S.U.B. Interview with BRUV

SUB: Tell us how did you end up playing music? 

Long time ago, (in a galaxy far, far away) a friend of mine and my brother's brought his decks to digitalize some records. At that time beatmatching was kinda hard for me, but I wanted to learn. I had the chance to properly learn it at the 5k DJ Workshop, held by Darko & Dimitar. I was more into techno back then, even though I firstly encountered electronic music through drum & bass (LTJ Bukem's Progression Sessions). 


SUB: What types of equipment do you use for production?

I have no special pieces of equpment; just a descent soundcard - Steinberg UR12, which i bought recently and a two octave midi synth. I started my music production with the Steinberg's Rebirth 2.0, then switched to Fruity Loops, then switched to Reason 3.0/4.0 and then switched back to Fruity Loops.


SUB: Your music production seems genre free. You can't define yourself in a music style or you just like various types of music to produce to? 

I've been into various music genres in different periods of my life. I grew up listening to funk & soul, but later I discovered electronic music through drum & bass, techno & house. As I listen to whatever's playing, I try to deconstruct it; try to understand how the sound is made. Then, I try to recreate the sound, always using it differently. I never liked one genre, so always try to fuse more sounds specific for several genres in one music piece.


SUB: Do you have releases and future goals?

I have not released anything/ (yet.) :) I haven't gotten into it seriously, in my opinion. I'm working on several projects, some of then are drum & bass, some are house/techno. Of course, I would like to release my works, and I probably will, some day.


SUB: You are a part of two collectives, D2 and BTKRSH, and working under the aliaces as bruv. and Pukka. Which one of these music aliances defines you most?

I have been more involved in D2 than BTKRSH through the years. I like playing both drum & bass and house/techno. I often play sets from genres that influenced me as I grew up; from funk, soul, rare grooves to disco/house. I can't really say which alias defines me the most, they both define me as who I am and what I like to play. As dBride's EXIT Records slogan says, stay "true to the craft" :)


SUB: What music can be found in your playlist? 

I listen to various styles, as I said before. Aside from what I like to play, I set some electronica, some leftfield & IDM in my playlists. It depends on the mood, I guess. 


SUB: Current top 10

Pukka's favs: 
Break, Scar, Mako, Hydro, Ivy Lab, Eveson, dBridge, Machinedrum, Kyrist, Biome (and all their side projects)

bruv's favs:
Palms Trax, Orson Wells, Jeremiah R, Matti Turunen, Vertical67, Planetary Assault Systems, Blue Hour, The Gods Planet, Koloman Trax, Claro Intelecto.


Sub: Where can people hear you? 

Various locations, I suppose, there isn't any pattern :). My next two stops are 25.06.2016 at the "Public Room" gallery and 15.07.2016 at the D-Fest festival, Dojran. Recently, I have played at cafe Ljubov, Concept37 bar, RadioBar and the Kapan An club.



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SUB Interview with Codex

SUB: How and when was Codex formed?

We, myself (Phase) and Toxic, formed Codex in 1999. Things we had in common were love for drum n bass, computers and video games during mid 90's. Codex was a perfect way to start doing things together in order to learn from each other, improve our production skills and promote drum n bass in Serbia. 


SUB: What type of equipment can be found in your studio?

These days our studio is located in Belgrade and its packed with PC with RME Firewire 800 sound card as the main platform running Ableton Live 9 and Cubase 8.5, 2 Macbook pros for Traktor and Logic, Nord Lead 3, Virus KB, Allen & Heat Zen14, DBX 160A compressor, Mackie HR824 monitors, Audeze LCD-X headphones, Behringer uma25s, NI Maschine, NI x1,…


SUB: Who is the guenius behind the name of the label "Metnem"?

Both of us were using that term a lot since back in the day, its very powerful and uncommon in serbian language, so we decided to use it as an image of our imprint.



SUB: Metnem is a young label with a few releases. What is new for the label, have you signed any new artist?

We have MTNM003 release on the way, first Metnem release by Codex. It will feature Delta V, which is a real dancefloor smasher and Horde, a proper banger with weird drum pattern as a track carrier. We also have new releases by War & Skanz who absolutely smashed both tracks on MTNM004. MTNM005 will show 2 different angles of Bohemian's perception. As for Codex, we're currently working on a few EP-s and singles with Billain, War, Bohemian, VRH, Splash Heads while planning the big Metnem collab EP in 2017.


SUB: Do you plan on any colaburation with other dnb artist?

We were lucky enough to meet really sick likeminded people, love doing collabs with them! Metnem basically came to existance because of this and is based around artists we collab with but we're open for new artists & quality music. There are a few very interesting upcommers who keep sending us incredible beats.



SUB: Codex also poromoted a large number of drum and bass artist/djs, what are your most memorable parties?

We are doing this for 17 years now, we hosted so many parties that i cant really pick one in particular. From the top of my head our best partes were: Metnem label launch party @ Depo magacin, Noisia @ Akademija, Pendulum @ SKC, BadCompany & John B & Freestylers @ Kolos, Roni Size @ Depo magacin, BTK & The Sect @ Akademija, Dieselboy @ Mondo, Chemical Brothers @ Kombank Arena, Raiden @ Akademija...


SUB: Any new gigs coming up?

There are a few cool gigs ahead. June 17th we're taking over Barutana with Roni Size & MC Dynamite, june 24th is reserved for Exit club in Brno, Chezh Republic followed by a gig in Germany next day.. we're planning something big for november in Belgrade and a few international djs until that.


SUB: Why do you love Drum and bass ?

Because it represents energy and movement. Its a sound of rebellion in our case. During the war and bombing of Belgrade, drum n bass kept us alive and motivated us to do things instead of just sitting on our asses and bitching online. It helped us create a local movement that's still growing and leaving marks on the whole generation.


SUB: Your curent top 10 tracks

Billain - Codename (Metnem)
Hydro & War - There Will Be Bongos (dub)
Cruk - Dum (dub)
Bohemian - Rotten Raw (Metnem)
War & Sk4nz - Bismuth (Metnem)
VRH - Let's go back (Metnem)
Kursa & Faek - Behind This Door (Methlab)
Splash Heads - Skywrath (dub)
Kemal & Rob Data - Konspiracy (Industry)
Codex - Delta V (Metnem)




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S.U.B Interview with Spikey Tee

SUB: As a performer you have 27 years of experience. What were your beginnings like, who were your role models, what got you hooked on music?

My beginnings were pretty straightforward to be honest, it all started from being in my cousin's sound system (First Choice) to seeing 2 turntables being used for the first time then seeing mixing at my sister's 18^th birthday party.. I was totally enthralled. From there it was a progression into my first band the Sindecut to where you find me today. I don't really have role models because that puts some people in a position they don't particularly want to be in, so in that respect I would say my only role model is my dad.. It was actually my dad who started me playing records aged 4, he said I had a fascination for his turntable so he taught me how to put records on. The rest is history.

SUB: Could you name some of the artist that you have collaborated trough years?

Goodness me the list is a long and varied one, from Jah Wobble to Morcheeba, Roots Manuva, Dizz1 and many others in between. On the DnB tip, DJ Hype, Crystal Clear, Potential Bad Boy, Lynx, DJ Suv, Rido, Calibre and Marcus Intalex,Congo Natty, Marcus Visionary...

SUB: This year is probably special for you, since after years of collaborations you are ready to drop your solo album. Could you tell us something more about it?

To be honest, every year you can remain active is a special year, but I have been working on some tracks for a solo DnB album, but every time I post a snippet up a label wants to sign one of of them hahaha. Not a bad position to be in I guess, but when you have them earmarked for another project it pushes that particular goal further back. It is a good  indicator to your progression when labels start showing interest and when good guidance is given by your respected peers that also helps you to keep working hard to improve.

SUB: Do you think that the producers and the labels give enough acknowledgement to the guest singers/mc on their tracks?

Some do.. Some don't. It is a pitfall as a featured artist, it is rare that labels/producers work with and develop featured vocalists. For the reasons why you will have to ask

SUB: What are your most favourite moments in your career, while on stage?

There are so many good moments logged in my memory box, but ones that stand out are walking out on stage at the Royal Albert Hall to perform with Morcheeba and seeing how immense that auditorium is.. A moment of panic, but just a moment. Another is having Bjork rush to finish her show on the main stage at Glastonbury to hear a band I was working with play, but most special is having my parents in the audience at a Jazz Cafe gig when I was one of the vocalists for Jah Wobble..

SUB: Could you describe the feeling to own the crowd as an MC?

I don't know about owning the crowd, but if you mean the feeling of connecting with the audience and have them actually absorb a performance? That feeling of those moments are special because they are so intense at that time, but vanish to memory and into the ether as quickly as they appeared.

SUB: Cause you are my first interviewee that is based in Australia, can you tell us something more about the jungle/dnb scene there?

I am not directly involved with the Australian DnB scene, but observe it from a distance. It is small and doesn't really cater for the wide spectrum this genre we love encapsulates. In addition to that there are not many venues that support the music because the number of people who attend the events is very sporadic even when the more known names pass through, but will say the Melbourne crews are on point. Grumpy's family every time.

SUB: Why do you love jungle/dnb music?

I love this music because it captures the vibe of so many of my influences of growing up in the UK particularly sound systems and Jamaican culture. All of my musical influences are woven into it's fabric and it is always moving in many directions. Another beautiful expression of emotion and art.

SUB: What was your most favourite meal during your tours?

I don't really have a favourite meal, but like to eat as healthily as possible and avoid fast food if it can be helped. Thai, Indian, Japanese... Well cooked meals are definitely important.

SUB: When was the last time you danced at a party?

I dance at every party.. What's the point of going to a part and not dancing?

SUB: What's next for you?

Next for me is some travelling around the states, recording some tunes with Truth here in LA, I have some releases on Wicked Jungle (Florida)and Higher Energy Recordings (UK) and a couple of other labels interested in other tracks, an album of songs which is a non DnB project, going into the studio with one of the Teklife family, looking to do secure DJ bookings for my return to Europe this summer... So holla at me people hahaha, and possibly line up some more gigs with Ltj Bukem.. The plate is kind of full.

  

SUB:What do you think about the new emerging sounds - footwork, juke. Do you  follow the evolution of Jungle, dnb bass music?

I love the way music evolves and take hold with people around the world. The formation of movements that turn into families and communities is a great thing. The breakout of Juke/Footwork is a testimony to all the hard work the producers and followers have put in over the years. Without Jungle we wouldn't have DnB so the division that exists baffles me, but I leave it to others to make their own distinctions. It is all music and it's all related at the end of the day.

SUB:Thank you for doing this interview.   

My pleasure. Thanks for asking me to contribute.

S.U.B Interview with Rodrigo Miravalles

Its has been awhile since SUB released his last interview. Now, when we are so close at our first jubilee (100 podcast), we will release several interview with guest artist in the next couple of weeks. 

Our first guest is Rodrigo Miravalles, DJ alias - Suvo OKO. Rodrigo comes from Brazil, and somehow ended up living in our own town Skopje this for a few years. Rodrigo tries to promote his own passion of modern sounds from Latin America with a bit of twist from several music genres from Angola and Portugal. So, enjoy our first guest. Also you can catch Rodrigo playing tonight at Kapan An  on a BTKRSH event : https://www.facebook.com/events/176377202752603/



SUB: Who is SUVO OKO?

Suvo Oko is a project I started when I moved to Skopje. The idea behind it is to promote a different side of Brazilian culture, not the one people are used to see.


SUB: What types of sound do you present,why?

I try to present a variety of sounds coming from Brasil, both new and old, but I prefer to focus on more recent and alternative productions. There’s an incredible experimental scene going on in Brasil in the past years and that’s something I really like and I’d like to bring some of that music to the Macedonian audience.


SUB: Is it hard to push your sound here in Skopje? 

I can’t say it’s easy, but I won’t say it’s hard either. Maybe I haven’t tried hard enough or haven’t looked in the right places. Obviously, in big cities, where there’s a big community of foreigners, latinos, africans and so on, it’s easier because it’s something that’s already part of their culture. But I believe this music can work in Skopje.


SUB: What do you like about the nightlife in Macedonia?

I like the nightlife in Skopje because I think it’s very tight and although the city’s not big, there’s a lot going on and I really feel the people are enjoying and taking part and making things happen.

SUB: Since you are here for a while, what is your favorite Balkan dish?

My favorite food by far is sarma. After that tava, and all those other mandza style dishes. 


SUB: Do you dance, and when was your last time to dance.

I dance every single day, by myself, at home. These days I'm doing most of my dancing at home, to be honest.



SUB: Where can people listen to you in Skopje?

My radio show on Kanal 103 is on a break right now but i’ll be back very soon. As a DJ, you can find me every now and then playing in Skopje, but it’s not something regular. Follow my FB to see where I am  :)  (https://www.facebook.com/suvo.oko/)