Biography
Troy Beetles, a dubstep producer from Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada, records under the name Datsik. He began by experimenting with hip-hop beats in his bedroom, though none of those efforts ever reached an audience. An unplanned meeting with fellow Canadian Excision at the Shambhala Electronic Music Festival in 2008 redirected his focus. Inspired by the expanding American dubstep sound, he started making tracks he called “robostep,” built around pounding drum patterns, aggressive basslines, and forward-looking synth textures.
His first official Datsik release, a 12-inch on Smog Records that also contained a track with 12th Planet, appeared in 2009. The collaboration “Swagga” with Excision led to further signings on Excision’s Rottun Recordings; by the close of 2010 he had issued five 12-inch singles, two of them through Miami’s Basshead Productions. Remixes for the Wu-Tang Clan, the Crystal Method, and Noisia came next. In 2011 Beetles joined Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records to prepare his debut album, Vitamin D. That record, featuring contributions from Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Israeli psy-trance outfit Infected Mushroom, and U.S. turntablist Z-Trip, arrived in April 2012—the same month Beetles headlined the Sahara Tent at California’s Coachella Festival.
Also in 2012 he founded Firepower Records, which began issuing music by emerging electronic acts such as Terravita and Rise at Night. The label released Datsik’s Cold Blooded EP in early 2013, followed later that year by the full-length Let It Burn. After those projects, Beetles turned his attention more toward running the label and maintaining a heavy touring schedule than toward new solo material. His lone 2015 release was the single “The Blastaz,” made with Barely Alive. The Darkstar EP, which included appearances by Trinidad James and Travis Barker, surfaced in 2016. The artist, drawn to ninja imagery, closed the year with the Sensei EP.
His first official Datsik release, a 12-inch on Smog Records that also contained a track with 12th Planet, appeared in 2009. The collaboration “Swagga” with Excision led to further signings on Excision’s Rottun Recordings; by the close of 2010 he had issued five 12-inch singles, two of them through Miami’s Basshead Productions. Remixes for the Wu-Tang Clan, the Crystal Method, and Noisia came next. In 2011 Beetles joined Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records to prepare his debut album, Vitamin D. That record, featuring contributions from Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Israeli psy-trance outfit Infected Mushroom, and U.S. turntablist Z-Trip, arrived in April 2012—the same month Beetles headlined the Sahara Tent at California’s Coachella Festival.
Also in 2012 he founded Firepower Records, which began issuing music by emerging electronic acts such as Terravita and Rise at Night. The label released Datsik’s Cold Blooded EP in early 2013, followed later that year by the full-length Let It Burn. After those projects, Beetles turned his attention more toward running the label and maintaining a heavy touring schedule than toward new solo material. His lone 2015 release was the single “The Blastaz,” made with Barely Alive. The Darkstar EP, which included appearances by Trinidad James and Travis Barker, surfaced in 2016. The artist, drawn to ninja imagery, closed the year with the Sensei EP.
Albums
Singles
