Jamie S23 hooks up with two of the biggest producers in the underground drum & bass scene of 2015. Saying that, these guys have been smashing out tracks for years as well as playing at many of the biggest raves up and down the country. It’s time to get their thoughts on last year, some predictions on what’s to come and who they think are the next big thing. Check it!
Favourite track of 2015? What was your biggest reload of the year?
Jaydan
“I couldn’t really pin it down to one tune due to the sheer volume of music that came out last year. If i narrow it down to longevity and the length of time spent in my sets then Dimension ‘Whip Slap’ or DJ Hazard’s ‘Time Tripping’ are both up there for me.
Voltage
“It’s a toss up between Serum ‘Fly Paper’ & LSB featuring DRS & Tyler Dailey ‘The View’.”
Everyone has a pet hate about the scene, what was your biggest gripe of 2015? Was it the lack of air horns in the dance or perhaps the lack of burgers on the riders?
Jaydan
“Mosh pitting is something I saw a lot of last year and that needs to go away quickly! There really is no place for that in a rave in my opinion.”
Voltage
“There’s never a lack of burgers in my life! My pet hate about the scene is the music snobs and the division, nobody should judge anyone on their taste in music – it’s all preference.”
Looking to 2016, how do you think the drum and bass scene will evolve? Are we looking at going further into the jungle revival or is 2016 the new 1996 with remixed jump up on the horizon?
Jaydan
“Historically evolution occurs when a producer makes a big stand out track that everyone else wishes they had made. This then influences others to try and produce in a similar style leading the overall sound to eventually change before naturally coming into a new era within the scene.
This is one of the first years I am really struggling to have an actual prediction although to be honest the scene has changed so much and segregated over the last couple of years it’s hard to know where it’s going to head. Only time will tell.”
Voltage
“I think the funk is about to come back, in the tech and jump up side of things there’s only so long you can run with melody-less riffs of random noises.”
If you could cast a magic wand over the drum & bass scene, how would you see 2016 pan out?
Jaydan
“If I could cast a wand over the scene I would drag some of the influential and original artists back, the people who made the anthems and shaped the music. For every DJ Fresh, Shy FX, Chase & Status that we have lost to the commercial scene we have never had any replacements step up and that has left us without those seminal tracks that become what everyone aspires to.
This also keeps the standards of production high. You only have to go back a few years to hear how influential these artists were and how much there music kept the progression exciting and moving forward.”
Voltage
“I would like to see more artists from different sub genres working together and bridging the gap.”
Do you think hardware will continue to make a comeback this year? What’s hot right now in the world of synths?
Jaydan
“I think hardware will continue to grow in popularity but possibly only amongst the older artists that are still operational. I doubt a lot of the new generation of producers would even want to use it as with technology the way it is now the attitude would probably be more along the lines of why do I need the extra headache when I can do it on a computer! My response to that question would be simply analogue warmth.”
Voltage
“For sure! I think more and more producers are realising the benefits of owning hardware, whether it be for processing or generating sounds. Modular is definitely the in thing to dabble in for 2016 “
Sampling came back (thank god!), where do you see DAW usage going in 2016? Will we all revert to hardware samplers again or will the new year see more people move over to products like the Novation Launchpad and Circuit?
Jaydan
“To be honest I’m a Cubase man through and through so I don’t know a lot about the capabilities of some of the newer DAW’s. I can’t see many of the new generation of producers even entertaining a hardware sampler due to the amount of effort required to get results.
The Novation Launchpad to me is a little time passing app on my iPad so I would never really look at it to use in a professional environment then again in a time where the likes of Paris Hilton have a DJ career from using a sync button and pre recorded sets I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone turn up and play from an iPad.”
Voltage
“I can’t see people using hardware samplers a lot really, no one has the patience any more however I believe they have there place in the studio for running things through which is why I have an EMU E6400.”
Who’s hot for 2016 in the land of production? Anyone you would like to do a colab with?
Jaydan
“There’s a few people I’m rating at the minute, Upgrade and his brother Limited are without a doubt a couple of artists that are building in momentum right now and are featuring in my sets a lot.
2016 sees the return of one of my original artists who goes by the name of Shifta, his new stuff getting me excited so stay tuned for that. Obviously I can’t forget Upfront, Aesthetics, Raz who are all signed to my label and making some wicked track right now.
Regarding collaborations I have a few very exciting ones lined up for this year but I’m keeping them under wraps for now!.”
Voltange
“Serum – he’s literally going to take over, I’d like to colab with Ulterior Motive and Enei, great producers.”
Give us a prediction for a winner at the 2016 Drum&BassArena awards. You can’t chose Andy C as best DJ though! (lol)
Jaydan
“Dolly Parton for best alternative live act lol! On a real I would like to see Dimension win an award because I think his standard of production is on a really high level and he continues to go from strength to strength. Certainly someone I rate.
On the more jump up side of things possibly Upgrade for newcomer as I play a lot of his tracks in my sets.”
Voltage
“Who knows!! I know I’m getting best burrito.”
Don’t forget ‘The Blessings EP Part 3’ is still on Jaydan’s Soundcloud – some massive riddims on this:
Voltage has recently added his wicked set with Evil B from November 2015 to his Soundcloud..heavy: