Industry Insiiide: [ S U B S P E C T R A ]… Live 174BPM, Sunset Subs, and the Audio Spectrum
Taking drum and bass off the DJ decks and putting it directly into the hands of a six-piece live band, [ S U B S P E C T R A ] is redefining how the Perth underground experiences heavy bass music.
The members of [ S U B S P E C T R A ] have been active in the Perth DNB scene for over a decade across various versions of instrumentation and band members. After a journey that even saw some members sprouting “mini DNB humans,” the crew officially reformed under their current banner in late 2023.
The name itself is a literal reflection of their mission. A “subspectrum” in physics refers to any number of spectra of components that together make an observed spectrum. For the band, it reflects their exploration into the audio spectrum and below, capturing their individual talents and collective love of sub frequencies. “And really we’re a bunch of old mates that are hanging on to our youth through the love of burgers, bass, beers and whiskey… but we couldn’t find a cool name for that,” they joke.
We sat down with the band to discuss the massive logistical hurdle of playing 174BPM live, the magic of zero-rehearsal collaborations, and why their sunset set at Blossom Festival was absolutely unforgettable.
🎸 The Live 174BPM Challenge
For [ S U B S P E C T R A ], the core philosophy is bringing live electronic music to the stage.
It is a monumental step away from a traditional DJ set. Audiences are met with six humans on stage wielding a full drum kit, a bass guitar, an electric upright bass, electric and acoustic guitars, three synthesizers, vocals, and an MC. Performing live at 174BPM with all the frequencies of drum and bass instrumentalised right in front of the crowd requires an intense amount of work.
“It takes us a few weeks to instrumentalise a track and work out who plays what,” they explain. Add in the sheer cost of the musical instruments and equipment required, and the logistical challenges are massive. Because all members work jobs outside of the band to manage costs, the budget is tight, but the payoff is worth it. “When it all comes together and we nail the essence of the track, it’s incredibly satisfying”.
🎤 The Zero-Rehearsal Miracle
The magic of a live band is the ability to adapt in real-time, leading to their ultimate “click” moment.
When promoters from The Connect, Traction, and Remedy asked them to support Collette Warren and Ben Soundscape at Freo.Social, the band pitched a bold idea: playing Collette’s track, ‘Cold Black Soul’, live with her. After learning the track and sending her a video while she was in transit to Perth, they rolled it out on stage together for the very first time. “No rehearsal. It just worked and the experience was amazing,” they recall. “Music is indeed a universal language that connects people”.
🌅 Sunset Subs and Bung Notes
Having been around the scene for a long time, the band has zero time for industry negativity. “Life is too short to nurture negative perspectives or opinions on those putting in the effort to create musical experiences for people to enjoy,” they note.
That positive outlook fuels their live shows, highlighted perfectly by their set at Blossom Festival over sunset on the Undergrowth Stage. As soon as they started playing, people bolted from the field into the heaving tent. “And when Gaëtan, our sound engineer cranked the subs… goddamn we felt it, everyone felt it”.
Their advice for anyone stepping onto the stage themselves? “Don’t sweat the small shit. One bung note is not going to be remembered in 10 years time”.
⚡ [ S U B S P E C T R A ] Quickfire
| Category | Answer |
| Origin of the Name | Derived from “subspectrum” to reflect their exploration into the audio spectrum and sub frequencies. |
| Favourite Venue (Perth) | The Ellington Jazz Club (for taking a punt on them early) and Freo.Social. |
| Dream Collab / Concept | Playing at Locus Bali, or rolling out tracks live with DJ Marky, Roni Size, and London Elektricity. |
| Ideal Event in One Word | “Fun”. |
| Analog vs. Digital | “Why not both? Being a live electronic band, we’re kinda both…”. |
| Vibe Killer | “If no one was dancing to our music”. |
🔌 Pass the Aux
We ask every feature guest to answer a question left by the previous interviewee.
Incoming Question from RITUAL:
“What’s a moment on a dancefloor you’ll never forget?”
[ S U B S P E C T R A ]:
“Our set at Blossom Festival over sunset on the Undergrowth Stage was pretty fricken epic… 90 minutes of our sound sent the energy of the crowd to another level.”
(Note: [ S U B S P E C T R A ] did not leave a question for the next artist, so the chain resets here!)
Follow [ S U B S P E C T R A ]: [Instagram Link]
Responses