Why I released Dubs Plates Vol. 1 on physical

When I started making the beats that ended up on Dubs Plates Vol. 1, a vinyl release wasn’t part of the plan. None of these tracks were made with physical formats in mind. They were just beats I was making throughout the year, experimenting, refining my sound, and figuring out where my head was at creatively.

Towards the end of the year, I looked back over what I’d made and realised there was a group of beats that stood out to me more than the rest. Not because they were the newest or the most technical, but because they were my personal favourites from 2025. Putting them together as a physical release felt like a natural way to mark that period, rather than letting them live separately and eventually get buried.

Grime has always had a physical side to it. Dubplates, white labels, CDs passed hand to hand. Even as music moved online, that part of the culture never really disappeared. Physical formats were never just about sound quality, they were about ownership, intention, and respect for the music. Once the idea clicked, releasing these beats on physical made sense.

Choosing 12 tracks was about cohesion rather than convenience. Vinyl forces you to make decisions. You have to think about pacing, sequencing, and how a record feels as a whole. These beats work together and make sense when listened to front to back, not just as individual files.

Releasing the project on physical is also about commitment. It means putting my name on something that exists outside of a screen. Something that can be held, archived, and revisited years down the line. That matters more to me than chasing short-term attention or numbers that disappear as quickly as they arrive.

I know not everyone has a turntable or even a CD player anymore, and that’s fine. Physical isn’t about convenience. It’s about intention. It’s for people who still care about owning music, supporting it properly, or keeping a copy of something they connect with.

Digital still matters. The beats are meant to be played, written to, and rinsed. But physical adds weight. It slows things down and gives the project a sense of permanence.

Dubs Plates Vol. 1 is the first in a series for a reason. It’s a snapshot of where I was creatively this year, documented properly.

Dubs Plates Vol. 1 is available now on vinyl, CD, and digital.