Culture Shock: Drum and Bass Biography, Releases and Upcoming Events

Culture Shock, born James Pountney on 23 January, is a British drum and bass DJ and record producer renowned for his innovative contributions to the genre. His journey into drum and bass began in 1996, inspired by London's pirate radio stations. He established a home studio with basic equipment, leading to his debut release, The Vega EP, on Moving Shadow in 2004.

In 2006, Culture Shock signed with RAM Records, a prominent drum and bass label founded by Andy C. His inaugural EP on RAM, The Third Stage (2007), featured notable tracks including "Rework," co-produced with the Brookes Brothers.

After a brief hiatus, he returned in 2014 with a remix of Moko's "Your Love" and original tracks like "Troglodyte VIP" and "Raindrops." His track "City Lights," an instrumental staple in his DJ sets since 2009, was released in May 2015 with vocals by Bryn Christopher of I See MONSTAS. The single received significant airplay on UK radio stations, was featured as BBC Radio 1's Track of the Day, and showcased Culture Shock's ability to blend melodic elements with energetic drum and bass rhythms.

In 2015, he released the Transit EP, further solidifying his reputation for producing high-quality drum and bass music. His discography also includes compilations such as Sequence (2019) and Sequel (2022), both released under RAM Records.

Throughout his career, Culture Shock has been celebrated for his dynamic DJ performances and his ability to innovate within the drum and bass genre, maintaining a strong presence in the electronic music scene.