A member of SMOG, STYX, and Firepower Records, Ponicz aka Jon Smith joins us to kick off the month of December for Sub.mission’s Electronic Tuesdays. All of the labels he is involved with are well known within the Dubstep Community as groups of artists which tend to focus on the heavier, more aggressive tones of the dubstep spectrum. Ponicz first began producing in 2011 and decided to focus on dubstep and riddim after hearing “Firepower” by Datsik. He has been a highly active producer with 23 tracks released under STYX alone. Hailing from the West Midlands, United Kingdom Ponicz music remains true to his influences, three of which he cites as Bukez Finezt, Megalodon, and Cookie Monsta.

Listening to Ponicz’s music awakens the rowdy side of the listener. On his tune 36 Chamberz he starts the track off with a melodic vibe and quickly introduces a more forceful section in the track, sampling the infamous Wu-Tang Clan (“We have only 35 Chambers, there is no 36") the drop that comes next is similar to a heavy metal instrumental. He skillfully transitions between the melodic sections and the heavier sections with this recent release showcasing his talent as a well-balanced producer working within his chosen realm of rowdier, in your face bass music.
Listening to a variety of Ponicz tunes it seems he focuses heavily on riddim style tunes with a tendency to produce more complex tracks by incorporating elements of other genres such as hip-hop and 4x4, usually to give the track a melodic counterpart to the rougher, more aggressive leads and basslines. If I had to choose one of these tracks as my favorite I’d probably go with “Ghetto Blaster”. The music features riddim lead synth work, with dubstep style wobbles layered through the track, while the drums switch between a minimalistic slower pattern and a quicker more complex pattern. Another riddim tune of his that I dig is “The Record Shop,” which starts off with a sample that almost any fan of electronic music can identify with, the experience of trying to hum a tune to the record store attendant hoping that they will recognize the track. Ponicz quickly launches the tune into the “reverse Super Sonic bass” with a bassline that’s sure to get any dancefloor moving, teasing the drop with a brief 4x4 build up, before switching to a more standard dubstep style pattern.
Ponicz’s career within the music world paints the picture of a successful up and coming artist. Already popular in Europe, having played shows with and receiving support from major artists such as 12^th Planet, D-Jahsta, P0gman, Funtcase, and Datsik, Ponicz is sure to become equally popular with American audiences. Kicking off the month of December with Ponicz will set the mood for the rest of the month well with one of his major influences, Megalodon, slated to play at the end of the month. Electronic Tuesdays has long been known to showcase Denver’s Dubstep talent (along with artists playing in other genres) in the battles, with national and international talent in various stages of their careers. The most exciting nights seem to be when Sub.mission gets to showcase artists who have already made a name for themselves in the UK and beyond but have yet to play many shows for American audiences. Since Ponicz already has many fans in the USA and his appearances here are somewhat limited at the moment, this edition of Electronic Tuesdays will be an awesome opportunity for old fans and new fans alike to come and experience his music in a live setting.