Figure

Figure, whose given name is Josh Gard, has earned recognition for an unpredictable and eccentric approach to drumstep as a leading American electronic music producer active in both the dubstep and electro-bass communities.

Raised in Evansville, Indiana, Gard first took up scratching, mixing, and beat-making at age 16. By 20 his focus had shifted toward heavy bass productions and the classic drum’n’bass styles that flourished in the 1990s and early 2000s. His initial releases reached listeners in early 2009 through several EPs, beginning with In & Out of Brooklyn on Dirty Fabric Digital and continuing a few months later with House on the Hill. Additional EPs appeared regularly, and the 2013 project Horns of the Apocalypse clarified the distinct sonic identity, visual style, and overall aesthetic the producer had been developing.

On the dubstep circuit he became noted for weaving dialogue excerpts and imagery drawn from classic horror films into bass-driven tracks, a choice that resonated strongly with drumstep and dubstep audiences alike. Capitalizing on that interest, Gard launched the ongoing Monsters mixtape series in 2011 with Monsters of Drumstep, Vol. 1; its thematic thread was reflected in individual track titles such as “Aliens,” “Vampires,” and “Zombies.” Six further Monsters installments followed, punctuated by remix collections that included reworkings by Zardonic, Downlink, and Twofold.

Live performances also expanded during this period. After building steady visibility, the DJ moved from intimate club dates to larger arena venues, performing with a balanced rig of hardware and software that allowed him to construct beats and drops onstage via turntables and Serato DJ. His first official full-length album, Gravity, arrived in 2015 and emphasized intricate electronic arrangements and studio craft rather than the horror-centric imagery that had defined the Monsters series. Even so, Gard maintained the franchise, issuing Monsters 7 in October 2016, where it registered strongly on the Billboard Electronic Chart.