ZEKE BEATS
Introduction: ZEKE BEATS (born Zeke Ugle) is an Australian-born DJ and producer working across bass music, drum and bass, drumstep, dubstep, future bass, liquid funk, melodic bass, riddim and related styles. He is listed in public profiles and on his SoundCloud as based in Portland, Oregon, United States.
Background: Ugle began DJing as a teenager in Australia and built an early reputation as a scratch DJ. He holds the credit of IDA Australasian Scratch Champion and was named a Qbert Skratch University Valedictorian. In Perth he co‑founded Lab Six, a DJ and production school, where he taught and developed skills with other local DJs and producers.
Musical style: ZEKE BEATS produces bass‑heavy electronic tracks that pull from multiple subgenres rather than a single template. His work emphasizes low‑end weight and programmed, punchy drum work typical of dubstep and drumstep, while also incorporating melodic patches and chord movements associated with future bass and liquid funk. His scratch and turntablism background informs tight sample edits, stuttered cuts and precise rhythmic micro‑edits in both productions and DJ sets. Across releases he balances sub‑frequency design and midrange movement — sub bass and wobble for heavier tracks, cleaner synth leads and pads for more melodic material.
Production techniques and signature elements: as a producer he uses detailed break edits and tempo‑flexible arrangements that move between halftime, 140–150bpm bass music and higher‑tempo drum and bass sections when required by a track or remix. Signature elements include clipped vocal chops, tight transient processing on snare and kick, and focused low‑pass automation to create contrast between sections. His sound sits at the intersection of club‑oriented bass weight and more melodic, festival‑friendly elements from melodic bass and future bass.
Career and contributions: ZEKE BEATS broke through with the 2016 Meltdown EP on Terrorhythm. He has released music on labels including Deadbeats and Buygore, among others listed on his profiles. He remains known for his scratch credentials in competition and education, and for running Lab Six in Perth — concrete roles that tie his practice to both performance and teaching. Press and agency profiles repeatedly list him as an Australian artist now operating in North America.
Specific influences and connections: his Qbert Skratch University valedictorian status identifies a direct connection to DJ Qbert’s turntablism lineage and technique. His releases on labels such as Deadbeats and Buygore position him within the contemporary bass‑music circuit, and his early scratch championships mark turntablism and technical DJing as central reference points in his work. Public profiles and his SoundCloud list him as based in Portland, Oregon.
