Calibre (musician)

Calibre
Calibre playing in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland in February 2019
Background information
Birth name	Dominick Martin
Also known as	Loose Dragon
Origin	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Genres	Drum and bass, liquid funk
Occupation(s)	DJ musician
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Quadraphonic, Creative Source, V Recordings, Soul:R, Signature Recordings, Br:nk

Dominick Martin, better known by his stage name Calibre, is a Northern Irish drum and bass music producer and DJ from Belfast. He is highly regarded for his influence on the liquid funk style of drum and bass, which was partially named after his distinct production style.^[1][2] He started producing drum and bass in 1995, with his first signed release in 1998 under the now-defunct Quadraphonic record label.^[3][4][5] He primarily releases his own works through his personal label, Signature Recordings,^[6] but has also released on labels such as Hospital Records, V Recordings, and Soul:R.

According to UKF, none of Martin's productions have been officially remixed by other artists.^[7]

Through Quadraphonic, he came to the attention of drum and bass DJ Fabio, who signed Martin to his record label, Creative Source, and released his debut album Musique Concrète (2001), named after the musique concrète compositions of John Cage whom he was influenced by while attending the University of Ulster in Belfast.^[5] Although 21 songs were chosen for the final release of the album, 300 songs in total were created by Martin for the album.^[1]

Many of his productions–some of which were unreleased at the time–became synonymous with liquid funk due to Fabio playing most of Martin's productions on his BBC Radio 1 show, Liquid Funk, and at Swerve club nights co-ran by LTJ Bukem in the early 2000s.^[2] Beginning in 2007, some of these unreleased productions would be released under the "Shelflife" series of albums alongside other works by Martin on his personal record label, Signature Recordings.^[8]

In 2003, Martin was commissioned by Warner Music Group for a remix of "Put That Woman First" from Jaheim's Still Ghetto album (2002). Despite Jaheim's disapproval of the remix, 1000 limited-edition white label vinyl records were pressed with permission from Warner due to the underground popularity garnered by the remix. In 2023, the remix was included on a compilation album for purchase on digital storefronts.^[9]

In 2019, a remix by Martin was included in an extended play of "Swan Song" by Dua Lipa.^[10]

Also in 2019, Martin was awarded Critics Choice in the Drum&BassArena Awards 2019.^[11]

2001: Musique Concrete

On 25 September 2001, Calibre released his debut album on the Creative Source label run by the DJ and Drum & Bass veteran Fabio. Spanning 5x vinyl / double CD, the album began to define Calibre's soulful and melodic sound and imprint his name amongst the emerging Liquid Funk artists of the time.

CD1

1. Deep Everytime
2. Right Stuff
3. Version
4. Untitled
5. Say If You Love
6. Run Again
7. Vice
8. U Make It Hot
9. Things A Re-Arranging
10. Always

CD2

1. Our Love Part 1
2. Our Love Part 2
3. Feeder
4. Sax Track
5. Inflicted
6. What U Need
7. Let The Music Play
8. Parallels
9. Future Life
10. Crazy
11. Light Years

Signature Records

In 2003, Martin decided to launch a self-published record label, Signature Records, which became his vehicle for publishing his music. Martin states, "There won't be any other artists on the label for the foreseeable future". For a few years the label's website ran of the back of Soul:R, the record label he ran alongside Marcus Intalex. With the Soul:R website receiving very few updates since 2006, Calibre published most of his work and news through his own MySpace page however he deleted this in early July 2011.

2005: Second Sun

November 2005 marked Martin's second full-length album release, through the Signature label, entitled Second Sun. Second Sun was released after much anticipation following his 2001 release. He stated, "I look upon my move to Logic as a process in the studio to be a second part of the story. But having said that, the 22nd is my birth date, it's my second album, I'm the second son in the family, this is the second phase production wise but for me its nothing to do with numerology, its more to do with reinvention, a new life." The album Second Sun is regarded by those working in and those listening to Drum and Bass as a landmark release for the genre. On 17 September 2008, BBC 1Xtra Drum and Bass DJ Bailey gave special praise to the title track of the album, noting it as the tune of the festival for Sun and Bass 2008, a dedicated Drum and Bass festival which is held in Sardinia.

1. Bullets feat. Diane Charlemagne
2. Second Sun
3. All The While
4. Don't Watch This
5. Got A Thing
6. Is It U
7. Drop It Down feat. Singing Fats
8. Go Back To Go Forward
9. Blink of an Eye feat. Lariman
10. Breathing Man
11. Kiya feat. Crow
12. Timeout feat. DRS
13. Drinnahilly
14. These Few

2007: Shelflife

In October 2007, Martin released Shelflife a retrospective album featuring 21 unreleased productions spanning from 1998–2005.

CD 1

1. Venus And Mars
2. South Self
3. Stay High
4. Less Los Ablos
5. Jibaro
6. STCal - STCal Roller
7. Shades
8. Klute – Part Of Me (Remix)
9. Easy on My Mind
10. Re Entry

CD 2

1. Untitled
2. Acrobat
3. Makes Me Wonder (Original)
4. Cold Blade
5. I'll Stay
6. South Self
7. Free
8. Turn Around
9. Beat 97
10. Peace Of Mind feat. Lariman
11. Idris
12. Time And Space

2008: Overflow

Martin released Overflow in Spring 2008. Overflow features vocals from Martin himself, along with his artwork.

CD1

1. Savannah Heat
2. Slums (Featuring – DRS)
3. Alone In A Crowd
4. Overeaction Featuring – Lariman
5. Suddenly
6. Into The Groove
7. Leave Me
8. Klute – Part Of Me (Remix)
9. Lo Note
10. Beat Goes On

CD2

1. TV On
2. Shine (Featuring – Spacek)
3. Always Lovin You
4. You Used To Listen (Featuring – DRS)
5. Big Bang
6. Honeypot
7. Gage
8. Reach You Everywhere
9. So Blue

2009: Shelflife 2

In January 2009 there were final confirmations from S.T Holdings and Calibre's MySpace, Shelf Life Vol. 2 was to be released on 11 May 2009. Another retrospective album including the long lasting dubplates "Life" and "Why Time". As with previous albums, this release featured few guest artists, but there were vocal contributions from Lariman and MC D.R.S. As with previous albums, this was a double album. It also includes many downtempo tracks.^[12][13]

CD1

1. Out Of The Box
2. Nightlight
3. All The Days
4. Harbinger
5. Nowheretobefound (Featuring – Lariman)
6. Fine As Dust
7. Mindprint
8. The Cage (Featuring – Basil & ST Files)
9. Soft Tear

CD2

1. Lazy Rock
2. Life
3. Half Full
4. What To Do In These Times
5. Overeaction Dub (Featuring – Lariman)
6. Harry
7. Zombie Life
8. Find A Way
9. The Blues

2009: Shine a Light

Soon after the release of Shelf Life Vol. 2, Calibre stated he would be releasing his long anticipated downtempo album, Shine a Light. In October 2009 S.T Holding announced it to be released on Monday 16 November. Calibre stated that he has wanted to release a downtempo album for the last two years, but decided to release his second retrospective album first. “I have spent over 10 years writing music, the majority of my work being drum and bass, so i wanted to write an album that wasn’t attached to a particular musical genre; to me it felt like feeling my way in the dark”^[14]

1. The Truth (Feat. DRS)
2. Change
3. The Marchers
4. Last Kiss
5. Footprints
6. Beyond
7. Something I Said
8. The Tide
9. Man On The Road
10. Devise

2010: Even If

In June 2010 Calibre released Even If on his label Signature Records. Featuring predominantly Drum & Bass, Calibre said of the album, "If I wanted to achieve anything it was mainly to write something that I personally enjoyed, on an individual basis I wanted to mix some genre’s and try to transcend the DNB tag as much as I was referencing it, and hopefully in the process reach out to those out there that like my music."^[15]

1. All You Got
2. Even If
3. Rose
4. Broken
5. Thirst Dub
6. Me Myself And I
7. Steptoe
8. Open Your Eyes
9. Acid Hands
10. Section Dub
11. Gone Away
12. No Reply
13. Manchester Nights

2011: Condition

Released in October 2011, Condition was described by Mixmag magazine as “a shape-shifting trove of wonders that leaps ambitiously from the serene to the brutal”, awarded Drum ′N′ Bass album of the month and rated 5/5.

Calibre himself describing this album: "Condition is my drum and bass follow up to "Even If", I originally wanted to make an album that was more dance floor influenced, to have a more light hearted approach, in some ways it has that, but I couldn't stop myself from making the deeper material, for years i have wrestled with the subtle side of drum and bass, my journey has been one that tries to attain the simple groove, to keep removing the layers of this music, this album is an expression of this, and how im still feeling the underdog waiting for the cycle....... it came about as it always has and that's the way its supposed to, enjoyable and moving fast to discover the stillness."

1. People Never Change (Featuring – DRS)
2. Nottinghill
3. Who's Singing
4. Mirage
5. No More
6. Foreign Bodies
7. Ugly Duckling
8. Half&Half
9. Garbage Man
10. Schlager
11. Closing Doors (Featuring – DRS)
12. Blackhole Dub
13. Windows

2013: Spill

In 2013 Calibre released his ninth album entitled Spill featuring collaborations with Steo and Chimpo. Of the album he states "The collaborations gave me something a little bit different and that has encouraged me to follow this path for the next lp which will be a journey of collaborations over the next year, one which I have already started. My favourite track would probably be ‘Sick Of It All’ because it feels a bit different than the rest."

1. Dema Beats
2. Running
3. Think On
4. Keep Control
5. Close To Me
6. Cully Bridge
7. Simple Things
8. Start Again (Featuring – Chimpo)
9. Do Not Turn On Me
10. Wilderness (Featuring – Steo)
11. Key Flix
12. Paragov
13. Sick Of It All

2013: Valentia

In 2013 Calibre released the album Valentia under his own name, Dominick Martin. The album was titled after Valentia Island, located off of the south-western coast of Ireland, where much of it was recorded. Martin, who brought with him only a laptop and microphone, said of the location: "in one of the rooms sat a piano, and as my fingers touched the keys I knew there was a story there waiting to be told. The sound of the piano in that place was something very magical as 100mph winds battered the house and interrupted my recordings."^[16]

In a 12 April 2013 interview with DJ Magazine, he described the project in more detail: "This album is like a singer/songwriter album, it’s like its own big story in itself. I went to the West Coast of Ireland and there was this big storm brewing, and I was scared to death, and I was writing out of fear, it was crazy. I wrote this album down there, I sampled a piano and it’s exactly that material that brings me away from drum & bass."^[17] Valentia was released digitally as well as in a limited physical CD and Vinyl release through Signature records on 15 July 2013.^[18]

1. Easy Living
2. Need
3. Tabletop
4. Autumn
5. Lakeside
6. Time
7. My Friend Alone
8. I Wish I Could
9. Love Is
10. Rebels With A Cause
11. Valentia Paino

2014: Shelflife 3

The third addition to the 'Shelflife' series was released in 2014, Shelflife 3 contained thirteen of his most requested unreleased productions from 1997 to 2013. Production was primarily by himself with the addition of vocalist MC D.R.S. on the songs "Fear Of Letting Go" and "Eschaton".

1. The Wash
2. Miraculous
3. Honey Dew
4. Fear Of Letting Go (Featuring - DRS)
5. Makes Me Feel Alright
6. Bellamee
7. Instant
8. Off Key
9. Sagan
10. Eschaton (Featuring - DRS)
11. To And Fro
12. Rooftops
13. Erode

2016: Shelflife 4

Released in 2016, Shelflife 4 features primarily drum & bass productions, with collaborations coming from Jazz vocalist and MC Cleveland Watkiss and fellow Drum and Bass DJ and producer DJ Marky.

1. Latin Ways
2. Space Time (Featuring – Cleveland Watkiss)
3. Model Way
4. Salsoul
5. Down On You
6. Spirit Catcher
7. All One Call
8. Amen Tune (Featuring – DJ Marky)
9. Underfire
10. Bottles & Airports
11. Justice
12. Hold The Light
13. Love Worn Soul

2016: Grow

In 2016 Calibre released Grow on 'The Nothing Special' label run by fellow DJ and friend Craig Richards (DJ). Marking a departure from his label Signature Records, Grow is notable for its primarily downtempo productions and the absence of its title track, which featured as a separate release on the label.

1. Sand Promise
2. Groove Seeker
3. Softly Softly
4. Thunder Fog
5. Over The Top
6. Limbo
7. Mention
8. Without You
9. Your Endless Sea
10. Rust
11. A River Alone
12. Stars We Can See

2017: The Deep

Composed entirely of his own productions, 'The Deep' is a mixture of downtempo and Drum and Bass featuring Calibre's own lyrics and vocal textures.

1. No One Gets You
2. Up In Smoke
3. Mr Natural
4. Footloose
5. Lit
6. Give It Up
7. Complain
8. Enter
9. Blind For Bang
10. Echoes
11. Better Than Me
12. Gentle Push
13. Round Box

2018: Shelflife 5

Released in June 2018, Shelflife 5 is the fifth in the 'Shelflife' series of previously-unreleased productions and includes collaborations with long-time artistic partner MC D.R.S. and producer Marcus Intalex.

1. Makes Me
2. Leave
3. The Dep
4. Addict
5. City Life (Featuring - DRS)
6. Jaboc
7. Two Ones
8. Self
9. Deep Down
10. Bluesday (Featuring - Marcus Intalex)
11. Funny Games
12. Jass

2018: 4AM

Announced exclusively via Calibre's unofficial Facebook group, 4AM was released in 2018 and showcased the darker side of Calibre's Drum and Bass sound. Departing once again from his own label, the album was released on Doc Scott's label '31 Records'. Scott said of the surprise release "We wanted this to be a surprise release and I think we pulled it off. Everyone seems to know everything nowadays and that sucks, sometimes secrets are fun."

1. Zee Tone
2. Dark Paths
3. Grabber
4. Existing
5. Under You And You
6. Rollover
7. Let It Rain
8. The Swell

2019: Planet Hearth

Calibre released Planet Hearth in 2019. First coined in 2015, the album took four years to complete and was in his own words ‘part of a slow metamorphosis that I have wanted to do for a long time’. Inspired again by the island of Valentia on the West Coast of Ireland, the album explores Calibre's ambient persona in a series of atmospheric, narrative-driven works. The album is dedicated to a close friend.

1. Hills
2. Colby Park
3. Eratik
4. Five Minute Flame
5. Planet Hearth
6. Walking In Circles
7. Sheven
8. Thought Fields
9. Error
10. Waiting For Reasons
11. Chasm
12. Pine
13. Down That Road

2020: Shelflife 6

Released at the start of May 2020, Shelflife 6 is the 6th iteration in Calibre's successful series of compilations. The album features productions spanning several years previous to its release and includes many tracks played at Calibre's previous summer residency at XOYO club in London, England.

1. Things Like This
2. Years
3. Latin 2000
4. Pillow Dub
5. Guide You Through
6. Puppet
7. Trouble
8. Crazy For You
9. The Goat
10. One Drop
11. Sense Soirèe
12. Be Beautiful
13. When Sunday Goes

2021: Feeling Normal

Released on 26 February 2021, Feeling Normal shipped on his Calibre's own Signature imprint, and features collaborations with DRS and Cimone, the 13 track album follows 2019's Planet Hearth LP as another fully non drum & bass body of work, this time centered around a 140bpm theme with a variety of break beat and half time rhythms while remaining rooted in the familiar and warm sonic range associated with his style of mastering.^[19]

1. Barren
2. Change With Me
3. Time To Breathe (with Cimone)
4. Has To Happen
5. Feeling Normal
6. Badman (with DRS)
7. Good Times
8. Say Enough (with DRS)
9. Miami
10. Predictable
11. Man Got Sandwich
12. Wrong
13. Regular Bull

2021: Shelflife 7

Released on 24 November digitally, with a 4 x 12" Vinyl LP to follow in May 2022, Shelflife 7 is the latest iteration in Calibre's successful series of compilations featuring many unreleased and sought-after tracks. This album is distinct as it features many songs as suggested in Calibre's unofficial Facebook fan page, the 'Calibre aka Dominick Martin Appreciation Society™'.

1. Wetter
2. Cure Amen
3. Cross The Line
4. Dumplings & Stew
5. Ready Beek
6. Calibre & Jet Li - Black Mountain
7. Snoopy
8. We Call It Rising
9. Blimp Op
10. Roga Funk
11. Nearly Nothing
12. Moonlight
13. Stoffen

2022: Double Bend

Double Bend was released on 2nd April 2022, and features 9 tracks of primarily 140 BPM productions. The album is the second of Calibre's to be released on fellow DJ Craig Richards (DJ)'s label 'The Nothing Special', following the Grow LP released in 2016.

1. Double Bend
2. Hostage
3. Savoury Skank
4. Grinch
5. Turtle Duv
6. Going to Ground
7. Frinzingly
8. Rare Groove
9. Im Ent

2023: Shelflife 8

Unexpectedly released on 19th April 2023 digitally, with vinyl set to follow in September, Shelflife features 13 tracks of Drum & Bass productions, with some tracks going back over 20 years since they were first played.

1. Thrubbin
2. Breather
3. Heat
4. Chantilly
5. Home
6. Wirly
7. I Don't Care What U Say
8. No Sense
9. I Can't Change You
10. Fade
11. Fall Away
12. Well Being
13. Don't Wonder

2023: Rudy

Released on October 10 2023, 'Rudy' is Calibre's 23rd album and features primarily Drum & Bass productions including unreleased tracks from Calibre’s Boiler Room set, such as Stunted, Dumb Bum, The Game, Cousin, No Stopping & Treason.

1. Stunted
2. Calibre & Cimone - More Fool Me
3. The Game
4. Heaven
5. Tripping Out
6. Cousin
7. Treason
8. Dumb Bum
9. Flu Jet
10. No Stopping
11. Warbling
12. Hard To Believe
13. Living Without Your Love

Discography

Albums

EPs

References

External links

• Calibre discography at Discogs
• Calibre at Rolldabeats

This page was last edited on 9 April 2024, at 09:23