GREAT SKIES - 'AMBIENT 2STEP'

Some might say Post Dubstep, he prefers to describe his own sound as AMBIENT 2STEP. He should know the true meaning behind his own sound and that's what we attempt to find out! GREAT SKIES - 'Ambient 2Step' The Interview. 

The music producer GREAT SKIES was born in Kent. Studying at University and now living in East London. He is responsible for the music production behind the track Drowning - CONTEXT. Let's find out more as Great Skies talks to The Patch UP about his thoughts on the sound of Dubstep dying out in 2012, his Mascot for his Facebook fan page and his musical quest to collaborate with his favourite band Smoosh.?!


First of all, What music are you listening to right now?

In all honesty I haven’t found much new music recently that I’ve really enjoyed. I didn’t really enjoy Lana Del Rey’s album. Burial’s new Kindred EP was pretty good! Oh and also, a friend of mine recently showed me Clams Casino who is really good.

You said you didn't like Lana Del Rey's album, is that correct?

I actually didn't enjoy Lana Del Rey's album haha. A lot of people really like it but its just not for me.

Describe your musical style?

As much as I hate the term, I’m gonna have to say Post Dubstep. Every blog I read seems to have me down as a different genre to the last so I think I must just be quite hard to place. Either way, I like to think of my music as Ambient 2Step.

When you usually write a song, what do you go for?

Mostly, my songs are Autobiographical. Each song is about an experience I’ve had or something I’ve felt. For example, 'Point Me In The Right Direction' was about me being really low and trying to push forward. The vocal samples I use, for the most part anchor the song. Also, with each song I attempt something new or experiment with something.

You're now 21, How long have you been producing music?

I’ve been producing for 2 and a half years, ever since I came to university. I started with no headphones, just laptop speakers and Garageband on a MacBook Pro. Slowly I’ve moved up to better stuff. I now use Logic Pro and actually have some pretty good headphones that I got for Christmas. They’re Sennheiser HD 600’s.

Describe your setup?

I’m extremely stupid when it comes to the technical aspect of music production. I know how to use everything, its just I don’t know the technical language of how to use it and different frequencies of bass tones and all that stuff. I have a few techy friends who frequently try to talk to me about that kind of stuff and it just goes straight over my head!

Do you play any Musical Intruments?

I play a few instruments. I’ve only really studied Drums properly and done the grades. I play a bit of guitar but I’ve taught myself really and I play a bit of piano.

Who have you previously collaborated with? Any successful one's

Collaborations have always been kind of tricky. I’ve planned a lot of collaborations but they never seem to get finished due to lack of contact or just differences in the way we make a song. The only collaboration that I’d say was successful was ‘Drowning’ which I produced for Context. Other than that I’ve done a few remixes here and there recently.

Who are your Favourite artists at present?

I hate myself for this but I’ve grown a strange obsession with Die Antwoord. They’re strangely interesting to me. I guess they would be my guilty pleasure. Apart from that my favourite artists at the moment would probably be Radiohead, Smoosh, Bjork and Sbtrkt.

Do you have any Predictions on 2012 – the rest of the year being a big year for who? Or what?

I think Dubstep is dying out a bit now. I’ve seen a lot of Dubstep producers slowly changing over genres and distancing themselves from it. The genre to make at the moment is House music by the looks of things so I’d expect to see that come into the mainstream a little bit more.

Future collabs on the cards? Who would you most likely want to collaborate with and why?

I have no idea. I haven’t got anything planned really. I might be doing a song with Yanaku and The Camouflage Children soon who I’ve been chatting with recently. But apart from that I’ve got no plans. I’ve been trying to get in contact with Smoosh for a while, who are embarrassingly one of my favourite bands. They would be my dream collaboration for sure, but I doubt they’d want to collaborate with me, haha.

Talk about your Influences / biggest musical inspiration?

I guess I’ve just wanted to hear more ambient dance music for a while and there was such a shortage of it. I listened to a lot of Post Rock and Radiohead in my teens which kind of shaped the music I make today. Also, Burial has really opened a lot of doors for people like me.

Finally, Do you have any pets?

I have one dog. Sometimes I put photos up of him on my Facebook fanpage. I like to think of him as a mascot of sorts haha. CHARLIE !!

The Patch UP would like to thank GREAT SKIES for his time and wish him many successes in his musical quest. Please see the links below to his music, the video to his collaboration with Context and don't forget to pass by his facebook fan page and say hi to CHARLIE!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/GreatSkiesMusic
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/greatskies
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GreatSkies

 Interview and edit by hugh b trey - patchup 2012

ENIGMA DUBZ 'From Classical to Grime'

This man has played in an Orchestra, taken part in Classical Concerts and Rocked the dancefloor Floor with his Heavy Bass sound at the EDC Festival! Yes that's right, it's 'ENIGMA DUBZ'

The Patch UP goes inside the musical mind of Enigma Dubz 'From Classical to Grime' The Interview.

Enigma Dubz real name; James Vine is a multi talented music producer from the City of Birmingham in the West Midlands. He is best known for his Bass Heavy Productions along with a varied style of music, just like his Album title explains 'Variationz'. His tracks have received plays from DJ's all over. He continues his quest in music and consistently goes for a different style every time with Drum & Bass, Dubstep, and Garage Influences, alongside deep atmospheres and melodies.. From dancefloor to chill out & Classical to Grime. This is Enigma Dubz' Question Time!


Please start by telling us about your background & what best describes your style.

My style is always changing and versatile. Coming from a classical background, melody has always been an important factor in my tracks. Once I found the UK Garage and Dubstep scene's, I found that bass was just something else. My tracks usually have a heavy bass or deep atmosphere alongside the melody.

So, What makes you tick / get up in the morning?

The idea of creating something new and original.

What instruments do you / can you play? Have you featured any live instruments in your tracks?

I grew up playing the cello and achieved my Grade 8. I can also play the Piano and achieved Grade 5 before leaving the exam process and just playing to compose. I have used my Cello in a track, it was a chilled acoustic mix of Katie McLeod's Under My Skin, sounded really good too!

What is your biggest Influence, musical inspiration?

Classical music is a big inspiration of mine and playing in Orchestras. I'd say that Garage music is also a huge influence of mine, it was the Genre that really got me into producing and made me realize I had a real passion for Bass and Beats.

What's on the Agenda for the rest of 2012?

Lots more music! I'm just finishing my second album called 'Genesis' which will be coming out on LU10 Records and I'm sure there will be plenty more from me coming out on LU10 this year to. Hopefully some official remix work to, definitely need to get on that. I'm going to be pushing my DJ sets more this year, so you'll hopefully see me on some big nights in 2012.

You have just made a Track Called 'I only smoke Weed' What influenced you when making this particular track?

Cannabis is the major influence, hence the vocal sample and the Dub/Reggae vibe. Also Influenced by the whole Dubstep vibe and how well these tracks go down on a phat system, like how Subdub in Leeds used to be.

Places to go out in your City? Where do you like to be seen at night?

The best places to go in Brimingham I'd say are The Rainbow Warehouse, Custard Factory and Hare and Hounds Pub as these venues attract a crowd which wants to hear good music, rather then be there for the image.

Do you have a Claim to fame?

One of the best moments so far for me is seeing Laidback Luke dropping one of my tracks (Darnce) at the 2010 EDC festival and watching the fireworks go off with the crowd going nutts!

James, please tell us about an embarrassing experience? :)

I remember something really embarrassing happening in a classical concert around 8 years ago in a church hall. We were playing Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov which really is solid to play and requires alot of concentration. During the violin solo the orchestra has around a 60 bar rest and cello section have 1 note to pluck about 30 bars into it (roughly, I can't remember the exact time). I was watching the conductor and counting but I must have skipped a few bars and as I was the section leader I had to be confident and lead the other cellists. I was so adamant I had counted properly that I came with a really loud pizzicato note (Plucking)....but i was wrong! No one else played with me, the conductor just slowly glanced at me with the sort of expressions which said 'wtf' and I just slowly lowered my bow and sat there feeling like such an idiot. Even the violin soloist looked over during her solo just to rub it in even more. It was truly embarrassing, thank god it wasn't the Symphony Hall lol

What's happening currently on the release front? Future and current?

Are You Ready For The Bass E.P Forthcoming on Bassclash Records, Headroom E.P - Forthcoming Subdepth Records, Genesis Album - Forthcoming LU10 records and The Rainbow E.P - Forthcoming LU10 Records. All of these have not got a release date set yet, but keep an eye on my soundcloud and facebook for the date announcement asap. Also be sure to grab my mix CD 'Sub-Mission Vol 1' which is available at HQ Muzic Birmingham or online at Bandcamp and just released Katie McLeod's Brighter Day E.P - On LU10 Records available at Beatport.

Other than music, what else interests you?

Other than music I love watching films and going to the cinema. I'm also a keen cook and enjoy being in the kitchen. To be fair I just love creativity so anything to do with that grabs my attention.

Tell us about a memorable experience, when was it and what happened?

One thing that comes to mind is sitting on the edge of the plane before I did my skydive, that's hard to forget! Also traveling through India is a real life experience, really was amazing to be there with my girlfriend.

Talk about any random subject, Something on your mind. It can be Something political, Something current, Anything?!

I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about The British Goat Society. I don't know if anyone else is interested in goats, I'm certainly not. I would give you some info about them but there website seems to be down and I don't really know anything about goats, so that will have to be all. Ha ::)

Finally, Please specify a link for the general music lovers to view what you do.

We would like to thank Enigma Dubz for taking time to speak to us and wish him well with his Sounds :) Please see the below links to hear more of his music and check out his Release Dates.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ENiGMAdubz

Soundcloud: ENiGMA Dubz

Interview and edit by hugh b trey - patchup 2012

The Wheeler Brothers! 'Music is our life'

An Exclusive interview with the 'Wheeler Bro's' We can tell you now, They are more than just 'MR NO 1'!

 I Just wanna

be with you everyday,

 now please my little lady

don't turn away,

cause I love you

oooh baby baby baby baby

come home, with me tonight..

Luke & Jack Wheeler are Brothers from Birmingham in the West Midlands. Although, they don't know what home time means sometimes - from past experience??! They talk to us about the song 'Come home with me' and more!

Luke, 26 aka MR NO.1 is a Singer, Song Writer, Producer and DJ (DJ LAW) he is responsible for the catchy tune 'Come home with me' and his brother Jack aged 21, aka Tria Mera is also a keen and talented music producer, singer song writer - responsible for the brand new 'She's So Retro'. Luke & Jack are also group members of 44 Degrees and The Show. The Wheeler bro's have been writing & producing music, along with experimenting with instruments and singing since they were teenagers (They only have their parents to blame?). Let's find out more as The Patch UP goes beneath the surface..!

So then Luke, who has the biggest musically influence?

We both started producing music around the same time. I was around 17 and Jack soon followed, back then our tastes in music were very different. I was producing speedgarage and Jack was a Hip Hop head! As we both got older the gap in our musical tastes grew smaller, and we started working together. Influencing each other from our different musical perspectives! We both took a lead role, listening and working together.

Aswell as electronic Music Production, What instruments do you guys play?

Between us we can play drums, guitar, bass, piano , vocal and rap!

Who have you previously collaborated with? Have you done any remixes for people that we should know about, do we already know about?

We have collaborated with many people but the ones we want people to know about are; Jenny Jones, Shanie Louise, Jayye Jackin and Dappa D

Describe your musical style?

Luke: I like to incorporate all styles and Genres into my music. I think experimentation is key, I wouldn't say that i have a particular style as I like to keep it fresh!

Jack: I Like to infuse elements of hip hop, indie/rock, house and electronica into one genre. overall i just like to make good music that everybody can enjoy listening to.

What is your Favourite album & who are the artists you are currently listening to?

Luke: Favorite albums would be; Biggy Smalls - Ready to die, and Pink Floyd - Dark side of the moon! I don't really listen to current music if I can help it, it seems to cloud my musical direction and originality!

Jack: My Favourite albums would have to be Dre 2001 and The Slim Shady LP because both albums have strong themes and I feel a good album should be like watching a film, have an overall meaning or message incorporated into it. Artists I'm currently listening to are The Beatles, Slim Shady, Biggie, Calvin Harris and Deadmau5.

What's your favourite Country that you have visited and why? Is there anywhere you would like to go?

Luke: India is the best place i have been to. The sights, smells and the way of life is very inspiring. The place I would like to visit most is the Amazon Rainforest, Its the way the earth should be!

Jack: I Really Enjoyed India as well, Their way of life is totally different to ours and their spirituality really interests me. Their music interests me a lot more though as it disproves music theory, after all its only theory not Fact!

What is now your typical Friday night?

We used to be out a lot, but times have changed in my eyes and does not interest us that much anymore. We would rather have close friends round for a laugh. Our typical Friday night consists of us locking ourself away in the home studio and seeing where the music takes us! (Our neighbours hate us, lol :)

Tell us a funny story that's happened in your past musical experiences?
Luke: When I was 17 I went to a club on Boxing Day, I got carried away and had one too many! I was dancing like someone possessed! A friend came over and said "luke were leaving now", so I replied, "no I'm staying"! He then said luke, its the end of the night, the music has stopped, the lights are on and everyone's gone! CLASS!! :)

Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

Our dad got us into music, he played guitar, piano and sang! Our house was always filled with music, from the Beatles to Motown. We always looked up to him and thought what a waste of talent because he never used it, but he did have a wife and four children to look after. He never had the time, that’s why we will never give up on our dream!

Any future collabs on the cards? Who would you most likely want to collaborate with and why?

We have a few projects in the pipeline, you'll have to wait and see! We would collar with anyone, you don't know how it will end up if you don't try. Some times you click, sometimes you don't.

What tracks have you produced that has shown the true you / meaning behind the music?

Luke : My girlfriend passed away 7 yrs ago and I've never been able to express my true feelings. So I wrote a song called "A song for Jayne". Have a listen it speaks for itself, it helped me say things I would never have been able to express in words alone.

Jack: Theres a track I made about a year back, called shadows follow me. You can listen to it on my soundcloud, Its a rap song. I produced/performed/wrote it, its pretty much sums up a dark period in my life that I am not yet fully out of. It expresses something I'm still going through with my darker side and external influences that are still influencing me.

Tell us about making the video and the music for MR NO.1 – what influenced you?

We made MR NO.1 "come with me" on a drunken night. We had come to a wall in the style of music we was making and wanted a break from the norm. So we started a track with no thought, direction or care, it just flowed! We really enjoyed making it, it was new and exciting! we left it on our hard drive for a good year and showed no one. Then we got bored with music completely and was looking for something else to sink our teeth into, so we turned to video!
So we took the MR NO.1 track and decided to put a video to it. So we and a few pals had a laugh doing the video. We uploaded it to youtube to see what reaction we got from it and it took off, with positive feedback.
We were approached by Jayye Jackin and Dappa D to do a house remix. They made the remix and it did the business on the Birmingham club scene.

Musically, what are your aims on the next 12 months?

Keep doing what we have been, thats all we can do! Recognition and appreciation of our music would be nice. Well Guys, We appreciate what you do! A BIG thank you :)

The Patch UP would like to thank Luke & Jack for taking time out. We wish them well with their musical success. We have compiled a list of useful links below, so please show your support and don't forget to click play! :)

!! 'SHE'S SO RETRO' - TRIA MERA (LISTEN HERE) !!

Links

 http://soundcloud.com/lukewheeler

http://soundcloud.com/triameramusic

http://soundcloud.com/jackwheeler 

http://soundcloud.com/theshowuk

Interview and edit by hugh b trey - patchup 2012

WHISTLA - INTERVIEW 'SERVE THE LOVE'

We interview 'Whistla' (The DJ & Producer) featured on 'The Green Light' The forthcoming compilation inspired by Cannabis Law Reform.

Whistla, a 32 year old London based DJ & Producer. Known to have performed in numerous Countries Worldwide including; Australia,The USA & Europe. Whistla is also the owner of Sub FM,L2S Recordings and the Future Garage Forum.

We find out what inspired him when making his track 'Serve the Love',his thoughts on Cannabis and a memorable Fly Larvae experience.

Ok, So Tell us a little about your Musical Background and where you are at Today..

I Started DJ'ing and Releasing music in 1997. I am the owner of Sub FM, L2S Recordings and the Future Garage Forum. I'm Regularly releasing my own music on L2S and lot of other labels including Hype Music, M.I.Raw, Cordovan, Yosh Records, Dual Signal, Digital Bootz, Ox Rider Records, Warehouse Meditation, Kursed Recordings, Bankai Audio, ThaF Records and more. You can hear me dj every Tuesday 8-10pm UK Time on Sub FM. http://www.sub.fm/

What influenced you when making this particular track 'Serve The Love' ?

I wanted to create a track that was spacey and chilled yet also intense and psychedelic, like how being on an Amsterdam coffeeshop crawl can get you like. It's an ode to all the high quality growers out there who are making amazing product but unable to sell it to us because of the government oppression, I want them to be allowed to "Serve The Love"!

Do you use Cannabis for Recreational or medicinal purposes? If so,what is your preferred way to take it? Favourite type (strain) ?

Im a blazer, love a nice spliff. I'm a big fan of Raw Papers and can never go back to Rizla Blues now. My favourite strain is really hard to call, I LOVE Sativa tho. But with regard to specific strains I vary from day to day, and living in the UK am often lumbered with poor quality inadequate strains far too often.

What are your views in regards to Cannabis and it's laws in the UK?

It's time it was legalized, the war on drugs is a resounding failure. Science has proven cannabis to be beneficial to many sick people, it's many orders of magnitude safer than all other regularly used drugs (alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine etc) and its great fun! The money that could be made and jobs that could be generated by it's legalisation are conservatively estimated at £6 billion a year! What on earth are the government waiting for???

For more information on Cannabis Law Reform visit: http://clear-uk.org/

Whistla, Do you have a Claim to fame?

Well, I've Coined the term 'Future Garage'

Do you have a funny story to tell us? One that's happened in your past musical experiences?

Once when playing on a pirate radio station, from a squatted tower block flat. In the middle of summer, the walls (which unbeknownst to me were infested with fly larvae) started to hatch thousands and thousands of flys into the room. The air was so thick with flys that the MC started using an aerosol can and a lighter to burn them out of mid-air! One of the most memorable shows ever.

Tell us about the DJ side of things and your inspiration..

As well as playing regularly all over the UK I have performed in numerous countries Worldwide including: USA, Australia, Belgium, Ukraine, Romania, Austria, Denmark & The Netherlands.

My Influences; Everything! From Ambient to Hardcore, Lo-Fi to Techno. My main focus is Garage but I take inspiration from all forms of music and everything around me.

Places to go out in your City (nightlife)? where do you like to be seen?

There's always something to do in London. Recently I was at Cable to see Submerse's final show before he moves to Japan.

Do you have any Future Releases? Dates / Labels / Track names?

My next single is out on 13th Feb on L2S Recordings and is entitled "Knosis". I also have a number of remixes in the pipeline and am currently working on an album that should be out in the first half of this year.

So what's On the to do list for 2012?

Finish and release my album and play even more shows in new and exciting places!

Finally, where is the place for the general music lovers to view what you do?

Website: www.whistla.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/whistlasubfm

Soundcloud: Whistla

We would like to thank Whistla for taking time out, we wish him every success in the Future 'Garage' and all musical avenues and genres alike :)

Make sure you check out his Tuesday night show, 8-10pm UK Time on Sub FM.

http://www.sub.fm/ We Recommend it!


Interview and edit by hugh b trey - patchup 2012

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