Troy Beetles had one heck of a 2012.

Beetles, the Canadian-born dubstep DJ better known as Datsik, was more than busy last year. He released his first full-length album, April's "Vitamin D," started his own label, Firepower Records, and toured extensively.

"It was crazy, man," Beetles said. "It was a lot of fun, crazy shows. I never toured that much in my life. It was a lot of traveling. All in all, it was really fun. I put out my first album. The whole thing was just cool. It was a good year."

Datsik performs Sunday at the 9:30 Club.

Onstage

Datsik

» Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW

» When: 9 p.m. Sunday

» Info: $25; 877-987-6487; 930.com

The current tour will feature a new visual experience for fans. Beetles employs something called the Vortex, a design that he came up with features two projectors that needs to be seen live to be experienced properly.

"I wanted to try to do something that's really not been done before," Beetles said, adding it keeps things interesting for him. "It kind of looks like I'm standing in this big bundle of lights. It's really weird. It definitely hasn't really been done before. It's unique when you see it."

Starting Firepower Records was a way for Beetles to support up-and-coming DJs. Though he's just 24 years old, he affectionately refers to newcomers as "kids."

"I always wanted to start my own label," Beetles said. "It was more a matter of timing for me. I felt 2012 was the right year to do it. There's so many good, new, young kids that are coming out right now. I feel like somehow it's my obligation to get behind them and really push them. Hopefully out of that, they end up doing the same thing I'm doing and do what they love for a living."

Dubstep has emerged from the electronic dance music scene unlike any variation of the genre, gaining mainstream acceptance.

"We didn't know it was going to take over the way it did," Beetles said. "Now you're hearing commercials with little dubstep jingles over them. It's crazy to see. I don't really know why it took off. It was so different from everything else that was out there."

The new year is shaping up to be just as busy for Beetles. He had a new track titled "Vindicate" drop on Tuesday and will release the first part of a two-part EP titled "Cold Blooded" on Jan. 22. He plans to release another full-length later in the year, continue to grow Firepower Records and spend plenty of time on the road.

"Really just kind of go full-steam ahead," Beetles said of 2013. "We're going to see where it goes."