Iration Steppas

Iration Steppas

Iration Steppas is a dub sound system group from Leeds, United Kingdom, led by Mark Iration and Dennis Rootical. The project begins in 1990, after Mark Iration moves from being a fan and collector of sound system music to building his own system and making music in his studio, High Rise. Their early releases include Scud Missile and High Rise Vibrations, which establish the foundation of their style.

History and style

Mark Iration follows the influence of sound systems such as Jah Shaka and Jah Tubbys from the late 1970s through the 1980s. He meets Dennis Rootical in 1993 at House of Roots in London, and the pair begin working together as Iration Steppas. Their sound develops into a techno-tinged dub approach, and releases such as Killimanjaro and Reminiscence help establish their reputation.

The group is associated with sound-clash culture and is known for a heavy, high-volume sound. They are also credited with being among the first to use DAT recordings of their own tracks and to mix live within their sets. Alongside Mark Iration, the Leeds DJ Simon Scott helps run Subdub, a monthly dub night in Leeds that becomes a regular fixture for the group.

Releases, labels and projects

Iration Steppas record on Dubheadz and on their own Tandoori Space imprint. Their debut album, Dubz from De Higher Regionz, and the Subdub compilation Digital Afrika both form part of their output. The group also works internationally, taking their sound to countries including Norway, Italy, the USA, Serbia, Holland and Japan.

Mark Iration also works on other projects, including Kitachi, a trip-hop style dub band that tours with acts such as Prodigy and Dreadzone, and production work for artists including LSK, who is signed to Sony. Iration Steppas remain active as a Leeds-based dub group built around sound system culture, studio production and live performance.