Ahead of Saturday’s party, Chris.SU gave an exclusive interview to MIB Crew. Read on below!
How did your journey into the world of drum and bass begin?
I heard about drum and bass in the mid-’90s, and then a friend gave me a couple of CDs to listen to. I went to my first party in 1999 and knew straight away that I wanted to be part of this scene.
Who were your first inspirations?
At the time, I listened to a lot of Ed Rush & Optical, Konflict, Matrix, Stakka & Skynet, Jonny L and Cause 4 Concern. Some of the tracks released in the late ’90s and early 2000s had a strong influence on me, and even if you listen to them today, they still sound fresh. Apart from drum and bass, I was strongly influenced by techno and breakbeat.
How would you describe your musical style?
I love drum and bass with a tech influence, but with a touch of soul and funk. I think that describes my approach to music pretty well. I studied classical music for 12 years, so I like a bit of nice harmony even in harder tracks.
Where have you most enjoyed performing, and where would you like to perform in the future?
One of my favourite places to play is Sun and Bass in San Teodoro, Sardinia. That festival is always the event of the year: a great, knowledgeable crowd, and the island itself is gorgeous. I would also like to go back to Australia and New Zealand some time soon — beautiful countries.
Which artists inspire you at the moment?
I think drum and bass has lasted so long precisely because new producers with fresh ideas keep coming through. For example, there is a guy called Signal who is only 18, but he is already very talented. Or look at the new artists who broke through with the help of Eatbrain, such as L 33 and Agressor Bunx — they are now playing all over Europe. For me personally, Break always releases great music, and I also play everything by my friends Jade & Mindscape, State of Mind and Black Sun Empire.
What are your future plans? (releases, collaborations)
Next up is an EP on my label, FATE Recordings, with new collaborations with Fedora and with Nymfo. Apart from that, I really want to start working on a solo album this year. There are also possible collaborations with some well-known and lesser-known musicians in the pipeline, but I can’t say who yet. :)
What do you like most about the current community, and what do you think could be improved?
I would say the drum and bass community is in great shape right now: producers and DJs respect each other, even if they don’t play or release music in the same subgenre. Speaking of subgenres, one thing that should definitely be improved is open-mindedness. When I started going to raves, there were no single-subgenre nights, like a neurofunk night or a liquid night. It was a ‘drum and bass party’, and that was it! If you’re a good DJ, you can mix anything. Personally, I get bored after a while if someone mixes just one or two subgenres for two hours.
You have played in Russia several times already. What can you tell us about the atmosphere there?
I love playing in Russia! Good vodka. :) Haha, actually, I don’t drink much. Great parties, and people really let loose on the dancefloor. Organisation-wise, everything is always as it should be. Good sound systems. Russian producers are very good too.
What should the audience expect from you this time?
I always try to take the audience on a journey, to tell a story over an hour and a half or two hours. Sometimes I mix very fast; sometimes I let the music speak for itself, especially if the second breakdown and build-up are really well done. Most of my sets are tech-influenced, but it depends a lot on the crowd. During the party, I try to work out which kinds of tracks give people the most emotion.
What have you enjoyed most about playing in Russia?
The energy level is always high, and people are usually well informed — Russians definitely know what drum and bass is!
Interview: Ioana Marcu. Russian translation: Eldar Yusupov. Editor: Anastasia Grig. The English text of the answers was lost when this page was imported; this version was translated back into English from the Russian publication. The interview was published ahead of the Nightparty Session: Birthday Party 7 Years event on 11 February 2017.
