A who's who,coming in 2 parts, of the key players set to make waves in the dnb scene this year. There's a lot of fresh talent around at the moment so putting together this list was very difficult. Some you might be familiar with, others you'll be meeting for the first time. One thing for sure is that you'll be seeing a lot more from these guys before the year's out! Check out the links and interviews for the definitive guide on what to expect.

10. JUBEI

With releases on the some of the scenes biggest labels, a television project with Goldie and praise coming from all corners of the drum & bass spectrum... Everyone's talking about Jubei right now.

One of the first things that becomes apparent about Jubei is his sheer depth of musical knowledge. It's true that his love affair with electronic and dance music has spanned almost 20 years but even a cursory listen to his back catalogue yields evidence of a much wider palette of influences.

His tunes have found their way into the hearts of the ravers and the record bags of the A list and have been regularly smashing floors worldwide.

Jubei has already signed tracks to Metalheadz, Renegade Hardware, Coded, Shogun and Exit amongst others and he's only set to become more prolific in the future. He's collaborated with other respected producers including Sabre, Logistics, Icicle and Breakage and formed a successful studio partnership with Coded boss and Turbulence man Phobia which has already spawned numerous tech and minimal flavoured anthems.

As a DJ, Jubei recently signed with the well known booking agency, Reprise. A move that's likely to push his already successful domestic and international touring schedule into a whole new league.

Given these achievements, you may be surprised to learn that Jubei has only been producing seriously for four years now but In a time when new artists are ten a penny and fledgling labels are pushing out tracks with little regard for quality control, a genuine talent like Jubei is more vital than ever to ensure the ongoing success and development of dnb.

 Example Magazine was lucky enough to get the low down from the man himself.........

Example: Describe your sound.........

JUBEI:I hate answering this question as I always say cliché things but Drum & Bass really... my favourite bits of tunes are usually the roll outs were everything strips back to just drums and bass. I mean, I personally think its impossible to describe my sound, its best for other people to listen and maybe they can describe it. I like to think i have carved out my own sound but at the same time I don't want to sound the same all the time or to be thought of as someone who can only do one particular thing.

Example: What attracted you to drum & bass?

JUBEI: When I first started listening to dance music around 1992/1993 it was more the 4/4 stuff I was hearing like Detroit Techno, Chicago House etc. So when I first heard Hardcore & Jungle it was so different to what I was used to hearing it just caught my attention straight away. I don't think I can pin point what it is or was that made me stop buying 4/4 records and start hunting out Jungle but I was excited by it and that was enough to get me asking questions in the record shops.

Example: How long have you been making music? 

JUBEI:I have had my own set up for 4 years now, but I learnt a lot from people when I used to do collabs before I had my own computer, so I have been making music on my own for just over 4 years now but I have been doing collabs and sitting in on studio sessions for about 6/7 years now. 

Example: What do you think has had the strongest effect on creating your sound?  

JUBEI:Understanding the music, and not just copying who is getting a lot of attention because you think that will get you noticed, it doesn't and it wont work. Spending the time in the studio and I think you make your own sound over a period of time anyway by just making track after track and picking up working habits. When I got my set up it was in the middle of a bad time for me, I had just left London and I was in the middle of nowhere. All i had was my computer really, at the time I hated the situation I was in but now looking back it was probably the best place for me to be to be able to dedicate myself entirely to music and form what has now become my sound.

Example: What kind of studio set up are you working on?

JUBEI: A pretty basic one at the minute, I run Cubase SX 2 on a PC, I use Kontakt 1 as my main sampler and all the plug ins I can get my hands on and my monitors are Spirit Absolute 2s. Although I have just borrowed a Virus C synth and we (Code 3) have just invested in an Ivory Valve Compressor so this year the plan is to use a bit of both.

Example: I heard that you recently moved back down south. Was it a work related decision and what effect do you think that will have on your career?

JUBEI: The reason I moved back to London was not really a career decision at first, but deciding to stay definitely was. I've been back in London for over 6 months now and a lot has happened for me. Being back down here has really pushed things forward, and it's also a lot better for me to get to and from gigs. If I was still back in Newcastle it would be a nightmare getting to places like Brighton or Bristol and then back, Newcastle is just a little bit too far up the map.

Example: Do you think it will have a negative effect on the working relationship you've built up with James (Phobia)?

JUBEI:  It will have an affect with me being about 300 miles away and the fact i hate making music over the Internet, I just cant seem to do it. However this is not to say we wont work together again, we have plans to work together as and when we can. We are both very busy but there will be more collabs between us as we both enjoy them and the end results are always pleasing for us both.

Example: You've received a lot of praise as a producer over the last year, are you feeling any pressure to deliver? 

JUBEI: At first I didn't think about it like that, but now I have seen how people are receiving my tracks and now I am thinking I have to better my last tracks. This is something that happens to everyone who makes tracks so I guess I just have to get on with it and try not to stress myself out or worry about the "pressure".

Example: What were your highlights of 2009?

JUBEI:  The highlights for me were becoming a Metalheadz artist, working on the BBC Proms Project with Goldie, joining The Reprise Music Agency, moving back to London, getting to work in a studio environment with people like Goldie, dBridge, Breakage, Alix Perez, Icicle and SPY. 

Example: What have you got in the pipeline for the next 12 months?

JUBEI:  Over the next 12 months I have releases to come on Metalheadz, Exit records, Critical and more to come through out the year and to just continue DJing more & more.

Example: Who are you feeling and who are your ones to watch in 2010?

JUBEI:  At the minute the usual players are making great tunes, people like dBridge, Instra:mental, Alix Perez, Icicle, Spectrasoul, Breakage etc and the people who I would say to look out for this year would be Code 3, Ulterior Motive, Rockwell & FD, as they all seem to have an amazing collection of tracks at the moment.

Example: Do you have any plans outside of dnb/music?

JUBEI:  I made a Techno track with Dakuan who is 1 / 3rd of Code 3 the other day and really enjoyed that, we got a lot of positive feedback from the few people I sent the track to and i think this might be something I'd like to do more in the future but maybe as a side project.

Jubei will play Hit & Run on 8th March. Check 'Outcast' on Critical http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHB58Z5nPic 

For audio of new tracks, forth coming releases and DJ schedule please check the myspace...  www.myspace.com/djjubei