People once said that dubstep was too slow, dark and sparse to translate to worldwide dancefloors. Of course that was before the acetate addicted and overall sub-sonic miscreant N-Type showed up to prove the doubters so, so wrong.

Combining searing white-hot selection with a 30 dubs-per-hour freestyle mix rate, N-Type’s DJing style takes many cues from legendary garage don EZ. Yet it’s N-Type’s hyperactivity in the mix that really marks him out from the rest. Where other DJs maintain their traditional surly personae, N-Type can be found raving it up in the booth, bobbing with the crowd, and sporting a shower-face of almost comic proportions.

Hailing from deepest Surrey, N-Type has been dubstepping since year dot. Orignally a junglist, then an avid fan of the dark garage sound, he was a regular at FWD>> since its Velvet Rooms days, a long time patron of the now defunct Big Apple record store and a grafter on pirate radio for over 8 years (first Delight FM, and then in 2004 Rinse).

Listening to his show on Rinse (every Sunday 11pm-1am GMT) you can’t help but smile too. N-Type’s chatterbox delivery is almost as relentless as his selection, and he’s just as likely to tell you what he had for dinner as he is to tell you the name of the current dub he’s playing, but it all adds to the charm. Ultimately, it is this unmatched level of infectious enthusiasm that has earned N-type the twin titles of ‘Best DJ’ and ‘Best Radio Show’ on the dubstepforum awards, a coveted FWD>> residency and following that, his mixing of the latest instalment in the Dubstep Allstars series. ITM’s Crabman recently caught up with the man himself ahead of his return to the land down under.

You are considered to be the best DJ in dubstep. What is your view on the importance of dedicated DJs within a scene that tends to be built around big name producers?

What, aren’t I a big name producer? Haha… nah I hear ya. There is always a need for DJs that focus on just DJing. In any scene you look at, there is that element of DJs that stand apart from the rest, for dubstep some say it’s me, others say it’s someone else, ya know… Also it doesn’t mean that if a producer is big because of his beats he can’t DJ, they are just more known for that tune they wrote or the album they done, that’s the way it is.

The sound of dubstep has changed a lot over the last couple of years, and even since your last visit to Australia in May earlier this year. How do you feel the sound has progressed of late?

Yeah man this sound is always moving forward, from day one it was changing and for me that is still really exciting. The producers I was dropping in last time I was here I am still playing as most of these guys are defining the new sound of dubstep. You still have big producers on a deeper tip, more traditional but that’s cool too it adds diversity. The good thing about it is that it’s all still dubstep, you hear all these beats in the one night – if it’s a good party. When you go to a record store it’s all just dubstep and not some sub genre or a sub genre etc…

You’re the first of all the big UK DJs/producers to return for a second tour (in a 7 month period mind you!), what will be different about your performances this time around?

Hopefully not much as I had a ball last time and smashed up the dance in most places. So if I can pull off what I did last time around I will be a happy man and hopefully the crowds will be as amped as they were last time around. The parties here were sick and I was surprised about the knowledge of the crowd, they knew the tunes and the promoters know their shit too, and the sound systems are as good if not better than most in the UK.

Apart from your impressive DJing abilities you’re also quite a talented MC and your combined DJ/MC performance impressed everyone on your last tour. Do you feel this goes hand in hand with dubstep as you’re the one of a very few that do it during a set?

Haha yeah I have got a bit of a reputation for spittin’ a few bars during my set. I do this on my show on Rinse and then one party I was told to do it at a gig, was a bit nervous at first but before you know it I was havin’ it… haha… good fun yeah and you know its N-Type on the decks for sure!

Back in dubstep’s early days there was an expectation it would be the next big sound and that all the big clubs and festivals would be playing it. How do you think the sound is received now compared to a year or two ago?

It’s still growing like crazy and my bookings alone are busier than they ever been. All the main guys too are full on with shows. There are still small club nights keeping it real like FWD and DMZ and others around Europe but the festival circuit is cool, you expose the sound to more people and play bigger crowds. This is cool but as anyone would tell you it ain’t the same as playing a rammed club full of heads.

The Australian dubstep scene is rapidly growing month by month with all the big names coming here for tours. What’s the impression of our scene amongst all the DJs and producers in the UK? Is there a big interest to tour here?

Yeah, yeah everyone is on about Australia. Speaking to Tes La Rok recently and he cant shut up about the place and the scene there. I know because I’ve been already and cant wait to come back, summer this time! But yeah heard Joker was just there, Skream and Benga coming back soon too I think. From what everyone is saying its become the strongest scene outside of Europe. Big ups all you Aussie lot!

You’re known for your dance-floor styles of dubstep, what producers are you playing in your sets and could you name 5 tunes you will be playing in January?

Haha will keep you lot guessing but expecting new bits from myself, always playing the best cuts from Skream, Benga and the DMZ lot. Also killer new cuts due out on Aquatic Lab will also get dropped out there on your home territory.

Don’t miss out on the world’s #1 dubstep DJ at the following shows:

Wed Dec 31st – Origin NYE, Perth
Fri Jan 2nd – Basement @ The Gaff, Sydney
Sat Jan 3rd – Rhino Room, Adelaide