journalist continues her work from 2015’s The VICE Oral History of Dubstep: interviewing over two dozen artists and key industry players to tell the dubstep origin story in an oral history format; illustrated with classic and previously unseen photography, rave flyers and other visual ephemera. Aftershock: The Seismic Impact of Dubstep is the first text-led book devoted to dubstep. Beginning in the late 1990s and ending in 2011, Aftershock follows a selection of vital DJs, producers, engineers, label owners, A&Rs and club promoters through a near-generation of immense change. Powered by detailed first-hand testimonies, the book follows: the creation of the dubstep ecosystem through seminal parties like FWD>> and DMZ; record labels like Skull Disco, Tectonic Recordings and Hyperdub; the growth of dubstep in London, Leeds and Bristol through dub reggae soundsystems, pirate radio, record shops, cutting houses and nightclubs; the sound’s early journeys to North America; and how the originators reacted to the sound going global. Aftershock features interviews with Mala, Loefah, Coki, Kode9, Benny Ill, Hatcha, Youngsta, Skream, Rusko, Plastician, Joker, Appleblim, Shackleton, Neil Joliffe (Ammunition), Jason Goz (Transition Studios), Martin “Blackdown” Clark, Pearson Sound, The Bug, Kahn, Artwork, Pinch, Sgt Pokes, Geeneus (Rinse FM), Chef, Joe Nice, Oris Jay, Deapoh (Barefiles) and Ivan Dubway (Dubstep Forum). Through raw, engaging storytelling, Aftershock traces the dramatic highs and lows that shaped the sound and culture of dubstep throughout the 2000s. From the advent of social media platforms and the loudness wars, to the influence of grime and techno, the emergence of post-dubstep, pop culture breakthrough moments, unlikely champions and more, dubstep’s origin is vividly told through touching personal reflections, with many details revealed for the very first time. “Written via interviews with 28 leading scene figures from London and beyond, Lauren Martin’s oral history of dubstep is a landmark document of British club culture. This heavy, asymmetric music, informed by Jamaican soundsystem culture, garage, grime, breaks and more, could only have mutated in the UK, and Martin’s cast of characters take you back to the Croydon record shops, Shoreditch clubs and online forums where it came together. Amid funny tales of infighting and the inside stories of classic tracks, the artists’ pluck and passion is what shines through brightest, and makes this such an inspirational read.” — Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Music Editor, the Guardian Aftershock’s imagery comes from the personal collections of Kode9, Loefah, Hatcha, Shackleton, Joe Nice, Appleblim, Martin “Blackdown” Clark and Simon Scott, and photographers Orson Sieverding, Shaun Bloodworth (RIP), Georgina Cook, Stu Hammersley of Give Up Art, Ronald Dick, Debbie Bragg, Marc Sethi, Sarah Ginn and Ariel Van Straten. The book is designed by Alfie Allen. Lauren Martin is a Glasgow-born, London-based music writer, editor and interview host. Over the last 12 years, she’s written for a variety of publications, been the Features Editor at DJ Mag, worked for Red Bull Music Academy across editorial, radio and the Academy’s lecture series, and lived in London, Berlin and New York City. Throughout her career, Lauren has championed alternative sounds, with a strong focus on underground electronic music. Aftershock is her first book. Velocity Press is an UK-based independent publisher dedicated to documenting and celebrating underground music and club culture. The house publishes books that explore the rich histories, untold stories, and creative movements that shape electronic music, hip-hop, rave, and beyond. With a passion for authenticity and quality storytelling, their mission is to give voice to the scenes and sounds that often go overlooked.