D-Ranged

D-Ranged

D-Ranged is the production alias of Benjamin Smithson, a Cornish musician who begins making music in 2000. He first develops his sound after hearing the nuskool breakbeat scene, and his early work sits in breakbeat, heavy bassline breakbeat, hardcore, darkcore, breaks and dubstep.

Early releases and breakbeat work

His first release is the To The Floor EP on Newquay-based house and breaks label Play Recordings. After that, he releases a run of bass-heavy breakbeat material on labels including Unstable, DownBeat, Mechanoise, Basstard and Bomtraxx. One of his tracks, A Love Song, gains club play internationally and helps establish his DJ career.

DJ activity and performances

As his profile grows, D-Ranged performs nationally and internationally, including large crowds at events such as Drop Beat Not Bombs.

Other work and aliases

Alongside his breakbeat productions, Smithson works in electro under the name Benhashkey, releasing music on Breakin Even. His first single under that alias, Saulted, reaches number one in many stores worldwide.

Shift towards other styles

In 2008 he takes a year away from his breakbeat output to write techno, house and hip hop. After seeing Rusko at the Glade festival in summer 2008, he turns back towards breaks and begins moving into dubstep, with plans for further singles and remixes alongside that direction.