Brain Crisis. In the crazy current times it has to be asked: is there anyone whose Brain is NOT in Crisis?
Anyone? Thought not.
Brain in crisis or not, Pavel Khudyakov is composed enough to drop a big ep on Subtitles, also featuring Teddy Killerz. It’s due on April 14.
Let’s talk about the implications of your artist name later sir. First things: how do you actually organise your day? How’s it start?
Well, I usually wake up with difficulty. Then turn on the computer… I make music in the same room where I sleep. I monitor social networks, email, turn on some favorite music, and go have breakfast then come again sit at the workplace and begin to write something. If that doesn’t happen, then it’s time to go do something else.
And what comes first in the array of sounds?
It always begins with drums.
httpv://youtu.be/0j0pXRKBMoo
I love ‘Hands Up’ in particular, can you talk us through it?
‘Hands Up’ originated very simply; nothing special with it happened! It was always sketched that way. Once the vocals were found, I sliced them, worked with the pitch and then the track took form.
Yours is a sound very rich and full of ideas: does that mean that have a similarly rich history and expectation of the genre?
I would like to develop a new sub genre within drum and bass, with technological advances more implied. I like to listen to high-quality sound, like when a track can surprise as what amuses me is all sorts of surprises. Extraordinary sounds, creepy sounds… cool. I love experimenting!
The artwork for this release rather nice: who did this?
The label artwork was done by Stian at Engine design. For the vinyl release we have also included 12 stickers: six designed by Stian and six designed by Jon Black.
Stian has been doing the Subtitles artwork alongside his partner Mike for over 15 years. Jon Black has long history in D&B design, working for over 20 years with the likes of Metalheadz, Prototype, Valve, LTJ Bukem to name a few.
Would you like to expand into album format? Or are eps enough?
No, this is not the case. The Brain Crisis album will be an unusual, dense sound: a mixture of styles and genres, as well as collaborations with different musicians and vocalists.
Considering your particular form of D&B, what’s five influences on you… any genre?
I Am Legion ‘Make Those Move’ (Teddy Killerz remix)
Eli & Fur ‘You’re So High’
Calyx & Teebee ‘Pure Gold’ (Feat.Kemo)
Rockwell ‘Reverse Engeneering’
Claro Intelecto ‘Gone To The Dogs’
Mentioning the Teddy Killerz both in the list and of course on the ep, are you guys from the same scene?
You could say that one of my fellow artists of the project: he lives very close, sometimes we spend time together.
Lastly: you. Your name. ‘Brain Crisis’ to me implies high stress! Drama! Was that the inspiration?
There is nothing unusual, just looking for a name in the dictionary! I wanted to come up with something the opposite of logic and rational thought. I think it turned the other way ha ha!