Whatever it is that hangs over the Ukraine it seems to have steadily seeped into the DNA of the locals when it comes to beats. Consider some of the hard-hitting names on the list: Fade, Hibea and not least the awesomely-named AgressorBunx. It’s official: the Ukraine is overrun with bass renegades and beats fanatics.
And lately one name is causing an unusually pulsating angry red spot on the radar: a certain NickBee. On occasion slaying it on the neuro tip via the unsettlingly-titled Animal Rage ep, he has also packed enough lethal dosage into the Era/Dusk Valley ep on Bad Taste to destroy city-portioned acreage of peaceful forest. Thus, as I shielded my eyes against the glare of this latter fireball, I decided to don my radioactive suit, venture in and confront the man himself.
Nick, about the EP on Bad Taste, I feel that ‘Dusk Valley’ may have come to you quickly, it sounds so inspired…
Hi. Dusk Valley… hmmm, it’s a dark mood track with mighty bassline! I should say that it’s not simple work to do such a bassline. Some producers may recognize this, it was resampled many times.
Resampling is an intriguing process and I know it throws up random results – usually all great, and all hard to choose from! Were you happy with the results overall?
Generally I’m really happy about that 12″, two different and powerful tunes, and the best thing is that these tunes were made with big doses of intuition and soul.
Also it’s a big look for Bad Taste, and joins what is such a fierce roster alongside the likes of Blokhe4d and Billain! When did the tunes come about man?
Well, I made these tunes at the start of last summer. It was truly hard work, about one month per track and about five versions of each, ha ha!
Tell us about Era and the vibe on that…
In my mind it’s kinda really oldschool. But the quality is not oldschool. And maybe it’s only me, but when I listen I imagine thousands of people and a biiiiiig audio system. It’s one for the dancefloor.
Back to you sir, is there any connection between the bee on both the covers of this and the Animal Rage ep and your nom de plume?
Well, the reason I took this nickname is that a bee is a symbol of hard work in Slovenian countries! That’s me! I sit near near my music gear for about 12 hours a day creating and experimenting with beats.
With what approach? What is the wind beneath your bee wings?
My approach is simply ‘to do better track then the last one’ and main thing is to make a track as a total composition. Not simply ‘drums’ and ‘bass’, that’s just too simple.
I love the music from your part of the world, and this point about composition rules! You guys always transport the listener.
Our scene is growing at the moment and I would put forward another example: the Agressor Bunx guys, really into their atmospheric sounds in tunes and basslines, very oldschool too.
‘Oldschool’ can mean different things to different people. To some it’s ’97. To some it’s 2008! What about you?
For me I find myself listening to stuff from 2003-4 right now.
I could write an actual book about that phenomenal period in D&B. So what about more about you and how you came into the music?
I was into it from the age of 13. From the first moment I loved that stuff so much.
What tunage in particular?
I guess it was Bad Company ‘Bullet Time’…
http://youtu.be/y885SjAnnJw
PLUS some other stuff from Gridlok, Noisia, Pendulum (like ‘Vault’). I couldn’t stop listening!
On the BC tip it must have been amazing to hook up with Bad Taste given the Vegas connection?
Bad Taste is such a well-known label in D&B scene and yeah the owner is Vegas, sure! It was a total pleasure for me, he really enjoyed my music, so, we decided to make this a bomb release, ha ha!
What else do you like, artistically, Nick?
Movies such as ‘Amélie’, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, ‘La Fille du Puisatier’. I also read some books, for example by Chekhov.
I know you’re playing locally in the Ukraine in October, what other dates and release details have you got? Thanks for the chat!
On the 15th of November I’m in Rostov, Russia, plus the there’s one the day after, which is TBA. Look out for ‘Same Questions’ with MC Fava on Horizons Music and my album on Dispatch around the New Year mark.