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INTERVIEW - BY DJ ROODBWOY (ODESSA, UKRAINE)
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click here to read it in russian
What have you heard about Ukraine & Ukrainian drum&bass scene?
To be honest not much despite it's neighbouring Hungary. I've heard good
things about producers like Sunchase, Cyb Orc, Kind of Zero (who has also
signed stuff for US label Cymbalism just like me) and Purple Unit. This
year from central and eastern Europe some great talent have attracted
attention internationally. So I guess Ukraine must have a solid scene
just like his big brother Russia (not to be sounding political). Also
I've heard about DJ Tapolsky and the world-famous ukrainian Vodka from a
friend over there (Cheers Lindus! ;)
What about drum&bass scene in Hungary? What are the most famous DJs,
producers, MCs, promoters?
The first jungle party was held in 1996 but it blew up in 1999 really,
thanks to promoters like Tilos Radio, Bladerunnaz and Nowsound. For now
there are big name dnb and breakbeat DJs flying in to play the capital
Budapest on an almost weekly basis. Internet helped a lot too. I
established the country's first online magazine (impulsecreator.hu)
dedicated to urban music and after 5 years I can say we did a lot for the
local scene, in addition with co-organizing parties lately, guesting DJs
from the UK too. As for producers I have to start the list with Tactile
group consisting SKC, Chris.SU, the DJ-duo Airbag (Longman and Bratwa)
and Safair, also Mindscape who are currently in the limelight. Newcomers
Matt-U, Jade, Soulproof, Snatch and Cord also worth to mention and also I
hope we can hear about Anorganik and Nightshift again - extremely
underrated. As for DJs Palotai is the godfather of not just d&b but all
kind of breaks, also Bal from Bladerunnaz and Midlow from Nowsound.
Theres no MC I could mention really.
What DJs, producers, and labels do you co-operate with?
I have recorded for labels Breakbeat Science, Orgone, Basswerk, Nerve,
Good Looking, Offshore, Cymbalism, Testflight and Covert Operations. As
for producers I often co-operate with local producers Matt-U of Soulproof
and SDD with whom I have a tune forthcoming on Cymbalism and another one
on such a BIG label but its not confirmed yet. Also I did a remix for ASC
in return of the Offshore release and I hope to have a remix from Resound
too.
Please, tell us about your first musical experience. What was first:
DJ-ing or making music?
Actually I never wanted to be a DJ, I'm too unsocialized for this type of
entertaining haha. First musical experience? When I was a kid I used to
listen all kind of dance music so far as we could get from MTV and stuff.
I was introduced to d&b thru a german satellite radio called Evo-Sonic.
That was off the hook, I still have some tapes recorded. Then I was
inspired to start messing around samples and trackers, so you know the
rest.
Describe your sound in three words.
Thats a hard one. I'd rather pick up three words that people use to say
about my tunes and I'm very proud of that: original, deep and has sense
of musicality.
Are you a DJ? What kind of drum&bass do you play? What are your
favorite drum&bass labels, producers?
Not DJing. There's a lot good music out there (and as much bad too) so
its hard to narrow it down to a few labels and producers but here are
some from the top of my head: Klute, Matrix, TGM, High Contrast, MIST,
Calibre, Paradox, Pieter K, Teebee, Polar, Sonic, D-Kay & Lee, Sci-Clone,
Dom, Technical Itch... Labels: Commercial Suicide, Space, Metalheadz,
Soul:R, Hospital, Inperspective, Violence...
What music do you like to listen at home?
Besides drum & bass I like listening everything not just electronic dance
music but a lot of hip hop, jazz, even some metal stuff (like Deftones)
or good pop music. I think if you are open-minded and can see music not
segmented in genres you can find good music from every style, its just
matter of taste. Though its more and more hard to find quality off the
bullshit.
What do you think of modern drum&bass sound such as Mindscape, Noisia,
Tactile, Pacific? (People in the central & eastern Ukraine like this
sound very much. By the way I'm from south Ukraine & people in south &
western Ukraine like more pumping sound such as High Contrast, Hold
Tight, J Majik, Origin Unknown & heavy;))
First of all I wouldn't call it modern. Drum and bass is a cyclic thing
with styles coming full circle again and again. The techy/technoid/new
neurofunk or whatever we call it is not my cup of tea however I admit
they work on the floor and have a vibe but I can hardly find off them
that catches my ear.
Although I dont really like to listen and judge music that is being
categorized before. Commonly I like the music I can get the essence of
it, something that you can relate to, something deepness and original.
But of course I understand people want anthems and jump up too. At the
end of the day there's always good d&b and bad d&b in every subgenres.
How will drum&bass change its sound in few years in your opinion?
Hard to predict it. I think nobody could see the blew up of latin, brazil
flavoured dnb, the disco influenced stuff, or the revival of the edits
scene. I dont think if there would remain so much unexplored territory
but I think as it became wordwide now, there will be always some producer
who can come up with something original and inspiring. We don't know what
the future holds and that's how it can be exciting. Also a lot of things
has to be changed over the next years as we already see some bad things
too, distributors going down, labels cant find platforms to release their
music, sales are also on a low level. And its all going to take effect
on the sound too.
Please, tell us about the most interesting & exciting drum&bass
events you took part in.
I've been involved in d&b for more than 5 years but haven't been to a
single event yet. Hard to explain why but I think this is the most
interesting but not as much exciting thing about me :)
In what countries would you like to play in nearest future?
As I'm not DJing (and I guess I never will) I would not have the
opportunity to play anywhere but if I were I'd visit Japan and New
Zealand for sure.
Who would you like to co-operate with?
Essentially I like to make music on my own, that's how you can express
yourself mostly. Of course working with others can be very useful too,
can guide you to different directions. I only co-operated on tunes
sending over tracks via CDs and Internet so I definitely would like to do
something realtime with Matt-U and SDD. As for a dream-collabo I wouln't
name anybody as I think I don't deserve it yet :)
What are your plans for the future?
To find a job and a girlfriend haha. No, seriously. More than two release
a year going up exponetially. Oh yes, and hope I can buy monitor speakers
next year. I have to hear my poor subs to make me laugh on myself :)
Some words for the farewell.
Thanks for the opportunity for the first interview I did on the answering
side. Look out for the forthcoming Offshore 12" and Progression Sessions
10. You can reach me at www.drumandbass.hu/icr! Peace to Ukraine!
date: 2004/12
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