Calibre (musician)

Dominick Martin, better known by his stage name Calibre, is a Northern Irish drum and bass music producer and DJ from Belfast. He started producing at a young age. He is a classically trained musician, playing a variety of musical instruments. Martin started producing Drum and Bass in 1995 and his first signed release was credited under the now defunct Quadrophonic record label.[1]

Calibre
Calibre playing in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland in February 2019
Background information
Birth nameDominick Martin
Also known asLoose Dragon
OriginBelfast, Northern Ireland
GenresDrum and bass, liquid funk
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • musician
Years active1995–present
LabelsQuadrophonic, Signature

He soon came to the attention of drum and bass DJ Fabio, who signed Calibre to his record label, Creative Source.[2] While studying Fine Arts at the University of Ulster in Belfast, he became interested in the music of John Cage whose work was influential in titling Martin's first album release Musique Concrète in 2001. Since his initial releases in 2001, Martin has been known for his consistent signature style and sound.

Short Circuits Magazine refers to him as "one of the quietest people in drum and bass". Although one of the scene's most prolific producers, he shares tracks with only a small circle of friends and many of his works remain unreleased. Beginning in 2007, the 'Shelflife' series of albums were created as a way of sharing previously unreleased productions with his fans.

Over 20 years of music production, he has self-published over 60 singles and 10 albums. Also, according to UKF as of 2014, none of his original productions have ever been officially remixed.[3]

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.[4][5]

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”[6]

  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."[7]

  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."[8]

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.”[9] Valentia was released digitally as well as in a limited physical CD and Vinyl release through Signature records on 15 July 2013.[10]

  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 latest 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

Discography

Albums
YearTitleRecord labelRelease date
2001Musique ConcrèteCreative Source25 September 2001
2005Second SunSignature Records24 October 2005
2007ShelflifeSignature Records1 October 2007
2008OverflowSignature Records1 May 2008
2009Shelf Life Vol. 2Signature Records18 May 2009
2009Shine a LightSignature Records16 November 2009
2010Even IfSignature Records12 November 2010
2011ConditionSignature Records3 October 2011
2013SpillSignature Records20 May 2013
2013ValentiaSignature Records15 July 2013
2014Shelflife 3Signature Records19 March 2014
2016Shelflife 4Signature Records26 February 2016
2016GrowThe Nothing Special23 December 2016
2017The DeepSignature Records31 March 2017
2018Shelflife 5Signature Records29 June 2018
20184AMThirtyOne Recordings16 November 2018
2019Planet HearthSignature Records29 November 2019
2019Shelflife 6Signature Records1 May 2020

EPs
YearTitleRecord labelRelease date
2003Just FineCreative Source-
2006Late Night SqueezeSignature Records24 April 2006
2006Corner DanceSignature RecordsMay 2006
2006DerangedSoul:R23 October 2006
2008RoundhouseSignature Records11 September 2008
2008Don't MindSignature Records22 October 2008
2010Judgement DaySamurai Red Seal7 June 2010
2011HummerSamurai Red Seal29 August 2011
2012Renaissance EPFootprints19 November 2012
2015Strumpet EPEXIT Records18 May 2015
2015Fourfit EPSoul:R31 July 2015
2015Dreamz Dub EPC.I.A18 September 2015
2015Break That EPThe Nothing Special18 January 2019
2019Cowper Street EPSignature Records5 July 2019

References
  1. Short Circuits: Calibre Archived 24 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine DOA: Accessed 27 July 2009
  2. Dominick drums up an act of a first-class Calibre Belfast Telegraph: Accessed 6 September 2009
  3. "Calibre: Meet the man who's never been remixed". UKF.com. 21 March 2014.
  4. "STH releases w/c 15 June 2009" St Holdings: Accessed 12 Aug 2009
  5. "Calibre - Shelf Life Vol.2" Discogs: Accessed 12 Aug 2009
  6. "forthcoming: Dominick Martin – “Shine A Light” LP – Signature" St Holdings: Accessed 1 Nov 2009
  7. "Calibre: Even If…" Hyponik.com: Accessed 19th January 2020
  8. "Calibre announces new downtempo album". Resident Advisor.
  9. "CALIBRE: RASING THE STANDARD". DJMag.com. 12 April 2013.
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