Soundcheck: Pachyman: Exploring Dub’s New Frontier
From Puerto Rican punk to LA’s dub maestro—how Pachy García transforms reggae roots into a sonic voyage
What is it about “that” sound, the one we hear emanating from the decade of the 1970s, that feels like a warm, hypnotic embrace? The tones, instrumentation, and the equipment it was recorded and mixed on - all of it combined to provide us with a unique and instantly recognizable sound, so when an artist comes along that not only emulates but adds their touch, we sit up and listen. Pachyman was an artist I’d not been familiar with until about two years ago, and when I heard his music, I was hooked. He had it all - the proper delays, verbs, musical touch, and mixes, not to mention playing and recording it all himself. So, for this Soundcheck, I recommend Pachyman.
Pachy García—aka Pachyman—melds the raw spirit of punk, the heart of Caribbean rhythms, and the studio wizardry of dub innovators like King Tubby and Scientist. His DIY attitude and deep love for analog gear have shaped a sound that's both retro‑rooted and future‑forward
Origins & Background
Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and raised amid reggae and punk scenes.
Played guitar and keys in local reggae bands through high school and beyond
Moved to Los Angeles in 2012, joined post‑punk band Prettiest Eyes, then converted his 333 House basement into a solo dub studio
The Birth of “Pachyman”
In 2019, he began self‑producing dub tracks, playing every instrument—drums, keys, bass, guitar—and mixing them himself.
Embraced vintage mics, analog mixers, tape echo, to recreate classic 1970s Studio One vibes
Evolution of Sound
Early albums leaned heavily into classic dub. With Switched‑On (2023), he added lovers‑rock, Korg synths, Puerto Rican percussion, and even vocals.
The latest: Another Place (2025), where he fuses dub with krautrock, chillwave, experimental post‑punk, and ambient— "where dub could've gone if pushed further"
Live & Studio Approach
In live sets, Pachy functions like a conductor, manually mixing tracks in real time for dynamic, shifting soundscapes.
Studio approach: minimalist mic use, capture ambiance, repurpose gear, trust
Pachyman builds on dub’s legacy—repetition, space, echo—but extends it with synths, emotion, cross-genre riffs, and personal history. For your Soundcheck series, this feature shows how a self-taught multi-instrumentalist can honor tradition while carving a singular, forward‑looking path in dub.
MOST RECENT VIDEO
“ANOTHER PLACE” from his new album of the same name
For Dubheads, I recommend:
Destroy The Empire (Return Of The Pachyman album)
Lovers (Switched-On album)
Babylon Will Fall (Single)
Real deal!
dig :-)))