Featuring: Promise One

Though affiliated variously with the Deep Heads and Chord Marauders crews -
Geode, of the latter, in particular, having collaborated on releases for Innamind and now OpenEarz - Promise One still retains a strong sense of independence; moving, refreshingly, at his own pace and away from empty hype and shallow scene building. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it gives his music a sense independence and originality too.

There's a measured approach to his production, marrying the raw edge of a hip hop indebted, sample-based approach with the skintight, minimal rhythmic aesthetic of the proto-dubstep sound peddled by the likes of El-B and Zed Bias. The resultant space is where the groove or, as is becoming a more regular occurrence, vocalist lurks. With the news that Syte is relaunching his OpenEarz imprint with three of Promise One's finest, we caught up with the man behind the monitors for some words and a new mix to add to the series.

Hedmuk: By way of introduction, what's your name, where do you come from, and how would you describe your sound?

Promise One: Hey I'm Nick, I grew up around North Yorkshire and currently live in London. My sound tends to come from the garage roots of dubstep, I guess: rolling tunes around 140. Prefer to let the music speak really, but that's probably a cliché now...

H: When did you first get into making beats? Have you always been involved in writing music, or has Promise One been your first foray?

PO: I started out on Reason, having been introduced to it by a friend; that was about 10 years ago. I work on [Ableton] Live now and used to make instrumental hip hop/breaks stuff under the name Defiant Kinetics - always been a fan of sampling from that respect. I play the drums, started that a little before I got into making beats and have always played in 3 piece bands for some reason, probably just because it's less complicated!

H: There's a skip and swing to your drums that feels reminiscent of garage's period of development into dubstep's early sound - is this somewhere you find yourself taking influence from, or are there other places you feel you draw more from rhythmically? 

PO: I think that era was always really interesting to me, so I'm sure its an influence. I like offbeats and swing, rim shots and all of that El-B and Horsepower goodness. Drumming certainly helps, sometimes I play bits in with an MPD and sometimes I just use a mouse, it depends on the tune.

H: You've got a few releases under your belt already, but your next will be your first on vinyl. When did you first get involved with Syte, and how did the idea of resurrecting the OpenEarz imprint come about? How important is it to you to be putting out music on a physical format?

PO: Jim (Syte) had been planning a re-launch for some time and brought up some ideas to get me involved with a release around the same time I was finishing up the collab with Sparkz. I played him the final version and then we agreed with George (Geode) that 'Chroma' would sit well on the flip side and that was it! I'm really happy about putting out music on vinyl, it's been a goal of mine for a while. Records will never go away, I don't ever see a replacement format coming, so it's the best we have. The HD DVD was the successor to CD but the MP3 took the lead: we've gone backwards, if anything. I've cut most of my earlier tunes to dubplate as I love the process, but it is expensive. I collect and buy vinyl because it's important to me to have physical records. There is an element of quality control which isn't really a consideration in digital, but I don't play vinyl out due to dub cutting costs and a lack of [vinyl] support from most clubs.



H: With the lead track from the forthcoming OpenEarz release and your recent MIK bootleg, you're showing a real knack for working with vocals. Is this something you've always experimented with, or discovered more recently? Can we expect to see more work with vocalists from you in the future?

PO: Coming from a hip hop background I've always been into vocals, but equally I appreciate the instrumental side of the genre. The first tune I ever made with a vocalist was called 'Technicolour', with a guy called Kid Kareem, under Defiant Kinetics. I never really understood grime for a while but some of it is quite interesting to me, especially rhythmically. I wanted to make a track with a grime vocal but which didn't sound like a grime tune, and one that was a bit playful; that's how the MIK tune came about. I haven't got any specific plans to do more vocal stuff at the moment but no doubt something will come along soon.

H: Take us through how you approached the mix you've done for us.

PO: I wanted to play tracks from producers I'm feeling, and also to represent OpenEarz. I'd say it starts off at a comfortable pace and builds up to darker more intense ending - I think there is still a lot of good, interesting music being made around 140. It's great that producers are going in different directions but I'm not seeing any reason to change from around this area, it just naturally resonates with me.

H: Finally, are there any other forthcomings or anything else in the pipeline that you'd like to put the word out on?

I seem to be playing more DJ sets at the moment so that is taking up more of my time, which is fun. I suppose I consider myself more a producer than a DJ, though. I need to get back on the beats, it takes me a long time to come up with a finished idea; I'm not one of these people who writes three tracks a week: it's more like one tune every couple of months! The 'See We Roll EP' is forthcoming on OpenEarz on vinyl and digital formats (with 'Ghost Note' as a digi exclusive) and should be available mid-to-end of February.


Download: Promise One - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix


Tracklist:

Indigo - Premonition [EARZ002]
Gunston - Danger Again [Dub]
Lefty - Wise Guy [Dub]
Lack - 432 [Dub]
Congi & Geode - Flow One [Forthcoming Chord Marauders]
Piezo - Antelope Swing [Dub]
Promise One & Geode - Chroma [Forthcoming EARZ004]
Ago - Backlash [Dub]
Baitface - Disrobe [Dub]
D-Operation Drop - Justice [Dub]
Promise One - Ghost Note [Forthcoming EARZ004]
Subreachers - Spitfire [Dub]
Promise One - See We Roll (feat. Sparkz) [Forthcoming EARZ004]
Elemental - Spring Dub [RUNTIMECD001]
Promise One - M.I. [Dub]
Clearlight - No Rules [Dub]
Argo, Karnage & MarkIV - Unforeseen [Dub]
Mikael - Blessed [Dub]
Nanobyte - Impartial [Dub]
Sub Basics - Untitles [Dub]
Facta - Poliwhirl [Dub]

Promise One - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

W.

Competition: Win a signed test press of Thelem - Bring Me Down (feat. T-Man) / False Imprint [IMRV007]

Innamind continue to cement their position as one of the most consistent and progressive labels within dubstep on this, the seventh vinyl release from the label. Enlisting new signee Thelem, following up his latest 12" for Osiris Music, the lead cut welcomes a second new face in the form of Manchester MC T-Man, whose blistering vocal brings a cocksure swagger to Thelem's low-swung halfstep instrumental. Having already proved himself on beats for Dub Phizix, and with a Wayfarer & Kanjira collaboration brewing too, it'd be difficult to disagree when he says he's 'one of the best on road at the moment.' The B-side sees Thelem in a more meditative mood: tight-looped, revolving synths, blips and whirls skirting in-between heavy-tread drums.

This release also marks the first video outing for the label, which is premiering here on Hedmuk. To mark the occasion, we're switching up the usual 'Like & Share' formula to involve the release's visual accompaniment: to enter for the chance to win a signed test press of the record, simply follow the link below to the Hedmuk Facebook Page and repost the official video by clicking 'Share'.

Enter here: https://www.facebook.com/Hedmuk.BassMusic/posts/10153354552610319

The competition will close one week from today, on Tuesday the 15th of October 2013, on which date a winner will be chosen at random by an independent third party and announced via Facebook and Twitter.



Thelem - Bring Me Down (feat. T-Man) / False Imprint [IMRV007] will be released on 28/10/13, on 10" vinyl and digital, and is available to pre-order from the Innamind Surus store now.

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Competition: Win a test press of Gantz - Stayer/ Lyrical Trick, Innamind and Hedmuk tees and guestlist to Exile @ East Village

When Gantz described the bassline on 'Stayer' as sounding 'like chocolate milk' it wasn't entirely obvious what he meant. Until we heard the final masters of this two-track release, that is. For his second second vinyl outing on Innamind, our favourite Turk comes with his usual unsettling lean: twisted samples, seasick rhythms and basslines that lurk around the beat with intent. What's so refreshing about the release is that it's emblematic not only of Gantz' apparently inability to do anything but lift boundaries and throw them yards ahead, but also of the Innamind team's excitement at being given the opportunity to test boundaries of their own and actually put the music out there: this is not a label interested in comfortable surroundings. Hence, as obvious as it may seem, both names have featured regularly on this site since their very earliest beginnings.

To celebrate the release, we've hooked up with the guys at Innamind to give away a super-limited test press of the release, as well as an Innamind t-shirt (designed by another longtime friend of the blog, and previous Hedmuk tee designer, Thelem), a Generic Greeting X Hedmuk t-shirt, and  a plus-one guestlist entry to the first Innamind foray into events: Exile, presented alongside Pressed Records and featuring Gantz (a UK debut, no less), Ruckspin, Thelem, Quantum Soul and Ipman all hosted by Stig of the Dump and Kyza. To be in with a shot at winning, simply head over the the Hedmuk Facebook Page and publicly share this photo, leaving a comment as to which size of T-shirt you'd like should you win.

The competition will close on July the 12th, on which date a winner will be chosen at random by an independent third party and announced via Facebook and Twitter.

Gantz - Stayer / Lyrical Trick [IMRV005] is due for release in July, 2013.





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Review: Gantz - Enso / Siyam [IMRV003]

Longtime, or even more recent, Hedmuk followers will no doubt be aware of our support for one of the continent's finest musical exports, Gantz. Those same followers will also be aware of our long-running support of Kiwi-born label Innamind Recordings, and so to see Gantz taking the reins for the imprint's third vinyl release serves as something of an ideal marriage of the two forces.

Following heavyweight efforts from Perverse and Catacombs, IMRV003 sees Gantz' characteristic experimental streak being drawn through the series' 140 template. 'Enso' is hypnotic, with a pulsing low-end and bongos rolling intermittently between cut up, decaying vocals. On the flipside 'Siyam' nods, with its intro's nostalgic synths and Bez-like shakers, to a bygone rave aesthetic before dropping into a sub workout and dragging the track straight into 21st century uncertainty with complex percs and eery atmospherics. This release undoubtedly marks a newfound confidence to Gantz' sound, and can only indicate more exciting things for the coming year.


Gantz - Enso / Siyam [IMRV003] is set for release on the 4th of February.







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Free Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time: The Remixes [Innamind 1 Year Anniversary]

When Innamind Recordings boss Jeremy announced that the label was due to celebrate its one year anniversary this December it served as a sharp reminder as to just how far the imprint has come, and how quickly: Innamind has, over twelve rapid months, become a tight and efficient machine, pushing out quality material on a regular and consistent basis without having to sacrifice anything of quality or artistic value to meet its own mechanistic specifications. Quality is an important word here too, as while many labels would struggle to put out releases at a rate of almost one a month and still maintain the close attention to detail and upfront A&R work required to ensure that everything hitting the shelves - be they virtual or not - the Innamind tag has become, in a way, its own seal of approval.

When speaking to DJ Thinking about the origins of his labels Black Box and Box Clever, he couldn't stress enough the importance of a new label establishing its own identity in order to put its own stamp on the scene; and it seems fitting that Innamind's stamp-like artwork has become, over the last year, symbolic of the label's development into something which has developed and almost grown into its own striking, and reliable, identity. And with the recent announcement of a third vinyl release dropping in January, this time with with the inimitable Gantz at the helm, it seems that this strong run is set to continue apace.

To celebrate this first milestone, as seems fitting, we've linked up with the minds behind Innamind once more to deliver a selection of free music which shows off just a slice of some of the talent that the label plays host to. Taking a standout track from Nanobyte's debut release on the label, and putting it in the hands of Gantz, Anex, Occult, Dubtek and Congi to take on remix duties, the results are as varied an pleasing as you'd expect.


Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time (Gantz Remix)

Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time (Occult's After Dark Remix)

Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time (Dubtek Remix)

Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time (Anex's Push Up Ya Lighters Remix)

Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time (Congi Remix)


Download: Nanobyte - Lost Time: The Remixes [.zip]


Preacha.

Competition: Win a Test Press of IMRV002 / Catacombs - Innamind Recordings Mix

It doesn't seem like anywhere near as long as a year since we announced the very first release on Innamind Recordings, but over the past eleven months the label has delivered an increasingly-impressive and challenging series of releases and this summer stamped it's iconic kaleidoscopic artwork on its first vinyl record. The latestt 10" from the imprint features two standout cuts from the North-West, with Catacombs and Knowledge teaming up for the 'Exodus' on the A-side - a hefty stepper, moving with old-school Oriental sampling that's been receiving regular rotation from the likes of Biome - and Catacombs' solo joint 'Organism', a grizzled favourite of Rinse FM legend N-Type, occupying the flip-side. The digital release will also feature, much to the delight of any followers of Catacombs' progress no doubt, 'East' as an exclusive third track.







In anticipation of this release we've once again linked up with Innamind, this time to offer the chance to win one of the super-limited Test Presses of vinyl release number two. To be in with a chance of winning, simply send your answer to this question to hedmuk@gmail.com with the subject 'Catacombs Competition':


How many releases to date - including singles, EPs, compilations and vinyl - has Innamind Recordings put out?


The competition will close on the 19th of October, on which date the winner will be chosen by an independent third party and announced on Facebook and Twitter, as well as via email.

But it doesn't end there, we've also got hold of a mix from the man Catacombs himself to accompany the release: stacked with dubs from start to finish, including plenty of as-yet-unheard new material from the Stoke producer, it's been racking up the playcount with us over the last week already.


Download: Catacombs - Innaminds Recordings Mix





Tracklist:


Catacombs - Badman Culture Pt. 2 (Dub)
D-Cult - Shifting Sands (Dub)
TMSV & Beezy - Crashing (Dub)
District - Locust (Dub)
Gantz - Catalyst (forthcoming Box Clever)
Thelem - Elemental Fears (Osiris Dub)
District - The Shift (Dub)
Sleeper - Zodiac (forthcoming Chestplate)
Demon & Catacombs - Searcher (Dub)
Razor Rekta - Taurus (Dub)
Kaiju - Double Dragon (Dub)
Gantz and J.Robinson - Misread (Dub)
Catacombs - Music Mi Luv (Dub)
Catacombs - Dimension (Demon Remix) (Dub)
Catacombs - Old Town (District Remix) (Dub)
Catacombs - Organism (forthcoming Innamind)
Sleeper - Dawn Of The Replicants (forthcoming Chestplate)
Catacombs & Knowledge - Exodus (forthcoming Innamind)
Ipman - Aight (Dub)


Preacha.

Featuring: Collision

Collision has, for the last three years, been steadily sculpting his own sound from the 140bpm spectrum and now, with a couple of releases under his belt already, is establishing himself as one of the most consistent producers of original and intricate, deep dubstep. His tunes are characterised by their variation: each built around drum patterns constructed to test the confines of their tempo range, with an almost rhythmic, if not obsessively groove-based, approach to basslines and a sparing application of mid-ranges. Last month we showcased this with a free EP from the young producer, and since then have caught up with Collision to ask him about his approach to making music and to have him lay down a mix for our exclusive series.

Hedmuk: As an introduction, what's your name, where are you from and how would you describe your sound?

Collision: I'm Jay, I'm based out of Birmingham and I would put my music on the darker, deeper end of the 140 spectrum.

H: How long have you been making beats for, and what was it that first made you want to start producing music?

C: I started producing in January 2009, when I was 16. I always wanted to make music but never really knew where to start; I stumbled across the trial version of FL Studio one day and at first it looked very daunting. After a few months of nothing but turning knobs and pressing buttons I started to make something that sounded remotely like music. After that it was just a matter of practice makes perfect or, in my case, practice makes decent.



H: Which producers do you consider as having an influence on the music you make? Or do you tend to take more inspiration from things or people outside of music?

C: I listen to a lot of music outside of dubstep and electronic music: musicians from Moby to Portishead, Radiohead to Jai Paul, Warpaint to Little Dragon. I think it's important to take in some influence from music outside of the stuff you make, otherwise the influences become too obvious. For dubstep there really are too many producers I admire to mention here, but when you listen to a lot of it then it almost becomes impossible to not take in those influnces, regardless of what kind of music it is. For example, lately Ive been listening to a lot of techno and house, and I feel that that's had a positive impact on my music.

H: The variation in your tunes seems to stem from the attention paid to drum sounds and patterns: is this something you do consciously? Do you tend to sit down with intentions to make a certain style, or do you just let it come naturally?

C: It's definitely something that comes naturally. I think if you sit down and try to write a certain type of tune then you're going to have problems. I usually just playing around until I find a decent pattern to work on and then let that carry the tune. It usually starts with the drums as I find it's easier to fit the drums to a bassline rather than the other way around.

I find when I'm producing it's important to keep raising your own standards, this way you are always going to be getting naturally better over time and not fall into a period of just making bad tunes and not even realising it.



H: Birmingham is a city perhaps better known for its contributions to the grime and bassline scenes: what sort of a community - in terms of labels, clubnights, other producers etcetera - is there for dubstep?

C: There's always been a space for dubstep in Birmingham. The scene here has improved massively in the last year or so, with events like Substep and Movement promoting quality 140 music, and labels like Area Recordings and Night Tracks putting out great music. And with DJs and producers such as Be-1ne, Krytikal, Burlish, Lysergene and myself the scene is starting to look very healthy in Birmingham, at least compared to how grim it once looked.

H: Take us through how you went about putting together the exclusive mix you've recorded for us.

C: The tracklist is made up of a mixture of tunes I've been sent by producers I'm feeling and by myself, some newly released bits that I wanted to throw in as well as a couple things to keep it fresh.

H: Finally, are there any forthcomings or anything else you'd like to put the word out on?

C: I've got a tune I made with Gantz called 'Chant' that will be coming out on a 4 track EP on Tribe12, also featuring Perverse, Catacombs and Congi. I've also got a solo release on the ever-prolific Innamind Recordings imprint which will be out later in the year. If anyone wants to book me they can get at me at collisiondub@gmail.com. Also big up to every DJ who's ever played one of my tunes: it means a lot.



Download: Collision - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix

Collision - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

Pinch & Moving Ninja - False Flag [Tectonic]
Kfka - O Plus [Dub]
J Robinson & Gantz - Spontaneous [Dub]
Perverse - Resistance [Dub]
LAS - Tigersleep [Forthcoming SUB LAB]
Unknown [Dub]
Collision - Shadow Groove VIP [Dub]
Tallan - East [Dub]
Ipman - Aight [Dub]
Collision - Obey [Forthcoming Innamind]
Reamz - Engage [Dub]
Goth Trad - Airbreaker [Deep Medi]
Sleeper - Zombies [Chestplate]
Collision - Manhunt [Dub]
Catacombs - Mantis [Forthcoming Tribe12]
Collision - Transparent [Dub]
Gantz - Salamander [Forthcoming Redshift-One]
Distal & Hxdb - Booyant [Tectonic]
Gantz - Ethics [Dub]
Collision & Gantz - Chant [Forthcoming Tribe12]
Gantz & Stiver - Dead Dance [Dub]
M83 - In The Cold Im Standing [EMI France]



.Preacha.

Free Download: Arktrix - Poison Frog / Innamind Recordings Competition

Innamind Recordings step up to join the likes of M.U.D, MindStep and Sub Lab in providing a new platform for some of the up-and-coming artists who are pushing some of the more sub-driven productions from within the dubstep spectrum; and with the masters for the new imprint's debut release having been on repeat here at Hedmuk over the last week, we are excited to announce that it will be dropping on the 12th of December. With more exciting releases in the pipeline, including full vinyl releases, Innamind is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

The first release will be an eight track digital compilation featuring tunes from Perverse, Percept, Formless, Arktrix, J-One, Dr. Hugo, Ghost Note, Gantz and Wheeler; previews of which can be heard on the Innamind Soundcloud page. The release is to be made available first via Junodownload and then other outlets.

To help launch the compilation, we've linked up with the label to offer the chance of winning a fresh Innamind T-shirt and a bunch of stickers will go to runners-up aswell. To be in with a chance of winning an Innamind t-shirt and stickers, just send your answer to the following question to hedmuk@gmail.com with the subject 'Innamind Competition':


In which southern hemisphere country is Innamind Recordings based?
(Competition closes on the 16th of November, on which date the winners will be notified and their postage details/sizing requested).


As a further gift we're also giving away this murky bit form Arktrix, who is also the man behind the excellent 45hz blog.


Download: Arktrix - Poison Frog

Arktrix - Poison Frog (Innamind Recordings Free Download) by InnamindRecordings


.Preacha.