The Goo 1
Words: Mick Herrity MAR '25 REGGAE - CONSCIOUS SO
UNDS Dougie Wardrop is the man behind Conscious Sounds. ‘’Stepping Time’’ was the first record that he put out back in 1990. Since then, Dougie has a reputation across the globe, in the reggae community, as one of the best producers of the UK reggae style. I spoke to Dougie about his vast experience in the reggae business. We meet on zoom and Dougie is quick to point out the old Firehouse Skank poster for his show in Ireland in The Parnell Mooney. 30 years later Dougie is still making music. Despite the financial costs Dougie continues to release vinyl records. His latest release Twilight Skank/ Children of Babylon, from Idren Reality and the veteran artist Mike Brooks is on the streets now. Dougie was influenced by the roots music of the golden years of reggae, particularly the dub music produced by King Tubbys. Dougie sold records in Camden market. He was a devotee of the dances run by the Jah Shaka Sound System which inspired the kind of music that he wanted to make. Initially he used to get time to work on Nick Mannasseh’s home studio, but he wanted more time so eventually bought Mannaseh’s 4 track setup when Nick moved on to an 8 track board. Dougie was made redundant at his job and with his redundancy money set up a studio to give it a shot full time. Dougie was one of the first of the new breed of UK steppers sounds to come to Ireland. His live shows consisted of Dougie selecting and mixing the live tracks with Culture Freeman on vocals. He took his shows all over Europe and later around the world. Although Dougie was steeped in the history of Jamaican roots music the young people he was playing to , in the main hadn’t got that history. So where King Tubbys was a reference point for Dougie, he now finds himself along with other UK producers, as the reference point for a new generation of Europeans who have bought into this style of reggae. Dougie no longer tours but spends his time creating in his dub laboratory in Dalston. Covid put an end 35 to Dougie turning up for shows. Invariably gigs would be on a Saturday night. Dougie would be on a plane early Saturday morning, home late Sunday afternoon/ evening and then back in the studio on a Monday morning. It became too much so he retired from that aspect of the work. Dougie spends his time in the studio either producing his own music or mixing other people’s productions. As we speak El Indio was in the studio working on a track with another artist called True Sounds in the studio. Watch out for new works in the new year. Dougie is sifting through tapes from Jah Bunny recorded in the early 80’s to bring out an album. He is also working on an album with Dixie Peach. We can also expect an album from Dave ‘Love Grocer’ Fullwood who is well known on these shores. 30 years on and Dougie is still bringing out some great roots music. We wish him all the best