Hotwire, from Manchester, first started producing dnb under the name Tungsten, one half of Tungsten and Morph and has had releases on Urban Takeover, Nu Directions and Formation Records. Currently producing and DJ'ing for DJ SS's Formation Records and World of DNB, this talented producer has got a very bright future ahead of him. Example decided to catch up with him.

Example : Safe Dan. First off, can you introduce yourself to the readers and give us a bit of background info about yourself?

Hotwire:  My name is Hotwire and I’m a drum and bass producer and dj based in the Glorious city of Manchester. I’ve been making music since around 94 under various guises. I come from the green and pleasant land of Shropshire originally but have been based in Manchester for about 10 years now. I went to uni in Salford and after falling in love with grimy Manc life couldn’t leave. The city caters for all my obsessions drum and bass in particular.

Example : So what initially got you into the scene?

Hotwire: My route to where I am today probably started with break dancing, graff and a love of synth based music as a nipper in the 80’s. I loved music with samples in it, I can remember being blown away by Bomb the bass whose music was riddled with amazing samples. This lead me to early House and Techno, which to me just seemed like a progression of the early hip-hop and electro sound. I had a paper round when Acid house was all over the tabloids and I can remember looking at pictures of “EVIL DRUG FUELED ACID HOUSE PARTIES” and even as a pre teen I remember thinking hell yeah here comes the revolution baby! I was too young to go to anything but I obsessed about the music and had subscription to early mixmag at my news agent..ha ha! Rave culture, Acid House, Hardcore followed by Jungle that was our Rock and Roll, our punk! I think the first raves I went to were called “Love” which were put by some local djs 1 of whom is my long time friend Glen aka dj Rivmic (formally known as EFX!).  I was only 15 but got in because they had no bar in the venue.  My ears were ringing for days and that was that, I was hooked.

 

Example: Your first release was back in 2001 when you produced as Tungsten, one half of Tungsten and Morph. How do you feel your sound has changed over the last 10 years and how would you describe your sound today?

Hotwire: My first releases were actually ravey little numbers in about 95 which I might add I still collect PRS on even now. In the 10 years since the Tungsten and Morph project my sound changed in a number of ways. I would say the main difference is that I have gone from using two emu samplers, an Atari st in an analogue setup to using a Mac with logic and very little else. I think that also in the partnership with Morph he was always more experimental and subtle in his tastes than myself so tended to reign in my inclination towards more obvious dancefloor aimed music. We made some great music a lot of which never saw the light of day but eventually went our separate ways. I think the most memorable activity we saw on our Tungsten and Morph tracks was support from John Peel who played our tracks on several occasions. God rest his soul and long live his legacy.

My sound today is definitely geared towards the floor but it can take any form. Under the guise Tungsten I never dj’d seriously or had the opportunity to play my own tracks in a club, I was definitely missing out. If your making dance floor music then playing your music out, through a proper sound system and seeing people react to is an essential part of the production process.  Even though I have been a producer for years I feel that in the last 12 months that with the help of my main boy Rollz I have finaly caught up with the modern production ethic and come closer to being the artist I would like to be.

 

 

Example: What was the initial reason for the eventual change from Tungsten to Hotwire?

Hotwire : I would say that changing to the name Hotwire was part of reinventing my production and refreshing my love for the music. The change of name came as I was rekindling the flame I had for Drum and bass and felt appropriate.

Example: Your productions sound very original. Is there a particular style you aim for when you sit in the studio?

Hotwire: There isn’t one particular style I aim for but I always try to gear my tracks towards something I feel would work in a rave. The groove is the most important element. Sometimes I spend a week getting that riff or hook that I can build a track round. Theres so many different ways to get people dancing in terms of  Dnb styles. Whether its stripped down to claps n hats with a slithery bass to full on wall of sound with hands in the air euphoric synths and vocals. I love it all and don’t want fall into a pigeon hole.

Example: Any tips for upcoming producers that want to make a name for themselves?

Hotwire: I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough and you believe in what your doing that will shine through. Aim and the internet are great for getting your music to djs and Lables but get out there and give cd’s and hassle dj’s. They might not want to chat but If the big boys are doing there job properly they will listen to your music. Having a face to put  a track next time you email 1 is a good start to communication with big djs in my opinion.

Example: Who would you describe as your influences?

Hotwire: I guess I have been influenced by all the broad spectrum of music I have been into over the years from the hiphop to the Belgian techno right through to epic orchestral music.
More recently I get some great production ideas from similar electronic music forms. Often house, dubstep etc. producers use interesting new sounds or techniques that people haven’t tried in dnb yet. Zincs Crackhouse sound in particular is a fave ipod selection and rammed with wicked production methods.

Example: You have a forthcoming EP on Formation. Can you give us a bit of info on that one?

It’s a four track digital release calle ‘Revital Signs’ which has had support from Grooverider, Crissy Cris and other Dnb big boys. Its had a bit of Radio 1 airplay which is always a bonus. In particular from Annie Nightingale.  I’ve rolled out a lot of tracks since my first Hotwire release but these four chosen are definitely the cream of the crop.
1).Duckdown
2).Ultrageist
3).Satisfy you
4).Hand of god- Hotwire and Rollz

Example: Obviously, theres a lot of new sounds in the dnb scene that are getting big at the moment. What direction do you see dnb going in the future?

Hotwire: I think that it wont just be 1 direction, Theres so much more terrain we can cover with in the realm of dnb. I think the half time styles are 1 thing that particularly excite me, as in dubstep the space in the drums give the bass so much more room to move and give tracks a whole new shape.  

Example: You've been recently added to the Oh My God agency along with a whole host of big names in the scene. Does this mean we will be seeing you on a lot more line-ups in the future?

Hotwire: Joining the Oh my god agency has come at the perfect time for me. My ep is about to drop I have had some fresh Radio 1 exposure. These things should all feed of each other and yes hopefully I’ll get to unleash fire in a lot more clubs. I’m hyped on the link as it will mean I get to play at some of the wicked parties OMG are putting on in  Manchester.  I just got back from Estonia and will look forward to any further euro dj’ing excursions that come up.

Example: Any particular dates we should be putting in our diaries?

Hotwire: Oh my gods ‘Dirty weekender’ festival in August should be wicked and theres a big Formation party in Peterborough at the end of April. Watch out for my Manchester gigs at HitnRun etc.

Example: What sort of a set can we expect to hear from you?

Hotwire:My sets are a good reflection of my production style in that they encompass the best of all dnb styles. I base them around my own material but they’re laced with my favourite/future current dnb and classic bangers.

Example: Any shout outs?

Hotwire: Shouts to Rollz, Critical impact ,SS and all at Formation camp. Shouts to all my fam at www.noteshop.co.uk
Shouts to DRS and Strats and all Broken English fam. Shouts to Davie and everyone at OMG. Shouts To Rich and Al at HitnRun(Mondays converted to Fridays on the regs!!).Shouts to Bionics, Morph, Rivmic and all the Rural junglists from back in the shire. Shouts to my Soldiers Rowney and Propz at G13 Mansions. Paley, George, Sappo, Tonn and all other Manc Junglists I haven’t mentioned.

Example: And finally, marmite, love it or hate it?

Hotwire: With me it’s not as simple as love or hate. I like Twiglets a marmite based snack but don’t eat Marmite. So where does that fall? Maybe I should give that yeasty brown cac another chance.

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