Semiotix has recently dropped the beguiling Dark Arts ep. It also features Nian Dub & Tonn Piper. One thing’s for sure: it’s definitely the sort of hypnotic, system-rattling, backstreet wormhole in which to get completely lost and to lose track of time. So without further ado let’s venture in.
Hey Semiotix when did the Dark Arts ep take shape, when did you start work on it?
I was initially approached by NB Audio with the idea of doing an EP at the beginning of 2014. I’d just had a release on Nian Dub’s Aftermath EP with ‘Antaeus’ and label owner Adam was keen to get me on something of my own.
You’re based in Manchester which has never ever gone off the boil for D&B, so what part do you play there and what got you into D&B?
Manchester’s always had a strong scene for D&B with a lot of good nights and talented artists and right now is no exception, there’s lots of good music coming out of the city at the moment.
I moved back to Manchester about a year and a half ago, having lived in the city a few years before. I grew up 40 miles away in Preston but have been coming to nights here for good 10 years or so now.
Regarding the Dark Arts ep, ‘Sleep Later’ is a fave and I like that title… like ‘Sleep When I’m Dead’ sort of thing. Can you tell us about how it came to be?
‘Sleep Later’ was an old track I made years ago and just reworked for the EP but the others were all made at the beginning of last year. Was a bit of a slow process, I tend to change my mind a lot so the tracks kept changing as the weeks went by.
When thinking of what tracks to include I wanted to make sure I showed the variety of stuff I like to produce but also get them to come together with a collective sound for the EP. ‘Sleep Later’ was one of the last tracks to make it on – I had pretty much finished the other tracks when I dug out the old project and started messing about with it. Adam heard it and insisted it went on the EP.
It started life out as a much more stripped-back, minimal track which had an audio sample saying ‘sleep later’ before the drop. When I was reworking it for the EP and Tonn Piper got involved I was keen to keep it in as I thought it just fit so well with the track.
And yes, there’s a ‘sleep later when you’re dead’ insinuation but also there’s a link to raving and staying up to the early hours.
I was really happy with the vocal Tonn came back with – just captured the vibe I was going for and pulled everything together.
I heard you’re a drummer? What sort of kit do you have and is it good for sampling/triggering samples?
I’ve been playing drums on and off for about 10 years, never had any lessons or anything, just bought a kit and sort of dived in. I have an old Premier kit – it’s not the best but tuned up it’s got a nice sound to it.
I use a Roland SPD-S (sampling pad) with a trigger on my bass drum along side it for triggering samples and playing breaks, which I then layer up with the acoustic kit. Still pretty experimental at this stage.
Must be incredible to hear this stuff through a big system. Have you roadtested it?
I’ve played them all out a few times now on a few different systems and yeah it’s always good to feel your music apposed to hearing it. Crowd response has been great.
‘Hidden’ in particular went off first time I played it.
Tell us about the collabs on here…
It was done with Nian Dub and I always enjoy getting into the studio with them. ‘Hidden’ is typical of the sort of tracks we end up making.
Expect many more collabs from these guys and myself in the near future.
The tunes sound like the sort of 4am vibe you’d get from Ruffhouse, Paragon, Overlook… are you into this sound?
Ha yes I’m a big fan of all of those guys so thanks for the comparison – aside from those there’s Clarity, Skeptical, Optiv, Amoss, Ulterior Motive, EBK, Hybris & Gridlok as well.
The art direction for the sleeve is great… is this aesthetic important to you?
The artwork was done by my younger brother Rhys who also does all the flier and poster designs for Relapse, he’s part of a creative collective called OFF TOPIC who focus on print and design.
I sat down with him and gave him a few ideas and just let him run with it and really happy with what he came back with – it’s dark and desolate – just what I wanted.
There’s also a music video for ‘Sleep Later’ (below) exploring the theme some more. Video was done by dLo Media…
What’s five ‘dark’ films you’d cite, on the visual tip?
Five dark films would be The Ordeal, Frontiers, Martyrs, Event Horizon and Irreversible.
You mention Relapse: tell us about this night you’re involved in?
My friend Foz aka Sub:Conscious and I started Relapse over four years ago in small pubs in the city centre of Manchester and it’s now grown to become one of the biggest D&B nights in the North West.
After a while I dropped off with the running of the night to focus more on my production and DJing but Foz is evidently doing great job of doing it by himself though.
The night focuses primarily on the darker side of D&B but it also has healthy doses of Jungle, Hip Hop and Breakcore. Previous guests include Ed Rush, Dub Phizix, Break, Audio, Paradox, Skeptical, Icicle, Doc Scott, Optiv, Enei as well as Remarc, Equinox, B-Key, Bong-Ra, The Teknoist and many more, too many to mention.
What tune is in your head right now?
Tune in my head right now is ‘Obsession’ by Future Cut – one of my all time favorite drum & bass tracks.
Always find myself singing it in my head.
Any shouts, Semiotix?
Shout out to everyone involved in the scene in Manchester especially Nian Dub, Tonn Piper, Redeye Hi-Fi, Travesty, Fortune, Dawn Raid, Sub:Conscious, McDubbin, Rhys and the rest of the Off-Topic crew, as well as Adam and everyone else involved with NB Audio.
Upcoming dates?
Relapse: Ingredients Records takeover – with Alix Perez, Skeptical and more TBA on Saturday May 23 at Sound Control, Manchester.
Dark Arts ep
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