Review: Dark0 - I Ain't A Sweet Boy EP

Regular readers will no doubt already be aware of our appreciation for the North-West London producer, and indeed some of the tracks on this EP will already be familiar, having appeared previously as vocal bootlegs on the Zero mixtape.

Dark0 spends the majority of this latest EP indulging in melody, and the standout in this regard is 'Sweet Boy Pose': anthemic grime at its best, it sounds like Ruff Sqwad let loose on a room full of purple sound synths and is arguably some of Dark0's best work to date. 'PRS Riddim' - the title perhaps giving a cheeky nod to the Rinse FM airplay that the vocal version has received - shoots for anthem status too, with an irresistible hook beating its way past clattering snares. In another life, 'Fully Waved' is the euphoric soundtrack to a Mediterranean festival's video highlights, and 'Plasma Cannon' is the theme tune to a Sega racing game that never existed. Most probably reserved for the near-impossible final boss level. Both 'Karmmm' and 'Scyther', meanwhile, build trippy, spaced-out layers of loops on loops; the result is wide-eyed, hypnotic and, like the rest of the EP, indebted to Dark0's uniquely acute sense of tune and cadence.



Dark0 - I Ain't A Sweet Boy EP is available to purchase from Dark0's Bandcamp page now.


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Free Download: Hugo Massien - Mystik

The artist formerly known (and featured on these very pages) as Dr. Hugo has taken the tempo down a few notches, and stretched his name out accordingly. Tunes from the newly-monikered Hugo Massien have been coming in fits and spurts, with each new beat showing yet more progression from the young producer as he continues to find his way around his own shape-shifting sound; and yet, each one that lands in the inbox feels just as self-assured as the last. No surprise then that the new moniker has been backed to the hilt by anyone and everyone on the mail-out list, and has received heavy rotation on Mark Radford's Rinse show.

Originally planned to go up as a promo clip on the Hedmuk Youtube channel, Massien was generous enough to give the whole thing out as a free download. Sitting somewhere between early UK funky, grime and the sort of groove-riding 2-step that has always set Horsepower Productions apart from the crowd, Hugo's past spend making minimal dubstep shows through too in the beat's weight and sparsity. The binding mystic sample deserves a mention too: one of those that'll have producers sitting back wishing they'd found it first.


Download: Hugo Massien - Mystik



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Free Download: Sully - Scram (Chemist Bootleg)

Another emerging proponent of all things cold, Chemist's synth workouts and clap-heavy beats have been doing the rounds on Rinse and Radio 1Xtra over the last few months. In line with the output of labels like Coyote and Oil Gang, this is sparse, stand-up music.

This bootleg, then, makes for an interesting choice - and gives the original a whole new face - as Chemist takes Sully's creeping string line, strips out the pulsing footwork percussion and strips the whole thing down to detuned saws and a gully, reverse-stepped rhythm. It's an exercise in forceful restraint.


Download: Sully - Scram (Chemist Bootleg)



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Featuring: Wen

Ever since 'Takin Over' dropped in midway through Etch's Hedmuk Exclusive Mix, Wen has been firmly on the "to-feature" list. Someone else with their ear in was Blackdown, who stirred things up by asking 'what's all the commotion about?' Those in the know, of course, already knew - and that the track referred to was to fill out 12 inches of wax a few months later on the Keysound imprint came as no surprise. This, for many, was the first introduction to the abrupt rhythms, guttural space and stretched synths of the young producer from Margate. And a successful introduction it proved to be. Since then - and by then, we mean since the 'Commotion EP' sold out entirely - Wen's tunes have been picked up and rinsed by everyone from Kahn, Akkord, Elijah & Skilliam, My Nu Leng and, of course, the interlinked collection of producers who have spent the last year and half bouncing off each other and providing us with some of the most forward-thinking music the UK underground has to offer. Producers like Facta, Sepia, Underclass, Threnody and Etch have featured heavily across Hedmuk's pages and work within context of the UK's rich underground heritage - and with the releases mounting, it may not be long before they're commanding their own shared shelf in the record stores that have been at the heart of that heritage.

Hedmuk: To introduce those who might not already know, how would you describe your sound?

Wen: Dark and kind of violent, I guess - there are moments of cold emptiness interrupted with bright bursts of energy, there's a sense of urgency in the rolling versus stop/start pace of it and lots of contrast in the palette of sounds.

H: Your beats are minimal in the sense of leaving a lot of pregnant space, in the same way in which a lot of early grime instrumentals were very stripped back, and yet they don't seem to be as inviting to an MC: do you ever find yourself writing beats with an MC in mind? Is working directly with an MC something you'd be interested in doing, perhaps in the future? 

W: I make my beats to hold their own on the dancefloor, it's never really been about making instrumentals for vocalists. They are sparse for the sake of being spacious and giving the rhythm some silent groove, not really to be filled with vocals. It's fun to chop vocals in like verses ([see] Patwah, Lo-Fidelity), but I prefer the impact of occasional lyrics - something to hold onto while the drums and bass roll out. So that's probably why they aren't inviting. Most of the time when I use vocals it's of a moment I enjoyed in a set, so I do write with that particular MC in mind, but I'm just trying to catch their vibe and energy, accentuate it a bit and take it further my way. I’d love to have the opportunity to work directly with an MC though for sure, it would be a completely different way of making music

H: And how does it feel to hear the likes of Wiley, Riko, Scratchy and God's Gift riding your beats on radio?

W: Yeah that was something else; it felt like a massive accomplishment, something I aspired to do when I started to make music and still will, it's not something that’s ticked off the list by any means. If I'm honest I kind of lost hope of that aspiration when the freestyle radio shows slipped away - Logan's show and Westwoods short lived 1Xtra Grime slot, they were the major ones I listened to potentially send instrumentals to. I sent stuff to a couple of blogs, Hyperfrank used one for an intro to a Griminal freestyle once, which was a bit of a tease, so it was great to finally hear some MC’s over my tune.



H: Your debut 12” on Keysound was one of the label’s biggest to date; how did you get involved with the label? Do you feel that working alongside a label which has a deep-rooted sense of influence and musical narratives with regards UK-based electronic music has helped with giving you a certain fixity and confidence when it comes to producing and pushing your own take on the underground electronic music of the last decade or so?

W: It feels right to be a part of Keysound, there's a lot of energy and a sense of focus within the crew. I got hooked on the label when I heard 'The Bits (feat. Trim)', it was one of those edgier instrumentals that Trim's known for but was actually accessible and had a path to follow (in contrast to Brain / T-Spark / Jerzey etc. who you didn't hear of, aside from on his mixtapes). I started checking Dusk + Blackdown on Rinse and eventually sent them some music. I think as a label it’s always been really quick to expose new sounds and make sure what it's doing is innovative. And that process feels continual, I find that important, it’s reassuring to know I can do my thing; I'm not expected to make tracks like the ones we did with the EP, it's more “cool, that was fun... let’s keep the momentum going".

H: In recent interviews with Threnody and Underclass, we touched on the idea of hybridity: in the mixture of influence, sound components and tropes or styles of music. Is this something that you can relate to in terms of your own music, and its apparent refusal to fit any preconceived or notional genre? 

W: I think that’s interesting, and I agree with the hybrid influences in my own music, but that’s probably as far as I consider it. I just draw from styles I like and found some space in 130 to try to do my own thing, the main reason I started to make beats at that tempo was 'cause I was listening to the Keysound Rinse show. I held that as a catalyst that I wanted to be a part of - through 2011 and particularly towards the end of that year there was something really exciting building, I wanted to be involved in that movement. I could never predict what they were going to play but I knew it was going to be cutting edge. I wasn't intentionally refusing to fit in with dubstep or grime, I was just addicted to this alien sound I discovered on their show.

H: Is this hybridity something that you see reflected in the 'cluster', as Blackdown himself puts it, of producers currently peddling this darker take on 130bpm music?

W: You can narrow it down to 'hybrid' but I feel it's quite dismissive, there's a lot more than a two-fold hybridity going on with us lot; if that was the case I'm sure a genre name would have been coined by us to label it and call it our own. We share a gravity, which is, in my opinion, UK underground music, LDN, no doubt it's the origin everyone draws considerable influence from. Blackdown talked about this idea of satellites before, it's the sickest image, every producer being a satellite, worldwide. It's important there are other styles and clusters in this thing, I kind of feel I need the colourful synths/rolling funky/zero rhythm grime/4 to the floor energy/swung 2-step/warm (and cold) jungle nods. All these sounds compliment each other and give me something to draw influence from, the scene's so healthy at the moment - "these are fine times".



H: You’ve since followed the Keysound release up with a vinyl-only 12" on Baitface’s Badimup; how important is it to you to be releasing your music on a physical format?

W: It's even more important than I thought it would be. I did two digital releases before the debut 12"; once that dropped and I held the full artwork record it completely changed the way I wanted to see my music being out there and represented. The first one with Epoch felt real 'cause he cut a few dubplates of it, so I did get my own physical copy. I'm not against digital by any means, just strongly prefer the idea of people buying my music in a tangible format. I felt really proud when I saw the record in shops, friends sending me photos of them buying it etc. I didn't feel that way when I saw my music up on a website for instant download - maybe a little bit at the time, but in hindsight it didn't compare at all. It's funny actually, I was more excited when my EP got leaked: despite it being annoying that someone we trusted had shared it, it was a compliment at the same time. Growing up hounding the grime forums for Rapidshare links, you know the hot music gets uploaded quick, so I'm quietly grateful. Anyway, yeah, the 'Swingin' vinyl: I felt I needed to balance out the physical/digital with the Badimup record, I'm glad Baitface was supportive of doing vinyl only. There was no process in choosing the tracks, I just sent him those two and they clicked with him instantly. In fact I thought the decision was kind of brash a couple of months later, it was a situation where there was such a big impulse connection between my music and Baitface it left me feeling it shouldn't have been so smooth, the whole thing was a natural process; even when he mentioned about 180g it felt like it would have been rude not to.

H: Bootlegs and versions have always been a big part of grime, and your ‘Strings Hoe’ refix has caught the attention of some of grime’s biggest DJs: how does it feel to be picked up on by the likes of Elijah, Skilliam, Score 5 and Logan Sama?

W: Yeah my favourite Dizzee instrumental. It was always a bit of a gamble doing that bootleg, but it seems to get nothing but love. Glad I finally have that connection to some of the grime DJs, particularly the Butterz guys I love what they're about.



H: As your music begins to attract more and more attention, do you feel a greater pressure to deliver or do you see it as an opportunity to push at your own creative boundaries?

W: It's all positive to be honest, pressure is good for me, I welcome it. I probably feel more pressure from the way my friends are getting exposure to be honest, not really in a seriously competitive way but there's this whole one-up ethos going on amidst the entire family moving forward. I'm just having fun with it right now, enjoying 2013 so far.

H: Tell us a little about how you went about putting together the mix you've done for us.

W: It's a collection of music I feel has been influential on me lately, lots of producers included who are new on my radar and others who I'm always listening to.

H: Finally, what do the coming months hold for Wen: are there any forthcomings or anything else in the pipeline that you'd like to put the word out on?

W: There will be new Wen records out before 2013 is over. Doing a small tour of Australia at the end of August, gonna finally link Epoch out there - he's just moved to Melbourne - and Arctic too, hopefully be the grounds of some new collab projects. Also come join our bi-monthly Sunday Keysound Sessions at The Waiting Room, London - the E.M.M.A album launch was special.


Download: Wen - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix


Tracklist:

Skepta - Mastermind [Boy Better Know]
Walton - Haze [Dub]
Self Evident - Calgary [South Fork Sound]
My Nu Leng - Waltaknocks VIP [Dub]
Arka - Innamorta [Dub]
Akkord - Compound [Houndstooth]
Neana - Bow Kat [Dub]
Elmono - Shadows on the Moon [Cold Recordings]
Dizzee Rascal - Strings Hoe (Wen Refix) [Dub]
Luthor - STL [Dub]
Elsewhere - The Espers [Mindset]
Wen - Persian [Dub]
E.m.m.a - Nostrum (feat. Sully) [Forthcoming Keysound]
Facta - Hieroglyph [Dub]
>>> President T - Heard What I Said [Adamantium Music]
J-One - Ask Me [Dub]
LAS - Liketha [Forthcoming Signal Life]
Etch - Rise [Soundman Chronicles]
Teeth - Black Thigh Snakes [Forthcoming Signal Life]
K-Lone - Crunch [Dub]
>>> Lil Nasty - Firework [Rock N Rolla II]
Mickey Freeze - Carbon [Dub]
Kahn & Neek - Thief In The Law [Bandulu]
Dot Rotten - Give Me The Money [Ghetto Platinum Productions]
Epoch - The Steppenwolf (Gantz Remix) [Dub]

Wen - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

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Free Download: D-Operation Drop - Dust

Despite the title, there's nothing dusty about this track: something brand new and as yet unheard from the crew from Cesena in Italy, dropped here as a free download after their rapid climb to the 2,000 follower mark on Soundcloud. Since first meeting in 2010 and realising a shared passion for music, D-Operation Drop have worked steadily at channelling this interest and, after turning to production and DJing, have this year seen their hard work paying off. Over the course of this year, they've caught the attention of some of the scene's biggest DJs, including Distance, Icicle, J:Kenzo and N-Type.

'Dust' manages a sense of restrained aggression - with taught mid-range interspersed with hard kicks and played off against cinematic pads - reminiscent of Distance's Chestplate imprint, and shows the Italians at their best: making music that sits as comfortably in late night bus journey headphones as it does on a dancefloor.


Download: D-Operation Drop - Dust [WAV]
Download: D-Operation Drop - Dust [320kbps mp3]



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Featuring: Sepia

Photo by Ben Donoghue Photography

One of the reasons why it's so easy to like Sepia's music, or for that matter so difficult to dislike it, is the way in which each track captures a mood so effortlessly and coherently. And while maintaining a simple, linear mood or tone across six or so minutes of music isn't necessarily a stand-out achievement, to create, develop and challenge - through the deployment and subtraction of subtle rhythmic and tonal inflections - a complex atmospheric web is most definitely something to be celebrated; and when all that is built around big basslines, intensely intricate drums and a doffed cap to all that's worth nodding to from the past twenty or so years of UK dance music culture, then celebrating becomes all the more easy. The last time we were this excited about a new producer was probably the last time Sepia sent a new beat through. Or Etch did, or Facta did, or Underclass or - well, you can probably see that there's a pattern emerging here...


Hedmuk: To introduce yourself, what's your name, where are you from and how would you describe your sound?

Sepia: Hello. My name is Theo, I currently reside in East London and make tunes and DJ under the name of Sepia.

It's kind of hard to describe my sound, as it varies depending on what tempo I am working on or what mood I am in, but I think there are some consistencies in my tunes; for instance, you'll always find my tunes are very percussive and focus a lot on intricacies in the drum patterns. I play drums, so I think that influences my drum programming a lot. I also try to capture certain moods and atmospheres through the melodies I use and always a warm rumbling sub bass. I have only really just gotten my head around building synth patches. Most of my earlier works were literally just melodies, drums and sub bass, but it worked for the kind of vibe I was going for. So yeah, I just kind of make percussive and deep, bass-driven music. Sorry for rambling (laughs).

H: How long have you been involved in making music? What was it that first got you into making beats?

S: Well, throughout my teenage years I was writing music with old bands I was in until I was about 17 or 18. I still write music on that side, but have been more focused on electronic music since 2008 I guess; I have always been interested in it, but I never really got into making music or DJing until I went to a party in a forest where I used to live on the Isle of Wight (a little island down south, near Portsmouth). I remember watching my mate Ben (who also runs the rig and parties) playing an incredible set with tunes by Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, Luke Vibert etc. and then later through the night another guy was playing a dubstep set and the sounds just drew me in. I was gone at the time (laughs) but thought 'I really wanna play at one of these parties'. So I acquired some turntables and started collecting records and started DJing.

I started producing towards the end of 2008, but was only really messing about, I got a copy of FL Studio 7 and taught myself how to produce. I was under a different name back then and still finding my feet, but when I moved to Brighton I was playing shows weekly with some huge people (Skream, N-Type, Coki, Joy Orbison, James Blake etc.), had residencies and played at nights like Subsplash, Supercharged, Aka Aka Roar etc. and it is through playing them shows and networking in Brighton that I got to meet and become friends with the likes of Riskotheque, Marchmellow, Southbound Hangers, Dismantle, Gangoon Dubz, Etch and Ashley (from Well Rounded). It was about late-2009/early-2010 that I really got to grips with my production and finally developed my own sound and I started taking it a bit more seriously.

And now here I am I guess, I am still learning new things every day with DJing and making tunes, but I guess everybody is really because music and methods are constantly evolving and changing. Nobody ever stops learning, to be honest.



H: In terms of where you take your influence from musically, your tunes give the impression that your listening ear is a open one: is this the case? Who would you say you most often find yourself looking towards for influence?

S: Yeah, you could say that. I listen to a lot of different music, man, a lot of which are bands. If honest, I'd have to say my biggest musical influence would be Sigur Ros: words can not describe the effect their music has on me, so I am not even going to try. You may not be able to hear their influence in all of my tunes, but if you listen carefully to some of the melodies and arrangements I put together (for example in my tune 'If Only We Could See Us Now'), you can detect a hint of the ambient and orchestral sounds I use in some of the intros and atmospheres I create.

As far as bass music goes, my influences will always be the first who got me into this sound, for instance Mala, Coki, Loefah, Burial, Kode 9,  El-B, Cluekid, Horsepower Productions, Steve Gurley etc. and then you have just some incredible producers such as Four Tet, Aphex Twin, Boards Of Canada, Luke Vibert, J Dilla, Quasimoto etc. I wouldn't say they influence the sounds I make, but they influenced me to experiment with electronic music in the first place, way before I even discovered dubstep or garage. Also, you have more recent producers such as Phaeleh, Congi, and DjRum whose music really blows me away.

But my influences go beyond music too: books, movies, people, situations, atmospheres, summer, past experiences and life itself are all influences in my sound. I guess everything has an influence on me, it also has a lot to do with where I am at the time musically, consciously, emotionally and physically: it all plays a part in my process of making music.

H: Your music covers a wide range of styles - from Grime to UK Funky to Garage and Dubstep and more - is this something you're conscious of? Do you approach making a tune with a certain idea or style in mind or is it a more organic process of just seeing where it takes you?

S: I am aware of it after the tune is completed, but it is not something that is planned or thought out. I never sit and think to make a certain genre. Going with influences again, it all just depends where my mind is at the time. I usually start my tunes with an 8-bar drum loop and from there I try out some little bass hooks to try get a feel of what kind of groove it is going to be. From there I separate everything and start from scratch and build an intro, drums, basses, synths, atmospheres etc. and start constructing the sounds I have made into a song. But it is hard to say really, as each tune is different; I never produce in a certain way, it's ever-changing. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, but it works.




H: How does it feel, despite not easily fitting into a particular genre category, to be receiving airplay and support from the likes of Joe Nice, Dusk & Blackdown, Phaeleh and B Traits? Do you feel like this recognition puts the pressure on to deliver more in the future, or does it just encourage you to progress with your sound?

S: I have been stoked and overwhelmed by the support and plays from the people who have been into my sounds. It might not be much to many people, but I am so stoked that 'Observer' got played on Radio 1. Even more stoked that Joe Nice cut 'Observer' and played it on Sub FM. Skream & Benga recently dropped my tune 'Cornered' on Radio 1 too which I am stoked about. And the support and plays that Dusk & Blackdown have given me have definitely influenced me to keep striving to push my sound further and excel.

I do feel that knowing that some people enjoy the music does influence me to progress my sound and deliver more, but at the same time it also scares me. Sometimes I make tunes and won't even show them to anybody as I don't feel they are worthy because some people might be looking for a certain sound and I am not sure that it will be the one they are looking for. This goes back to the way I produce, I can't stick to a certain sound or genre because I'm influenced and intrigued by so many things and I like to experiment with different sounds and styles sometimes. I don't like to think there are any restrictions or boundaries in music: everybody should just be allowed to go with their instinct and see where their creative flow takes them.

H: Tell us a bit about the mix you've put together for us.

S: The mix was recorded at my friend's house on his CDJs (big up Etch for letting me use them); when I play out I like to try and give the listener a taste of where I am at musically, so I tend to jump genres and create different atmospheres and also try to keep the listener interested by playing different things that hopefully everybody can enjoy at least a part of. A lot of the tunes in my mix are made by my friends, and that is something I am loving about the underground music scene right now: a lot of us are actually friends, we all network with each other and we are all bouncing off each other to excel and progress. So this mix features a lot of dubs, forthcoming pieces, and a few new releases by more established artists that I am feeling. There is a sneaky VIP in the mix also and an upcoming project too...



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

S: Yes there is, 'Cornered' and 'Outbreak' are forthcoming on Redshift-One and are due out June 24th (available from all the usual digital outlets). I've got something else lined up too but nothing is 100% confirmed yet, so keep an eye out on my Soundcloud or Facebook for forthcoming releases, gigs and new music. Hopefully you'll be hearing more from me in the near future.
And lastly, big up and shouts to yourselves at Hedmuk, Etch, Atlas, J-One, Lex, Breen, Facta, Underclass, Rabit, Scalade, Konvex, Threnody, Dusk & Blackdown, Joe Nice, Phaeleh, Congi, Quest, Glacial Sound and too many more. And of course my girlfriend for putting up with my noise all hours of the day (laughs).





Download: Sepia - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix



Tracklist:


Sepia - Bullets [Dub]
Sepia - Because Of Me [Dub]
Wen - Swingin' [Badimup]
Sepia - Outbreak VIP [Dub]
Walton - Homage [Keysound]
Pearson Sound - Quivver [Nonplus+]
Fresh Paul - Sunblazed [Keysound]
Bloom - Quartz [Gobstopper]
Vivek - Asteroids [System Music]
??? - ??? [Dub]
Sepia - If Only We Could See Us Now [Free]
Sepia - Into The Abyss [Dub]
Sepia - Observer [Dub]
Sepia - Skyline [Dub]
Congi - Somnium VIP [Dub]
Sub Basics - In The Quiet [Dub]
Klax & Disonata - Lost Souls [Forthcoming Uprise Audio]
Daega Sound - Land In Motion [Black Box]
SPD - Habitus [Slime]
Sepia - Cornered [Forthcoming Redshift One]
DjRum - Honey [2nd Drop]

Sepia - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

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Featuring: Facta

Photo by ShotAway.com

A young producer who's been fairly firmly on the Hedmuk radar since first hitting us up with a pack of beats a few years back, Facta has, since then, been steadily carving his own niche into the UK underground's ever-shifting sound map. With one foot held steady in his '06-dubstep roots, the other treads through garage, grime, UK funky, hip-hop and the trippier side of experimental electronic and what results is sturdy, rough-edged and system ready. This broad approach is what makes the East Londoner's beats so captivating: whilst one might be swinging out off tough kicks and snappy snares, the next will be all tucked grooves and slinky hi-hats, and the next still will just have you sat bewildered at how he's managed to fit every bit of it together to make something that moves so slickly. It's not worth simply saying he's one to keep an eye on; it would be more accurate to just wish anyone luck in predicting which direction he might lead that eye in next...

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

Facta: My name’s Oscar; I grew up in Hackney, East London, and currently live between there and Bristol, where I’m living and studying most of the year. In terms of my sound, I tend to see everything I make in terms of dubstep as that’s where I initially found my roots – realistically, though, I produce a variety of styles that draw from garage, grime, dubstep, techno, hip-hop and breaks to varying degrees.

H: Would you consider yourself as being from a musical background, or is it an interest that you've developed yourself?

F: Well it wasn’t as if my parents were playing in bands or singing in choirs or anything, but like most families there was always music about in the house and from a young age I was slightly obsessive about finding my own path within music, which was something that my family always encouraged. When I was 9 I was convinced that I’d be in a world famous punk rock band touring the world by the time I was 16 – I’m ashamed to say that I’ve let my kid-self down in that respect, but I guess I’m still driven by the same ambition to create stuff now as I was then.



H: In terms of your actual production, you seem to take a mostly sample-based approach; do you feel like having a wide sphere of influence helps with this? Where, or from whom, would you say you take most influence from?

F: Yeah, well that’s definitely the key characteristic of my sound – I work almost entirely from samples; it’s partly due to an inability to programme synths very well and partly down to a deep respect of the whole culture and procedure around sampling. I listen to a lot of hip-hop and experimental electronic music, from which I have developed a love of rough, fast sample work. I’m also heavily influenced by non-electronic music – most recently jazz in particular. For this reason I’m always hesitant to make music that sounds overly polished or fine tuned; when I produce a track I like to cut up the samples right on the grid, trying not to quantize things too heavily or cut the clips too precisely: I tend to leave in trails and imperfections so as to maintain as many of the nuances of the original source material as possible.

H: A lot of people from the city talk about Bristol as being a great creative environment to live and work in: is this something you would agree with? How important is the sense of existing within a creative community to you?

F: Bristol is definitely a special place. I could talk on for hours about it, but anyone who has spent any length of time here will agree that there is something about the city and the scene here that just feels distinct from the rest of the UK. It’s always had its own path and it continues to develop on its own trajectory: Bristol Dub and Reggae, Bristol Jungle, Bristol Trip-Hop, Bristol Dubstep and Grime, Bristol Techno – these have always been special, unique pockets within their relevant scenes and all have a unifying trace running through them. It’s a constant source of inspiration and motivation to work and play out here, not only is there a huge audience for forward-thinking, experimental music but everybody is willing to help one another out and collaborate in a way that I never see happen in places like London.

H: Your tracks have featured heavily on Dusk & Blackdown's Rinse show in recent months, how does it feel to have that kind of backing? How far would you consider this idea of a musical community to extend to the tight group of artists being represented on the show?

F: It’s been a massive honour to receive recognition from figures that I have looked to and respected for years and years, and it’s been particularly great to be involved with the pocket of artists working within the Keysound sphere over the last half a year or so: it has the perfect combination of feeling like a tight, cohesive movement whilst still remaining totally undefined and uncontained. There’s a massive variety in sound from producer to producer: nobody feels like they’re stepping on each other’s toes. We’ve all got our own room to breathe within a collectively-occupied space and that’s a very inspiring thing to be a part of.



H: You've also recently started a night in Bristol: can tell us a bit about your reasoning behind it, and what sort of ethos you're aiming for?

F: The night in Bristol developed as a result of me and two friends deciding we wanted to throw no-nonsense parties at some of the cooler, smaller venues across Bristol: you can’t move for great, cutting-edge line ups at big clubs in Bristol, but we did feel that there was room for a party where the emphasis was taken off new music and reinvested in location and atmosphere. So we hatched the idea of throwing house party-esque events at cool locations where we’d just ask friends and DJs to come down and play sets that they wouldn’t be expected to play, giving them the chance to draw strictly for their favourite party jams. We called it Elephant 'cause that’s a dumb name for a dumb club night. It’s going to be sweet.

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

F: Well I’ve recently been lucky enough to get to know a bunch of stupidly talented producers – both in person and through exchanging tunes online – and so I wanted to throw as many of them in as possible, plus include a few of my own. The mix sits somewhere between what I’d consider to be home listening and the sort of thing I’d play in a club. Normally when playing out I tend to get carried away dropping fruity old garage tracks and golden era dubstep and grime; I’ve reigned that in a bit for this mix, although couldn’t help but slip a few percies in.

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

F: I have a vinyl-only 12” EP coming out this summer which will feature 'Montpelier', 'Kobra' and 'Upsetter'; I have a track with K-Lone that's just come out on the unbelievably-good debut 'Chord Marauders' compilation [now available exclusively from the Chord Marauders website]; I’m in talks about a few other 12”s, although nothing is set in stone; I’m working on collaborations with a bunch of producers including Gantz, Wen, Rabit and B9. I’m going to be playing at Summer Saturnalia festival in July alongside Pinch, Elijah + Skilliam, ∆kkord and Gantz, and that’s about it on news. Thanks a lot for having me on – been a pleasure to get involved.



Download: Facta - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix



Tracklist:


$tush - Dollar Sign [Social Circles]
E.M.M.A - Cherry Favour [Dub]
Facta - Montpelier [Forthcoming]
Beneath - You & Me Remix [Forthcoming]
Dizzee Rascal - Strings Hoe (Wen Remix) [Dub]
Facta - Kobra [Forthcoming]
Brunks - Steppin' [Dub]
E.M.M.A - Untitled [Dub]
Facta - Hieroglyph [Dub]
Epoch - Gun Talk - [Egyptian Avenue]
Gantz - Free Focus [Forthcoming]
Sepia - Outbreak [forthcoming Redshift One]
James Fox - Put It Back (Ramadanman Remix) [TAKE Records]
Etch - Lost Methods [Dub]
Karma - Armshouse Dub [Dub]
Wen - Galactic [Dub]
Bloom - Quartz [Gobstopper Records]
Facta - FWD [Dub]
Amoss - Tangent (Geode Remix) [forthcoming Horizons X]
Facta & K-Lone - Voodoo [Chord Marauders]
Solwork - L Town [Dub]
Geode, B9 & Congi - Scrumpy [Chord Marauders]
Facta - 36th Chamber [Dub]
Kode9 - Addiction - [Hyperdub]
Rabit - Wolf Spider [forthcoming Glacial Sound]
K-Lone - Melt [Dub]
Mark Pritchard - Heavy As Stone [Deep Medi]

Facta - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

W.

Featuring: Distance

We're not ones to make a big deal out of numerical milestones here at Hedmuk, although there have been a few that have been noted quietly, but since first speaking with Distance about the possibility of having him contribute an interview and mix to our exclusive series we thought it might be worth holding out until we hit our half century. We're not really ones for looking backwards either, and a(n ironic) quick glance back over the forty-nine artists whose contributions precede this one is testament to the future-facing approach that Hedmuk is, and has always been, about.

Of course it's fitting, then, that we be able to talk with a producer who has, since first sitting down in front of a sequencer or - further back - picking up a guitar, been firmly focussed on what lies ahead and how he can bring a bit of himself to it. Being at the forefront of the dubstep scene since its very earliest beginnings wasn't anything to do with luck or 'right place, right time' or any of the other cliches: what really held the sound's pioneers together was exactly the fact that they were all pioneers, all looking to do something new and all bringing their own individual edge to it. Mary Anne Hobbs' legendary Dubstep Warz show was two hours of purely innovative music, and would arguably have been notably less so without the contribution of Distance (or any other of the individuals involved): such was the balance, tension even, that kept things fresh and continually moving forwards. 'This show will change your life', the ident claimed, and it was certainly no flash in electronic music's pan; things may have changed a lot since then, but what hasn't is Distance's dedication to pushing a sound, through his own productions and through the music he releases on his own Chestplate imprint, that he can believe in...


Hedmuk: To introduce yourself, what's you name, where do you hail from and how would describe your sound?

Distance: I'm Distance and I'm from Bromley, I would describe my sound as dark, futuristic, emotional energy (laughs).

H: Your interest in heavy metal, and its visible influence on your music, has been fairly well documented; but what was it that drew you over to a more electronic-based approach to writing music? How far do you feel that this more distinct musical background aided you in developing a unique sound within the 140 spectrum?

D: Well during my later teens I started to listen to the electronic artists such as The Prodigy, Aphex Twin and Portishead aswell as many others, but dance music had always been around me I just hadn't paid a lot of attention to it: my main focus was metal. Some of the bands I listened to started to include drum machines and samplers in their tracks and that's what probably sparked my original interest. During college I met a lot of new people who were into completely different styles of music to me and that's when I really began to take notice of underground dance music such as UKG, drum & bass and even some more commercial stuff. I became a massive DJ EZ fan and would always check his show on Kiss FM, but over time I noticed a darker sound slowly creeping into UKG: something which really grabbed me and it reminded of the dark energy and emotion I felt from metal. This dark UKG music became dubstep. That's cutting the story very short, but for me that is where it all started: it was at a time when I would mix Todd Edwards into Pulse X into Wookie then into something ridiculous like a Misteeq remix (laughs).

I think metal music definitely influenced my production; if you listen to my earlier stuff the drum arrangments were crazy: so many drum rolls and edits - something which I'm looking to go back to, actually. I was also one of the first people to be using distorted basses in tracks and this was because of my love for distorted guitars; it was natural for me because I had already been playing guitar for years so as soon as I created a synth sound or bass it was only natural for me to think 'well I might as well add distortion and why not a flanger', and that's how my experimentation with sound design really began: by processing my sounds as though I was putting a guitar through a multi-effects unit.



H: Both of your albums were released in fairly quick succession, and were key in establishing you as a major player with a unique sound: can you see yourself writing another album at any point in the near future? 

D: I've been starting my 3rd album for the last 3 years! (laughs) But I keep getting involved in other projects, I will be properly starting it soon. I have tracks which are unfinished which I know will be album material: everytime I write something new and it doesn't really fit within a scene's template I keep it in a special folder (laughs). It will be much more experimental them my last 2, and it has to stand up to them.

H: You mentioned recently the possibility of a Deleted Scenes album, alongside Pinch: how likely is it that such an album will be released?

D: It's very likely! We've been talking about it for years and what was just us basically doodling is slowly developing into something very unique and exciting. Whether or not we make dubstep, you will have to wait and see.

H: With many of the names alongside whom you were instrumental in pushing dubstep now taking the tempo down a few notches, working and experimenting particularly around the 130bpm mark, have you been moved to try your hand with different tempos and styles?

D: I've got so much material at different tempos, I'm just holding it down for the right projects and the right time. I did have 3 drum & bass tracks surface thanks to the Autonomic lads and I've got a load of other drum & bass tracks almost finished; I actually posted up a new one today on my Soundcloud. I've been writing some crazy dark hip-hop and weird housey beats at 110bpm too, some of which are deliberately made for vocalists.

H: You've always been known to engage with your fanbase, most notably perhaps through your video tutorials. How important is it to you that that relationship between artist and fan is maintained?

D: I think it's very important. In regards to the tutorials, I've seen so many people just post bullshit which doesnt relate to anything: 'How to make Skrillex basslines', 'How to make Noisia basslines' ..... FUCK OFF! None of the people making those tutorials can make anything close to what these artists can, it cracks me up. I would rather show people the basics so they can go away and create their own sounds. Part of the reason dubstep has now become so over-saturated is because everyone has access to Youtube and rather than spend the time and produce a stem of creativity they would rather copy what some prick is doing on Youtube. It's all to easy. I spend days even weeks creating new sounds.

What you see is what you get from me, that's probably why some of the GetDarker TV episodes with me in are so messy (laughs).



H: You seemed to step things up with Chestplate in a big way in 2012, with regular releases from new signings, residencies at Fabric and 1Xtra, with the Daily Dose series. What made you decide to redirect the bulk of your energies towards the label rather than your own solo output?

D: It just felt like the right time: I was getting hit up to do so many remixes plus other things, so first of all I wanted to make sure the label was still putting out material, and secondly I wanted to create a solid label with solid artists. I didn't want to be one of these labels that ended up with 50 people on its roster, I wanted it to be a tight crew. This also meant that the artists got regular releases, rather then being number 20 in a waiting list.

As I'm sure most people know, I wasn't a massive fan of the whole 'brostep' or tear-out side of dubstep, so I wanted to be the label that remained true but still brought out future-sounding music. A lot of the other dubstep labels jumped aboard the tearout train and basically released anything they could, hoping for a number one in the charts (laughs).

As for the Daily Dose thing, MistaJam approached me to do it but at the time I couldn't because I was still on Rinse FM so it just became a Chestplate Daily Dose. That's now come to an end, but much respect to MistaJam and 1Xtra for having us be involved.

I still dont know how the Fabric thing happened, (laughs) the guys at Fabric are amazing though and very supportive. Every Chestplate takeover has been nuts: feels like the proper old vibes you got from the earlier dubstep raves.

H: Your back catalogue reveals what would appear to be a dedication to labels with a strong image in terms of the music, ideals and aesthetic that they want to represent: is this something you've always envisaged Chestplate as having? How important is it to you that your label be viewed as 'bag-on-sight'?

D: Definitely, and I want it to be one of those labels that people can trust enough to buy on sight and know that I don't just release tracks for the sake of it. Most of the tracks are ones which I've seen go off at a rave or had ravers tapping me on the shoulder and asking 'what the fuck is this?!' Some tracks just grab you and you don't why: they're the tracks I want to release! Nothing I do is based on hype, hype is exactly that: it's exciting for a very small moment and then it's gone, a bit like candles on a birthday cake. Most of the hype people see or believe to be real is actually bullshit and just a result of very good management.



H: Re-releasing 'Falling' on your own label after it had already been put out by a major label seemed a bold move: was it as simple a case as wanting to have the tune out there on vinyl as well as digital, or did you see it as an opportunity to direct a new audience towards Chestplate? How important is it to you that your music is released on vinyl?

D: I don't think it was released after, but if it was it wasn't deliberate: it was supposed to be at the same time. I pressed it because Island were not going to release it on vinyl so I offered as I thought it would have been really sad for 'Falling' and 'Malice' not to have been pressed. At that time 'Malice' was still a big underground tune in my set and some people were expecting to have it on vinyl, I still find it amazing that a label like Island released 'Malice'.

There was never a secret agenda though, no dreams of being best mates with the stars (laughs). The only reason 'Falling' got signed was because it was a big underground track that just-so-happened to work on a commercial level too.

H: Since Chestplate was established as a platform from which to release your own music, how easy or difficult was it to find new artists for the label who you felt were doing something new and original and yet still fitted, to some extent at least, with what the label already represented?

D: Well the main reason I started to sign new artists was because I was hearing new music which was amazing and yet no one wanted to release it. It all started with Tunnidge and '7 Breaths'! I just couldn't believe that no one had snatched it up and I just thought 'Fuck this! This is a sick tune and it has to come out!' I then heard music from an unknown guy called District and then later down the road Sleeper and Razor Rekta.

I just heard something very special in their music even though the mixdowns weren't great and they weren't super polished, they had a hold on me. I would have found it devastating if these guys never had a chance to get their beats out there. I'm sure so many producers at that time making deeper dubstep moved onto other sounds or became disheartened. If I'm honest, there were only a few labels which really kept dubstep interesting and kept things moving forwards; a lot of labels became lost chasing whatever sound seemed to be doing well commercially, and in the long term have completely lost their identity.

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

D: My next release on Chestplate is out in May and that features 'Set You Free (feat. Stepa)' and, on the flip, 'Gorilla Force'  Chestplate's next take over at Fabric is on the 24th of May. I'm also currently working on a vocalists album, which is almost finished, and even though it isn't really my project I can't wait for people to hear it.

Pinch and I are also in the thick of writing the first Deleted Scenes album and I can honestly say I've never felt this excited about a project before: next level beats!!!!!



Download: Distance - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix



Tracklist:


District - Kraken [Chestplate]
J:Kenzo - Cause & Effect [Dub]
Cyrus & Distance - Rude [Chestplate]
Distance - Set You Free (feat. Stepa) [Forthcoming Chestplate]
Sleeper - Systema [Dub]
Distance - Gorilla Force [Forthcoming Chestplate]
District - Antidote [Chestplate]
Razor Rekta - Metro [Dub]
Distance - Twilight (Tunnidge Remix) [Dub]
Distance - Broken Dawn [Dub]
District - Transmission [Chestplate]
Distance - Meanstreak [Chestplate]
Sleeper - Species [Dub]
J:Kenzo - Ricochet [Dub]
Distance - Andromeda [Dub]
Proxima - Fallout [Dub]
Razor Rekta - Apollo [Dub]
District - Aftermath [Dub]
Icicle - Acid Step VIP [Dub]
DJ Madd - Life You Chose (Distance Remix) [Black Box]
Gantz - U Won't Mind [Dub]
Sleeper & District - War (Tunnidge Remix) [Dub]
Sleeper - Total Destroy System [Dub]
Pinch - Swish (Distance Remix) [Dub]
Amit - No Mercy (feat. Rani) [Dub]

Distance - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

W.

Featuring: Uprise Audio

The last time we spoke to Seven, just over a year ago, he was gearing up for the release of his debut long player and touring extensively, he spoke reflectively on his many years spent in the industry and the impressive back catalogue he had to show for it; so it fits well that the same themes be present in this, our second interview with the London-based producer/DJ. Not exactly the same though, as this time around his specific focus is something different; whilst continuing to work within the music industry, making plans for tours, and putting out a string of quality releases are all still part of the day-to-day, this time however it's based around the new label founded by Seven just a few months ago: Uprise Audio. Having quickly established a wide and passionate fan base - as evidenced in the results of this year's Dubstepforum Awards - the label has been taking strong strides, branching out comfortably into running label clubnights up and down the country whilst simultaneously sending each of its first three releases climbing the various singles charts. What's perhaps most clear, however, is the enormous amount of passion with which the label is run: it seems that this is the driving force behind Uprise, embodied in Seven himself, and has come to define the impressive levels of quality control and attention to detail which can be noted in all of the label's various exploits. It's this same passion that comes across in the interview below, and that can be heard throughout the mix which accompanies it; so all there is to do now is enjoy it, and share in it...

Hedmuk: Since you've already introduced yourself to us once before, can you tell us a bit about your record label and the sort of sound that you feel it represents?

Seven: My label is called Uprise Audio. We are based in the UK and we have a team of exclusive artists from the UK and all corners of the world. The label is run day to day by myself and my partner Verity J, with valuable input from our press manager Joe and art director Cimm. It's a vinyl and digital record label representing the future sounds of deep, dark and dangerous dubstep. The sound of the label is a serious one: there is nothing cheesy about it. It's all about forward-thinking music, intelligent grooves and serious bass weight and I have chosen tracks to release which I feel have theme and relevance to one another.

H: What was the inspiration behind the label? Was it a case of wanting somewhere to put out your own music and retain full creative control, or more to do with the amount of good music you were being sent and talent that you were discovering? Even the label's name, 'Uprise', would suggest a mission of bringing plenty of new names and material to the forefront.

S: You pretty much answer this question in your question: firstly it was a case of having some fantastic talent sending me music and seeing huge potential in them, like diamonds which needed cutting into fine stones. Originally the plan was to hand the tracks to Black Box or Wheel & Deal in hope of getting them signed and looked after, but there wasn't an opportunity for that at the time and i didn't wanna let the guys down so I decided to start a label and put the tunes out myself. I realised how much creative control I could have over it all too: I could really shape the sound of the label by putting the effort into the artists I signed; and I have a serious team of individuals now, each with their unique sounds but all relevant to the sound of the label. I guess the name does suggest a mission, I never really thought about that when I named the label but it's kind of fitting to the rapid progression of the artists and the label though. 'Onwards and upwards' seems to be our motto at Uprise.




H: With the label already on its third release, and having brought forward two relatively unheard of names, are there plans to extend the label's roster further or are you comfortable moving on with just the four or five already signed for now?

S: I've been building quite a team of artists. I have signed new people which have not even had a release yet, who absolutely blow me away with every track they send me. I can confirm my team of artists as the following: Dubtek, Chewie, Asylum, Nanobyte, Wayfarer, Spec, Taiko and Quantum Soul. All these guys will be featuring tracks on the label this year. They are all set to make some serious waves too, I have been overwhelmed by incredible music and they make it difficult for me to choose which tracks to put out because the level of quality is so high.


H: We spoke previously about how you go about balancing your time between producing and DJing all over the world, how considerably have you had to redress this balance now to include label work?

S: I've taken a lot of time out from deejaying since returning from Outlook. This period from then until now is actually the longest I have been in the UK for years, I realised I had been constantly touring all over without really regrouping. When the label was conceived I knew that I needed to focus on it for a while and live in a normal time zone, so I have been putting every other spare moment into the label, the artists and the management of my own key area, which is A&R. Once things started to become formulated and in a system I knew I would have some time back and that I needed to get back in the studio too and make some tracks so I could lead by example. I did all of the above and it's done me the world of good, I reinforced my sound and production techniques, built up a good sample library and all that combined with this new vision I have has improved my tracks a lot. I have started taking bookings again now so I guess the true test is yet to come but, being a libra, balancing life is my forté.


H: Do you feel that your experience as a DJ, and constructing sets which can traverse a series of different moods, has helped when it comes to thinking of the overall impression of the label and the diversity of sounds and approaches it can represent?

S: Yeah, no doubt: I wouldn't put out music I didn't feel confident playing in my sets. The tunes my artists were handing me initially were relevant to my own productions and I felt my sets were more rounded as a result of that. I had already started building the Uprise Audio sound in the sets that I was playing, and even more so now: 70% of my sets now are UA tracks. I feel so blessed to be playing such wonderful exclusive music and being able to share that with you all and confidently tell you that it will be released, because it's me who is releasing it and makes those decisions.




H: How important is it to you, particularly considering your own extensive back catalogue, that the label be considered a well-respected label, whose direction the fans can trust? Is releasing on vinyl as well as digital a part of this too, would you say?

S: It means everything to me for the label to be well respected. I strive to make sure we do everything how it should be done: no corners cut and above all tight quality control, both in the music and the physical product itself. We master our music with Beau at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, we press at Optimal in Germany and we distribute efficiently through SRD. Like I said: no corners cut, quality control is everything. It costs us more, but we believe it's worth it.
I think there is more to running a record label than just putting out music too, at Uprise we have created a brand, a collective and an interaction with our fan-base through club night events, radio shows and merchandise. We manage our artists and also manage any bookings they need attended to. I think these things are the very least a record label can be doing.

The vinyl releases are a big thing for to me too. I think it's what sets labels apart from each other nowadays and also what makes people have faith in what you put out. It costs a lot of money to press vinyl, and especially for such small quantities like we do now - compared to, say, 15 years ago. So people know if you're going to be putting that much time and investment into a release then you're going to make sure it's worthy of the time, money and effort and the fans will then have faith in what you do.


H: Despite only being a few months young, you've already put on a selection of label-based clubnights: is this live aspect of the label something you consider to be particularly significant?

S: We started off with the intention of running just two launch parties to establish the brand and label and put it in public focus. One being in Verity's local area Nottingham and one in London,  my usual playground. We considered it as advertising and all part of the start-up budget, but we had such an amazing reaction to them and people kept asking when the next one will be, so we decided to carry on with the momentum. It's proved to be really worth it, it solidifies our following and gives people a night out to remember us by. I think it also shows yet more depth to the label and what we have going on too, so we decided it's a positive thing for us to continue doing and as long as people demand them then we will keep doing them. We have had so many promoters asking us if they can use our brand and book our DJs to throw UA-themed parties so we will announce all those dates in the near future as it's now almost become a UK- and Europe-wide label tour. All of my artists are actually good DJs too, which I think contributes massively to the atmosphere and vibe on the nights we put on: no line-up fillers, just good DJs. We try and keep the costs of entry to a minimum too, as it's not about trying to earn money putting on the night. Our first two events were actually free entry and the one following that was only a pound.




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

S: I've done so many mixes lately, but I saved some killers for this one. All of my artists feature on this mix, so it's an introduction to us, who we are and what we do as a collective. I have also included tracks by friends in the scene who are also making some incredible music which is blowing me away right now. It starts of really energetic, and caters for a full spectrum of listeners: my definitive journey through the deep, dark and dangerous sounds of dubstep.



H: Finally, what can people expect from Uprise in the near future: any forthcoming releases or label nights on the horizon that you'd like to put the word out on?

S: The latest release is by myself and is 'Walter White' backed with 'Medievil'. It went straight to number 1 in the vinyl chart and has since conquered all the digital charts too, hitting the number 1 spot everywhere. There's also a digital bonus track with the release called 'Tension Builds', included for free if you buy the vinyl or the whole release as a digital bundle. I decided to do that as a thank you to everyone who buys the vinyl and never gets a bonus track, but naturally I honour the same deal for people who buy the digital bundle too.

The following release UA004 will be a 2 x 12" double-pack consisting of 5 tracks: 'Go To War' by myself, 'Shaman' by Wayfarer, 'Underworld' by Quantum Soul, 'Primitive' by Chewie and Dubtek and 'Lost Souls' by Klax and Disonata. It's highly anticipated and has been battered by Youngsta exclusively for the past few months now, creating some very special moments at events like System and getting numerous wheel-ups on Rinse FM too. It will be available late April/early May.

We also have another UA event on April 27th at The Volks in Brighton. The line-up is Youngsta, myself, Quantum Soul, Nanobyte, Klax, Occult, Sibla, Duku, Toast MC and Joe Raygun. It's going to be a good night, and we are bringing in a 30KW sound system!

I'd also like to give a massive shout to Youngsta, Verity J, Cimm, Joe Raygun, Dubtek, Chewie, Asylum, Nanobyte, Wayfarer, Spec, Quantum Soul, Taiko, Toast, Truth, Klax, Disonata, Genetix, Nicole Submission and all the fam, Calico, Ken and Ryan, SRD, Beau Thomas, and last but not least my mum and everyone else I forgot to list here. To book UA artists or events just contact Verity at contact@upriseaudio.com



Download: Uprise Audio - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix: Mixed by Seven



Tracklist:

Seven - Tension Builds [Uprise Audio]
Wayfarer & Taiko  - Sanka [Uprise Audio Dub]
Spec - Mad [Uprise Audio Dub]
Chewie & Dubtek - Primitive [Uprise Audio Dub]
Chewie - Inferno [Uprise Audio Dub]
Asylum - Salvage [Uprise Audio]
Truth - I Belong [Forthcoming Tempa]
Seven - Morning Light (feat. Alys Be) (Chewie Remix) [Dub]
Juss B  - Ritual [Dub]
Dubtek - Kuiper Belt [Uprise Audio Dub]
Perverse - Hamba (Spec Remix) [Dub]
S!CK - Fatboy - Nomad (Artikal Remix)
Myrkur - Dancing In The Dark (Artikal Remix) [Dubsludge Recordings]
Seven - Medievil [Uprise Audio]
Truth - Devil's Hands [Forthcoming Tempa]
Spec - Aggression [Uprise Audio Dub]
Taiko - Bubishi [Uprise Audio Dub]
Dubtek - Extension [Uprise Audio]
Nanobyte - Hidden Code [Uprise Audio Dub]
Youngsta - Destruction [Tempa]
Seven - Go To War [Uprise Audio Dub]
Dubtek - Plus Ultra [Uprise Audio]
Wayfarer - Lapse [Uprise Audio Dub]
Genetix - Sequence VIP [Biscuit Factory Dub]
Seven - Walter White VIP [Uprise Audio Dub]

Uprise Audio - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix: Mixed by Seven by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

W.

Featuring: Underclass

Reflecting a period in which dubstep and grime were still just undefined - or perhaps even over-defined, carrying with them a multiplicity of different, and differently inadequate, names - offshoots of a similarly difficult dark strain of UK garage, Underclass is emblematic of that raw, somehow-cohesive multiplicity that had an increasing number of disenchanted and disillusioned garage heads entranced as the UK crept into the noughties. Similarly to the way in which the likes of Threnody, Etch, Wen, Beneath, Visionist all contain, in their music, nods towards the rich musical history they have - often simply by making music where they do - inherited, Underclass' beats are aware of their influences and rejoice in twisting them into a new, informed figure. But what is striking about tunes like 'Ecko', though, is the intensity of their sparsity; and while this may sound paradoxical, it's a concept well-illustrated and illuminated below as we receive an insight, as unlikely as it might be, into the influence of John Cage and of Futurist theorists on Underclass' music. The result is a sound which is very raw and very engaging.



Hedmuk: Your tunes tend to share a raw, stripped-back aesthetic: is this something you feel you aim for consciously, or does it seem to come naturally?

Underclass: I do separate the textures and the rhythms consciously. The beats and bass are about vibes, movement and flex whilst the textures are more precise and all about depth. If you listen to my beats the instruments might be stripped back, but that is just to leave space for the incidental sounds in the background.  I’ve always been interested in the ambience encasing sounds, natural reverb on mechanical sounds like a helicopter or traffic, so leaving other areas sparse to let ambience ring out is important.

H: What was it that first got you involved with producing and making beats?

U: I got into making beats through DJing. I have a decent collection of early grime and dubstep and have been mixing it for a long time now. Really I started making beats mainly because my old vinyls had more crackle than bass as I’d rinsed them, so I wanted to make something with that aesthetic but for this decade. I wanted music that was raw, dark, cold but also paid attention to detail. 10 years ago coming out with something made on a Playstation was acceptable and new, but whilst the melodies and beats are still sick the depth isn’t there in terms of texture.



H: It's clear that you draw a significant influence from early grime and dubstep sounds, but do you find yourself trying to step away from your influences, to an extent, in order to set your music within a new, fresh framework? Where else do you tend to draw influence from, is it mostly music or are there other things that you find to be inspiring?

U: Early grime and dubstep are just what I grew up with so those sounds and that aesthetic is just ingrained in me. I have some older friends who were junglists and it is the same with them, 'Amens' are part of their psyche. Alongside grime I listen to a lot of electroacoustic music and I've listened to that since before I locked onto grime. I felt grime fitted into that, especially early on it was abstract and vanguard in the same way Jonathan Harvey, Jonty Harrison, Pierre Schaeffer etc. are. I use a lot of those composers as references for sounds and textures, while my rhythms & bass come from grime. I don’t look to step away from or step towards my influences, I just see what comes. I never think ‘I want this track to sound like DJ Oddz/Luigi Russolo/Trevor Wishart’, I just write.

I’m not interested in going back and trying to recreate anything that isn’t already ingrained within me. I don’t want to go back further and make a rave, garage or jungle pastiche because that was then. I also don’t want to make a record that sounds like 'eski' or early grime, but these sounds and rhythms are just what are in my head and what my brain is wired to so they probably come out. If I ever write a track with an Amen or an obvious 2-step beat then I have sold out because I would deliberately be trying to be something I am not. I didn’t experience garage or jungle first hand and I don’t have a complex about that and feel the need to make neo-garage/jungle through guilt, so I just write what comes.

As for taking influence from other places, like I mentioned probably the biggest thing is how sound behaves in space and just using my ears at different times in different places and thinking ‘how do I make a police siren sound like it is travelling towards me at 120mph through a city at 3am, and how can I incorporate that in a tune’. Probably the single biggest influences on how I listen to sound comes from the Futurists and their writing, and also John Cage and his lectures. Reading those teaches you to really listen to everything and without the Futurists we probably wouldn’t treat the sounds of industry as music. It is almost 100 years ago now but without them I don’t think we would be open to sounds and textures in electronic music today.

H: Like many of the producers within this loose grouping which we've mentioned previously, you're taking certain core aspects of styles such as dubstep and grime and pulling them back to a slower 130 tempo: what was your initial thinking behind this, and how important is the extra space that doing this can give?

U: Well, I don’t write dubstep and apart from a few tracks and producers I’m not interested in it particularly these days. A lot of the grime I have on vinyl is slower than 140 too and the beats I was making weren’t halfstep so they didn’t need the extra tempo to drive them. 130 leaves enough space for the background sounds and textures and it is a bit of a coincidence that some other producers seem to be working at that tempo too. I thought when people talked about 130 they were talking about Swamp81 or Night Slugs and although I like some records from those labels it is a completely different sound, although the framework might be similar. It is the difference between standing in front of a speaker in a rave or listening to the beats from the back of the room. One is direct and the other has space. I think the same difference was present in grime vs. dubstep 10 years ago. I suppose the only thing linking a lot of this loose grouping is the use of grime aesthetic with early dubstep’s sense of space. Obviously a lot of new dubstep has moved from the back of the room to in front of the speaker and lost that space whilst other stuff is obsessed with the space and has lost the vibes.



H: You've recently been picked up by Dusk & Blackdown, receiving regular airplay on their Rinse show: how does it feel to be getting that level of recognition and exposure? 

U: I’m shocked that I have been picked up so quickly by some big names but I had spent a while working on tracks and I knew at the end of last year that I had reached the right level to send beats out. Initially Threnody played a few tracks and this got me a lot of attention very quickly. Blackdown messaged me to say he had heard my beats on Threnody’s show and asked if I could send some. I locked onto his show the next week and him & Dusk were playing them. Brackles and J:Kenzo have played them out too, which surprised me a bit, but I’m honored they like them and feel they work in their sets. If anyone plays my music then it means a lot and the fact that people I’m playing, like Filter Dread, Epoch and Rabit are playing me means more to me than if someone told me Skrillex had just dropped my track.

Hearing Blackdown & Dusk drop them was special as Keysound is on fire at the moment and that Rinse show is a monthly ritual for me. It’s good for me to get support from DJs because I’m not that up for the hype game of Facebook pages or whatever. I have a Twitter to communicate and a Soundcloud to put out some tunes, but I’d prefer to be judged by my beats than how many followers I have. DJs are the important people for repping my beats and getting them out to the wider public.

H: How did you go about putting together the mix you've done for us?

U: I started off by pulling out all my vinyl and thinking what I could put in but in the end the only track that did was an old SLT Mob one. I think it is far more important to rep what is now rather than what I like. I can listen to my vinyl for fun at any time. I did consider putting in a little live re-edit of Loefah’s 'Mud' that I do with 2 vinyls, but I just thought if I start messing around with vinyls and tunes everyone knows already it is too much of a vanity thing. Everyone knows and loves 'Mud' so it was too easy playing that.

After that I just sat down and mixed. A few producers have sent me dubs that I’m really feeling and I feel work with my tracks so I just hunched over the decks and treated it like any mix I do. Nothing was planned I just went with the mood.

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

U: Nothing is set in stone at the moment. I have given out a track with you and another one out for free with Below The Line, and then I'll be seeing which labels are interested. I’ve been chatting to a few and now just need to find the right home. I may just stick out a white label 12” to get a couple of tracks out there. Really it is only a couple of months since I came out the dark so I’d like to get a few gigs to hear my beats on a system within the space of a rave whilst continuing to develop new material too.



Download: Underclass - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix



Tracklist:


Steve Reich – Come Out (Underclass Edit) [Dub]
Underclass – Ecko [Dub]
Threnody – Emergency [Dub]
Underclass – The Revenge [Dub]
Sepia – No One Is Safe [Dub]
TMP – Battleground [Dub]
Rabit – Black Dragon (Shy Mix) [Dub]
Underclass – Klang [Free]
Name_Pending – 1snewve2 [Dub]
Filter Dread – She Glitched It [Dub]
Si Begg – UFO (Threnody Remix) [Dub]
Filter Dread – Murky [Dub]
Rabit – Air Port Systems [Dub]
Underclass – Istiklal Avenue [Dub]
Threnody – Ark [Dub]
Slaugter Mob – Fireweaver [Rephlex]
Underclass – Hype Dem [Dub]

Underclass - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

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