Hey producer! How’s your sound palette looking? Care to give it a ReBirth?
Look no further…
Bulgarian beatweaver Cooh has just compiled an immense sample pack for Industrial Strength (now available at Loopmasters) and, as you’d expect, it’s saturated in savage sounds. Recently stretching out from his uncompromising hardcore techno influenced roots – both as Cooh and as Balkansky – we thought we’d see where he’s at.
Read on to find out plenty more about Cooh’s current projects – including an idyllic mountainside art centre he’s building! – then enter the competition below for £100 of Loopmasters samples!
Let’s talk sample packs: can you run us through the process of making yours?
I started this sample pack as exporting exclusive parts from my drum and bass tracks, where the sounds were shaped and produced to match my dark techno drum and bass style. I used mainly Reason-based synths like Malstrom and Thor for most of the basslines and the NNXT sampler for beats, FX and other sounds. Then those sounds were fine-tuned and re-edited to fit every drum and bass producer’s taste. When I had the right amount of sounds from my own tracks, I then produced lots of brand new sounds, that would fit the pack and make it complete.
Is it scary putting your ingredients out there for public consumption?
Not for me! I love sharing my sounds with the public and I am really happy when I see some producers using them with ease and coming up with new fresh material based on my input. Those sounds can work in so many ways with today’s computer music technology. Creative people need those for sonic inspiration. Or sometimes just to add some beef to their already kicking tracks.
Is it a challenge to present something for the market which is both ‘your’ sound and something that others can take and use… as if it’s ‘theirs’?
It’s not that easy to find the middle line where a sound of yours can work in other people tracks and styles, but this was always my main inspiration for writing music – finding unique sounds that i can sculpt and finish with my vision for music production.
Of all the samples in your recent pack, which ones are your favourites and why?
I love the crunchy rides, hammering snares, the tech loops and reece basslines. I use them again and again. They are part of the signature sounds of dark techno drum and bass and I often find them using for my heavy dubstep Balkansky tracks.
Have you heard any of your samples in other people’s tunes since you released the sample pack?
Yes, quite a few producers sent me tracks with my samples used and most of them got some serious results. I still find it hard to recognize my sounds when used in creative and unique way, so that’s another good thing I guess.
Have you ever used sample packs yourself? If so, which ones?
I love using sample packs as starting point for some of my tracks and it’s always a big inspiration for me to scroll through well-produced sounds. Back in time I loved to use some Vengeance sample packs, but recently i am really into the samples from Twisted Tools and Glitch Machines. I also used way too much samples for my tracks from the recent Skullstep sample pack from The Panacea & Limewax.
Do you have any particular tips/habits/techniques in the studio that you can share with us?
I am usually making a few different styles of music every day, but my starting point is always looking for some fresh and inspiring sonic material. It comes either from some of my favorite samples, or from synths and hardware equipment which I love to use for starting points. I love resampling loops and grooves through my analog rack full of mooger fooger guitar fx, Sherman filterbank and eventide reverb and delay. Then after long sessions of recorded material I start cutting parts in and out to find useful and inspiring material.
For those who don’t know you yet, how would you describe the Cooh sound?
My Cooh sound is most well-known for its aggressive touch. But lately I am also working on deeper stuff. It’s hard to describe it as one genre. The hardcore and techno influences are also easy to spot in my tracks, but then I love to experiment with them and take it to another level of sonic mayhem. It’s constantly evolving!
What great memories do you have of the last 10 years sir? Any good live/road stories?
I have travelled all around the world and have too many good stories to tell, but I’d love to go back to Australia and stay there for a month, writing chill out music with my mate David. Also always good times playing in Portugal as the crowd there loves every bit of my Cooh sets!
How is your Balkansky alias going? What is your view point for this project? And how is it different to Cooh?
I am doing great with Balkansky and Бalkansky Live (my project with greatest Bulgarian musician Theodosii Spassov and Ivo Christov) I released a lot of tracks in different styles with this alias so far this year and more to come till the end. I use my Balkansky alias for most of my music that is not drum and bass influenced and it stands for my dubstep, idm and deep and experimental tracks.
Do you think your country of origin affects your music?
Yes I think where I live is a really big influence to my music, because that’s where I get inspired for my tracks, walking those streets and having those people around me. I love going to the mountains in my home town and that is the base for my Balkansky project, mixing traditional Bulgarian music with electronica. Also there’s enough weird stuff going on in Bulgaria for inspiration on my Cooh drum and bass stuff. I am sure I woudn’t write the same music if I lived elsewhere, music has always been part of my point of view.
Can you give us an exclusive bit of info that you have never said in an interview before?
I am currently working on a big art centre project that will take place in the beautiful mountains next to my hometown. I want to build proper recording and production studio there and also art ateliers, as I love drawing too (that’s my only professional education) so people can come stay for few days and have the studio and art space for them to feel free to work on music and art while chilling out with the mountain views and amazing nature.
Finally, please tell us about any forthcoming releases you have upcoming…
I am also now finishing a drum and bass album with Limewax (we call our project together LOOH) and also lots of new drum and bass tracks got signed on labels like L/B, Barcode, Citrus and more. On the Balkansky side, there’s a brand new EP coming out for the French label Chateau Bryant and about to finish a new EP for Ad Noiseam too. In the meanwhile i am also working on new ambient project, music for 3 new contemporary dance performances and gathering ideas for my new art exhibition next year.
For more information visit… Cooh & Loopmasters
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