The dubstep DJ rewind (reload) originates in Jamaican reggae sound systems and signals crowd approval

A rewind (or reload) is a technique where a DJ rewinds a record by hand without lifting the stylus — producing an audible whirring noise — or on CDJ equipment without muting the channel, to replay a popular moment. When a track is especially popular, the DJ or crowd calls for the rewind so it can be experienced again. The technique traces back to Jamaican dub reggae sound systems, was adopted by UK pirate radio stations, then UK garage and jungle nights, and became a central element of dubstep performance culture. It is a live call-and-response ritual: the crowd’s collective approval triggers repetition of the climactic moment.

Examples

At DMZ nights: heavy bass drop → crowd vocally calls for a rewind → DJ hand-scrubs vinyl backward → drops the tune again. On CDJ: track-back without cueing produces the downward pitch-scrub noise.

Assessment

Describe the mechanics of a vinyl rewind and its CDJ equivalent. Trace the cultural lineage of the technique from Jamaican sound systems to dubstep. Why does the technique matter for the live experience of bass music?