Archives for posts with tag: Rinse

Checking In w/ Strip Steve (BNR)

2014/04/23 //
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Theo

The vibes are golden with the return of Strip Steve. It’s been a while since we last talked on Disco Droppings. He’s been appearing in my sets for quite a bit now, latest favorite being “I Bump My Head :(“. You best check out his Crowd Control EP which features that one, along with “The Funktion”. I was playing his trax the other day and thought, “this dude is so underrated around here. I should see if he wants to do another interview.” Happy to say he was down, so here we go! For all you gear porn junkies out there, this dude is for you! We also talk about Seattle, his recent fabulous Rinse Mix, Ron Hardy and what he’s got cookin’ next..

 

DD Hi Theo! Nice to hear from you again, what are you up to?

SS Hey man! All good around here, currently working on the second part of the << Crowd Control >> EP in Berlin. :]

DD We met in March 2012, when you played the Boysnoize Records showcase at Chop Suey. I got to open for you, and I had sooo much fun chatting with Djedjotronic and Housemeister. Fun dudes! I believe this was all of your first time’s in The Emerald City. What did you think of Seattle?

SS Yes, part of a quite big tour in which we visited many American cities for the first time, so it was super interesting. Seattle seemed super chill & fun, especially the people, but we didn’t get to stay for so long so I can’t tell you much more sadly… Ah! If I’m not mistaken, the venue was split between under aged and adults with a clear barrier, that was an odd thing for us Europeans I must say…

 

DD Attack Magazine went inside your studio last year. I’m not a gear head (yet), but the pictures and the energetic way you described your set-up has me really intrigued. What’s the most unconventional piece of equipment you have? 

SS Well, when I think about it I find myself working with pretty conventional equipment. The interesting thing would be how to use them in an unconventional way, how to go beyond their limited aspect (as opposed to a software like Ableton Live where you can virtually do anything). That can be anything – from chaining them without preconception of how it should be done (with FX pedals, cv or midi control etc.), to cranking the gain up to make it compress or saturate within itself before recording for example..

That’s what I love about making music with seemingly simple or limited machines, that creative will to transcend their boundaries.

DD That feature felt special. It’s intimate, taking everyone inside your music sanctuary of sorts. I imagine the person behind the songs more clearly, controlling all these machines. It looks like a world you could really get lost in..

SS It is an intimate place. And I’m very much in love with it, that’s why I felt I should share it. And yeah it’s definitely a place to get lost in. That’s really the purpose; losing a sense of reality when making music is the best feeling, and the environment plays a big role in that. My studio is like a cockpit & a playground.

DD Your Rinse Mix starts off so blissfully beautiful, bravo right off the bat. Was this your first time mixing for the station? I’m curious about what it’s like on the inside..

SS Thanks man! Yeah it was the first time, Manaré from Clekclekboom opened this Rinse France branch recently in Paris and I was there for a gig, so he offered me a 2h slow. I don’t know why but I love radio, I find it somehow romantic ahah…The studio is pretty simple, it’s just a small basement under a gallery, with a couch and some blinking internet servers.

 

DD Daft Punk are my biggest influence. Their Alive 2007 performance was the first electronic show I ever saw in Seattle, and that inspired me to become a DJ. This led to producing, starting Disco Droppings and eventually, connecting with you. I’m constantly thinking about their mindset when it comes to my own artistic work. You have a Ron Hardy shirt hanging in your Berlin studio, what about his life and contributions keeps you going?

SS Daft Punk was also a big influence to me. When my older brother bought Homework we were just listening to that in a loop for months… but that was way before I thought of producing. Later when I started really discovering electronic music I searched for more French House stuff, that lead to Chicago House, Ghetto House, and their origin: Disco & Funk.

I just love Ron Hardy’s shit, his tracks & edits feel somehow very advanced for his time, and you gotta check his recorded mixes, they had a certain ruffness & energy which I’m very sensitive to.

DD What’s next for Strip Steve? I hope our paths cross again!

SS A new remix for Funk D’Void out on Soma Recordings in the next few weeks, new EP’s on the way. I’ll maybe start writing a new album too soon but that’s too early to talk about it. :]

Yeah man really hope I’ll come back to Seattle someday and meet again!

 

Strip Steve – Twitter Facebook Soundcloud Discogs

– Jimi Jaxon

 

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Categories Interviews

All Hail King Krule

2013/03/11 //
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KingKrule_by_HelenePeruzzaro-520x345

In a very recent interview with Zane Lowe of BBC Radio 1, Frank Ocean named the UK’s King Krule as someone he’d like to collaborate with. This was my first time hearing his name so I jumped over to his Soundcloud, “Rock Bottom” and “Octopus” were waiting for me. I can see why Ocean is into Krule. Their styles compliment each other in interesting ways. They both have a sensitivity and emotional pull with their music and lyrics. They quickly and easily, can draw listeners into a world that’s partially their environment, and at the same time, something imagined. 

 

After first hearing those couple Soundcloud tracks I was dumbfounded when I checked out King Krule interviews, revealing a very unassuming Archy Marshall. All that depth, emotion and wisdom coming from such a young dude (He turned 18 last August). His ultra low voice had me thinkin’ he was much older. Another great example of not judging a book by its cover. There can be so much more beneath the surface, if you’re willing to look, and in King Krule’s case, listen.

I’m now traveling through his productions. Going back to his first releases in 2010, titled U.F.O.W.A.V.E., back when he was called Zoo Kid. A series of singles can be found on Zoo Kid’s Bandcamp. “Has This Hit” comes in with a lot of low end, a dark tune with interesting electronic bits. “Ocean Bed” is blissed the fuck out, so lovely.

 

After a name change, his next release was the King Krule EP on True Panther Sounds in 2011. “Bleak Bake” is another track showing some interesting delving into electronic beats. Combined with Marshall’s melancholy swooning, this one is a wonderful, modern melting pot of influences. A live video from Pitchfork Festival 2012, features a perfect performance of “The Noose of Jah City”. Can’t say enough how amazed I am by the clarity and maturity of Marshall and his band. If I could see Tame Impala and King Krule back to back I would be the happiest man.

 

 

Rinse, the majorly epic London radio station and label, put out a King Krule 12″ of Rock Bottom / Octopus late last year. It’s refreshing to see this kind of diversity from Rinse. They help drive the underground dance music scene, and now with Krule, show that they can work in many different sonic mediums. Both songs are just a pleasure to listen to, moving around freely and easily enveloping. In addition to the release, Rinse invited King Krule to their studio to host a Rinse FM Podcast. It’s just under 2hr’s long, with Archy Marshall guiding us through some of his influences and other tunes that he’s into. 

 

King Krule has an album set for release this spring via True Panther Sounds. In a very well done interview with The Fly, Marshall discusses his big plans for the future. This conversation shows another dimension to this incredibly gifted artist. He may appear shy and timid onstage, but he has a sharp perspective and confident understanding of what he is capable of. He aims to create a movement through his work, inspire other young artists and bring a fresh, organic perspective to the music community around him. He says, “..We are all creative people with a really big longing for something raw to come along. We want to make music more physical. Don’t wait for something on the internet, go and see it down the road, meet the people involved and find out how real it is..”. 

 

King Krule – Facebook Soundcloud 

kingkrule.com

– Jimi Jaxon 

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Brackles Interview

2012/05/21 //
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Known for being one of the finest DJ’s around, Brackles stops by Disco Droppings for a quick interview. He’s got a wonderful album out via Rinse entitled “Rinse Presents: Brackles”, head over to Boomkat to take it all in. The lp features vocal collaborations with Lily Mckenzie, Terri Walker and Meleka.  

 

DD What is your goal as a DJ when you’re  directing a dancefloor?  

B Obviously I’m trying to make sure people have a good time, but also I hope I’m playing music people haven’t heard a 100 times before. That can be brand new dubplates or perhaps more obscure records from the past but if the crowd is with me. I try to stay clear of too many obvious tunes.

DD Any Brackles releases on the way? Any plans to tour the U.S? 

B Yes, my debut album dropped on Rinse a few weeks ago. It features 4/5 vocal tracks. No plans to tour the U.S but should be back out to do New York after the CD is out.

 

DD Top five songs in your current tracklists? 

B Fuzzy Logik and Myshy – Pose

C4 – Off Track

May7ven – Tenten

x5 Dubs – When I See You Smile

 

Brackles – Soundcloud Facebook Twitter 

– Jimi Jaxon 


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Sam Frank

2011/12/01 //
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What an honor to have Sam Frank on Disco Droppings. I feel so much energy and drive coming from this man. Enjoy the interview, and make sure you get the incredible “Anticipate” release on Beatport 

 

INTERVIEW

DD The other day I sent Skream a message on Twitter saying “Skream is the James Bond of Dubstep”, he retweeted it saying “lol”. That was huge to me! With the “Anticipate” single out on Skrillex’s label OWSLA, how are you feeling? How has this song influenced you?

SF Feeling great about it coming out on Skrillex’s label and on Tempa through Rinse. Both are really great labels to be part of. The song is one of many colab tracks with Skream, Benga and the Magnetic Man set but it has a special resonance for me and Skream too as it’s all about our kids. Apparently it made Skrillex cry!

 

DD I listened to the BBC xtra live show recently and heard your performance with Skream, sounded unique! How was it on your end? Nero sounded massive.

SF It was a really fun gig and a marvelous opportunity, although by the time Nero was on I was half way down the M1.

 

DD The emotion coming through your voice on tracks like “I’m Not In A Rush” reminds me of Daft Punk’s Discovery. You’re swooning me!

SF Is that a question? Well, thanks for saying so. Daft Punk also did some cool things with vocal effects although I’m not in any way trying to be a follow up to their sound.

DD What’s the most challenging aspect of your work as Sam Frank?

SF Juggling songwriting, gigs, track production, vocal production, string arrangements, A&R meetings, mixing, remixing, staying on top of the latest software, paying the bills and being a dad and a husband.

 

DD Are their certain themes within your lyrics that you want to explore more in future productions?

SF Yes. The inevitable rise of technology interwoven into every possible moment of our everyday lives from tooth brushing to dream recording. I read the New Scientist a lot.

DD What helps you relax?

SF Not allowed to tell you that.

 

Support Sam Frank on Soundcloud Twitter & Facebook 

– Jimi Jaxon 

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