Next month Example Magazine is 2 years old. We've come a long way in the last two years since we started out as a Wordpress blog(Examplemag.co.uk) run by me on my own in January 2009. Im not going to lie the first issue was shit but we still got 800 hits.  Everything was completely new to me from working a blog/website, promoting the project, writing articles and writing interviews.  I learnt as I went. Over the first few months I worked to get more people on board. Likeminded young people with an interest in music, Manchester and also writing and taking photographs. 

By issue 5 we had a team of 6 or 7 people and we were starting to improve our content. By the summer of 2009 we were doing our best so far and also uncovering lots of hot new talent such as Lung whom we interviewed sixth months before his debut release in December of last year.  In Autumn 2009 we began talks with our now resident Web Designer Omid Kashan (killeditdead.com) to start work on building a new website to replace our hard to navigate wordpress. 

In January 2010 after 12 issues we launched our brand new website as you see it today. Complete with contents page, tags, built in music player and also a members system to allow you to subscribe to our updates.  In January we expanded our team to incorporate more than 20 people and also launched [Ex]:TV.  In February we celebrated our first birthday party at Roadhouse for £1 with a huge lineup of not only Manchester muscians but from across the country. More than 200 people turned out for what was one of the best nights of my life. The first years hard work was all made worthwhile by hearing over 200 people singing Happy Birthday to the Magazine I had wanted to start since writing the business plan at 16 years old.  With our new bigger team we started to produce much more content to a much higher standard from bigger and bigger names every month. 

Our Team continued to expand and in June with more than 35 people already in the family we added a whole team in Brighton.  Since then they have been bringing us coverage from the south coast and also spreading our name down there.

This summer we covered five festivals in the UK and also brought you our 20th exclusive mix.  In October we were nominated for an 02 think big media award and came runner up. However being the only independent unfunded youth run project in the competition I think we did fairly well.  This month we celebrated our 24th issue and the end of 2010 by giving away a free MP3 a day as part of our advent calender.

So after 24 issues and 2 years as founder and editor (not wanting to sound wet even though i know i will get the piss taken out of me) thank you the 40 + people  who have contributed to example over the last 24 issue by writing, taking photographs etc and most of all Omid by building, from scratch, the site which you are on now. Thank you to everyone who agreeed to be interviewed / reviewed / have their night photographed.  Thank you to Stake TV for putting all those hours in. Thank you to everyone who has ever read an article, downloaded a mix/mp3 from Example and finally thank you to everyone that knows me who has put up with me going on and on and on about Example Magazine for the last 2+ years. 

So with my stupid speech over with. Whats next?  First of all we've got to celebrate our 2nd fucking birthday

Last years party was immense and this year I hope that we've topped it. Ive already been looking forward to this since about May so I hope it wets your appetite. Here it is...

FULL DETAILS BELOW FLYER

Example 2nd Birthday Party - 17TH FEBRUARY - 2011

11pm - 3am

£2

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=175437019147575

LINEUP

DUB PHIZIX

One of Manchester's top producers with a string of releases coming on Soul:r, Creative Source and more. If you don't know this man's tunes then I suggest you had better brace your ear drums. We had him down last year and its a pleasure to have him gracing the decks again a second time. 

DUB PHIZIX ON EXAMPLE :

INTERVIEW

MIX

Dub Phizix Elsewhere

Soundcloud

Web

SKEPTICAL

Skeptical, a frequent collaborator with Dub Phizix who has had releases on the outstanding Ingredients imprint and has tunes forthcoming on doc scotts 31 records. We've invited him up all the way from the SOUTH to help us celebrate.

SKEPTICAL ON EXAMPLE...

COMING SOON

SKEPTICAL ON THE WEB...

SOUNDCLOUD

CHIMPO

Lord of the Chimps Chimpo resident at Ballin On A Budget and all round decks destroyer never fails to bring the party HARD!!! Coming down to play you all an exclusive UK Garage set cos we all like a little trip back in time. 

CHIMPO ON EXAMPLE:

INTERVIEW

MIX

FREE TUNE

CHIMPO ELSEWHERE...

SOUNDCLOUD

MYSPACE

FALLACY

This adopted manc resident is not only Big but also Bashy.  Were very happy to have Falz down to tame the Mic alongside Chimpos Garage set.  Expect Falz's trademark Cockney Flavour to get you hype so quick you wont even notice.

FALLACY ELSEWHERE...

BANDCAMP

TWITTER

SKITTLES

Skittles is in our opinion the best rapper in Manchester. We don't really need to say no more. If you don't believe us sit down with his prE.P and listen to the words. Come catch him at Example Birthday before his new album "Poor with £100 Trainers" drops this year on Broke 'n' £nglish's label in 2011.

Skittles on Example...

INTERVIEW

SKITTLES ELSEWHERE...

WEBSITE

LUNG

Yep we've invited Lung back up from Cardiff for a second time this time going head to head with Wachs Lyrical. Expect all sorts from this mans box.

LUNG ON EXAMPLE:

INTERVIEW

MIX

LUNG ELSEWHERE...

SOUNDCLOUD

TWITTER

WACHS LYRICAL

We found our about Wachs Lyrical this year when he was signed to Subdepth. His housey, funky sound should slot in perfectly with Lung's.  With a reputation for playing VERY varied sets you are definitely in for a treat.

WACHS ON EXAMPLE:

INTERVIEW

MIX

WACHS ELSEWHERE...

SOUNDCLOUD

SPARKZ

Sparkz is our second HIP HOP act of the night. We like his Raps so weve asked him to come and do a rap at our birthday.  Obviously.

SPARKZ ON THE INTERNET

COMING SOON

CHUNKY (DJ SET)

You all know Chunky right one of manchesters best hosts resident at hit and run inbetween touring with true tiger. Well hes branching out from the Microphone to the Decks. Exclusive Chunky DJ Set.

CHUNKY ON THE INTERNET

MYSPACE

TWITTER

MERNYWERNZ

Our Editor's Manchester debut.

MERNYWERNZ ON EXAMPLE

LIFE WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA

WORST DUBSTEP THUS FAR

MERNYWERNZ ON INTERNET

MIXCLOUD

HOSTED BY ....

FOX

Our favourite Jamaican the don Fox is coming down to add his flavoursome toasting to the party. You know its going off when you see him in the corner waving a jamaican handkerchief. (P.S any "pum pum" who would like to engage in a discussion with Fox make sure you sign your name on the list upon arrival to the party)

FOX AND MJ COLE

FOX ON EXAMPLE

INTERVIEW

MAD RUSH

MAD RUSH the cockney - manc veteran. Kept us all going well past closing time last year.  He will be bringing the stamina again.

MAD RUSH ON THE INTERNET

SEE YOU THERE!!!

Tacheles

Formerly a department store, office of the SS and holding place for French POWs. Now a collection of bizarre techno bars, art spaces, shops and even a cinema. And without a doubt my favourite place in Berlin.

A quick history of the place alone lets you know you’re somewhere pretty special. Originally a department store located on Oranienburger Strasse, the former Jewish quarter of Berlin, the building was used increasingly by members of the NSDAP during the 1930s, eventually becoming the central office of the SS.

During the Second World War, French war prisoners were even held in the attic.

After the war, after being moderately damaged by bombing, the building was left to deteriorate, as the GDR government didn’t have the funds to restore it, and had other plans for the space in any case. Eventually in 1980, demolition of one side began, to make room for a new road connecting the two major Berlin streets, Oranienburger Strasse and Friedrichstrasse. The demolition was scheduled to be completed in April 1990.

Two months before said demolition, the artists moved in. The building was occupied, and the Artists’ Initiative Tacheles group registered for the building to be protected as a Historic Landmark... And in 1992, after engineers confirmed that the building was in fact structurally sound, this status was confirmed. The artists had won, and Tacheles was born.

‘Tacheles’ is in fact a Jewish word roughly translating as “straight-talking”. In the former GDR, where freedom of expression was a long-forgotten liberty, this suppressive nature also translated into their arts, literature, film and music, where opinions and ideas were only ever alluded to, but could not be expressed outright.

So what name could be more apt for this collection of exhibitions, workshops, bars and cinema located in modern-day East Berlin?

Climbing the graffiti covered stairs higher and higher, I found it pretty difficult to imagine that this place had ever been home to members of one of the most radically dangerous political parties of the 20th century, and a key location to Nazi efforts in World War Two. Not least when I turned the corner onto the second floor, and found myself with a choice of a bar overlooking the back courtyard, playing a standard Berlin selection of sick techno to the left of me, and a tiny cinema with about 30 lounge chairs, showing the Marx Brothers classic Duck Soup to the right of me.

Surreal. 

Every square inch of the place is filled with colour, probably hundreds of times over. Graffiti, posters, paintings and flyers occupy every wall and ceiling of Tacheles. Upwards and onwards to the third and fourth floors, and you reach the workshops and exhibitions, where the mood doesn’t get any more normal. Most times I’ve been up there, the artists are just musing in the corners of the room, working on their next masterpiece, with a ridiculous Berlin soundtrack that must surely get the creative juices flowing.

Favourites include Alexandr Rodin’s mind-bending designs, some of which span from wall to wall of his exhibition – not one to try and work out whilst under the influence...  

The best is yet to come however. Walk back down to the cellar and step outside, and you find yourself in the back courtyard of Tacheles, complete with beach-bar sand floor, even in the middle of winter - (and I cannot WAIT to do this all in summer). The main bar includes a multi-tasking barman slash DJ who ensures a disgustingly good soundtrack in between pouring pints.

There’s also the back seating area of Café Zapata, a caravan which is actually a bar (whose bargirl invited us all in for tequila shots with her mates), and a random truck in the sand which we one week commandeered on behalf of Manchester. Standard Berlin.

Now here’s the sad part. The 10 year lease that the artists negotiated with the owners – for 50 cents a year – ran out in 2008. No new lease was negotiated, and the owners reportedly have their eye on the development of a series of luxury apartments, restaurants, and a hotel on the site. This is no surprise here in Berlin, where the gentrification process has caused no end of upset amongst advocates and supporters of the city’s alternative subculture, since the reunification in 1990.

The recent closure of Bar 25 and the Anti-Media Spree campaigns surrounding it are clear evidence of the opposition to this movement. Anyone who’s been to Tacheles would agree that the demolition of the building, an iconic symbol of post-reunification, alternative Berlin, would be a travesty.

But I can’t see this lot going anywhere without a fight.

Calibre is not really an artist who needs an introduction. Famous for his unique liquid style and countless releases on Soul:r, Signature, Revolver et al. Hes released several succesful LPs in his time and played all over the world. We caught up with him following the release of his brand new LP "Even If" to find out about his work process, what music he listens to and what hes got coming up.

Example: What was the first and last piece of music you bought?

Calibre: i believe the first peice of music that i bought was a UB40 album, their debut lp i think, and the last thing i bought was ALICE COLTRANE-RADHA KRSNA NAMA SANKIRTANA......  a very beautiful album.

Example: You're music is heavily influenced and also at the same time very unique what music do you listen to outside drum and bass?

Calibre:i listen to anything, and i mean anything, i have a keen interest in original forms of folk music from around the world, i like the honesty in it, while i collect a lot of types of music recently im feeling close to ambient music, i love the emotive space it has, but when i start to think about what im into its difficult to give a condensed view, i have thousands of records, and moments, too many to think about.

Example: You've just released your new LP "Even If"  to round off 2010 hows your year been?   

Calibre:its been good, im happier with my path now, it was better than last year, i feel like i have so much to learn about what im doing, and to finish another year with an album that im happy with is nice timing.

Example: What did you want to achieve with the new LP was there a message or feeling you wanted to convey?

Calibre: primarily i just wanted to write a good album, good enough to transcend the culture of DNB, there are areas in DNB that i felt could be more lyrically open, i wanted to see if i could convey a message, vague as it is, that it can be a more open style than most producers think, my view of the conceptual album still remains with the individual tracks, in that its not such a tight style but a looser and more expressive one.

Example:  With a new decade just around the corner what have you got planned for Signature and yourself?  

Calibre: i can only talk about what's next in the close cycle, im planning on compiling a downtempo shelflife, unreleased tunes that never came out over the years for whatever reason, i also want to write a follow up to 'shine a light" the singer songwriter album that i did last year, then i have various DNB commitments, and an ongoing project around the 140 bpm mark, remixes....etc,
in the distant future being alive and well would be good enough for me.....but maybe id like to write a book who knows....

Example: You've been releasing experimental stuff and house under your name Dominick Martin what can we expect from that side of things?

Calibre: im starting to build some new material for the next album in that vein, its a wider and more freeform approach than the DNB stuff, it takes more time to adjust to that, but i love doing it so hopefully it will be finished soon, im trying to collect tunes that tend to relate to each other in a way that is more visual, its not bound by tempo in terms of how its presented so the pace of the work can change significantly, and this turns me on haha

Example: Where do you stand on the Digital vs Vinyl Debate and were you sad to see the end of the Technics 1210?

Calibre: i think its the end of a long era for vinyl, but it will live on, it still has a dedicated fan base, i buy all my music on vinyl, but thats just me, it does effect me though, in terms of finance it has reduced my income from music, but im not going to complain too much, formats change, thats life.

Example: When creating music how do you find inspiration and whats your process?

Calibre: ive always found writing music to be a place where i find peace, i dont think too much about anything, i think thats one of the reasons i love it so much, i think Charles Bukowski said that the creative process should be like having a good poo, it should happen quite naturally.

Example: Do you have preferred software or hardware?  

Calibre:not really, i use logic for mac, its fairly stable software, unlike my earlier experiences with sequencers and hardware, so im pretty happy if its not crashing and making me swear, i did like the old akai samplers, for the filters in particular, but i don't get too attached to these things, as long as it bloody works ill use it.

Example: Name an interesting random fact?

Calibre: ive never had one of my own tracks remixed.


Example: Whats your favourite place to play?

Calibre: thats a difficult one, i love playing band on the wall, the soulution nights we do there are usually damn good, i feel like im family there, sometimes its not so much the venue but the place, i love playing in Japan and New Zealand.

Example: Do you have a favourite and most hated drum and bass track and why?

Calibre: i have favourite's, quite a few so ill pass there, regarding the stuff i dont like, nothing id mention individually, but i really dislike the arcade machine sound that seems to infect all genres of electronic music. i feel like im in some pinball hell with that shit.....

Example: You play regularly in our home town at Soul:ution. how do you find the Manchester scene?

Calibre: like i said, i feel like family down there, i love working with DRS in his backyard, and the new sound system is nice, Manchester is my second city in the UK, i feel like i know it best, and it has some great personal memories and moments for me, to play there after all these years is still a privilege.

Example: What up and coming producers are you listening to / playing out ?

Calibre: i got a tune from New Zealand recently by Tokyo Prose that i dig, i got a weird 10" from Cologne and i dont know who it is but its fecking good, im terrible for contemporary props.

Example: If you hadnt become a dj / producer what do you think you would be doing now ?

Calibre: id be working in some creative post of some sort, i play the drums, sing, paint, draw produce.... im intolerable as a person if i dont have an outlet so im sure i would have found another place to create.

Example: If you could do a collab with any musician alive or dead who would you choose?

Calibre: id like to do a blues punk DNB crossover with Frankie Stubbs, a singer in a band called Leatherface from Sunderland, he has a wonderful gravel style voice, a bit like lemmy, it would be interesting to hear that i think.

Example:  What tunes are never out of your box at the moment?

Calibre: some things have been in there for too long, i suppose my remix of Zero tolerance's "Refusal" always stays handy, but to be honest theres quite a few tracks from a few years back that i hold on to, nostalgia and pragmatism....

Kraddy, raised in LA, residing in San Francisco and formerly one quarter of the world renowned Glitch Mob gripped the electronic world by the testicles in 2008 with the release of Android Porn; an absolute monster, which is now highly regarded as the Glitch Hop anthem. The song would slay dance floors the world over and it continues to do so.

Since Kraddy’s mammoth debut he has released a slew of albums, singles and remixes, as well as being countlessly remixed himself. He now graces our ears with the Labyrinth EP. Though I went off the “URGH!” side of bass music a while ago, I still dig this. Each song is a banger, which will murder any dance floor. Job done. The only word I need to describe this release is heavy. Things done change. Do any of the tracks touch Android Porn? No. But, that is the highest ceiling to touch.

http://www.kraddyodaddy.com

DOWNLOAD A FREE KRADDY TUNE HERE...

Over the years Storm has built a solid name for herself as the "first lady of Drum and Bass". A title which is definitely deserved when you take into account her tight mixing and exclusive and varied selection.  She was there at the start of Metalheadz with Kemistry and has done a lot over the years to develop the sound and build the reputation which Metalheadz holds so proudly today.  As well as her work with Metalheadz she founded the feline collective with a number of other female Djs including Alley Cat which looks set to make a welcome return in 2011 after hosting the main room at Sun and Bass this summer. 

We caught up with Storm to ask her how her years been, what shes got in store next and also about being at the start of Metalheadz and life as a professional DJ...

Q1. Firstly thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. How's 2010 been for you?

A1. It's been an interesting year for me, I have as I always have enjoyed all my gigs . I love drum and bass as passionately as I always have and it is always a joy to meet and work with promoters I have worked with before and enjoyed meeting new promoters. Promoters who push my music are like minded they love this music and are prepared to work hard and that is how I am so it's always great to meet people who want to chat DnB and hear about the state of DnB in different places. I have been to some new locations , which is always exciting. It's great that Metalheadz have come back strong with their new night in London and in new locations. It was fantastic for me personally to have my own night Feline playing in the main room in Sun and Bass this year , it was a real achievement for the ladies and it was a real honour for us. And even though I am biased we had a fantastic night and all the ladies who performed really excelled , I was very proud of us all.

Q2. Seems like your legendary status has started to take full effect recently, Whats changed lately?

A2. Not sure why that is but it is always great to be in demand and be able to bring my sound , I love what I do and it is not hard when you love what you do to show that love. I think the world of the internet helps, having sets online so people can hear your vibe. I also, earlier this year, started hosting the radio show for Metalheadz on Ministry of Sound Radio, which I am really enjoying.

Q3. One of the biggest success what people will know about is your 'Metalheadz' Care to tell us about how that came about? Plus any trivia people may not know?

A3. The Metalheadz work came about after Goldie got signed by a major label for his first album Timeless. Goldie realised he didn't have enough time to dedicate to the label so he asked Kemistry and myself to take over the running of the label. It was a natural decision as we were already part of a joint dream we all had together. We were out one night at Rage listening to Grooverider and Fabio and when we came home that night Goldie said "I am going to make this music and you two (Kemistry and myself ) will DJ that music" , by this time we had already decide DJing was our chosen path, we will make a label , a club and merchandising. For the next few years we lived that dream so it was a logical progression for Kemistry and I to run the label. Six months after starting to run the label we got offered a club night on a Sunday at a club called The Blue Note , we had 5 weeks to trial the night and make it run, it was such a major success we stayed in that venue until it closed. Kemistry and myself had become accomplished DJ's. The merchandising had already been created by Goldie. We had between us achieved all three parts of the dream Goldie prophecised that night , that's why on the back of Platinum Breaks , the first compilation we put out on Metalheadz there is a quote by my and Kemistry's picture by Goldie which states " The triangle is complete "

Q4. Being the first lady of Drum and bass, How was the scene in the past years changed?

A4. I have to say that over the years it is still hard to be taken as seriously as a female DJ compared to male counterparts , not sure why that is. But I have always been aware that it would be harder to achieve what I wanted in a male dominated scene , but if you really want something in this world it never really seems like hard work.

Q5. What other styles are you interested in?

A5. Being a DnB purist I get all I need from DnB but I am of course aware of other music.

Q6. Any new artists your digging right now?

 

A6. I think over the last few years producers that have impressed me are SPY , who has over impressed me , Lenzman , Need For Mirrors , Lynx , Jubei , Edward Oberon , Subz +Matik , Kiat and Physics.

Q7. Can you tell us whats in store for you in the near future?

A7. I will be working hard on re establishing Feline , I have a couple of venues in mind and should have something to announce very soon, also we will be touching down in January on DNBTV again. Definitely looking forward to Metalheadz Christmas party at Cable , it should be off the wall! I will be touching down in Singapore in January and playing in Tubingen and Wuppertahl in Germany around the Christmas period. Also have to say I am excited about playing for Traffic on New Years Eve.

Q8. Whats been the best year for you? Tunes, Vibe, Nights etc

A8. I have to say Metalheadz at the Blue Note was the most awesome , real DJ's, no mixes on CD's what is that all about, being able to express themselves freely .
DJing alongside my partner Kemistry were always my favourite times , I will always miss her by my side.

Q9. Whats the worst experience you've had out dj'ing?

A9. When an airline who will be nameless lost all my luggage , I had to not only find a computer and CDR's and burn for my life but had to wash all my clothes , iron them dry to play in. The most shameful part I was reduced to playing in flip-flops ,and as everyone knows Storm always DJ's in her heels ha ha.

Q10. What tunes can you not live without at the moment?

A10. Everything in my bag , but if I had to mention a couple of things , Terminator remix by SPY , in fact all my SPY stash, Promise Remix by Lynx ,Brother from another Mother by Spirit , Masquerade remix by Die , Springy by System I could go on and on and on.

thanks a lot storm

I stumbled across Elaquent on Soundcloud not too long ago. This guy has serious skills when it comes to making tunes. Shockingly however, the internet held little information on this mad professor. After listening to his Persona LP on loop for a couple of weeks I decided to track him down and get an interview with him.

Example
For those who don't know, me being one of them as, there isn't a whole lot of info about you online, what's your back story?

Elaquent
Hmm, let’s see... born in Ottawa, but grew up in a city called Guelph... it’s about an hour away from Toronto... started off trying to rap at about 11... lost interest and tried my hand at production when I turned 14.

Example: What equipment did you use to make your first production?

Elaquent
I downloaded a demo copy of Fruity Loops... before it became FL Studio. I think it was version 2 or something lol. Couldn’t save anything, but was a great time killer. Found the full version about a year and a half later.

Example
Gotta love software demos. When I first heard your music I thought "sample based Hip Hop, probably uses some type of MPC along with analog synths" Obviously I was wrong. What's your general views on software vs hardware?

Elaquent
When I first started making beats, 9th Wonder was the only big name producer using software... needless to say lots of the hardware elitists hated on it... funny thing now is that those same haters have incorporated software into their setups. People used to always assume that I used an MPC and I wouldn’t correct them. If thinking I use certain tools makes you like me more, then I'll let you think that. But at this point, I think it’s clear that software has limitless possibilities. But ultimately, it just comes down to whatever you're comfortable using, and whether you can make a dope beat. Everything else is irrelevant.

Example
Truth. As long as it sounds good who gives a shit? I suppose it's a lot like the whole Vinyl/Digital debate when it comes to DJing. Do you play out at all or do you stick to production?

Elaquent
I was actually gonna mention that, but you beat me to it. It’s exactly like the Serato/turntable argument. People in general just have a hard time adjusting to change, that’s all, but that’s what technology does.

I stick to production... I play lots of synth lines live from my keyboard, but I am by no means a keyboardist. I'd love to learn guitar one day though.

Example
Haha, too slow guy! Cool stuff. Has DJing ever crossed your mind? I spin, but have never really wanted to produce. But a lot of producers & DJs seem to think you need to do both.

Elaquent
Kind of. I’m not a DJ in a traditional sense, but I’ve been working on my live set, armed with my SP404 and my laptop. These type of sets are pretty big out in underground beat scenes, and I’m definitely working on it. Knowing how to DJ is certainly useful for any producer looking to take their show on the road.

Example
SP404? That is a nice piece of kit. My mate was going to get one but he didn't in the end. I was gutted to say the least haha.
So your from Canada. How is the Hip Hop scene over there? In the UK it's all still pretty underground (unless you count N-Dubz as Hip Hop, which I doubt any serious music fan would) but there's a lot of good artists. It's healthy in America; obviously you have all that Lil Wayne shit but if you dig a little you find the good stuff. I've also heard some good artists come out of other places in Europe. So, how is it in Canada?

Elaquent
Yeah, the SP404 is awesome, great FX in there.

The Hip Hop scene here is a mixed bag, I guess. I mean, the good stuff is really really good, the wack stuff is garbage... but to be honest, it’s the same story everywhere. There are incredible artists making moves in the underground, while you got everybody else and their moms trying to emulate Drake, which is cool, I guess, but as far as the stuff I personally listen to and follow... pretty few and far between. Most of my favourite artists are fellow beat-heads that I kick it with at shows. To be honest, pretty much all I listen to lately is instrumental stuff from everywhere; Europe, Japan, LA, and beyond. But I can't hate, there are some incredible artists like Eternia or Moka Only, who have been doing it for a minute.

Example
Yeah, it's like any type of music I guess. For every good artists there's twenty shit ones. What Hip Hop artists would you say influence you? & have they changed at all over time?

Elaquent
You could probably listen to my music and make pretty educated guesses as to my favs. Lol. Dilla, Primo, Pete Rock, RZA... no surprises there. Lately, I've been really into the more indie stuff... big fan of Onra, The Klipm0de Camp... just got put onto this dude Teebs who is incredible... Dibia$e, Flylo, Tokimonsta... the list goes on... from a domestic standpoint, my homies Lancecape, Sunclef, Sylvermayne, Slakah The Beatchild keep me inspired.

Example
How about music outside of Hip Hop? & how do you go about digging/finding samples?

Elaquent
Outside of Hip Hop, I was always a big Marvin Gaye fan. I went through a huge Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald phase. Amy Winehouse, Isaac Hayes, my non Hip Hop influences are all over the place.

As far as samples, no rules really. I find records, CDs, mp3s, video games, really, no sample is safe haha. My record collection isn't massive by any means, as long as I can get a sound into FL Studio or my SP, it'll be sampled. I sample anything from Kung Fu flicks, to Sega games to soul to cartoons, whatever sounds good.

Example
Definitely hear the Sega in a few of your tracks. Android Swagger & Mastered System are probably my two favourites to be honest.

How do you feel about the relationship between art, music and politics? I'm quite socially and politically aware and I'm always looking for ways to change things, spread new ideas and spread positive vibes. Do you think art and music are good platforms for this? If you could change one thing about how the world is governed or functions what would it be?

Elaquent
Art and music are timeless means of expression. I think that it’s important that all artists take an interest in injecting some type of meaning or message through their craft. I’m not saying everybody needs an Immortal Technique/Rage Against The Machine type of activist message in their art but in being an artist, whether visual or audio, i find most people are quite socially aware to begin with, and I think it is healthy to shed some of that in their music.

If you feel strongly about a political issue, or any issue, music is the perfect platform to express it. The problem is that there are plenty of socially/politically aware artists, but very few of them are being heard on a mainstream scale, which is a shame.

If i could change one thing about society, I wish there was more equality in terms of distribution of wealth. Obviously it’s more complicated than that, but it’s concerning the fact that 20% of the world utilizes 80% of the world's wealth.

Example
True dat. The world is pretty fucked up when you think about it. If you haven't already I recommend checking out The Venus Project; some really good ideas about the world and people on there.

Persona has recently become available to the public, what are your plans for the rest of the year and the start of 2011? Also, what's Gill Breathing?

Elaquent
I'll have to check out The Venus Project... good lookin’ out.

Lets’ see... I’m wrapping up my newest LP "The Midnight After", which as the name implies, is a follow up to my 2009 release “After Midnight”. Anyone who has heard AM will know what to expect. That’ll be out sometime in 2011. Got a couple of short tapes that I'll be putting out before 2010 is over. My LP with Bhon is coming out in 2011 and a few other projects which are still in their planning stages, so needless to say, I’m keeping busy.

Oh, and Gill Breathing is my family. Literally. That’s myself, Es, Solar C, Mathematik and the homie Young Master, and we're all related. It’s hard to beat the chemistry of actual family. Everybody is staying busy with their own projects before we can coordinate a proper release for the five of us.

Example
Lots of new beats then! Ah cool, I wasn't too sure what it was. What's the best place for people to keep up to date with your releases? Facebook, Myspace, website? & is there any up and coming artists you would recommend people checking out while they're reading this?

Elaquent
Say word! I’m pretty easy to find...
www.facebook.com/elaquent
www.myspace.com/elaquenthiphop
www.twitter.com/elaquent
www.soundcloud.com/elaquent

As far as up and comers, I'd recommend folks checkin’ out the Gill Breathing fam (facebook.com/gillbreathing), gotta plug all the fellas over at the label I’m on (HW&W) like Coincidence, Juj, Co. Fee, Sholomo, yes even you Bahwee, lol, and I can’t say enough good things about my homie Sunclef. But to be honest, I could go on all day...

You can cop Elaquent’s latest LP “Persona” here:
http://elaquent.bandcamp.com/

Lynx is a standout name in the Drum and Bass Scene. With releases on labels such as Soul:r, Creative Source, Digital Soundboy and Bingo and remix work for the likes of  Metalheadz, Hospital and Innerground.  Lynx has more than proved his skill in the studio as well as showing a real drive to push towards new and diverse sounds. After the huge success of 'Disco Dodo' He founded his own label in 2010 "Detail Recordings" almost certainly a nod towards his attitude to his work as Marcus Intalex once said of Lynx “attention to detail is his trademark”.

We caught up with Lynx to chat about his 2010, Detail Recordings and what hes got planned for the future. 

EXAMPLE: Since the success of your album ‘The Raw Truth’ with Kemo last year how has 2010 been?

LYNX: 2010 has been a great year for me. A very important time for me to grow, start my own label - Detail Recordings, and break out of the confines of releasing on other established labels. There was the debut single for Detail ‘Keep it Low’ featuring Kemo. Got great responses across the board from djs, press and fans alike. Second release was 4.3.3. A drum and bass football song for the world cup, it was just a bit of fun really, I think some people took it a bit too seriously. Even deep dnb artists are aloud to have a little fun with their music! The next release ‘For the Rebels’ will be out any day. 

I have been writing a whole lot of music this year. 2010 has been my most prolific year yet. So 2011 people can look forward to A LOT of new tunes from me!

I have been touring loads too, I am in Singapore right now just had a great gig at Home Club here, next onto Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Auckland, Wellington, Vienna, Linz and Bristol up until Christmas.

EXAMPLE: You have been releasing a lot of multi-genre music; can you talk about your influences?

LYNX: My first big influence that got me into electronic music was The Prodigy back in 1991.  The emerging rave sound back then was so different and exciting compared to what I was used to hearing in normal chart music at that time.

EXAMPLE: What was the initial idea behind Detail?

LYNX: To have the best platform possible for my music by focusing on attention to detail.

EXAMPLE: At Sun & bass last year you used a live guitarist in your set. Could that be the beginning of a live performance in the future?

LYNX: Not really, it was a one off performance with a friend of mine Simon Wiggins who is a phenomenal guitarist. But who knows what could happen in the future.

EXAMPLE: With the technics finally going out of production last week where do you stand on the vinyl debate?

LYNX:  Well I don’t play vinyl anymore, it just doesn’t make sense as 70% of the music I play is my own and not out, and therefore it doesn’t make sense to wait for the vinyl to come out to play it. However I was an avid record buyer for ten years and I really appreciate having a physical format in your hands. Times change and musicians need to at least be aware of those changes.

6. You have a new release this month on Detail with Sense MC, tell us about that?

LYNX: The track is called ‘For the Rebels’. It has a Bristol sound to it, back in the day when dnb artists were winning Mercury prizes for their musical endeavours. Sense MC is an amazing lyricist with a great flow and honest/ emotional delivery. For those that need something a bit more in your face theres Detail’s hot up and coming dubstep remixers, Seed giving their take on the track. Finally theres a fantasticr remix by Austrian based electronic pioneers Walkner. Moestl. Tunes should be availbe right about now!

EXAMPLE: What else have you got coming up in the pipeline any collabs we should know about?

LYNX: I have a single coming up on Blackout Recordings called Star and On the Other Side with Malbu and Hellrazor. My Pulp Fiction remix will finally see the light of day hopefully before the end of the year. A remix of Walkner.Moestl’s Promise.

I have been collaborating a lot with Hellrazor (not hlz) this year. He was writing jungle back in 1995 and is back again with some cool music. I also have collaborations with Marcus Intalex and Fierce on a Radiohead remix  we just finished. Fierce is singing and he has an amazing voice! Also collabs with Calibre, DRS, Tali, a vocalist from Vienna called Suree, Sydney based vocalist Spikey Tee, Sense MC, Kemo, Malibu and many others I probably forgot!

EXAMPLE: Where do you think the sound is heading in 2011?

LYNX : I have no idea. Drum and Bass is a musical ‘movement’ but I would rather try and lead and inspire the movement than predict trends. The music is much more honest and from the heart that way.

EXAMPLE: What tunes can you not live without at the moment?

LYNX: Data & Kathy Brown, Compassion, great tune! Mike Slott Knock Knock,,James Blake Limit to Your Love, Jai Paul BTSTU this guy will be huge in 2011.

EXAMPLE: Chalk or cheese?

LYNX: Cheese

Lynx feat sense mc "For the Rebels" is out now on detail recordings...

http://www.detailrecordings.com
http://soundcloud.com/detailrecordings
http://www.youtube.com/detailrecordings

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on your life; your mistakes, your achievements?  Has it ever crossed your mind that a standard funeral or cremation just wouldn’t be enough for you?  Well And Vinyly provides a brilliantly unique alternative to the ordinary and quite frankly boring process of leaving this planet.  ‘The perfect resting place for vinyl lovers’, this innovative new company offers people the opportunity to have their ashes pressed in a vinyl recording of their favourite tune or their last will and testament, immortalised for their loved ones.

Operating under the playful advertisement ‘live life from beyond the groove’, And Vinyly offers many options to ensure maximum customisation of your vinyl.  And Vinyly also offers personalised RIV (Rest In Vinyl) artwork; the simple version just carries your name and your life span, or you can have your portrait painted by artist James Hague with a mixture of your ash and acrylic paint.  The basic package costs £3,000 and comprises of the standard artwork along with up to 30 ash-flecked discs with whatever sounds you choose, lasting a maximum of 24 minutes.  Extras include ‘Bespook Music’, where artists from The House of Fix or www.daftwerk.com will create a personalised track for you, the option for pets to have the same immortal treatment, or the minimalist option of simply having the vinyl produce crackling sounds when played.  A particular And Vinyly favourite of mine is the option of having your vinyl distributed through reputable record stores worldwide; I can’t think of anything more personal or fascinating that listening to a man’s last words or songs.  Although, one thing I struggle to come to terms with is the price of the elements provided in the ash to vinyl process.  Death is one thing people can take advantage of because everyone will participate in it, therefore I have trouble in taking an optimistic perspective on how a three minute pre-determined template track costs £250, or a portrait costs £3500, or likewise how a specifically created track for the individual should cost north of £500.  For me this detracts from an otherwise fantastic idea.

The company was founded by Jason Leach, who co-founded the techno group and record label Subhead in the 1990s and has since founded a number of other labels, including House of Fix, Daftwerk and Death to Vinyl.  And Vinyly has their finger successfully placed on an issue that many people become obsessed with in their later years; their legacy.  Underneath the exterior of the concept of ashes to vinyl there is an underlying issue that affects us all, how we want to be remembered.  Imagine now attempting to choose the words you will be remembered for, it should be an extremely delicate and thought provoking process. And it’s not just your last words that you have to toil over, for some that would be relatively easy in comparison to choosing your very last songs.  We’ve all at some point attempted to create an all time album, and we find this always changes throughout time; it is indeed a difficult task to pick a collection of songs that spans the duration of your life.  Ultimately I can’t think of a better way to be immortalised than through your favourite songs.  What songs would you choose to be remembered by?  

MORE INFO HERE...

Subdepth comes correct with a big compilation of Bass Music out this month.  The feel to much of it is subdued and, true to name full of depth.  It features several releases from Dom Hz, Numan and Swarms with contributions from  Snowfox, Vandera, Simple, Lostlojic and Indigo.

The compilation contains a good variety of tunes, Dom Hz for example provides a more minimal, laid back landscapes with 'What goes up' containing spaced out synth and a growling sub layer which then morphs into a dnb influenced change up halfway through.

Then, via a Vista remix, we have a much more commercial leaning in the the track 'You' a very RnB influenced workout. Indigo also drops something along similar lines with the soulful 'All Yours' which contains some Heavy Sub punches and engaging percussive rhythms.

The tracks  Numan represents his sound on here with are atmospheric, mellow  affairs like 'Wildfire' and 'Secrets' which contains a halfstep chilled nodder with some sweet melodic backing.

Bleeptastic sounds are also present on that track and the more uptempo funky influenced  'Kaya 47'.  Vandera's 'Move On' is interesting by contrast, with quite a Trance element almost making itself known but not quite overwhelming enough to snuff out the distinct sound this producer has created so far.

This is also on display with his remix of Lostlojic's 'Last Goodbye' which has a sweet vocal and nice touches of melody overlying a deep bassline.  
The contribution that stands out the most to me is the beautiful 'Skynet' by Swarms, a very good example of the intriguing emotive tunes out there in dubstep at the moment that use highly infectious vocals drowned in Sub Bass, reverberating atmosphere and delicate melody.

For good examples of more of this kind of thing check out Kode 9 and burial's mix they did for Mary anne hobbs' last ever show.  When done not so well it can remind you of just staring constantly out of a rain spattered window after an unhappy love affair, but when done right as with both 'Skynet' and 'Glider' then the effects are a joy to hear.

'Rooted' then tips the balance back to slightly darker with terrain, the dreamy synths being driven by a growling, swirling reese.
   
Overall this is a strong compilation from the Subdepth camp as they continue to release music that defines its own place within the everchanging landscape of dubstep and bass music without imitating or becoming lazy. Top marks for a quality selection.

Hot-footing down Oxford Road on a bleak Saturday night in October, weaving stern-faced & sober through drunken revellers, after a long day (...showing photos & taking questions at Salford Un-Convention after Kevin Cummins talk... photographing improvised contemporary dance duets @ Contact in the evening with one dancer in MCR & the other in NYC!); well you'd be forgiven for thinking here was someone in a rush to get home. Not me

Home was still several hours away. I was rushing my way up to Wakefield Street for a night of Drum'n'Bass! The night was advertised as taking over all 3 rooms (2 rooms & bar) at SoundControl which proved to be somewhat over-ambitious for a first promotion in Manchester. The people behind Pandemik do have some pedigree though as they organise regular events out of town that are like an oasis in the rave-thirsty sticks

Poor advance tickets sales had sensibly prompted the lads who organised this night to drastically cut back on their original plan. Out went all the local dubstep producers & emcees who would have taken one room alone, and they went ahead with their pre-booked headline acts. This should guarantee all your dazed punters stay in one place, rather than drift continually from room-to-room looking for the better option (but actually often-resulting in more confused people milling around on the stairs than anywhere else! Have seen it! Have been it!)

If you (like me) like no-nonsense beat dinosaurs who clearly know their Old-Skool rave business then DJ Phantasy is your man because he has been around forever!! Day One! Balaeric Ibizia in ‘88. Original huge event-rave Fantazia resident with an endless CV, he should certainly know how to get a party started. Phantasy has been playing big raves for as long as I've been raving. That long! And I was clubbing for 10 years before I picked up a camera to begin documenting them. Always out somewhere, his has been a name you rarely see off the flyers

Those who had bought tickets tonight had definitely come to get down and, handing over the decks to Serums’ studio-partner Bladerunner (36Hertz/Dread) with his darker techno rollers thundering out, a somewhat damp soulless cellar-club warmed up into a respectable old-school drum'n'bass basement Blues party! And no-one typifies that jungle flavour better than Mr Ray Keith (Dread/ Penny Black/ UFO Records), up next

His set didn't get off to the greatest of starts. There were some sound problems which persisted until Ray stopped the music & refused to go on until it was sorted out. MC Bic (Pandemik) kept the crowd upbeat but even he was beginning to run out of excuses. Time seemed to stretch for an eternity. Taxi! Home suddenly seemed bare minutes away. Once back in the driving seat (personal favourite) Ray Keith proved why he was worth waiting for. Absolute smasher of a set! Opening with 'Hard' by Breakage & the Newham Generals to show he's still on top of the game, but he quickly upped the b.p.m into d'n'b territory (-& personally responsible for so many classics amongst them-) without losing any of those original Junglist flavours & dubby sub-frequency bass-lines! Immense

By the time he finally stood aside for Northern Lights AKA Steppa & Kitcha (36Hertz/Grid) to noisily steer the final section of the night, everyone in the room looked happy. Crowd, promoters, Ray (finally), me, emcees, everybody! DJ Steppa (Metropolis/SubDub) - voted Best Breakthrough DJ at recent D'n'B Awards- had brought his own Audio-Warfare mc's across the Pennines, MC Rafta & MC Talisman, and they were still ruling the roost & slaying Pandemik punters when I decided that that was enough for me. 3.30, a long day, I was done in. Time to go

Pandemik got through their 1st Manchester night (even if one of the crew got turfed out for lighting up skunk) and left everyone happy. You can't say fairer than that. The organisers have a positive attitude that translates into a good party atmosphere, and those who came down came to party hard! Definitely worth another look but maybe at a different venue, expect the Pandemik to spread

Light up myself, tired & ears ringing. Aaaah! But Home seems several miles away

Al Baker, October 2010