Words: Damian B
Prestige hails from the town of Kaliningrad. That in itself may fall into the category of ‘things you didn’t know five minutes ago’.
Additionally, were you aware that Annie Mac was a fan? So that’s now two facts.
He’ll be familiar to those down the front of the club. The fans you see industriously liquifying their frontal lobes right next to the bass bins. With a beautifully nasty style repped by the likes of Tyke, Hazard, Harvest and the Grid gents, Prestige is understatedly obnoxious and obnoxiously understated. Case in point: his recent alarming firepower on Grid’s succinctly titled That’s What We Call Bass pt2′ EP.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHRjBJpZpaE
Prestige I must say that this comp is a lot of fun.
It’s real fun; you’re right. Every tune on it is just a pure madness.
Though the reference to actual murder may alarm some fans with nervous dispositions…
Kill A Man was just a joke. I was messing about with some sounds and experimenting and it really wasn’t serious, I actually never thought that I would release it actually.
Sometimes I wonder if some of the best D&B happens that way. Hazard for one claims he never finishes anything!
It was a similar story with Cowboy Desperado…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyS5V_xzQWA
We were just having a bit of fun experimenting and they both seem to have worked pretty well on the dance floor! I’d also add that the track by Rawtee is awesome: a real madhouse is the best way to describe it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaGK5ONN4IQ
It sure is. So how long have you been active as a producer, for people new to your sound?
I first started trying to make tracks around 2004 and signed my first track for System Shock in 2008. So all in all I’ve made beats for about 10 years so far.
So what’s the track of yours that you love most of all?
I was really happy with Scorpio, released on Grid two years ago. It combines different influences – a classic sound with some new vibes in there too. Plus it was supported by both Annie Mac & Annie Nightingale.
Tyke pops up a lot; are you guys of the same mindset?
Well, it’s hard to tell exactly. Sure, we’ve both grown up listening to good music that’s one thing I can say. I’d say it’s not so much a similar mindset because if that was the case it wouldn’t be a pleasure as much to make music together, but maybe a similar feeling as to what is good and worthy… and what is not.
I see: you each bring something unexpected. So in general what do you see as your role in D&B? What do you bring in THAT respect?
In general things are moving forward in a positive direction and I’m glad to be a part of it. I simply hope I can bring something new and different to the future of D&B. But I don’t really have any roles. It helps me to stay beyond the scope.
And in regard to broadening your scope I hear you feature on Tyke’s forthcoming ep on Playaz too…
It’s a great thing for me to be representing Russia and to appear on that label.
OK. If I was to hold a stopwatch and ask what was your fave period of D&B what would it be, with examples? Tick, tick, tick…
2003 I think. Tunes like Vault, Morning Light and Be There 4 U. Just awesome.
I hear you have some interesting general influences, and very 90s-tastic ones too…
Musicians like Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and the Prodigy are the most important influences for me, yes!
Referring back to Russia, would it be the place you like to play out most of all?
My favorite would be Saint-Petersburg, also Moscow and of course my home city Kaliningrad. But I love Germany and Poland amongst others too.
So how do you approach playing live: is it laptop, vinyl, CDs… how?
With my eyes closed, blindfolded and a bag of CDs.
Can’t argue with that! Thanks Prestige.