Artist to Watch: Joy Orbison

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo

Who: Joy Orbison
Where: South London, U.K.

"Cool" uncles have always gotten kids into all kinds of wonderful mischief, but 22-year-old Peter O'Grady, better known as Joy Orbison, was especially blessed—he credits an uncle with introducing him to jungle and U.K. garage long before he could ever hit the clubs. At the age of 13 he took up DJing and eventually moved into production, beginning with Fruity Loops-crafted 8-bar grime loops before shifting into headier territory that combined his love of house, disco, and dubstep with the atmospheric fuzz of bands like My Bloody Valentine, Josef K, and The Beach Boys. His still-unreleased single "Hyph Mngo" has become the forward-thinking dubstep/2-step tune of 2009, and it will be quickly followed by more tunes on O'Grady's own Doldrums label, which he runs in tandem with partner Impey.

Listen: "Hyph Mngo"

Listen: "Wet Look"

Download: Joy Orbison - DLDRMS 001 Mix

01 Pearson Sound – "Indelible" (Aus)
02 Karizma – "Drumz Nightmare" (R2)
03 Nu-Birth – "Anytime" (Locked On)
04 Tonya Renee – "About You (Karizma Boucha Remix)" (Home Recordings)
05 Altered Natives – "Rass Out" (Fresh Minute Music)
06 Joy Orbison – "Smother" (DOLDRUMS)
07 Efdemin – "Acid Bells (Martyn Remix)" (Curle)
08 Shed – "Selection One" (Soloaction)
09 Ultramarine – "Hooter (Carl Craig Remix/JORb EdiT)" (Real Soon)
10 Joy Orbison – "Tentative Bidding" (DOLDRUMS)
11 Martyn – "Hear Me" (3024)
12 Joy Orbison – "J. Doe" (DOLDRUMS)
13 Joy Orbison – "Hyph Mngo" (Hotflush)