It’s been a helluva year for Audio – a string of heavyweight releases, followed by multiple nominations in the Drum&BassArena Awards, as well as working on his highly anticipated LP forthcoming on RAM Records has kept the London-based producer well and truly busy.
One of the biggest sets we witnessed at Let It Roll this year, not to mention his next-level B2B session with Teebee at the RAM Records D&BTV takeover – if you’re yet to catch Audio ‘pon the decks this year then here’s your last chance… He’s stepping up with Black Sun Empire for the first time at FCKNYE in what’s set to be one of the biggest B2B sessions of the year. They’re joining the likes of Alix Perez, Icicle, Billain, Phace, DC Breaks and more. Enter our comp below and you could be front row centre…
We caught up with Audio himself to see what he’s got in store for the event and what’s coming up next…
Big up G, thanks for taking the time to chat! You’re bringing in the new year with us at FCKNYE Festival and are going B2B with Black Sun Empire… BIG! Correct me if I’m wrong but this will be the first time you’re going B2B with BSE, right?
Yeah sure is. I’m super excited as those boys are good friends of mine so it will be an absolute blast!
No doubt! What are you most looking forward to on the night?
Seeing friends, drinking and seeing loads of happy ravers see in the new year.
Got any surprises up your sleeve for the event?
Always! My sets always contain lots of new unreleased music that I’m usually testing out and NYE will be no exception.
Speaking of B2B sessions, you recently smashed a wicked set alongside Teebee on RAM Records’ D&BTV takeover – one of our most viewed episodes EVER. Does the B2B format make things a bit more interesting by keeping you on your toes and allowing you to share the stage with someone as opposed to being up there alone?
For me going B2B on a set is like 2 MCs battling – I’m trying to do the heaviest mixes and drop the biggest tunes to out-do the other person. It’s all fun but it’s serious too, well at least for me it is!
That makes it all the more exciting to watch! You’ve been a busy man lately – Napalm and Make It Happen have been doing the rounds and absolutely smashing it! How long did the release take to piece together?
They are part of my forthcoming LP on RAM, so seeing them get a good reaction is always great. The writing process was different on both tracks – Napalm took an age for me. I had to keep re-bouncing the mids to get the right tones, whereas Make It Happen pretty much wrote itself!
The sheer power of Make it Happen is ridiculous. Is there a story behind this tune?
I got the sample pack produced by my label mates June Miller and caught a vibe off a kick drum and snare within the pack, and that was the start – the rest came quickly.
Napalm is heavyweight! As deadly as its title suggests… Love how hard-hitting your production style is, what’s your studio set up looking like these days?
Powerful laptop running latest presonus studio one, with an array of vst from ozone 7 to fab filter pro q 2. I do insist on not overloading myself with lots and lots of vst. I always prefer a few that do the job incredibly well, it adds to productivity as you’re not sitting there for 20 mins deciding on what reverb to put on a reverse crash.
You unleashed the beast that is Shatterdome not so long ago as well – absolute beast of a tune. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Pacific Rim actually – it’s one of my sons favourite films. I told him I would write a tune one day and sample it, and he never let it go so Shatterdome was born.
Do you produce on the road while you’re travelling or find you work better from the comfort of your own home?
Having a laptop allows me to go to the studio to finalise the mix then go home and do some arranging, or start something at home then roll it out in the studio. I’ve had the same studio space with close friends for the last 18 years.
What was your highlight of 2015?
The whole year has been great to be honest! From getting my full back tattoo finished, to releasing the first singles off my forthcoming ram LP.. Oh, and I moved into my new house, so yeah it’s been a good’un!
What’s coming up for you in 2016?
The LP, remixes, more tunes, gigs, DIY and the rest…
Final shouts?
To everyone who supports my productions, my esteemed colleagues and everyone else – big up!
Catch Audio at FCKNYE Festival. Tickets available here.
Make It Happen / Napalm are out now on Beatport, iTunes, RAM Store.
Follow Audio on Facebook / Twitter / SoundCloud.
