Distance is the dubstep project of Greg Sanders, a producer from London, United Kingdom, who also records under the name Deleted Scenes and is associated with HalfLife. He is described as a UK dubstep artist and is also tagged with uk garage.

Origins and early development

Sanders becomes involved in South London’s dark garage scene in 2001. Before producing, he listens to heavy and industrial acts such as Pantera and Fear Factory, and later begins working with Cubase. He is drawn to records played by DJ EZ on Kiss FM, including tracks by Oris Jay and Wookie, and starts buying records from shops such as Blackmarket and Croydon’s Big Apple Records, alongside releases on labels including Tempa and Bingo.

He attends FWD>> from its early period, when the crowd is small and made up largely of producers, and begins making tracks himself. He trades early productions with figures from the emerging scene including Scuba, Mala, Jay Da Flex, Caspa and Plastician.

Releases and labels

Distance’s first release is a white label in 2003. He is then the first artist to appear on Hotflush with a 12-inch release, and later issues music on Pinch’s Tectonic label and on Boka. He also receives regular bookings at clubs including DMZ, FWD>> and Exodus. Rinse FM gives him a show, including a section that introduces James Blake as a new artist.

Albums and collaborations

John Peel is among the first DJs to play his tracks. Mary Anne Hobbs selects him for the first Dubstep Warz broadcast in January 2006, a programme that is associated with dubstep’s wider breakthrough. His debut album, My Demons, appears in 2006 on Planet Mu and wins Dubstep Forum’s album of the year. A follow-up, Repercussions, follows in 2008 on the same label.

In 2007 he sets up his own vinyl label, Chestplate, named in reference to the chest-rattling low end of his music. He also works with Skream and with Benga on separate releases.

Style

Distance is credited with helping to bring metal-inspired riffing into dubstep at an early stage of the genre. His music is associated with heavy sub-bass and dark, forceful production.