Thomas Stephen Petais (born January 14, 1982),Sources: "Thomas Stephen PETAIS personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-05-25. "Certificate of Incorporation Of Private Limited Company No. 06965665". Companies House (British Government). July 17, 2009. 2. SKisM, is a retired English DJ, electronic music producer, and record label executive. Petais is the co-founder of two independent Electronic music record labels: Disciple Records and Never Say Die Records. Petais is nicknamed, by those who've professionally worked with and interviewed him, as the "DJ's DJ" because of the "technical prowess and energy on his multi deck setup" during his performances.

Career

Etymology The etymology of Petais' alias derives from the English word schism, which simply means to split or divide. Petais noted that the etymology behind the name didn't involve anything religious, "satantic or anything like that".

Musical style Petais' tracks incorporate, according to the Ravalli Republic and Beat Magazine, a "syncopating rhythm", "bass and drum elements", "classical progressions, metal influences, ethnic samples, and break beats". Petais also draws influences from both heavy metal music and drum and bass while growing up and from breakbeat during his music school years and his years being part of Ctrl-Z.

Ctrl-Z as 'Dash' (Mid 2000s–2009) Petais attended, and is an alumni of, Community Music: a music school located in the East London neighborhood. Petais met Nicholas D'Silva (aka Night Shift and Pyramid): a classmate in Community Music's Creative Music Production & Business program, and both formed Ctrl-Z: a breakbeat music duo.Sources:

"Creative Music Production & Business Foundation Degree Course – New Term". Community Music. Retrieved 2025-05-26. "Skism". Community Music. from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2025-05-26. Petais was also known as Dash and D'Silva was also known as Inch. In 2005, the duo was selected as winners for, both, "Best Breakthrough Act" and "Best Breakthrough Producer" at the Breakspoll Awards: an award ceremony and music festival for artists and record labels that produce breakbeat tracks. In 2006, the duo received "Best Compilation Album" for their contributions to a compilation commissioned by Hardcore Beats (the label the group was signed to) called "Hardwired".Sources: "2006". Breakspoll. from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-26. "2005". Breakspoll. from the original on June 17, 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-26.

SKisM (2009–2021) In September 2009, SKisM released his first, 2-song Extended Play (EP) titled Rise Of The Idiots / Back Off. Back Off was remarked as "dirty roughened gully funk... guaranteed to sooth the soul during frustrating, testing times" while Rise Of The Idiots was remarked having "added weight an irony" than the former.

On July 17, 2009, Never Say Die Records was founded along with Nicholas Sadler (aka Mobscene). SKisM did so because he "wanted to continue making bass music and working in the industry" due to the decline of the breakbeat scene. The very first track to be released on the label was a single titled "Ruffneck '09" by Ctrl-Z and the Freestylers with vocals from reggae artist Navigator on December 7, 2009. Ctrl-Z then released a remix of Cracks (by the Freestylers) on Never Say Die eight months later. On December 6, 2010, SKisM released his second, 5-song EP titled Down With The Kids. The EP included 3 original tracks: Power, Elixir, and Rave Review and two remixes, made by FuntCase and Matta, from his first EP. Elixir was remarked for "spawn[ing] a whole range of fugly remixes". A VIP Mix was later released on 2013. Rave Review, on the other hand, was made in response and reaction to the radio playing "recycled samples and ideas coming through" and jumping all over the "future jungle type music" at a time where dubstep was starting to became popular. The song used a sample from Henry Rollins.

In 2011, SKisM collaborated with Flux Pavilion, with featuring vocals from the Foreign Beggars, to release Jump Back. The single was remarked for being "a dark, hard-hitting track" consisting of "grimy vocals" and "Flux [Pavilion]'s signature sounds".

In 2012, SKisM released a 9-song EP titled The Division. The EP included 5 remixes and four original mix songs that each had a "variety of different genres and rhythms". In other words, deviating from producing what SKisM is typically known for: dubstep, Experts had a music video that depicted himself, Excision, Eptic, Skrillex, Zomboy each "battling [one-on-one] an empowered internet troll" on YouTube that often gives "so much stick online... asking where the... music is". The song used a sample recited by Phil Anselmo from heavy metal band Pantera.Sources:

"The 20 Best Dubstep Songs of the EDM Decade". EDM.com. 2019-12-23. Jenkins, Dave (2022-04-05). "Remembering Never Say Die with 10 of our favourite NSD releases". UKF. Kick It (with Zomboy) was made "with giddy disco samples, bird calls, and Alvin and the Chipmunks' vocal chops". At the same year, Petais' single: Like This, with featured vocals from Virus Syndicate, reached and maintained the #1 spot on Beatport's Top 100 Tracks list for one month.

In 2014, SKisM released a remix of Lazerbeam by ShockOne featuring Metrik and Kyza. The track is one of the few "record[s] outside of his predominant genre[s]" which refers to the track being a combination of both Moombahcore and Breakbeat influences.

In 2015, SKisM, Habstrakt, and Megalodon collaborated to release Jaguar. The single was initially started by both SKisM and Megalodon two years ago, but Habstrakt was brought into the project to complete the track into its final product. The track was remarked for "its ability to swarm with a kind of barely restrained violence that broods and busts through with an untouchable gangsta lean".Sources:

Jenkins, Dave (2015-09-21). "Close Encounters Of The Megalodon Kind". UKF. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Muniz, Chris (October 11, 2016). "10 Tracks to Know From Never Say Die Records". Insomniac. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020.

Since 2015, Petais has retired from producing music to focus his efforts on running the label such as "hav[ing] responsibilities for other people" and "executively produc[ing] for the artists' tracks". On October 5, 2021, Petais officially retired as a DJ and producer via a dissolution in its recent filing with the UK's Companies House.

Personal life Petais currently resides in Australia with his wife and two children.

Discography This is an incomplete list of the artist's discography. You can help complete this list by adding missing items with reliable sources.

EPs TitleTracklistDetailsRise Of The Idiots / Back Off Rise Of The Idiots Back Off Released: September 2009 Label: Wicky Lindows (via 720Bass) Format: Digital downloadDown With The Kids Rave Review Elixir Power Rise Of The Idiots (FuntCase Remix) Back Off (Matta Remix) Released: December 6, 2010 Label: Never Say Die Format: Digital downloadThe Division Killer (with DC Breaks featuring Dee Freer) Red Heat Experts Kick It (with Zomboy) Killer (Tantrum Desire Remix) Killer (CRUSH Remix) Red Heat (TC Remix) Experts (xKore Remix) Kick It (Dirtyloud Remix) Released: 2012 Label: Never Say Die Format: Digital download

Singles & Collaborations YearTitleLabel2009The BlankWicky Lindows (via 720Bass)2011SignsReign RecordingssEXisM Mau5trapJump Back (with Flux Pavilion)Circus Records2012Like ThisNever Say Die Records2013Elixir - VIP2015HostileJaguarBlack Hole

Remixes DateOriginal ArtistTitleLabel2010EnvyNormalstopstart recordsExcision & DatsikBoomRottun RecordingsPyramidCruelFunkatech RecordsForeign BeggarsGet a Bit MoreDented Records2011RackNRuinDazed & ConfusedBlack Butter RecordsPorter RobinsonThe StateOwslaExcision & DownlinkHeavy ArtilleryS.T. Holdings Ltd.2012MufflerCalling Your NameSubHumanHadouken!Parasite (with Zomboy)Ministry of SoundFar Too Loud600 YearsFunkatech Records2013ShockOne LazerbeamViper Recordings2014ZomboyRaptor (with Laxx)Never Say Die

See also

List of dubstep musicians Never Say Die Records

External links

SKisM | Facebook SKisM (@skism_uk) / X SKisM - YouTube SKisM - Soundcloud

References