October 26, 2004

R.I.P John Peel

We are shocked and saddened by the news that the legendary music broadcaster John Peel has passed away. Notorious for his selfless enthusiasm for all genres of new music, John's passion was a huge inspiration to the artists he showcased and to his thousands of listeners. He will be greatly missed by all.

You can leave your tributes on his Radio 1 homepage. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/johnpeel/index.shtml


October 23, 2004

AUDIO CLIPZ TO CHECK

LISTEN TO DEM SOUNDS THAT BE A CALLIN....

Replicant, Dark Crystal, Roots: DJ Distance. Dark bass lines and epic sounding Eastern vibes fromBoka Records first release.

Gotcha: Plastic Man (Dr Venom Remix). Nice up-tempo beat from the one like Dr Venom in conjunction with Plastic Man.

The Knowledge: Toasty. (Hotflush). This tune's been smashin dancefloors around the UK with it's rollin bass-line and up-lifting vocal samples. Also might have heard it on J Da Flex's 1Xtra Show.

Sand Storm: Professor JS. Hyponik's mad professor hitting with some dutty beats and bass-lines primal style.

Hurricane Kick, Took Him and Ghandi: Loefah. Loefah on an Eastern spiritual tip with this lot. Ghandi's been reborn and lives amongst a soundscape of futuristic bleeps and a phat bassline.

Bring Sut Unt: Digital Mystikz. With a hammering bass-line and a haunting synth. This tune is the shit... I aint kiddin.

Misty Winter: Another stormer of a track from Digital Mystikz featuring a wobbler of a bass-line and the vocal skills of MC Crazy D. Woah woah woah....

www.dmzuk.com

Sand Man: Cyrus & Skream. Following on from the Horror Show/Crack Bong scare-the-living-shit-out-of-you-theme, Cyrus and Skream hit with this dark and nasty tune that's been sending shivers down spines for sometime. Sinister.

Gonna try and make this regular, so if u wanna suggest some online audio clips for us to post, please contact infinite@drumzofthesouth.com

Audio clips courtesy of www.dubplate.net. Check the site for all the freshest dubs around.

WHAT'S IN A NAME....?

The infinite debate of how to define the new sound that is Grime/Dubstep/Sub-low/Nu-Dub continues with a long and very interesting thread on www.dubplate.net

"Skwish - Particularly hard and nasty and made exclusively by people who spent most of their childhood shooting people for coins. Only white labels exist and you have to shoot people to get them, occasionally even the artists themselves."

Labels: , ,

JERONA FRUITS UPDATE

That sweet, juicy label that is Jerona Fruits have been hard at work on the Drum n Bass Scene lately. Recent developments include a stormin set at the last Tempo Tantrum, loads of new signings including our very own Skope with his dub-wise roller "Jah Jah Man," and new MP3's for you to download @ www.strictly-digital.com

Here's the news in full y'all:

JF005: 
a) Greg Packer Feat. Mc Assassin- Landslide/aa) Sabre- High Five

The MASSIVE 5th release on Jerona Fruits is getting massive support from all the major players, including EZ Rollers, Distorted Minds, Pendulem, Sappo, Artificial Intelligence, Nick Luscombe (XFM), LTJ Bukem, Kasra Critical, Kubiks & BCEE, L Double, Bailey and Nookie amongst others and is now available as a full release from all good record stores.

"excellent and original" Tricksta (Nu-Directions/Update Magazine)

JF005 and back catalogue available here:

http://www.nu-urbanmusic.co.uk/shop/section.php?id=27&showLabel=Jerona+Fruits

SIGNINGS

New signings to Jerona Fruits:

Fresh faced new artist Sci-Phi, with his track Stitch Up.

Physics from Midnight Sun recordings with the song Far East.

Dub fuelled monster 'Jah Jah man' has been signed by artist Skope from Saaath London

Gerona have supplied another stormer, their 3rd release on Jerona Fruits- 'New Beginning'

Two more tracks from Mijatoho, Pent up and Stash

Paris' own FX909 has laid us down the dubby tune 'Voodoo club'

Holdtight/Kubiks/BCee fresh from signing with Defunked have given us the track Runaway

CLS & Wax, the Polish duo making waves in the liquid scene have just signed two tracks with Jerona Fruits, Promises and Ransom Rhodes

Keep your eyes peeled for these releases coming soon on Jerona Fruits Recordings.

MP3 REVOLUTION

Jerona Fruits have jumped on the MP3 bandwagon and joined forces with the most innovative and foward thinking internet crew. www.strictly-digital.com is dedicated to bringing you refreshing drum and bass, old and new for an extremely healthy price. 99p per download! -Madness. The site, run by none other than Nookie and his main man Gary is constantly looking for labels and artists to join them and work against the obvious problem that is illegal downloading to help keep the scene alive.

Jerona have also joined up with a US based site www.digidisco.com Digidisco is more focused on mainstream dance genres but also supports drum and bass labels amongst other, more underground genres.

LIVE

Jerona Fruits played a wicked set at Brixtons Tempo Tantrum night a couple of weeks back alongside London Elektricity, Klute, Sabre, Sci-Phi and Nicky Blackmarket. Shouts to everyone who made it down.

The next Tempo Tantrum night will be in December and the line-up so far includes Jerona Fruits, Nookie, Muffler and Andy C.

Don't forget, Jerona are always on the lookout for new artists so keep the demo's rollin in.

http://www.jeronafruits.com/

October 22, 2004

HEAR THIS!!

DJ Distance is after some feedback about a load of tracks from the likes of Hatcha, Kode 9, Random Trio, Digital Mystikz, Loefah and himself. He's posted up some audio clips on Drum n Bass arena (www.breakbeat.co.uk)

Follow this link: http://forum.breakbeat.co.uk/tm.asp?m=215520".uk and tell those Drum n Bass heads why it's about time they started listening to the new sound..

Also on Drum n Bass Arena at the mo is a chap named SVD who's lookin for South London DJ's and MC's for some new suburban nights that he's got planned. Check http://forum.breakbeat.co.uk/tm.asp?m=217845 for more info.

October 19, 2004

calling all tekkies

Can anyone help? It seems that on Macs, the index bar of Drumz of the South appears on the right hand side of the page as it should but on PC's it's all the way down the bottom. I'm a Mac girl, so if anyone can shed any light please let me know...

Cheers y'all...

October 17, 2004

METALHEADZ ON INTABEATS: 17 OCT


BAILEY
Originally uploaded by infinite.
Metalheadz Special on Baileys Intabeats Show featuring Goldie and Storm.

This week, the king of the Drumz decks, Bailey is in the studio with his legendary mates Goldie and Storm for some propa Metalheadz action. Check www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/drumbass

The show airs 11pm-1am but will be online for a while afterwards, so no excuses!

A CERTAIN SOUND: Skope's 5 Essential DnB Producers

Mr Nu Wax City and No 1. lover of the rollin choppin break that is Amen, producer and DJSkope presents his 5 essential DnB producers.

GOLDIE - The 1st name that always springs to mind whenever the "Essential Producer" question is asked. The original don, Timeless (his 1st album) isn't just a great piece of Drum n Bass, it's a monumental album within music full stop! His label, Metalheadz, is a pioneer of the futuristic sound that DnB is today; It's instantly got THAT sound, THAT atmosphere and THAT quality. Metalheadz represents every time.

Check: Inner City Life, Angel, Terminator

PHOTEK - Another name to come out of the Metalheadz camp. Damn, does this guy know how to create a beat. Whether he's chopping up old breaks (like the Tighten Up break on Seven Samurai) or constructing his own, his style is unique. Photek may have simmered down a bit of late, but the man's still representin working in L.A and writing film scores. Can't be bad for a man named Rupert.

Check: Seven Samurai, UFO, Rings Around Saturn

SOURCE DIRECT -
I can see a pattern developing here as this duo of producers also gained huge recognition on Metalheadz.
Source Direct and Photek came from the same town and while Photek had his shady days, Source Direct existed in complete darkness! It wasn't that their tunes were just balls to the wall loud noise, they're style was menacing with sinister vibes dripping off the vinyl. Having said that, they did have their softer moments, like Complexities on Good Looking Records (LTJ Bukem's label), but each tune still had their trade mark sound stamped all over it. Their style was so original that it is still yet to be beaten (though many have tried). SD never tied themselves down to the usual DnB structure and did whatever they felt sounded heavy. Who's to argue with them, they succeeded! On a sad note, they aren't making tunes anymore and have parted company...please guys, make up your differences and show these upstarts what it's all about! Furiously influential producers, my show is never complete without at least one Source Direct tune.

Check: The Crane, Call & Response, Snakestyle, Exit 9, Black Rose

DILLINJA - Dillinja tracks can be heard a mile off, not just because of the distinctive sound, but cos they're probably being played though the mighty Valve Sound System, the phattest soundsystem in DnB! However, Dillinja (or Capone, or Trinity, or The Specialist or whatever he's called this week!) ain't just about big sound, he's been in this since the beginning. Coming through with some early Jungle classics (Soldiers, Friday, Mutha f**ka), then onto (you guessed it) Metalheadz (Angels Fell, Deadly Deep Subs Rmx) to having tunes on every big DnB label possible and he didn't finish there. Valve Record label and the sub labels - Test and Beatz were set up along with aforementioned mighty sound system, to which the bass isn't just registered in your ears, but in your body...propa. Still to this day, Dillinja is one of the biggest names in DnB but I personally feel that his production has been slipping a bit lately. I'm certain that around the corner is another groundbreaking monster of a tune...it's only a matter of time.

Trax to Check: Angels Fell, Acid Trax, Massive (infinite's favourite!)

PARADOX/ALASKA - This man doesn't like to call his music Drum n Bass, not these days, Dev prefers the term Drum funk. Which, as it goes, suit his tunes down to a tee! I don't think anyone uses old breaks from the 70's (or any era really, but mainly around that time) and makes them his own like Paradox does. A lot of his tunes are very minimal, just atmospherics and subs but it's really just cuz it's ALL about the drums which is no bad thing, cos the drums are always runnin'!

Trax to Check: Certain Sound, Can I Get A Kickback, Play Twice Before Listening, Epoch

Click here to read an exclusive DoTS interview with Paradox.

Check Sounds of The Skope every Saturday on Select uk 89.6 fm 10pm-12am.

Skope Profile click here

Give us a shout at infinite@drumzofthesouth.com if you wanna submit your essential producers, DJ's or tunes.

Labels: ,

RADIO SCHEDULE

Mondays:
Chef, Rinse 100.3 fm 0100-0300

Tuesdays:
J Da Flex BBC 1Xtra, 0000-0200
Hatcha & Crazy D Rinse 100.3 fm 1900-2100
L Double BBC 1Xtra 1900-2200

Wednesdays:
Cyrus (Random Trio), Rinse 100.3 fm 0100-0300
Graham G Rinse 100.3 fm 1900-2100
Youngsta Rinse 100.3 fm 2100-2300
Flight BBC 1Xtra 2200-0000
Distance Rinse 100.3 fm 2300-0100

Thursdays:
Kode 9 The Fwd>> Show Rinse 100.3 fm 1900-2100

Saturdays:
Plasticman Rinse 100.3 fm 1900-2100
Skope/DJ Bassist SelectUK 89.6 fm 2200-0000

Sundays:
Essence of Chi Show Life fm 18.00-20:00 (10 Oct)
Bailey BBC 1Xtra 2300-0100 


R.I.P John Peel 1939-2004

Labels: ,

WWW.DUBPLATE.NET


vinylchair
Originally uploaded by infinite.
Everyone's favourite website for the freshest Dubstep, Garage and Breaks Dubplates is burning with tunes at the moment. Recently uploaded tracks include Plastic Man's 'The Rush' (2nd to None Remix) and 'Gotcha' (Dr Venom Remix), Distance's dark and dutty 'Breathing Space', plus some absolutely killer tunes from Random Trio including Stampead, Shaolin, Sombrero and Local Motive

Also worth checking is the dubplate.net forum for the latest news and views from the movers and shakers. Of particular interest is this thread which has all the low-down on forthcoming tracks from the likes of SLT Mob, Plastic Man, Search and Destroy and loads more.

www.dubplate.net

October 16, 2004

DMZ 002 RELEASE: NOVEMBER


dub
Originally uploaded by infinite.
The hardest workin collective in the scene are back with DMZ:002 featuring tracks from Digital Mystikz (aka Mala and Coki) and Loefah.

LOST CITY: JAH FIRE: HORROR SHOW: and 10 DREAD COMMANDMENTS:

This is likely to be one of the finest Dubstep releases this year (you know this!) and will be available in all good record shops within the next few weeks.

www.dmzuk.com Full DMZ update here

TEMPA ALLSTARS VOL 2.

Allstars Vol.2 double pack is soon to be released and will feature tracks from some of six of the finest floor runners in the scene El-B, Kode 9, Loefah, Digital Mystikz, Geeneus and D1.

Geenius 'CONGO'
Kode 9: 'BABYLON / SIGN OF DUB INSTRUMENTAL'
El B: ' AMAZON'
Dee One: 'CRACK BONG'
Loefah: TRULY DREAD'
Digital Mystikz: 'GIVE JAH GLORY'



This will be followed by a Loefah CD LP and 4 track Vinyl Sampler due for release March/April. Watch www.drumzofthesouth.com for more info.

RELEASE: Hyperdub 002: Spit

After the success of Kode 9’s first Hyperdub release Sign of the Dub/Stalker, he’s back with a second Hyperdub release which features the incredible vocal talents of Daddi Gee.

Kode 9 and Daddi Gee, Hyperdub 002 Spit[vox]/ Spit [dub]

Available from all good music stores very soon www.hyperdub.net
Don’t forget to catch Kode 9’s weekly Forward>> Show on Rinse 100.1 fm. Thursdays, 7-9pm.

Full information on all of Kode 9’s happenings can be found at www.kode9.com

Labels: ,

October 04, 2004

Exclusive PARADOX interview

PARADOX aka Alaska has been keepin the Drum n Bass scene edgy with killer tunes such as Certain Sound, Drum Sessions and Play Twice Before Listening for what seems like an eternity. Five releases short of his centenary, the spikey-haired drum funk veteran talks to Drumz of The South about influences, the joys of crate-digging, lesbian porn and why he can't stand "dibby-dibby-dibby" MCs.


You're well known for inspiring many up-and-coming producers. Who or what inspired you to start making music?

PARADOX: No one in particular. I was listening to breakbeat and rap, such as Eric B and Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, and was keen to see where they got their breaks from in tunes such as Cherish. I started delving into my dad's record collection when I was about 15 and it turned into a bit of an obsession. It was the year when everyone started making hardcore and Chicago house. I got together with a friend and started making music that was soon signed to Moving Shadow. Suburban Bass and XL were also interested. My mate Dave [DJ Trax] wanted to go with XL but we signed with Moving Shadow because we liked the logo! So, back to the question, my inspiration was mostly from hip-hop groups sampling funk records.

So it was simply the logo that made you sign to MS?

Yeah, pretty much! I mean, we had the choice between all those labels and they were all in Essex, so we decided on MS cos we thought the logo was cool and would sit there for ages trying to work out what it was! Funny thing is, after we signed I started designing house bags for Moving Shadow. I used to be into art when I was at college.

Did you teach yourself how to produce?

I taught myself how to produce and my sound was always changing with the equipment and experience. Back then, we didn't have PCs, we had samplers. Now you can make a 16-bit track that sounds like a CD. Sometimes I purposely add crackle to my tunes for that authentic sound. I don't like the clean sound. The dirty sound has more energy, that's a Reinforced way of doing things!

Where do you get your breaks from?

I crate-dig! You can also get some wicked breaks from mainstream music shops if you're prepared to search. I dig through friends record collections and go to record fairs quite a lot. If I know I'll come back with some wicked breaks and samples, I'll sometimes pay for a flight to San Francisco. There's a shop there where, by appointment, they give you the key to the basement and you can spend as much time as you want crate-digging. There are boxes and boxes of records stacked on top of each other. They usually leave me in there and I'll sit and listen to all of them and come back with a pile of stuff. There's another place called Moby, which used to be a bowling alley and it's now a record shop. I was in there for 22 hours once. I took a packed lunch and just stayed in there!

Is it true you used to be an MC?

Yeah, I used to be a hip-hop MC under the name Mix Race. Actually, most of my first 12"s on Moving Shadow were me rapping and and an a cappella. I remember that MS were like, "Is this Hardcore?" Our computers didn't have BPM counters back then so we didn't realise that they were so fast! In the end, production took over and I stopped rapping. When I listened to that MC stuff again I thought it sounded shit but I couldn't escape it for a while because people had started to sample my tunes and I'd hear bits of my voice here and there.

What do you think of MCs in DnB?

Although I like hip-hop MCs, personally, I can't stand MCs in drum'n'bass. It's just not my thing really cos I'm a producer. All that "dibby-dibby-dibby" stuff does my head in.

Are you feeling any HH at the mo?

Roots Manuva's cool and people like Public Enemy used to inspire me to make tunes cos of their breaks. I'm not into US hip-hop these days though.

Are there any of your own tunes that particularly stand out?

I've had 95 12 inches out since I started which makes it difficult to say. I was in Switzerland once and I heard a track and said, "Yeah this is wicked, who is it?" The bloke standing next to me looked at me as if I was mad and was like, "Mate, this is yours!" Turns out it was an Italian track from 2000. After 95 12 inches you sorta lose track y'know!

Certain Sounds vs Certain Sounds Remix?

Probably the original.The BPM is slower - it's at 160. Also it sounds muddy like I fucked up the EQ, which I didn't purposely do. The remix is a bit too polished.

Do you have a Desert Island Disc?

Find Me by Scanna. It's a DnB tune, but he does house now. I love the chords, it's got that real desert island vibe so it has to be that.

So what's this about porn soundtracks?

[Looks a bit confused]. I have no idea what you're talking about! Oh actually, I did some music for a lesbian DVD. I was playing in a bar in Germany and a guy came up to me and said he liked my sound, told me he made "girl films" to music and asked me if I was interested, so of course I said yes. He put me in a studio and I had to choose the girls that I wanted to dance along to my music. It was cool actually, the editing matched the music perfectly and the girls were so in time so it all flowed nicely. The guy asked me if I wanted my usual name credited on the film, and I was like "Yes! I'm proud of this shit!"

In your shows you make a real effort to educate people about the breaks that you use. Why is that so important?

I have to! I want people to sample my breaks not my tunes and also, it's promoting crate digging. Pre the polished sound of producers like Andy C, everyone was crate digging and using breaks but now it's not so popular. Also, other producers are like, "Let Dev do it" so I've kinda taken it on board! From a personal point of view, it helps to differentiate between records - this is a live show, not a DJ so remember what you saw and heard. The hope is to inspire someone in the audience to make music using breaks... it's about brainwashing!


Will you ever DJ?

I just got my decks Two days ago actually! It might happen next year because I have more responsibility now that I have three labels to promote. I'll never stop the live shows though.

It seems that you're always traveling. Do you ever get tired of touring?

Yeah I do. There comes a point when you have to stop and breathe you know. I get ill like I am at the moment because I'm flying from country to country, breathing in airplane air conditioning and getting jet lagged!

What's the future for Paradox?

Well, I've got the labels on the go, I've just finished the Alaska Virtual Virtuosos LP and I've been working with Seba, Calibre and Big Bud on a few things. I think the Calibre stuff might shock people a little bit because they know him as having a certain sound. I'm also remixing some Herbie Hancock stuff and joining a band with Bill Laswell (the legendary bassist). There's lots happening this year!




Check the archived event of the Alaska Virtual Virtuosos lp launch here

Paradox forthcoming at Double Vision. Click Here for details.

www.paradoxmusic.com



Interview by Georgina C. With thanks to Skope and Uncle Pauly

Labels: , ,

October 03, 2004

Exclusive CHRIS INPERSPECTIVE Interview


chris1
Originally uploaded by infinite.
For someone who’s name basically means to keep things in view, Chris Inperspective has a tendency to go off on tangents. Chris’ conversations are often flows of consciousness broken up with sudden outbursts and daring statements but they always leading to a carefully pondered point. No wonder than that the his label also named Inperspective, has carved a niche out of playing, producing and promoting a similarly daring style of DnB often known as Chopping or Edits. Ahead of his current U.S tour, Chris Inperspective joined Drumz of the South on the last warm day of the year for a chat about the long and winding road to success and of course, what it’s like to walk off the beaten track.


Could you tell us a bit of History about Inperspective?


Well as usual, it was about me getting angry. I started the label in 97 as a backlash against the scene at the time. There were artists such as Source Direct and Photek, who were making some amazing stuff, but I wanted to do things a bit differently.

As a result of a conversation with Equinox, I decided to start a label. As we started rolling, the DnB scene started changing again. The tek-step sound such as Ed Rush and Optical and No U-Turn came in and distributors were telling us that our sound wasn't gonna fit anymore. So I put the label on hold for a bit and started going to Section 5 on Kings Road. The shop shut down and I was angry ‘cause I couldn’t understand why people weren’t in to what I consider to be the greatest dance music. I went out to Miami, got to meet some heads when I was trying to start the label again, linked with people like ASC and Pariah, guys that were still into what you would call the ‘atmospheric scene’. I came back and decided that if no one is gonna play the music I’m feeling’ then I’m gonna start my own night and that’s how Technicality started. A lot of ideas I have have been born out of me having a strop!

Do you remember your first Technicality night?


Yeah! It was October 2002, myself and ASC played. Blame had just come out on Good Looking. It’s still one of our most successful nights. We also booked names like PHD and Seba but back then people didn't really know who they were so the nights were a a bit of a washout. But I kept the faith and always had the support of the club which was amazing. Spencer from Herbal particularly toughened me up. He kinda tested us and I appreciate that. He showed me how to do the nights properly and for example, made me address the fact that the night attracted such a male crowd.

Is Technicality attracting more girls now?

Yeah, definitely. More and more ladies are coming along to check Technicality and I like to think that’s cos they like the music they’re hearing not because the name is more recognised. I don’t understand it about women, without wanting to generalise, they don’t seem to be so turned on by instrumental music in the same way that guys do. So many female DJ’s fall into the trap of feeling they have to play Liquid funk to represent the ladies. There are exceptions of course, Alley Cat and Flight for example. When I booked Flight for Technicality, a few some people were confused because she’s been put into a bracket. But she came up through Reinforced, so if anyone knows about breaks, it’s her. I’d like nothing better than to have a female on the label, not a gimmicky way, but just so we can represent.
That’s why I was glad when we hooked up with Panka, she restored my faith.

What made you start making music?

I still don't consider myself as a producer. I love making music it but it’s not what I’m best at. I actually used to make Hip Hop with people like Jacob Sam La Rose (spoken word artist) and a school mate called Dirwin under the name Pure Cut Productions - PCP, I didn't think of it at the time cos I hadn't heard of the drug! Back in the days there was a whole new crop of South London artists- Son of Noise, Hijack and Blade. Blade was just some guy from Armenia who lived in Ladywell back then! I also remember meeting Saul William's and I was just like “Alright Saul?“ having no idea how successful he’d become. Then I was getting into DnB as well, but I was using a package on the Omega. I wasn’t using it properly, it was hilarious! Equinox showed me how to use it properly. I started going to Lazer Drome in Peckham every week. Everyone would come round my place, about 20 mans, we’d order pizza’s, fill our bellies and go to Peckham via Catford Bridge Station. A big 20 of us, not in a rowdy, stupid ‘lets have a fight’ kinda way, we were steppin out for a fight with the music!

If you could describe 2004 as it’s been so far in one word or phrase how would you?

[hesitates] Catastrophically Uplifting! This year has taught me a lot about myself spiritually and about people around me. It’s not been a negative thing, but everything’s been such a mess! Like the All nighter, it started off as a chaotic idea but it all fell into place and became an uplifting experience! I’ve akinned this year to the end of the Matrix when Neo can see everything in code. There’s more clarity. Even with my DJing, it’s always been a bit sloppy but it was just a case of practicing more. It’s common sense.

How was Slovenia?

I remember the elements all around me. Blame taking the piss outta me, telling me that I was playing too dark and I brought out the rain! I was like “yeah that’s cos the music’s in touch with nature man! It woke mother nature up and she got vexed and decided to rain.!” I was joking but I could be right, it’s such emotive music, maybe it did do something to the sky. I played ‘The Drain’ and just as it dropped there was this huge crack of thunder and lightening with mountains in the background. At the end of the set I dropped ‘Forgotten Road’ (Fracture and Neptune) and during the break down everyone had their hands in the air in the rain, caked in mud and then the Amen came back in and everyone went mad again, mud flying. It was europhic. That’s what it’s all about, the day I don’t feel that anymore, is the day I gotta stop.


How do you think people will react to you in America?

I’m terrified! Up until now it’s just been us having a laugh and doin’ the night and now I’m going on this tour and people are biggin us up I think, ‘Don’t say that cos when I clang people are gonna say “he’s supposed to be rah rah...!” It’s good in some ways though, ‘cause it’s made me fix up. Slovenia made me realise that sometimes I forget the artistry of DJing so I’m nervous because I probably haven’t practiced enough!

I think most of the Americans are gonna be expecting me to play pure chopping the whole way through and I’ve never ever done that. I happen to like doing things that are a bit more abstract, because I think I’m better at doing it. I’ll leave the chopping to the experts; Breakage, Equinox and Fracture and Neptune. The fact that I’m doing 11 dates in four weeks says that people out there are prepared to listen to me play for an hour! Hopefully I won’t let the promoters down and I won’t clang and it will be good music and good times. Also, I feel that if I get this right, it this will open the floodgates. From what I’ve seen the likes of Dylan and John B are always in America which shows that there’s something about those artists that they like.

Out of interest, what do you think of John B?

I gotta lotta time for John B although he might not have a lot of time for me! No, he does actually and I’m grateful. We send each other tunes and although we may not be in to each others material, we take each others opinions. 9 times out of ten, people know what John does, it’s crazy man, kitsch camp business, but it’s that’s him and I rate him for that. No one can say he sounds like anyone else.

Does the Inperspective sound get compared to anything else?


Certain people say we just sound like Source Direct but I’ll defy anyone to say that Acid Rain remix sounds like anything Source Direct ever did and that’s with the greatest respect to SD, they’re my favourite producers of ever, them and Dillinja up to a certain point and Wax Doctors and... there’s quite a few other artists actually! [laughs] Photek as well. There’s that whole Photek/Souce Direct thing actually, I have this argument with Fracture all the time. He says Photek is better but in my opinion, not EVERY Photek tune is running. Every single tune Source Direct made is running even when they started changing! No one can take away what or who Photek is though. It’s funny cos I’m talking about Photek in a legendary godlike status but apparently, Photek never believed he was any good. I think I can see what he was saying now, I’m no way putting me in the same light, but it’s weird when people are bigging you up cos I think, nah they can’t be talking about me, I’m not that good! When Photek turned up at Technicality, it was hilarious, grown men were crying! There was someone that we’ve all bought tunes by, fantasised about meeting, you can’t take nothing away from the boy. I remember meeting Dev (Paradox) for the first time as well... I travelled 4 and half hours on a train to see him play live, and I wanted to meet him so much. I think part of the reason he got involved with him was because he always remembers this crazy Black guy coming from London to meet him! He’s an inspiration because when people over here didn’t get behind his music, he was off round the world, Italy, Sardinia, US crazy places that I didn't even know DnB existed in! I thought if he can do it, I can.Square Pusher and Aphex as well, there’s no way anyone’s been doing anything as off-key as Aphex has been doing yet, he’s probably got more money than ten of the big names in DnB put together. You don’t do that by pirating someone else, you do that by being truly original. It’s a Marmite thing with him though, sometimes it’s just craziness, I don’t know where the music starts and the Art starts. It’s like he draws really distorted Salvador Dali pictures with sound. My point is that many people have said to me to that make it in Music you have to follow certain rules and I just think well no, look at Aphex and Square Pusher, anything is achievable.

Does the pigeon hole thing piss you off?

I think it’s sorta trendy to say “I hate labels, I hate pigeon holing” but at the end of the day, we all do it. there’s so many different sub genres within the scene and I think that’s actually because of the strength of DnB. The only thing I’d say is a weakness is people’s resistant to anything slightly commercial. As soon as anyone makes something that could get on TOTP or whatever, the producer will get a slating from heads in the scene. I do think the pigeon holing thing is always gonna happen, The Americans are terrible for it, someone was telling me that they went into a U.S shop and there were 20 different sub-genres! That’s probably a bit extreme, but I think segregation does needs to happen to a certain extent. Everyone’s into a different thing, some are into more vocally stuff whereas some are into hard and dark etc! As long as the producers within each sub-genre making the music are happy with what they’re doing then it doesn’t matter. Everyone should just get on with what they’re doing and enjoy the music they’re making.

What's your reaction to all the attention Inperspective has received this year?

It’s weird because I just see myself as a fan. Other’s peoples perspective of Chris Inperspective is so different to mine. It’s funny when people AIM me and I reply because they’re usually shocked that I have the time to talk to them. I think why does the fact that I run a label or because my face has been in a magazine mean that I’m too busy to talk to people? I can’t forget the people that have been behind me since day one. There’s guys like Luke Mercott who did the site and waited 3 years to be paid. That means so much more to be than, with all greatest respect, a big name DJ playing an Inperspective tune. What I find a little irritating is people saying “You can’t be seen to do this or that.”

Where are things going for you?

Ideally like to turn Inperspective into a major independent label. Yes, I’d like to be up there with Metalheadz, Reinforced, Good Looking, a lot of those labels that I admire, but ultimately, if we’re looking 5-10 years time I’m looking towards Mo Wax, Naked music, labels off the ilk that are able to change. Ninja Tune is another great example. It was Cold Cuts label originally, now they’ve got sub-labels like Big Dada dealing with Hip Hop as well as artists like Square Pusher, Aphex, Peshay, Dillinja, every top artist within each genre. That’s the kind of thing I’m looking for in the long-term. I’d still keep the family aspect though, a network Crazy Gang aspect but I’d like a few different labels under the banner of Inperspective. That’s what the downbeat thing is all about, I encourage our artists to make whatever they want . None of them have made a down beat thing that I haven't liked yet. ‘Obstructed’ on Equinox’s ‘Troubled Mind’ release is like an Old Skool Techno thing and a lot of people are really feeling it. This is what I was saying about the fear of commercial applications and the fear of being seen as non underground anymore. That attitude where “only true artists don’t make money.” I’ll defy anyone to tell me that David Bowie isn't a true artist. I believe true talent shines through and I also believe that there are many artists out there that are desperately talented but will never be seen or heard cos of the way they haven't got the people around them to help them be seen. Personally, I’ve also got a huge interest in film. I keep saying it, but I’ve got a book and two screen plays in me! I don't really know how to get them out yet. Maybe next year!


NEXT RELEASES:

POLSKA E.P : SWEPT, CAUTIOUS, SABBATICAL, DAISY

FRACTURE AND NEPTUNE E.P: TOO DOGGONE FUNKY, WORM SCIENCE AND FREAKY MEDIA

www.inperspectiverecords.com



>

Interview by Georgina Cook




Labels: , ,