The southern Pacific is blazing with heat, and not only because the ozone layer there is in a state of extreme depletion. Australian and New Zealand artists are storming the global drum and bass scene. The Auckland-based Bulletproof continue to charge our heads with their unique heavy sound; the techno-infused flavour of their work has already been felt by Fresh, Ed Rush, Optical, Fierce, Cause 4 Concern and Bailey.
Jay Monds (aka DJ Pots) and Josh Lees, together known as Bulletproof, drew the attention of the global drum and bass community after four years of studio work. Through releases on the labels Perspective, Subtronix, Industry, Critical, Square One, as well as on their own label, Cyanide, the duo earned their success through years of hard, determined work.
Bulletproof, as is often the case with artists from outside the UK, encountered problems connected with the lack of an established scene. The local scene had been shaped by mid-’90s events such as Hardwired, Jungle Vibe and Voodoo Core, and Bulletproof found their home with the Subtronix label and its weekly party, The Breaks.
Jay: “It was Subtronix that caused the explosion in the popularity of drum and bass music in Auckland. For a while, their parties were the most attended in the country, which was surprising, since other styles of dance music had always prevailed over drum and bass music.”
Jay made a name for himself on New Zealand’s rave scene through his friend DJ Riddle in the early ’90s. At the time, he could not have imagined that he would tour the world as a DJ and become half of a world-famous production outfit.
Jay: “When I heard rave music, guitar music seemed devoid of energy (although I worship Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd!). After moving to Auckland, I started buying records and learning to mix them. At the same time, DJ Riddle became well known, and we established connections with Jonothan Stowers aka 48 Sonic, DJ Aaron and D-Rave aka Dave Roper from Subtronix. This was my rise through New Zealand’s drum and bass scene, where I remain today.”
Jay entered the rave scene as a promising DJ, while Josh made his name in a somewhat different way—as a producer: “At secondary school I enrolled in a music class and started playing electric guitar, after which I began collecting various effects for the instrument. Then an old Korg synthesizer fell into my hands, and I began learning to play it. After talking to people involved in similar activities, I bought a drum machine, a sampler and a four-track tape recorder, and began sampling everything I could get my hands on. In 1996 I started producing techno with a guy who collected analogue synthesizers; together we made several semi-decent tracks.”
Josh and Jay met through a mutual friend. Jay was playing in Wellington, where Josh lived at the time, and after meeting they decided to work together, since Jay was planning to stay in the city for several days. After a short period of studio work, they agreed to continue collaborating, but did not see each other again until 1999.
Meeting again at one of the parties, they decided to resume working together in the studio. A week later they created their first joint track, which was immediately well received by local DJs. Two weeks later Josh and Jay agreed to collaborate long-term—and the outfit Bulletproof was born.
Jay: “We decided to make several tracks that would attract some attention from overseas DJs. Toby from Cause 4 Concern, after hearing our tracks, decided to release some of them on Perspective Recordings.”
After numerous releases on Perspective, as well as on the local Subtronix, they decided to launch their own label. Having secured distribution and support from DJ Lee, Jay and Josh announced the arrival of Cyanide Recordings.
Josh: “At that time Jay was organising tours around the world. We met Bad Company, Kemal and Rob Data, who had a huge influence on our material. After exchanging experience with these producers, as well as several studio sessions with Fresh, our sound reached a new level.”
Their first release—Nephilim—was supported by Kemal and Rob Data, which instantly brought them worldwide recognition. Now, under the patronage of Digital, Brillo and Timeless Music Group, Cyanide continues its search for talent, of which there has been no shortage lately.
Jay: “We managed to work with Optiv from C4C, which resulted in several decent tracks. Two of them came out on Ryme Tyme’s label 1210 Recordings, and another was included in the Kings of the Rollers series. We are also planning to release a large number of our tracks on Renegade Hardware, Renegade Recordings, Commercial Suicide and Revol:R, and will also continue our collaboration with Concord Dawn and Pendulum.”
Text: Chris Muniz, Knowledge magazine (knowledgemag.co.uk). Russian translation: Yegor. This English version was translated from the Russian text.
