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You can learn more about Bush League on their website, bushleaguedjs.ca

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Bush League spins the soundtrack for the Gaza Relief Party in support of the Red Cross at the Elks Hall on Friday night. The trio will debut new dub step tracks alongside an array of contemporary house, drum and bass, trance and break beats.

Dubstep is an experimental sub-genre of electronica that emerged out of the UK at the turn of the century. Three local DJs are introducing this rhythmic, bass-based dance music to Yellowknife this weekend with classic mixes from four or five years ago and new tracks that entered the world a few days ago.

Bush League is, from left, DJ Rob E (Robbie Epp), DJ King Friday (Robert Murphy) and DJ Clarkitect (Clark Webb). - photo courtesy of Bush League

Founders DJ Rob E (Robbie Epp) and King Friday (Robert Murphy) acquired their first set of turntables in 2006 and began mixing bargain bin house records to spin at house parties. Their first gig was a shack party in the Woodyard.

The DJ duo met Toronto transplant Clarkitect (Clark Webb) at a house party in 2007. They began collaborating as a trio early last year.

Bush League has since animated dance floors at various clubs and made appearances at the last two Snow King festivals.

Rob E and King Friday use two Technics turntables with a Pioneer DJM-800 mixer. Clarkitect hooks in with his laptop using Traktor 3 software and his USB mixer. However, they are developing a new mixing method with Traktor Scratch Pro software. Using special control vinyl and an audio interface, they will mix digital music with the look and feel of vinyl.

Entertainment Pages interviewed Bush League online earlier this week.

Entertainment Pages: What does Bush League bring to the local dance scene?

Bush League: We do our best to expose what we feel to be a solid selection of electronic and underground music to local audiences. We think the dance scene really needs this type of sound so we plan to make it more known through our small fan base. We're looking to get at least two public events in every month and meet more locals who love the music. The rest should take care of itself once we know more people who like what music we DJ.

EP: What makes a good set list?

BL: The most important element of a DJ's set is the track selection. A good DJ plays to the venue he is in, so the track selection cannot always be the same. Sometimes you need to pick it up a notch, or tone it down, according to the venue, the time of night and the overall mood you want to set for the audience and dancers. Not all tracks will work together as the sounds will clash. If you pick the right tracks then they will ideally blend together seamlessly and people will just keep dancing. That is the most important thing about DJing. You also want to create peaks and valleys during the evening because not everyone can dance for the entire night, so you have to pace the crowd to create a more emotional and fun atmosphere.

Q: What makes a good DJ?

A: To us, a good DJ is someone who can read the dance floor and react to what it's telling him. While we are in control of what we play, it's really the people listening to the music that determine how the night goes. You can be the smoothest mixer but if the people aren't reacting to what you're playing then you haven't done your job. We're very passionate about what a good DJ can bring to the dance floor. A DJ can really connect with the people listening to the music. That's what drives us to take the time to practice and every time we DJ in front of people we learn something new. If we can continue exposing people to new sounds and just have fun with it, then I think we will be successful.