Dr Meaker

Dr Meaker is a Bristol-based drum-and-bass live act led by producer and keyboardist Clive Meaker, with vocalist Celestine, drummer Tom Wheeler, vocalists Tenisha Edwards and Laurent John, saxophonist Ben Wood, and trumpeter Simon Alexander among its members. The project began in 2004 as a soundsystem built around Meaker, who started by producing the music before forming a live band through university friends, friends of friends and local Bristol connections. Its live format combines electronic production and samples with instruments and vocals, drawing on electronic and traditional instrumentation. Meaker has described the group’s approach as soulful and gritty. Its first studio album, A Lesson From The Speaker, arrived in 2008.

Dr Meaker’s single “Right Back” features Sian Evans, vocalist with Kosheen, and was released through V Recordings; the track became a UK Top 40 dance hit. The act has also put out “Music in the Night”, “Fighter” and “Don’t Think It’s Love”. Later releases have appeared on Born On Road and Souped Up. Meaker has said that collaborating lets other artists bring their own sounds to the process and helps keep it from becoming stagnant. The act has also released music on Circus Records.

The album Dirt & Soul features collaborations with Sian Evans, Sharlene Hector and Yolanda Brown. Distorted Sun was released in 2024 on Meaker’s label, Flightcase Recordings, and includes “Distant City”, a collaboration with Terri Walker.