Joined: Jun 4, 2004 Posts: 402 Location:
Off-World Colony
Posted:
Dec 20, 2008 6:57 pm
BASS JUNKIE EXCLUSIVE EA INTERVIEW!
Nexus 6: First of all,
Phil, congratulations for the high quality of “Comply”. As Bass Junkie,
this is not your first album as you released two previous LP’s, “In Bass
No one Hear You Scream” and “Bass Time Continuum”. You’re also the
author of several other opus, including classic “A Taste Of Armageddon”
along with Scott Weiser on the Industrial Bass Machine project or “The
Future Is Dark” CD as Final Dream on Audio Illusion. More than an album,
“Comply” appears today as the very best of your past ten years electro
works, gathering altogether classics from your repertory plus unreleased
jams. How, when and why did this concept come into your mind?
Bass Junkie: Thanks for
your kind words Chris. As you have mentioned this is the third and also
the final Bass Junkie album and has been some considerable time in the
making.
I do intend to continue making music but not in the solo guise of Bass
Junkie anymore.
I wanted to get all of my favourite pre released Jams onto CD along with
all the new material that I was working on and go out with a Bang!!!
N6: “Comply” features
three awesome remixes of classics “Dance”, “Beatronic” and Hip Hop Be
Bop”. Why did you choose these tracks. What do they represent to you?
Let’s talk about their original creators, Egyptian Lover, The Unknown Dj
and Man Parrish. Should we consider them as your masters in music?
BJ: The 3 artists you
mention were and are very influential to me musically and it was an
honour to be able to remix their work.
The Man Parrish remix came about through Ed DMX & Breakin` Records.
Ed was in contact with Manny in 2001 and he asked if he and some other
artists could remix Hip Hop Be Bop for a Breakin` release. Myself, Ed
& Mike Dred were eventually featured on this 12”, but there were
also some other artists originally involved (Aphex Twin, Mandroid) that
for some reason or other never made it onto the release, or never got
round to doing it.
I got in touch with Unknown through Electro Endlos of www.westcoastpioneers.com
who in turn put me in touch with Daniel Sofer who got me to the man
himself, he`s very hard to trace you know;-) and the remix of Beatronic
ended up being a free download on my website www.bassjunkie.com
for the last 5 years or so, until the right opportunity arose where it
could be used. Finally I approached Egypt when he & I played at the
Stereolize Electro Bass Festival in 2004, I asked if I could remix Dance
as it was one of my favourite cuts. I originally hoped he would release
it on Egyptian Empire but it didn`t materialise but Egypt was happy for
me to release it myself so it all worked out in the end.
WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE
N6: “Comply” is said to
be your last album. Why? Any chance to see this project come into
vinyl?
BJ: I just find it
easier and more interesting to work with other people nowadays, I feel
it opens up more possibilities to the music when there is more than one
person involved in a project.
As for a vinyl release, I hope to release a couple of EPs which will
feature the best of the new cuts from the CDs.
N6: When you look back
and contemplate the last ten years, what have been your best moments?
How do you judge your musical career? What are you the most proud of on a
personal level?
BJ: Tough question.
I`ve enjoyed it all and have no regrets. I`m still making the music i`ve
always wanted to make and it`s all been on my own terms. I`ll let those
who buy my music be the judge.
KEEP THE MUSIC ALIVE
N6: Back in the early
days of electro, who and what definitively pushed you to buy machines
and to start producing tracks?
BJ: The urge for me to
make music really came in the end days of the 80`s Electro scene. The
artists who most inspired me at that time were Dynamix II & The
Unknown DJ (X-Men) as these guys were still pushing the Electro sound
when most others had abandoned it. I wanted to keep the music alive as
much as them so that was the driving force for me.
N6: Could you describe
to us your creation process? What happens when you’re in front of your
machines? Do you start with a precise idea? Do you work on rhythm at
first... ?
BJ: I`d say that most
of the time I start with an idea of what I want the track to be, but
this can often change as the track is built and can quite often go in a
completely new direction.
Usually I start with the rhythm but sometimes it may start with vocal or
musical samples that I want to use. That being said, sometimes I just
switch on the machines and see what happens. The creative process often
takes on a life of its own and i`m happy to let it take me wherever it
wants to go.
MY 1210s
N6: Few words about the
Dexorcist and Sum1Else, your close friends and partners in music. How
did they meet you? How do you judge their sounds?
BJ: I met both of them
in a pub near my home. I met Dexorcist first in 1990 through a mutual
friend, then Dexorcist introduced me to Sum1Else soon after. I really
like their musical styles, we have very similar musical backgrounds and
they always inspire me which is why I work with them.
N6: Are you
insubordinate to digital music? Did you sell your vinyl turntables for
Serato for instance? Why?
BJ: I don`t do the
digital thing, for me it lacks the substance that only the physical
ownership of vinyl or CD can offer, I like to get the whole package.
I`ll keep my 1210s thank you very much;-)
N6: Could you tell us
more about these rumors about a possible IBM return on wax?
What is the Brink project?
BJ: Fingers crossed
this will happen, Scott & I just need to get some ideas on the go
again.
There were a couple of trax that were started some years ago but never
finished and I believe Scott still has these somewhere so all is not
lost.
The Brink project is myself and Radioactive Man. We`ve been meaning to
record with each other for some time now and there are 2 trax in the bag
already. Not sure who will release them or when for that matter, but
it`s coming.
N6: What about your
Middle Men album on Satamile? Is it ready to be published?
BJ: The album was
finished some time ago but I don`t think it will be released as such.
Satamile want something different from what we are offering, so it looks
as though I will release an EP of the best material on Battle Trax next
year.
N6: Few words to
conclude this wonderful year in terms of music?
BJ: We go from strength
to strength!!!
N6: Thank you very much
Phil. All the best with "Comply".
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