INVISIBLE LANDSCAPE INTERVIEW FOR SUB

This week we have a guest named Vladimir that comes from Moldova. He started his journey and interest in old school drum and bass sound, and for fourteen years he has been releasing music under the aliases: Meatworks  - released few CDs in the period of 2004 -2005. Nowadays he is known buy his aliases Invisible Landscape.  By now he has released for the following record labels: Liquid Brilliants, Golden Orb, Digital Colours, Totaal Rez, Extent Vip, Burning Plastic Recordings, Audio Boutique, Respect, Syncopathic, Liquid Tones UK.  Done tons of remix, and last known release to me an album called Bassed on a true story, which was released a month ago by Liquid Brilliants. We have him as a guest on our 55 edition of Skopje Urban Bass… so let’s meet Invisible Landscape.

SUB: Hello, I will not bother you with how you started. Instead please describe us the current state of the drum and bass community and scene in Moldova.

Ok. Hello everyone! It's all good for the drum & bass jungle scene in Moldova as a small state. I'll say as an underground scene it also include breakbeat  and some other electronic genres too. And i think it has same situation like any other underground scene in the world.

Today lot of young people turned to 'trendy' genres like dubstep or trap. But i dont like trendy stuff...just quality music, so as a part of a promo group we try to keep nice underground vibes alive. Its about 100-200 people usually come to dnb/jungle parties over here, sometimes with nice guest djs from neighbor Romania, Ukraine, Russian, Belarus, Bulgaria...even i remember Dj K, Demolition Man & Mutated Forms played here too. If we talk about producers...now its better then ever, because we have few real nice guys who release and signed to such label as Fokuz, Medical School, Advisory and supported by big supported by big names all around the world. So it's still growing.

SUB: So how did you end up… actually what pushed you into producing Ragga Jungle / Dubwise sound?

Actually i'm not strictly jungle producer, as a musician i like to experiment, so you can hear on instrumental hip-hop ablum released on the liquid brilliants too (august 2013).

Regarding to jungle - i'm a big lover of roots music such as jazz, raggae & dub.. so i love that roots dub basses and vibe, and i like to turn it to nowadays sounds. As Lee Scratch Perry said - 'drum is a living being'... drum is like a heart beat and bass is like your mind & soul. Today i got lot of tunes in different genres from hip hop to techno & house...but in always into 'dub' basis when i make a tune.

SUB:  What other music styles inspire you in creating music, and who were your major influences?

First was The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, Art of Noise....then break beat, hardcore and jungle of early 90's then rave music still got no borders. My first jungle drum'n'bass influences were Hype & Ganja Crew, Aphrodite with his Urban Takeover label, Grooverider.... then i turned to dark techstep sounds by Ed Rush & Optical, Trace, Bad Company, Renegade Hardware Records... that was time i got my first vinyl plates... still got it in my collection...

SUB: Have you met any musician that inspired you by now?

Yeah i played on the same parties with Concord Dawn, Panacea, Dj SS, Vegas from Bad Company, Paradox.. actually they inspire me till now... the best thing is drum & bass djs/ producers are nice open people)) thats why jungle drumnbass like an underground style is so strong worldwide!

SUB:  Do you use any equipment or it’s just a DAV station, also do you have any musical background?

Basically i use soft for producing, but sometimes i can use some hardware like 'groovebox' or drummachines too... I like to play different tribal drums myself, but actually got no musical education. All my background is my father who played bass guitar some time ago. Anyway my production changed then i start collaborating with live musicians and  i got tunes with live bass guitars, solo keys, sax and even flutes.

SUB: First time I have noticed you is couple weeks ago, when I have listened to a track named “Bassed on a true story” which is the name of your second album released by Liquid Brilliants. Loved the tune even I have used in the podcast in which I promote fresh new dnb beats.  I got my copy from the internet, hope you don’t get mad. 

What I want to ask you, what is your opinion about pirating music, and did it helped you in getting booked or getting more noticed?

I feel no difference. And i think its out of control. I was surprised once i saw my release on a torrent forum in two days after it was released. Lol. But i know people who respect producer and buy tunes even if they got chance to get a pirate copy. Also it's why i respect vinyl - cos i could not be leaked like digital tunes. So my opinion about pirating music has two sides... it's not good and i'ts not bad... it's just happening and let people enjoy the music. If someone want to show some respect and support to the scene its good too.

SUB: Sharing music was crucial a decade ago, it expanded the drum and bass sound worldwide. Communities were made all over the globe. What was the crucial party (or a moment) that made you want to be a producer or DJ?

Nope. I started to deal with music before i came for the first party ever. And i start dj my own music first just simply surprised my tunes are all 175 bpm and fits cool then i press 'start' key on cd-player in proper moment. When later a got more experience to beatmatch beats. And funny story - my first two cds (one with soft and other with samples) my friend stoled from a cd-shop... so regarding to the question about piracy - my fisrt beats were made from samples lifted from a cd-shop. I think i was 14 or 15 year old then.

SUB:  In your info you can see that you have some travel experience.  What is your craziest gig you have ever been too or played at?

Oh it's so wicked cos i got lots of crazy gigs...  like moving to the gigs with 4 airplanes in 2 days, or playing 3 hour set on the sea beach directly in sunrise time, with the sun coming out from sea waves and crowd dancing under Concord Dawn's "Morning Light" tune playing in this moment

SUB: If you can name 5 worst movies you have seen?

Haha i just turn it of if i watch it at home or fall asleep in the theatres if movie is stupid.... and like with all other art all depends on the mood.

SUB: Do you believe in PLUR?

Yes but i understand it my own way... some people just take it like hippie thing - just smile and be happy... but for me it's much deeper... something like ancient shamanism and understanding each other, nature and universe. Order is right - all starts with inner peace, then comes love, and through love you'll get unity and respect.

SUB: Most of the people that do and live with dnb, have either a double life working from 9 to 17 or just living the dreams of others chillaxing, where do you stand?

Im right in the center of both ways now... I cant say it's my job, cos i love making music, playing music... But yes i get some money from that too. But for me it's just like a side effect. So my dream comes true and makes my feel more comfortable day by day too.

SUB: Are you down with mother Earth or it has been a while?

Yeah... i always live in proper house, so surrounded by flowers & plants... some for pleasure, some for food, some for smoking and transformation too.

SUB:  you 5 most loved dnb tracks.

Ok...here we go: Bad Company - Sentient, Kemal - Fucking Hostile, Black Sun Empire - The Sun... thats from the dark side....and for roots soul: Tribe of Issachar - Junglist, Fugees - Ready or Not (Dj Zinc Remix)... these tunes i play and i'll play forever. You have to see how people are singing 'ready or not here i come...i gonna find you' on the dancefloor then you switch sound with the fader.... everybody loves it for real!

SUB:  Last question: what is your most favorite place on this planet that you would like to visit?

Desert island with jungles....haha being Robinson Crusoe for few weeks i think would be nice.

Thank you for the Interview. by D.S.

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