Autonomic for the People

Experimental 170-beat-per-minute music was popularized about two years ago by London drum-and-bass producers dBridge and Instra:mental via the Club Autonomic podcast. According to Futureproofing, an electronic-music blog, “Autonomic is a flood of outside influences entering a distinct strain of minimalistic, careful drum-n-bass (informed by electro and techno and everything under the sun).”

“As for its history in San Diego, there hasn’t been anyone dedicated to this style,” says DJ Will Guise of 170SD. “To tell you the truth, we are the only experimental night I’ve seen in this country doing this right now. One of the main pioneers here is ASC from the U.K., who’s been living in Del Mar for the past six years.”

ASC, Will Guise, and Calculon established 170SD in April in order to host producer Kiat. The first two monthly 170SD nights took place at Kava but will be held at Bar Dynamite starting this month.

“In the past two years it’s got a lot more popularity in the drum-and-bass scene,” says Guise, a drum-and-bass DJ for nine years. “Experimental 170 is encouraged lately. There’s a good climate worldwide for the sound.”

He describes the music as “more outside the norm, particularly rhythmically. There’re no real rules. ASC is more ambient. I’m more dub reggae. So it depends on your influences and what you bring to the table.”

Catch ASC, Will Guise, and Calculon at Bar Dynamite on June 27 for the third installment of 170SD.

“It’s going to be more like the Autonomic nights in the U.K,” says Guise. “The first part of the night we will be playing people who influence what we play and make — hip-hop, electro, IDM, drum-and-bass. Later in the night will be individual sets from each of us in the experimental 170 genre.”