United Battle Drum & Bass Interviews

Lara went to the United Battle Drum & Bass event in Brooklyn last week and interviewed almost all the DJs. Kasper was on the decks first, then Raw Q, then Furney, then Technimatic and then Stunna & Place 42. There were some other DJs and MCs but we didn’t have a chance to talk with, unfortunately. Photo Credit: Charles Romano.

Minneapolis-based DJ Kasper is fairly new to the drum and bass scene, but you’d never know it from his impressive set selection. Even if Kasper wasn’t the tallest DJ in the room at 6’4, it would have been impossible to ignore his lofty sound. Like myself, hip hop is his first love, and he seamlessly weaves some of those hard sounds into his lush sets. I had the pleasure of speaking with him after he started off the battle, representing the US, last Saturday night. This is one you should not miss should he play in your city.

I saw you hit up Central Park yesterday. How are you enjoying New York?

I love New York. It’s crazy. I think the last time I was in a big city was London when I studied over there. It kind of has a similar vibe, and I like the American twist.

Had you been to New York before? And how long are you in town?

I have never been to New York. I actually leave tomorrow. I got in on Thursday night. Checked out the city on Friday. I got to see everything I wanted, which was real cool. I know you can’t check out a whole city, but I got to breathe the air and walk the streets, and that’s what I like to do.

How is the DNB scene in the Twin Cities?

It’s good. It’s healthy. It’s trying. It’s a smaller town, especially when you look at New York where there’s so many people. Minneapolis’s crew is really dedicated, and a tip of the hat to the Konkrete Jungle guys who have been doing it for I can’t even say how many years. Seven years, I think. Our anniversary is coming up. We’ve got Bailey coming in on Wednesday. So that will be good. I’m looking forward to that.

Do you have any new releases in the works?

I do. I’ve got one coming out in two weeks on Focus with Intelligent Manners from Russia. It’s going to be a vinyl release on Focus. “Of the Shadows” is my track and “Best Place Ever” is his, and then I have a four-track EP coming out on Celsius Records, hopefully in November, might be early December. We’ll see what happens. I have to email him and see.

Who in your opinion is going to win the UK vs US battle?

It’s way too early to tell. It’s only the first UK guy on right now – Furney. I know in America, all us drum and bass producers and DJs in the scene, we look up to the UK a lot. They’re really pushing it, but at the same time, we’re pushing it right back. There’s a lot of really strong producers from the U.S.

How long have you been in the scene for?

I’m a total newbie, and I got into it literally six years ago now. I was clicking through internet radio stations, and I came across BassDrive, and that’s how I found drum and bass. I just graduated from university this last year. I’ve been producing all throughout college, and it’s been a lot of fun.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I think I covered everything with the releases coming out. It’s great to be here. Shout out to Mike and Charlie for throwing the show. It’s been really cool. As a nobody who’s in it for the music, it’s sweet to come here and meet more of the crew.

The only battle last Saturday night that was not USA vs UK was that between Kasper and NYC native Raw Q. The two definitely represented the States in two gorgeous, though very different, drum and bass sets. Raw Q is no stranger to the scene. He got his start as DJ Beau back in ’95 and toured with big names in the biz like LTJ Bukem, Goldie, Bad Company and Calibre. Raw Q’s unique sound definitely left an impression with fans, and I was lucky enough to get to sit and chat with him about his journey and how much he loves his fans.

What makes playing in your city better than anywhere else?

Well, I mean I’m kind of biased because I grew up here. So, for me it’s playing for my hometown crowd, and I’ve always kind of taken my involvement in the scene as a DJ as an important role in my life. I was a raver, and for me now, to be able to make music and play music and share it with a new generation of people…I feel like it’s an important role to fill.

How do you feel your sound has evolved since your days as DJ Beau?

I have certain similarities in my selection. I have never really changed up my selection that greatly. I have always followed where the music went, but I have always had a taste for more dubier, jazz-influenced sounds and hip-hop influenced sounds – more organic stuff. Although, I tend to hear new things that change my opinions. Every week there is new stuff coming out that shifts me more in different directions. So I would say it’s pretty similar. You can hear tapes I did from ’95, and you can hear a lot of the same sort of influences and styles because the music has changed. Then you have the roots that have remained the same.

Do you have any new releases in the works?

Yeah, actually following up my EP that came out on Intrigue, releasing a VIP of the tune “Sweet Pea” that we’re going to be giving away free soon. And I’ve got a tune on the Intrigue album coming out soon that I’m finishing up right now, and I did a remix of a Random Movement tune for Intrigue also. So, I’m all on the Intrigue tip right now.

Who do you think is going to take it tonight – UK or US?

Ooh – I don’t know. I’m going to have to say US because I’d probably end up strangled dead in an alley somewhere if I said otherwise.

Is there anything else you want to add or promote?

Yeah, sure. First of all, just give a shout out to all the global junglist and drum and bass heads. The people here in New York City who basically devote their life and times to continuing to making the drum and bass scene happen. The DJs, promoters and crowds who brave all sorts of weather to be here and give support to all the different crews. One thing I like a lot about New York is people don’t play favorites here as much. People try to attend as many parties as possible. At least, the core drum and bass heads, you’ll see them out everywhere. So I want to give a shout to people like that around the world. It’s all about unifying global culture right now.

After a stop in Toronto with Telluric label boss Place 42 the night before, bassline virtuoso Furney started the night off for the UK team in style with some lovely liquid drum and bass tunes. After venue staff closed off the rooms allotted to the night’s talent backstage, we found a spot downstairs, and I got a chance to sit with Mr. Fearnside to talk shop.

What do you think of Brooklyn?

Yeah, I love Brooklyn. It’s my second time here. I was here last year. So yeah, it’s all good, Brooklyn. Good vibe. Good people. Good shops.

Your tune “Brooklyn 1977” samples MJ Cole’s “Crazy Love” – what was the inspiration behind that track?

That track is made up of quite a few different things from different places. The main backbone is definitely obviously MJ Cole. There’s a few other things in there as well. I guess the influence was, I saw a live performance of MJ Cole playing the Rhodes piano that had the bass line to it, you know, the main groove. I think it was the first time I heard somebody play a Rhodes in a modern way with the bass line as the keys as well. I was like, “Oh my God.” Because you know the old Rhodes piano. Who doesn’t love the sound of that? And ’77 was the year my sister was born. And Brooklyn….I love Brooklyn anyway. I think the name Brooklyn has got a cool ring to it. So, I think I would have to say, without rambling on too much, the MJ Cole thing and there’s another vocal in there as well. So I think it was a mishmash of things that came together.

Do you have any new releases you want to talk about?

Yeah, I just had a test press for a vinyl last week of a track I remixed for Tango on Creative Wax. That’s DJ Pulse’s label, which, to me, was a label from years ago, which I have so much respect for, and I love the original Tango track. I met with Pulse recently, and that’s my next release. I’m quite proud of that one. This is a remix of a track that’s quite close to my heart, so that’s my next release. I’ve got quite a few things going on for other labels as well, like Good Looking, obviously.

Did you come up as a vinyl DJ or digital?

Yeah, vinyl, definitely.

What do you think about the transition out of vinyl?

I think that it’s inevitable. Technology influences all types of music, so I think that mixing CDs….Years ago, if you had a track, you had to go and cut a dubplate of it to be able to play it in the club. Whereas now, you can just burn a CD of it. I love CDs, so I think it’s good. You’ve got to embrace technology.

How do you feel your set went tonight?

I really liked it, really enjoyed it. I played first, so I was playing quite a few mellow things. So it was a good change to play them because when things are in full swing later on in the night, you might not get a chance to play those sorts of tracks. For me, it was important to be able to play them in that time frame. So yeah, I don’t mind playing first. Anytime is good.

Do you think that Submorphics was a worthy opponent?

A worthy opponent. Yeah, he played quite a deep set tonight. Some of the tracks were quite heavy, so I think the fact that he went just after me was a good choice.

What other genres do you listen to besides drum and bass?

Oh my days – everything. Everything. You name it. Dub music, reggae, dubstep, soul obviously, funk. I love ambient music. Anything. I listen to anything basically. I love all music.

What about country music?

Country music! Yeah, did you know that country music is the bestselling genre of music ever? I think country music, when I hear it, it’s got a catchy sound to it. Sometimes it’s sad. I think country music’s all good. There’s a place for country music.

Is there anything else you would like to add or promote?

Everything. Good music. People nowadays, I think there’s too many people downloading illegal software and plugins and things like that. I pay for all my software. There’s a lot of people complaining that they’re not making money from music, but they’re not paying for the software. They’re just getting illegal software. So, I think, pay for the software, then you’ve got the right to moan because you’re not paying for the software that you’re making music on in the first place. If I can’t afford the plugins, I can’t use them. And if you think like that, because music is dying if everyone is downloading for free, like illegal piracy. I’m not saying that people won’t do that, but I really respect people that pay for the music big time. So anyone that pays for music, I tip my hat off to them. So, I’d like to promote people paying for things.

Even as solo artists, Andy Komatic and Pete Technicolour know how to work a room full of dancing drum and bass fans, but together, it’s possible (and likely) that they could rule the world (of drum and bass). Saturday night was no exception. Technimatic’s set was full of intensity and kept everyone on the dance floor moving. The two took some time before their set to speak with me, and their humility (and sarcasm) and love for what they do was refreshing.

How are you two enjoying New York?

Komatic: We are absolutely loving it. We flew in on Friday, and so far we have been mostly just drinking, to be honest.

That’s a good way to stay awake.

Komatic: Yeah, we’ve adapted to the whole time zone lag by drinking our way through it.

Technicolour: Yeah, it’s been nice. We both love New York anyway.

Komatic: Absolutely and it’s a lovely excuse to come and see New York. We feel very proud to be asked to come here. We love the city. It’s like nowhere else on earth, you know? It’s one of our favourite places to come. It’s cool.

When and where did you guys meet?

Technicolour: We originally met online on the Drum & Bass Arena production forum, which is a kind of forum for people who are making drum and bass. They meet up and swap ideas and listen to each other’s music and kind of pick up tips and stuff like that. I was quite a regular user on there. Andy (Komatic) was a quite a regular person on there too, and we were making a similar kind of music, and we got talking and found that we had a lot in common. And it was sort of a natural process after that when we ended up working together really. It wasn’t a preconceived idea, but it just worked out.

Very organic.

Technicolour: Yes.

Komatic: Yeah.

Do you guys have any new releases coming out or anything that just came out?

Komatic: Yeah, so we had the Mirror Image EP that came out on Spearheads back in May. That was kind of our first four-track EP that we put together since we signed to Shogun. And then we’ve got another track, which is coming on Shogun’s latest project, which is called “Way of the Warrior: Part 2” that comes out in November, called Bristol. Other than that, the label are very much keeping us behind closed doors to work on the album, so the album is in full flow. Whether or not a single will come out between “Bristol” and the album coming out or not, we don’t know. But it’s just kind of full steam ahead on this album project, and yeah, it’s shaping up well. We’re excited to bring it to you guys.

Do you have an anticipated release date for that?

Komatic: There’s a loose deadline, isn’t there?

Technicolour: Yeah, Spring 2014 roughly.

Komatic: Yeah, but it’s very much, again, led by the label. So, we’ve sort of got in our heads January next year to get the album finished for us, and then how it kind of flows on from January when it comes out, we’re not sure about it.

How do you guys feel you’ll make out against Stunna and Place 42?

Komatic: We’ll kill ’em.

(Laughs)

Technicolour: To be honest, there’s really not much competition.

Komatic: No, no we’re…

(Laughs)

I love confidence.

Technicolour: Yeah, do you know what? I’m really looking forward to Stunna’s set, actually.

Komatic: Same, same.

Technicolour: I shouldn’t really say, if it’s a competition, but I’ve been a big fan, and Andy too, of his music for a long time. So, you know, it’s a friendly competition, isn’t it?

Of course. Is there anything else you guys would like to add or talk about or shamelessly promote?

Komatic: I think just a big thank you to everyone that supports both the music we make and drum and bass in general in the States. It’s really pleasing to come out here and see how much people really do genuinely appreciate and support and love the music. At the end of the day, we are kind of two guys back in England that sit in our bedrooms and make music, and when you come out to the States and see that that music is reaching a further audience and people feel connected with it. That, for us, is…

Technicolour: Special.

Komatic: It’s very special. And so, I think the only thing we want to add is just thank you to everyone that supports what we do.

Well, thank you.

Komatic: It genuinely means a lot. It really does.

I was lucky enough to make it out to Brooklyn Bowl in 2011 when Stunna and Place 42 were on the bill with LTJ Bukem. Now it’s 2013, and both veteran artists were excited to have the chance to give fans a taste of original material. But before they took to the decks, I got to talk with them about life, love and labels.

Welcome back to Brooklyn.

Stunna: Thank you. It’s great to be back.

You guys doing anything fun?

Stunna: He lives here. The fun thing for me is just visiting here. I come here every few months, and we get to hang and go to shows.

Place 42: Fun in Brooklyn….

Stunna: He just got engaged.

Congratulations!

Place 42: Yes, recently engaged.

Stunna, how does it feel to be listed in URB Magazine’s “Next 100” list?

Stunna: That was definitely an honour because I’ve been reading URB Magazine for years – since ’94 or ’95. It actually came about from one of my friends in Chicago who is a local writer and DJ. He was like, “Hey, I really want to showcase all my friends.”

Oh so he nominated you?

Stunna: Yeah and it was right when I started releasing a lot of records, a lot of vinyl records, and it was cool to have my name in print. That was great.

Place 42, what’s new with Telluric?

Place 42: A lot. A lot of projects.

Do you want to give some background to those who may not be familiar with it?

Place 42: The label was started in 2005 back when vinyl was a viable product. It was strongly influenced by early atmospheric, early days liquid drum and bass. Good Looking Records. I have to give a shout to Good Looking – very big part of the creation at Telluric and Danny Bukem. Through the years, since we transitioned out of vinyl to the digital market, we started our own website about a year ago. We’re completely self-sufficient, free distribution, selling digital .wav and mp3 files, putting out about three projects – two albums.

Stunna Five artist albums.

Place 42: Five total artist albums, and really the focus right now for the label is continuing what we’re doing. We have a very close, tight-knit roster. A lot of what’s being represented tonight with Furney, Mr. Joseph, myself and Jay (Stunna). This is a very close, inner circle of what Telluric’s about. We have a full-length LP by Furney coming out in about two months, second compilation mixed by myself with ‘TELLURIC ACTIVITY VOL. 2’, which is a compilation of exclusive, hand-picked tunes. And what I think is going to be one of the biggest projects from the label to date is the album that myself and Stunna are working on. It’s been about two years in the making, and I’d say we’re about….We’re getting there. Early 2014, you should be seeing that, and believe it or not, we’re actually transitioning back to a very limited, exclusive vinyl release.

That’s a really good segue for me. Either of you can answer this. What do you guys think about the transition away from vinyl into CDJs, etc.?

Stunna: From a buyer’s standpoint, or from a DJ standpoint?

From a DJ standpoint.

Stunna: Me, personally, I’ve never been a vinyl DJ. That might rattle some cages, but I was a producer first, and I wanted a way to play my tunes. This was before Serato, and I didn’t have money to cut vinyl, so I actually burned CDs and taught myself how to DJ off those. From a more, I guess a more purist, artisan sort of way of DJing, the feel of vinyl, I love that. I mean, I know how to play vinyl as well, and if I had the money, I’d cut a lot of vinyl to play new stuff because people want to hear new tunes. It’s tough these days to be a guy that just plays vinyl. All the big guys now that are touring, all the UK guys, they play on virtual systems now. They play on Traktor and Serato, so they’re not actually even playing vinyl. They’re playing on vinyl decks. So, for me, it’s always just whatever the tune is, that’s what counts to me. It’s not a really big issue, one way or the other.

How do you feel about it?

Place 42: I came up as a vinyl DJ. I have a tremendous, old school, early atmospheric, early hardcore, beginning of the drum and bass vinyl collection that transcended through the early to mid-90s, Good Looking scene. I was a tremendous vinyl collector, and Telluric started as a vinyl label. It was very sad to see the digital sales increase to the level that it has. For me as a label owner, it’s more of a market viability thing. As far as playing as a DJ, the digital format, I think, is tremendously more accessible. I blasted over a tune by one of my artists, Blade, earlier tonight, and you know that that will be played – made yesterday, played tonight. That’s something that digital offers that gives the artist something at hand. As far as with the scene, there is a sentimental value to vinyl, but the market viability is not there anymore, unfortunately.

Do you guys think you’ll take the win over Technimatic?

Stunna: I think we’re playing a lot of different stuff than them. I’ve been a big fan of both those guys for years. I know they’re working on an album right now. I think they’re playing some of that stuff. For this type of show, I’m going to be playing all original tracks, and I think John (Place 42) will be playing mostly just Telluric label stuff, and that’s what’s cool about tonight. Everyone gets the chance to play all their own tunes if they wanted to. So, what might be a big tune in one person’s set, another big tune for us would be a totally different vibe.

Place 42: The one thing I want to add, I think we have the unique thing going for us. I think our music is very unique. I think our production style is unorthodox at times and very unique.

Is there anything else you guys want to talk about or shamelessly promote?

Place 42: www.telluricrecordings.com. We are completely independent, completely on the ground, and what we’re doing is really a testament to not what is big or necessarily commercially viable within the scene, but what we truly believe within our sound. That’s one thing that we’ve always stuck to is really a pureness within our sound, and the day that I deviate from that path is the day that I’ll no longer be doing what I’m doing.

That’s respectable. You’re good?

Stunna: I’m good. greenroomdnb.com

Place 42: Every Wednesday.