With the likes of Bassnectar blowing through town in May, Tiesto throwing it down at The Austin Music Hall, The Glitch Mob tearing the roof off La Zona Rosa, and EOTO slated to do the same it is apparent that Austin, TX is down with dub-step. When you think of wobble and whomp you that train of thought doesn’t often include the zen sounds of a sitar amid smooth, sweeping strings amid a myriad of traditional Indian instruments. Janaka Selekta steps up to the challenge with this week’s release of Pushing Air.

While the wobble behind Janaka’s distinctive, ethnic sound is very subdued when compared to the likes of Austin’s favorite dub-step artists the music provides a mellowed out alternative beat that could feasibly fit in to a remix and raged on a dance floor. Lucky for Austinites if you don’t already know how to scratch a record The Dub Academy has brought the first DJ Academy to the area–putting Austin on the level with Tokyo, L.A., and NYC. You can show up for a fun lesson or two or sign up for serious classes. Check back with Double Stereo as I plan to blog about this from first hand experience.

Janaka’s Pushing Air is the perfect canvass for an aspiring dub artist to mix and mash-up, providing a distinct base for some dub heavy bass. Cnezo’s “subby edit” of Janaka’s “Nomadic” is reminiscent of Bassnectar’s Cheb i Sebbah remix with a driving beat and smooth ethnic feel. Pushing Air is overall a very chilled out album with a buffet of stimulating sounds from Janaka’s native Sri Lanka featuring progressive strings and a mid tempo bass with gradual build. Pushing Air could just as easily provide a posh backdrop to a cocktail hour as it could a canvass for dub re-mastering. With a unique mix of reggae woven in for good measure this album is perfect for either purpose.

Check out Janaka’s Pushing Air at Chaiwalla’s Boombox, and if you happen to be in Austin be sure to check out The Dub Academy as well.