Magnetic Man: The UK Dubstep Supergroup

Magnetic Man is a pioneering electronic music group from the United Kingdom, formed by three of dubstep's foundational producers. Their self-titled debut album reached number 32 on the UK Albums Chart, bringing the underground bass sound to a mainstream audience.

Early career

The group was formed in 2008 by producers Benga, Skream, and Artwork, each already legendary figures within the London dubstep scene. Their concept was to merge their individual production styles into a live, spectacle-driven act, utilizing custom-built LED-equipped consoles to perform their dense, melodic bass music.

Breakthrough

Magnetic Man's mainstream breakthrough arrived in 2010 with the single I Need Air featuring Angela Hunte, which peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. This success was followed by their debut album Magnetic Man later that year on the Columbia label, solidifying their status as scene ambassadors.

Key tracks

I Need Air - This chart-hit single defined their accessible yet innovative approach, blending ethereal vocals with a skittering, infectious garage-influenced rhythm.

Perfect Stranger - Featuring Katy B, this track became an anthem, showcasing the soulful, vocal-led side of the dubstep genre and propelling Katy B to stardom.

Getting Nowhere - A collaboration with singer John Legend, this song demonstrated the group's ambitious crossover appeal and genre-blending capabilities.

Anthemic - An instrumental track that encapsulates the trio's powerful, festival-ready sound design and melodic synth work.

The Bug - A darker, more classic dubstep-influenced cut highlighting the collective's roots in the genre's foundational sound.

The group performed extensively, including major festival slots, before the members returned their focus to solo projects and other collaborations around the mid-2010s. Their work remains a pivotal bridge between dubstep's underground origins and its wider commercial acceptance.

Fans of Magnetic Man's fusion of heavy bass and melodic electronic elements should also explore the work of fellow UK artists like Benga, a founding member with a prolific solo career. The innovative sounds of Skream, another group member, evolved from dubstep into broader house and disco. For another key vocal collaboration from the era, listen to Katy B, whose voice became synonymous with the commercial rise of the sound. The deeper, more experimental side of the genre is represented by Burial, whose influential work shares some of the same UK garage foundations.