BringDaRuckus

Mixed Bizness
with Boom Monk Ben & guests

Every Thursday night
11pm - 3am
Glasgow School of Art

£3/4 (GSA students go free before midnight, £1 after)

Since relaunching at The Glasgow School Of Art in September of this year, Boom Monk Ben and his Mixed Bizness crew have been packing in capacity crowds each and every week. Fronted by Boom Monk Ben, the night continues to showcase the Mixed Bizness collective that has grown to international prominence since the launch of Mixed Bizness Artist Agency in December 2007. It features some of the most exciting talents in contemporary international electronic music and embraces the same musical diversity that has put the Mixed Bizness parties on the map. So far our celebration of all things bass has seen the likes of Solid Steel and Ninja Tune’s DK, Montreal’s ragga don Ghislain Poirier, Numbers’ Jackmaster and Radio Skool’s A La Fu bring their own genre defying take on the Mixed Bizness sound to a brimming dance floor that always gives as good as it gets. Expect more from the extended Mixed Biz family as they take their sound across the globe and back again for of you to get down to.

Forthcoming guests at Mixed Bizness….

December 11th Parker (Leisure / Rocstar)

With the release of his debut album ‘To Eternity’, Parker’s has been a name to watch in 2008.

Taking in a vast array of musical influences the album is united by a love of heavy and finely chopped drums, lush orchestration and off-kilter samples. Tempos rise and fall as Parker moves between the epic sweep of down tempo hip-hop through to the blistering roll of dance floor breaks. Its mix of vintage sounds, nu-school production, guest vocalists and driving grooves, has marked the Bristol native out as a rising star in the UK beats scene.

Pre-release hype from the likes of Radio 1, BBC 6Music, DJ Yoda, A Skillz, DJ Andy Smith, and Massive Attack’s Daddy G, has seen singles Sugar Coated and Western Soul get into the right record boxes, and the most esteemed radio play lists.

Sugar Coated was also heavily rotated on MTV, whilst second release Western Soul firmly established itself as a club banger, igniting dancing feet far and wide thanks to its soaring melody, neck snap beat and killer vocal from legendary West Coast rapper Rasco.

Parker’s unique brand of dancefloor production has clearly set tongues wagging, but lets not forget his incredible talents behind the decks! Flawless DJ sets seamlessly blend an eclectic bag of breaks, hip-hop and drum and bass with classic funk, soul and rock! His technical abilities behind the wheels can be heard on his The Butler Did It Mixtape , which has racked up a fan base that includes the likes of DJ Yoda, Russ Cuban, Freddy Fresh and DK, a DJ who championed the mix on his Solid Steel radio show.

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Ivy swings open it’s doors for the second annual Hogmanay Block Party. After a sell out party last year we thought it only right to come back once again with the renegade masters and we have invited some Ivy stalwarts and true bastions of aural quality steer us into 2009.

We welcome back Ooft! and Freakmenoovers for our Hogmanania party and we’re sure you will know why. They are four of Glasgow’s finest DJs and will bring the party to our door, for us and for you. We will open up two floors of disco deviance with 4 hours of muzak and 150 exclusive attendees bringing in 2009 in style. It’s a unique opportunity to avoid the crowds, the hugely inflated ticket prices and the mayhem that can bring you down when you should be up. A free form playlist list brimming with forgotten gems and fresh dance floor destroyers from some of our very favourite DJs and an intimate setting is a sure fire party success. The reason we need you is for your dancing feet. It just won’t work without them. £5 advance tickets are available from Tickets Scotland and behind the bar in Ivy. A bargain you say? You know it is.

2009 has been quite a year for Ooft DJs. They have headlined the So Co Social tent at Rockness, been invited to play the very best clubs in Glasgow – Pressure and Subculture as well as securing a regular spot at one of Scotland’s top nightclub, Snafu in Aberdeen. Their Five20East record label continues to release some of the finest electronic house and disco edits about, with each record selling out even faster than the last. Ali Herron & The Revenge continue to collaborate, make friends and influence people as well as set themselves apart as two of the very best DJ and producers to emerge from Scotland in the last few years. Laurent Garnier, Prins Thomas, Danny Krivit and Maurice Fulton are all massive fans and it comes as little surprise.

Dema & Nice aka The Freakmenoovers have been at the forefront of Scottish clubbing since the late 90s and show little sign of relinquishing their position as the best hip hop style DJs in the country. Their 8 year residency at The Glasgow School Of Art has recently come to an end but with each chapter finishing there is always a new beginning. Expect a party starting mix of hip hop club bangers, electronic dance floor cuts and free flowing feet moving beats, all woven together on 4 decks in the way only they know how.

Ivy Hogmanania Party Featuring…

Freakmenoovers
Ooft DJs

9pm - 1am
Wednesday 31st December 2008

£5 advance tickets available from Ivy and Ticket Scotland.

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OD Hunte
KO

Apparently OD Hunte is a big producer in the music game, but to be honest this is the first time I’ve ever head of him! His music has been used in tons of stuff including American Pie 6, Paula Abdul’s Hey Paula, EA Sports NBA Live 2007 and Beta House. Connected he may be, but on a level this didn’t really rock my boat. The tracks are really fast and seem to have great club appeal, but there is nothing on this EP I could imagine Hip-Hop mixtape DJ’s or radio DJ’s supporting. Out of the ‘Be Like This’ was the best, but even then the gnarling brass riff gets annoying after a while. The fact that the rapper isn’t really saying anything either doesn’t help the vibe here either. Let’s hope the next release is better.

Review by Mark Hughes.

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His first official album, ‘Dear Listener’ is an extremely honest and distinctly fresh project, laden with world class production from SCRAM JONES (MARIAH CAREY / G UNIT), STYALZ FEUGO (CHAMILLIONAIRE / BUSTA RHYMES), Q-TONES (LIL WAYNE) and more. Lowkey’s unique charisma acts as the saccharinely sweet delivery for the powerful, political messages that are delivered within many of the songs on the album. From the captivating story of ‘Relatives’ to the banging reggae tinged ‘Tell Me Why’, ‘Dear Listener’ is sure to be a late addition to be a classic. The incredible ‘Revolution’ hints at the collaborations to come, with an entirely beatboxed instrumental from FAITH SFX and guest vocals from JON McCLURE of REVEREND AND THE MAKERS.

Keep your eyes peeled Lowkey’s involvement in a supergroup band project named MONGREL. With Lowkey as the lead emcee, the band also includes members of the ARCTIC MONKEYS, BABYSHAMBLES and REVEREND AND THE MAKERS. This project will surely cement Lowkey’s position as one of the country’s premier lyricists; do not sleep on his remarkable debut!

In My Lifetime is the first official single off Lowkey’s new LP Dear Listener and features Wretch 32 of The Movement.

The track is produced by Quincey Tones one of the UK’s most prominent Hip Hop producers, best known for his recent collaborations with US underground mainstays EMC (Masta Ace, Wordsworth etc…) and internet hit Ma Money feat L’il Wayne, Talib Kweli and Royce Da 5′9.

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Yes indeed, here’s Boom Monk Ben’s latest effort for y’all to get your ears into. It’s been recorded to give a taste of my weekly Mixed Bizness night in Glasgow. Just ‘right click & save as..’ on the title below, stick it on your boom box and enjoy the bass…

Benny Boom’s Mini Skirts & Extra Hertz Mix

1. Otis Redding – ‘For All The Mini Skirts’ (Atlantic)
2. Ghostface Killah – Charlie Brown feat Mapei (DJ Mehdi Remix) (White)
3. Pase Rock – Get Money Kids (White)
4. Fake Blood – Mars (Cheap Thrills)
5. Kid Cudi – Day & Night (Crookers Remix) (Fools Gold)
6. DJ Mujava – Township Funk (Warp)
7. Roots Manuva – Let The Spirit Move (Toddla T Remix) (Big Dada)
8. Stanton Warriors – Get Wild feat Big Daddy Kane (Nextmen Remix) (Punks)
9. Tayo – Every Time (Mantra Breaks)
10. Mungos Hi Fi – Gwapz (Scrub A Dub)
11. The Bug – Jah War feat Flo Dan (Ninja Tune)
12. DJ C – Nuttin Attall (Death$ucker)
13. Bjork – Dull Flame OF Desire (Modeselektor’s Remix For The Boys) (One Little Indian)
14. Tim Tim – At Water Ca (Modeselektor Remix) (BPitch Control)
15. DJ Funk – Every Freakin Day (Warlock)
16. Benga – 26 Basslines (Tempa)
Dead Prez – Hip Hop (Acapella) (Loud)
17. Jay Z –Big Pimpin (Roc A Fella)
18. Santogold – Creator (Downtown)
19. SL2 – Way In My Brain (Remix) (XL)

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HHBRadio

There’s an old saying that says ‘if you’re going to do something, do it properly’, and that is exactly what CEO’s, mixtape DJ’s, radio DJ’s, producers and now film director’s Lunatrix and Vokal have done. On a level they have covered it all. The DVD bounces in around two hours twenty minutes and is real inside look at how this whole UK Rap game works. UK veterans such as Taskforce, Blak Twang, Baby J and LATE feature along side US rapper Necro and lashings of well-known names such as Akala, Bashy, N Dubz, Stig Of The Dump and Pyrelli amongst others. I particularly loved the Live Hip-Hop section where Manage really tears it up. This DVD is really well put together and shot on high definition so it has a real quality feel. As if that wasn’t enough also included is a CD compilation of twenty-two tracks from the UK’s finest. Loving tracks by Kid Rad, Mr Drastik, Million Dan, Size8, LATE and Chain Of Command! Big release and something any fan of UK Hip-Hop and Grime should definitely own. A superb idea that has been excellently executed.

Review by Brendan Deane

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Where are you from and is there anyone else big in the game from your area?
im coming straight outta da rotten apple nyc as far as big artist hell yea too many to name lol

Explain the music that you make. Describe your style and tell us what makes you different from other rappers out there?
my style is crazy a mix of everything u name it i got it my swagg speaks for itself. what makes me different is i dont follow trends i set em while everybody snapping and switching im on some real lyrical shit i stay in my own lane never try to be someone else ya feel me

What would you say has been your biggest achievement in Hip-Hop so far?
dats a hard question i would say being nominated for most original solo artist of da year at da underground music awards

What studio do you record in and does anyone help you to get your music made?

i record at a few spots basically if its open im in there i also engineer and produce myself

Lyrically, what can we expect from you?

expect real shit from da heart no gimmick all me my life jus listen and u will feel me

Tell us about the new release. Anyone supporting it?

i jus dropped “unleashed” critically acclaimed a 5 star classic mixtape checkit out my album “diamond in the dirt” coming soon

Any plans to do any tracks with ‘big name’ rappers or producers?
i would love to record wit some big names we’ll see

Is Hip-Hop dead?
hiphop isnt dead im still breathing right??????

What are your views on mixtapes?
i love em it shows da real artist no watered down bubblegum shit i listen to dat before i listen to an album

In your honest opinion who are the greatest five MC’s of all time and why?
hmmmmm 1.jay-z 2.rakim 3. Biggie 4. tupac. 5. and me hahahaha

Who distributes for your music?
redzone/reign music

Out of all the gripes of being independent what do you think is the hardest obstacles to overcome?
da politics of da game da machine dat run it

On the flipside of the coin, do you have any tip s for someone just coming in the game?
get ya money right cuz no one works for free its gonna cost u to get in this game if u dont invest in yaself who would?

Have you featured on any DVD’s or made any music videos?
yea got a couple videos floating around

With My Space being so popular do you think its still worth having a website?
i think myspace is wack now it used to be cool now its like a fucking dating site lol everybody think they can model,sing and rap now

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This month TRICKSTA releases his new UK Runnings mixtape in conjunction with The Urban Shop entitled “100% Exclusive”. The thirty-track mixtape features fifteen tracks produced by TRICKSTA as well as seeing him produce and direct his first DVD. It’s a massive release and is already causing a stir on the underground. Alex Davello went to find out more from the man who helped to put Wolverhampton on the Hip-Hop map…

So tell us Tricksta how long did this project take to make?
I started it in the summer of 2007 and it was complete in July 2008. I wanted to make a project with The Urban Shop that really stood the test of time, and I guess by making all the tracks exclusive I have done that. I also wanted to do a DVD. I’ve wanted to do a DVD for ages, so I thought why not do it on this project.

So for those that don’t know tell us who features on the mixtape.
Well I always try and rep different endz. From Wolverhampton I got LATE, 10Shott, Jai Boo, Size8, A1, Conman and myself. I got some sick skits cut up by Jabba Tha Kut who also got me an exclusive from Magishan, and they are both from Bournemouth. I got Bristol being repped by Kelz and Trz aka The Souljah Clique, Bungle from Sheffield, Double E from Gloucestershire, Kid Rad from Lichfield, Unfriendly Neighbours from Tamworth, Deadline from Birmingham, Hard Livin from Essex, and London artists Swift It Major, Reain, Big Cakes, Logic, Manny Moscow, Cons from The Colony, Jimmy Raygun, Debonair, P.A.C and Yaeo.

And the DVD?
It features some of the people on the mixtape as well as Blak Twang, Million Dan, Supar Novar, an interview with HHBRadio.Com and a street artist from the Midlands called Matt “The Artist”. There are a few unseen music videos too. It’s around an hour long because I didn’t want it to be boring.

UK Runnings has been moulding a string bond with The Urban Shop. Tell us more about that.
Glyn is like family to me. He has always understood UK Runnings and what it is all about (promoting and pushing quality home-grown hip-hop music). We hooked up when he sponsored a volume of UK Runnings around 2005. The rest is history… Since then we’ve done a total of three mixtape releases (”The Urban Shop Mix”, “Music For The MySpace Generation” and now “100% Exclusive”), I also do a monthly radio show which is broadcast on The Urban Shop website (to listen go to the website at www.theurbanshop.co.uk, scroll down and at the bottom left hand corner simply click Urban Shop Radio. The Urban Shop sponsor me throughout too, so you can guarantee if you ever see me in some sick garms and want to know where they are from they are from www.theurbanshop.co.uk.

So do you have a fourth mix planned?
Yes we do, it won’t be out until 2009, but the next release from us will be called “Urban Runnings”. It will be a double CD that features different genres such as UK Hip-Hop, Grime, Dubstep and Drum’n’Bass. It’s going to feature some guest DJ’s.

And UK Runnings? Anything else planned there?
Well yeh, I am just compiling “Flying The Flag” which as a collaboration project with Lunatrix from HHBRadio.Com. That’s going to be a double CD with 50 tracks! Massive release with loads of exclusives.

So as a producer and mixtape DJ what else have you been up to Tricksta?
You know me, always got loads of projects on the go! I have just produced LATE’s debut album “Below Street Level” which a tight fourteen track CD that features the likes of Willie D from the Geto Boys, K-Rino and JT The Bigga Figga. Now I am starting to work on tracks for my debut album “Urban Mathematics” which is planned for a release late 2009/early 2010. There are other things I am producing too but I am sworn to secrecy! Mixtape wise, just done mixes with KB Da Kidnappa, Keak Da Sneak, The Jacka, 2025NYC.Com, LATE and many more.

What would you say have been your biggest achievements in Hip-Hop so far?
Releasing over fifty Hip-Hop CD’s on my own record label, all of them official, and all pressed up. No big thing for any USA record label, but for a bloke from the Black Country I think that’s a big statement! Working with some of the biggest names in the scene (both UK and USA), being asked to present the award to best Hip-Hop act at the UMA’s in 2007, Willie D from The Geto Boys rapping on one of my beats, producing a track on K-Rino’s last album that came out in the USA and putting my city on the Hip-Hop map. Big up everyone from Wolverhampton!

So where can you get “100% Exclusive”?
As with all Wolftown Recordings releases you can get them from HMV, Zaavi, iTunes, Play.Com etc, and if some reason they haven’t got it in stock everything is always on www.wolftownrecordings.com.

Okay before you go, anything else you want to say?
Yeh, I run a promotions company. Any UK or US artist looking to get exposure should get in touch www.myspace.com/parkstreetpromotions. Come and see why we got 5000 in three months of launching the MySpace page. There are more details on the website at www.parkstreetpr.co.uk.

Thanks for the chance to do this interview and much love to everyone involved in this project from Glyn at The Urban Shop – check www.theurbanshop.co.uk and get yourself some new garmz, Luna & Vokal from OYM Media who dealt with the DVD and some music videos, all the artists that contributed to it and a massive shout out to the sponsors… Abuze London, Mada, Ambiguous Clothing and Nomis.

Interview by Alex Davello

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Where are you from and is there anyone else big in the game from your area?

Semantics: I live in Portsmouth.There is a weird music scene in Portsmouth that doesn’t seem to know what itself is doing really, kinda like a dog chasing its tail.

SuperStead: London, It was hectic and dangerous but there are lots of interesting people to link and make music with.

Don Le Morso: The Killer Streets of SJT.

Suffice: I am from Liss in the South of UK. There was not much to do there, pretty boring with no music scene. I used to travel to London to see bands and go raving.

Snook: I’m from west london and yeah theres a lot of new talent around its just hard to get heard.

Scribbles: Yeah my name is Aiden David Scribbles from Swaziland, South Africa and the UK (a member of the new race and its a long race to run….but
were running not away, from, but to).

Explain the music that you make. Describe your style and tell us what makes you different from other rappers out there?

SuperStead : We are going to be ecclectic and say something worth saying.

Semantics: I bring the sick multigenred productions on the beats…..

Suffice: We bring a lot of fire and diversity to the UK Hip Hop scene, we all have our own flows and styles….. check it out….

Scribbles: Listen and choose…….

Snook: I’d say my flow is a mix of deep punchy flows mixed with the double time fast stuff. I try to speak positive and keep my lyrics meaningful. I’d say there isn’t anyone else out there with a flow like mine. I’ve put a lot of my character into my flow which i feel makes me stand out.

What would you say has been your biggest achievement in Hip-Hop so far?

SuperStead: I would have to say collaborating with Funky DL.

Snook: I’ve done quite a few shows that that are up there but I’d have to say that having a fully finished album with my collective is my biggest achivement at the moment.

Suffice: I don’t think i am really recognised but to me recording our first album has been the most fulfilling thing i have done so far.

Don Le Morso: Not getting stabbed.

Scribbles: Recording and colloaborating and playing live with some of the best MC’s on the planet.

What studio do you record in and does anyone help you to get your music made?

Semantics: We record and produce everything from my studio, Sativa Cuts Studios, it is a tidy analogue digital hybrid production studio. I produce and engineer the music with contributions from Tommy Stalker and loads of musicians including Travlon who is a genius on everything from accordian to saxophone, Toby Haak, Skywalker and Mr Green on Guitar.

Snook: I work with Semantics in his studio on Karma Collective stuff and as I’m on a music course im in studios quite regulary and im just tryin to make enough money to gradually build my own studio up.

Lyrically, what can we expect from you?

SuperStead: I speak real home truths, represent a universal point of view and bring People Power.

Don Le Morso: Intricate hyper-rhymes, The Hybrid Rhymegrid.

Snook: On my solo mixtape that should be out in January you’re gonna hear a lot of deep stuff. I talk a lot of politics and about the things life may throw at you from day to day. I try to keep my bars intelligent.

Suffice: Diverse conscious lyrics, i always give 100%.

Scribbles: On-pointness

Tell us about the new release. Anyone supporting it?

Snook: The new release is collection of tunes from all of us to let you know what we are about before dropping our solo and joint projects.

Semantics: We have had a lot of support on the underground for “The Mixed-Up Tape”, our debut album and we are starting to get some major support behind us, radio and magazines you know. Big ups to Tricksta at Park Street PR for the help. Respect bro…..

Scribbles: Rough Trade Records in London.

Any plans to do any tracks with ‘big name’ rappers or producers?

Snook: I’m willing to work with anyone that wants to work me. I’m all about networking and making as much music as possible.

Semantics: I have plans to work with Doc Jones from Specimen A, if he is ever free and in the country ; )

Suffice: Not as yet.

SuperStead: Maybe in the future if they are real enough.

Don Le Morso : I am going to be collaborating with Pneumatic and Illustrate in the near future.

Is Hip-Hop dead?

SuperStead: Hell no!! Check the underground!!

Don Le Morso: Depends how much you love it.

Snook: We need re-invent it. I’m trying to do a lot of differnt stuff at the moment that falls into the hip hop catagory but sounds a lot different to what most people would sterotype as hip hop. We need to give it a new breath of life.

Scribbles: Yeah (hahahahahaha) ; )

What are your views on mixtapes?

Suffice: They need to be done, it is good for artists to show their skills.

SuperStead: Cool man interesting to hear how peeps are inspired by other music.

Scribbles: Mixtapes, i love mixtapes cos thats all how it started it all started from a mixtape, thats what cats were making man running rhythms and busting rhymes and putting it on that mixtape.

In your honest opinion who are the greatest five MC’s of all time and why?

Snook: I’ve got a lot of inspiration from artists over the years so its a difficult one, these ain’t the five best but are some that I’d have to show props to. There’s Skibba for holding his scene down for so long and keeping his flow so tight, Nas is probably the greatest lyricist of all time, Immortal Technique’s word play and similies are on a different level, that guy spits some deep *ish*. Biggie was one of the best story tellers. Jigga has that swagger flow and at the moment im feelin Kano and Ghetto.

Don Le Morso: MF Doom cos he is so random and has crazy flow, Big Daddy Kane…. classic, Eminem (age 23) cos he was raw and didn’t give a F at that point, Jehst for the lyrics and Scorsese from Nottingham next year cos he is gonna be big next year.

Suffice: Blackthought from the Roots, Run and DMC, Nas and Talib Kweli.

SuperStead: Busta, Talib Kweli, Ghostface, Nas and Blackthought also man

Scribbles: My favourite 5 mcs of all time are KRS 1 cos he brings the fire and the truth and the light, Jean Grae cos she brings a harsh sensitivity to the way shes sees things in a beautiful way, Lauren Hill she reminds us of our individuality, Eminem cos he reminds us don’t do crack but ill rhymes, Canabis “treat you like a medievil torture method, four limbs tied to four horses all pulling in 4 different directions”

Who distributes for your music?

Semantics: We do a lot ourselves as well as iTunes etc but we also will be hopefully getting a deal with Hip Hop Village (Big Ups Dom!)

Out of all the gripes of being independent what do you think is the hardest obstacles to overcome?

Don Le Morso: Sucking corporate ass nodding and smiling to my boss whilst battling them in my head.

Suffice: Getting your name out and raising funds.

SuperStead: Yeah getting heard on a wider scale.

Snook: Keeping focused is the main thing, if you can teach yourself to stay focused then you can achieve anything you want.

Semantics: Working all day dreaming of chance to do music for life and working all night for that music to make it happen.

Scribbles: Getting the stuff mastered and finding a distributor and dealing with all the fakeness.

On the flipside of the coin, do you have any tip s for someone just coming in the game?

Don Le Morso: Get in touch.

SuperStead: Be True to yourself and don’t be whats on TV!!

Snook: You have to want it more that everyone, there’s a lot of artists out there, make yourself stand out.

Suffice: Pick your beats wisely.

Semantics: Don’t give up, keep strong.

Scribbles: Be on point and practice.

Have you featured on any DVD’s or made any music videos?

Semantics: Not as yet but soon…..

Snook: I’ve got a music video in the pipeline.

With My Space being so popular do you think its still worth having a website?

Scribbles: Wow….. hmmm… good question…. because when your music is on MySpace it belongs to them so put it on your own website when you can and don’t load high quality tracks….. (F*** the biters)

Suffice: Yes it looks pro and shows you mean business.

SuperStead: Yeah you can share more than on Myspace.

Snook: Yeah, you can do a lot more with a website and it’s more professional.

Semantics: Definately, it is more individual and unique to your style on a website. Our website is coming soon, designed by tomdoesdesign, and it will be an interactive experience in the “KC Record Shop”.

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For the last few years there has been a producer out of the Midlands that has really been catching my ear. His name is Juttla and he is a producer that is musically pushing boundaries as he mixes up his Eastern influences with ground-breaking bass led electronica. His first release ‘Angels, Aliens & Assassins’ back in 1999 is now considered to be a classic, and his new album is ‘At War With Satan’ has already been causing a stir with a number of DJ’s including Bobby Friction and Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC Radio One. I managed to grab five minutes of his time to get the lowdown about his new album and his new-look record label.

Okay Juttla, for those that don’t know please tell people what you have released to date.

I released my debut album back in 1999 which is when I also founded my label Eastern Pressure Records. From there I did a few releases for other labels including Swarj, and then licensed a lot of tracks off my debut album ‘Angels, Aliens & Assassins’ to a few compilations in the UK and Europe. I then started getting commissioned to do loads of remixes for various artists including Asian Dub Foundation, Fun-da-mental, Banco De Giai, Wayward Soul, Swami, Aiwa and loads more.

Then around 2004 I started making some chilled out leftfield grooves which eventually led to me producing Hip-Hop. I am very good friends with Tricksta from Wolftown and around 2005 we both decided I should drop an album for Wolftown. This album featured official remixes and fresh tracks all within the Hip-\Hop genre. It featured some big names such as 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, Slim Thug, The Game, Freeway, JT The Bigga Figga and some UK artists such as LATE, Foreign Beggars, 10Shott, Conman, Creamo, P.A.C, Jai Boo and more. The album was called ‘Bass Kicks, Snares, Spits’ and released in 2006.

Then working with the tempo of Hip-Hop and me coming from a more breakbeat / jungle background I fell in love with Dubstep. I started making that around 2007 and from there started on the album which is ‘At War With Satan’.

Wow! You’ve kept busy then! The new album is on Eastern Pressure Records (your label), does this mean the label is back up and running?

Well I can honestly say that Eastern Pressure is now back, and back in a much bigger and better way. I now have someone running the label full-time which has allowed me to get a healthier release schedule together and put out some of the projects I have had in my head for the last five years. I also now have a world-wide physical and digital distribution deal which I am buzzing about. I feel the distribution I have now can help me to really get my music out there. Do a Google search on the album… LOL, it’s on the HMV, Amazon, Juno and Zaavi website, as well as bigger stores such as Tesco, Borders, Asda and WHSmith sites.

I think releasing my own music and remixing other people’s music for various labels has given me the experience, the knowledge and the confidence to step out with my label again. I think that if you are going to do something and put your name to it, you should always try your absolute best. That’s where I am at now.

What releases have you got planned then?

Well this year, as you know I dropped my album ‘At War With Satan’ along with two singles, and at the start of December I will be releasing the ‘Joyrider EP’ by an artist called Charged, who is actually the producer I remixed ADF with back in the day! A lot of people from the Asian Underground will know of his music from before, but his new style and vibe is just something else. I am so excited by this release.

So anything planned for 2009?

A whole heap of releases!!! We have two compilations that will both be released as double CD’s. I am currently compiling them and am looking for tracks. The first one is called ‘Electronic Taals’ which is an Eastern breakbeat project and then ‘Dubstep Pressure’ a double CD of the deadliest Dubstep being made! Also I have just signed an artist called Barbarix who will be kicking off with an EP which will be followed by a full album. That guy is serious! He is remixing my next Juttla single too.

Actually if there any artists are making good music reading this they should get in touch with Neil, the new label manager at info@easternpressurerecords.com – send us links or Mp3’s!

Okay let’s talk about the album for a minute how would you describe the sound of it?

It’s a mixture of bass heavy Dubstep bangers with a more experimental twist. I try to be original and carve my own sound rather than imitating others. I tried to cover all styles of the Dubstep genre, there are some real techy tracks, straight-up dub, and medi tracks too.

So imagine the scenario. You work in HMV and I am a customer. I am in a rush and want to hear three tracks off your album before I decide to buy it. What three tracks would you play me and why?

Well first up I would play you ‘Ramp With Me’ because it seems to be a track the DJ’s have picked up on. It samples a famous film and gives it that drum’n’bass feel. Secondly I would play you ‘Stalker’ as that will be the third and final single. That track has two automated modulation basslines and is something that fans of Dubstep are loving. It’s straight up ‘smack-you-in-the-face’ Dubstep. Then for the third tune it would have to be ‘Sub Zero’ as this track has a fat bassline and really shows me draw for my Eastern influences injecting Asian spices to add to the flavor!

So what’s next for you as a producer?

I am working on tracks as well as compiling the two compilation albums (‘Electronic Taals’ and ‘Dubstep Pressure’), as well as writing music for my next album for 2009. This will be called ‘Paranoid Nightmares’ and feature a few more vocal tracks with some well-known British artists. I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t want to jinx anything.

Well thanks so much for doing this interview. It’s been a real please speaking with you Juttla. We love your music and wish all the best of luck with your future projects. Before you go please give us all your weblinks.

No seriously thank you Alex, for giving me the opportunity to push and promote everything I am doing. Nice one!

Eastern Pressure – the official record label website & shop.
Eastern Pressure - official Eastern Pressure MySpace.
Juttla- my official MySpace page
Juttla – official website.

Big up to my boy Tricksta for all his help & commitment to everything I do, big shout to Dom at RGS for having the vision and belief in myself and my label, much love to Glyn & Sam at The Urban Shop (TheUrbanShop) for sponsoring me, shouts to LATE (make sure you check for his album ‘Below Street Level’ if ya like Hip-Hop!) and everyone on Wolftown, and shouts to all the artists on my label and the artists that I hopefully will be working soon! LOL.

JUTTLA ‘At War With Satan’ is out now on CD and MP3 Download. Make sure you grab a copy!

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