Ilk and Etch‘s understated D&B has found the ideal portal in the form of forward-thinking label Halogen Music, a shared aesthetic and in general a nice place to be. Ilk from the duo – image above – fills us in.
How did the linkup with Halogen Music come about?
Julien (from Halogen Music) hit me up online a while ago asking about a couple of tracks. A few other people had enquired about doing a release but I thought Halogen seemed to be the best offer on the table at the time as I was feeling their output the most.
So what sort of D&B surrounds you on the day to day in terms of how you absorb it or/and experience it live?
I’ve got to be honest, I make a lot more of my own music than I do listen to other people’s, which is good I guess in terms of my own creative output but I’d like to listen to more music in general.
I get most of my inspiration from going to events and just soaking up the vibes and bringing them back to the ‘studio’.
Nights like Rupture at Corsica Studios, Carbon & Originate run by my good friends down here in Brighton always pull strong line ups and leave me itching to make some more beats.
Where did the inspiration for ‘My Soul’ come from… what really set the tune in motion?
I managed to get Zak B. aka Etch over to mine for a little session and we rolled out a little loop that didn’t sound much like the end product to be honest. I think it had the same break and the ‘My Soul’ vocal sample.
Like most of our collaboration attempts we probably just ended up watching shit online and talking rubbish.
I opened up the project file a couple of days later and finished it off, there was no real thought process behind it really just one of those ones where you chuck random samples in and it works!
Who are your heroes in D&B of any era?
Voytek Stanley, he’s everyones hero in drum and bass. If you don’t think he is, you’re wrong.
What music do you dig right now, any genre?
Aside from Drum and Bass & Jungle, I’m really into my techno.
I’m really feeling Andrea’s releases at the minute, you can tell theres some breaky sort of influences in there with the beats
I also just rediscovered this bit by Theo Parrish which I’ve been listening to quite a bit. Shouts to Emily Ono for putting me onto this one a couple years back.
Drum & Bass wise, people like Digital & Spirit, Theory, Blocks & Escher, X-Nation, Kosine, Forest Drive West and Etch of course. There’s a great deal of people making some wicked sounding stuff at the moment and personally I think that more and more people are starting to show love for the more oldschool sounding stuff which is never a bad thing.
What’s next on the menu for you?
A lot! I’ve got quite a few releases lined up with some wicked labels, It’s just a matter of waiting now. I’m really looking forward to getting those bits out though.
There’s some collaborations on the go too with people like Mystic State, Merge & Lynch Kingsley which are sounding good.
I just need to get cracking and finish them off!
As for gigs I’ve got a few down here in Brighton coming up. I’m always looking to play out so if you want to book me send me a message and I’ll come and play at least four good tunes and drink your free beer.