Look out Manchester! A huge hook up is on the horizon as Zutekh and WHP combine for a hell of a party at the beginning of February. Featuring the likes of dOP, Levon Vincent and Jackmaster are all coming to the cavernous space... but also featuring is Losing Suki's Last Magpie, the lo-key producer and DJ that caused a panic through his 1995 EP last year. In a rare interview, Pulse chatted to the enigmatic producer ahead of Zutekh's takeover of WHP's Victoria Warehouse. Check out his podcast for WHP and read his exclusive interview below. Get on it!
So let’s go back to the beginning - how and when were you first infected with the music bug? With electronic music at 13 when I heard Jungle and Techno music on some cassette tapes a friend had. The mood and energy of the music seamed to just fit. As a kid I loved film scores, especially The Terminator soundtrack, which my dad got me on tape for my sony walkman. I felt this music I had discovered took the elements I liked out of the music and took it somewhere futuristic and far away from the mundane town life I was experiencing at the time.
How would you describe your DJ style to anyone that hasn’t heard you play before? A bit scrappy but always with vibe. I enjoy a lot of sounds so i always try to work my way around them in a set. The flow is still there I believe and in my mind all the tracks work as a set. I feel I have a distinct style which can use skills I learnt mixing hip hop and jungle as well as techno.
You’re from the north of England and currently based in Leeds right? How does the producers and the music scene in the city influence your sound? A lot of them are mates. Its a closed nit scene. Just listening to each other and talking about music influences you.
You have released music on Hypercolour and Losing Suki recently, how did the link with these guys come about? My mate Ste from the label got hold of some tracks after not seeing him in a while. I told him I had some different music to what I had been making and asked if he would have a listen. He listened and they signed… I had no DJ name or an idea of putting it out on what I thought was a house label. But after listening to what they where doing at the time it all fell into place.
Your 1995 EP on Losing Suki has been doing some serious damage and each track sounds distinctly different. What inspires you when you are in the studio and what else is on the horizon with your music which we can look forward to? I'm inspired by a lot of old school stuff still, A lot of the timeless music that still stands out today. I like to make everything sound current and like i say, not stick to a genre too closely. I like tracks that seam to overlap in their influences.
We have seen your name on events with the likes of SBTRKT and Rustie to Paul Woolford, Chez Damier and Pearson Sound – what gig has been your biggest highlight so far? Lots of great gigs recently. Manchester the other week was exiting. A real old warehouse with a great system. Really basic, simple lighting and a crowd of music heads.
You are playing alongside Jackmaster, T.Williams, Krystal Klear, Dinky and dOP to name a few at the Zutekh Warehouse Party in Manchester at The Warehouse Project’s venue, have you heard much about the space and parties there? What can people expect when you play on 2nd Feb? Ill turn up, see what the feel is like and try and make the music fit that. If its a big warehouse space Ill probably play some nice fat house beats with a blend of dark garage to enhance the mood of the space.
Finally, please tell us about your exclusive podcast you have done ahead of the Zutekh event.. Its a selection of early house influences mixed up to where I feel the sound is at now. Theres a few exclusive tracks on there and a couple of new bits from myself.. Enjoy!
WHP Events & Zutekh present Zutekh Warehouse Party
Saturday 2nd February 2013
The Warehouse Project, Victoria Warehouse,
Manchester, M17 1AB
Line Up
dOP — LIVE
SHAUN REEVES
LEVON VINCENT
DINKY
ADAM SHELTON
BLOODY MARY
JACKMASTER
ONEMAN
T.WILLIAMS
KRYSTAL KLEAR
LAST MAGPIE
ZUTEKH DJS