Artist Summary

Artist Bio

Rage Area is a live dubtronica (electronic reggae) collective based in Venice, California. Their music is influenced by styles ranging from reggae/dub, to hip-hop, punk/ska, drum ‘n’ bass and dubstep. In their energetic live sets they have been called a myriad of Sublime, Outkast, and Thievery Corporation, doing dope originals and fresh mash-ups of hip-hop and reggae classics. Their sound employs wicked 808 drums, dub style bass lines, Sly and Robbie horns, driving sub-harmonics, turntablism, and live percussion - all with a slick surfer style and smooth b-boy attitude.

Currently in their Venice studio working on their upcoming debut album (due March 2012), Rage Area has guest appearances including Junior Marvin, former lead guitarist with Bob Marley in the Wailers, and Laurnea, former vocalist of Arrested Development. The debut will also include SF legendary turntablist DJ Quest who has collaborated with Handsome Boy Modeling School/Prince Paul and Blackalicious.

Members include Thoryn on lyrics, beats and percussion; Ronnie "Tone" Edwards on bass & guitar, who toured as lead guitarist alongside Junior Marvin of The Wailers; L.A. native MC Prose with a smooth delivery and amazing freestyles; drummer Kurt Deninger (Faded Paper Figures, Cipes and the Peoples) with serious skills on the skins, and expert scratching from DJ Earl-E.

The collective play regular gigs at world-famous Los Angeles venues such as The Viper Room, Whisky A GoGo, The Mint, and more, and have built their reputation by rocking shows in local surf bars and hangouts in Venice, Santa Monica, and the South Bay. Their diverse style of fusing electronica, reggae, and dub hop have led them to play alongside such national acts as Deadmau5, Mickey Avalon, Shiny Toy Guns, Pato Banton, Too $hort, Phantogram, and the Dubtonic Kru from Kingston Jamaica.

Rage Area was formed in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area by local producer Thoryn. The name is a play on the bands roots from the Bay and also an anagram for REGGAE. Thoryn was looking to create an innovative channel for his years of songwriting and electronic music production skills, while wanting to push the boundaries of the dub/reggae/electronica genres. The foundation for Rage Area’s production was Thoryn’s roots in Norcal surf culture with heavy influences in roots reggae (Augustus Pablo, Israel Vibrations) – surf rock (Sublime, Ziggens) – electronica (Autechre, Prefuse 73) and hip hop (DJ Shadow, Pharcyde).