Japanese producer Makoto has the ultimate delicate touch amongst drum & bass writers. His releases on labels such as Innerground, his own Human Elements and the legendary Good Looking speak only of timelessness and also of a diverse, eccentric influence, and his LP ‘Souled Out’ explores several styles with Makoto’s untouchable skill. We caught up with the Tokyo base artist to find out about his influences and achievements.
You’re known as an expert when it comes to making beautiful music that touches a nerve, did you know there’s a rumour that Grooverider cried after listening to Golden Girl feat MC Conrad?
Yes, I actually heard the show which Grooverider said that.
I just couldn’t believe it, Me & Conrad did the tune in few days and we didn’t expect the response from people.
Do you have any particular favourite tunes out of the many you’ve made, that have a special significance to you?
Take My Soul Baby and You’re Devine feat. Lori Fine on my 1st album “Human Elements”. They are first time ever in my life I could make tunes which I have imagined in my head. When I started producing, I was always feeling frustration for not making what I wanted. Also as an album, I’m really happy with my new album. It took long time to finish, maybe almost a year, but I have done everything I wanted to do. I’m pretty much souled out.
Your production has such an incredibly textured, musical feel, did you play any instruments before you starting producing?
Thank you 🙂
Yes, I have been playing acoustic piano and keyboards before I have started producing.
I have tried to play guitar as well, but failed. I wish I could by now though…
Your collaborations with Marky have always made a massive impact, will you two be getting in the studio together again anytime soon?
I have always enjoyed collaborating with Marky, he has so many great ideas and
the vibe when we make tunes together are really great.
We were just talking about making tunes again the other day, hope it happens soon.
Your 4×4 refixes are really interesting and funky, do you agree that it’s important to be influenced by other forms of music when making drum & bass as well?
Thank you. Yes, I agree with you. Including my new album and some remix projects, I have been making a lot of tunes like around 130bpm and 4×4. I think Drum & Bass is sometimes too fast to think or try interesting things musically. but after I have done those fresh ideas on 130bpm and 4×4, I can always bring them into Drum & Bass. so it’s quite important to make those different style for me and I always have been since I started.
Your upcoming LP ‘Souled Out’ is billed a collection of different genres and styles, what should people expect from these 15 tracks?
I tried to make the vibes of each tracks are consistent through whole album, even they are different genres and styles. I hope people don’t have to awake which genres or style of the music when they are listening to it, it’s just a music. Also I’d like people to listen to it from the beginning to the end as it has a story as an album. Hope you like it 🙂
Finally, what else are you most looking forward to this year?
I’m just looking forward to seeing what people think of my album and doing a small live show with some instruments in Japan.
Also looking forward to going back to Europe sometime soon.