Spirit is soon to release the mindblowing ‘VIP Dial/Cobra’ via his Inneractive label. He’s taken us behind this utterly storming release and given some insight into a recent period of upheaval and revival as well, plus he’s given us 10 influential tunes… Hold up: for Spirit? What! You know this is some list!
First off, this release on Inneractive shows you very ‘centred’ and properly lethal. Put it this way, if I was a kid and just heard of Spirit this would be a perfect intro. How does that sit?
That sits very well as it’s kind of a relaunch for Inneractive, especially as I’m going back to vinyl after a few years.
I’ve had lots of time to go through what I’ve done over nearly 20 years now. It’s a weird thought knowing that some people who will be listening weren’t even born when I started making music or had my first release. In all seriousness, I really do feel the best is yet to come. I have a track forthcoming for Blu Mar Ten called ‘Life Goes On’. It couldn’t be further from ‘VIP Dial’.
I can get quite disinterested with tracks while I’m making them sometimes, which leaves a trail of unfinished projects but I knew while I was making it that it was going to be one of the best tracks I’ve ever made.
When did the VIP come about? Live it must be lethal! What a killer.
Digital and I had our first back to back gig in about ten years and we knew we needed some specials to help out. It really was meant to be a VIP only but the response was huge and after giving it out to a few more DJ’s the questions about releasing it started to come in. If it was just a vague
rearrangement I wouldn’t have bothered but honestly, it’s become my favourite version.
There’s more in there and it’s just that little bit meaner.
I swear, someone always asks me if I’m going to play ‘Redial’ so it was nice to play a new version! There have been comments of ‘oh, not another one. People have still been playing ‘Redial’ up until now, which is possibly one reason for it but there’s actually been a seven or eight year gap since the last version!
Can you talk us through Cobra?
‘Cobra’ is as close to brand new as it gets. I felt that if I was going to release ‘VIP Dial’ I wanted to keep the flip new and what I was up to at this moment in time.
There’s a freedom to it.
I think you can tell it’s me but there are elements I may not have put in there a few years ago which take it away from just cold moodiness. It has a sinister funkiness to it overall and I’ve had a really good response to it.
Trying to keep the flip new nearly backfired though as I went to Sunandbass, came back with massive flu that lasted for two weeks and nearly missed my own deadline!
Tell us about the limited nature of the release?
It’s a pressing of 300. Once it’s gone it’s gone. In fact, with the percentage factory over/under pressing allowance it’s actually coming in just short so grab it while you can!
What are some big influential tunes to you? Things that have slipped into your DNA over the years, regardless of genre.
This would probably be 75% different tomorrow… But here goes:
Alice Coltrane ‘Journey In Satchidananda’
Doc Scott ‘VIP Drumz’
Second Phase ‘Mentasm’
Hashim ‘Al Naayfish’
R-Tyme ‘R-Theme (Mayday Mix)’
Faze-O ‘Riding High’
LTJ Bukem ‘Music’
Master C & J ‘Dub Love’
Goldie ‘Fury (The Origin)’
LFO ‘Track 4’
httpv://youtu.be/3s8Lxl2aKxw
What in D&B inspires you?
I’d say that there’s no particular sound that I find inspiring. It’s more when I just hear something and I think “Damn.. I wish I’d have made that!”
Those are the kind of tracks that keep me interested because you have something to aim for. As long as I feel that there’s more music to be made and new angles to be tried I’ll be inspired. It’s also been good collaborating again and getting different input. Years later and I’m still learning new tricks. There’s going to be more of that this year for definite.
What names?
For new sounds and producers, I really like what Blocks and Escher are doing. They can build these huge atmospheres and can combine melody with mood perfectly.
Response is making all kinds of good stuff and ‘Surveillance’ was one of my favourite tracks from the past year and a half.
It was great to get in the studio with Total Science, and I was really happy to see The Invaderz back properly last year. Digital has been on a huge mission music-wise so there’ll be plenty more happening there. You have to have respect for anyone that can still cut it after all this time.
Speaking of time I hear it’s been a lot of personal upheaval for you?
The last few months of 2014 were pretty haywire! But, while it was a year of flux it was in a positive direction. I really started to enjoy making music again for the first time in a few years.
I moved house twice and ended up 200 miles from Ipswich on the Dorset coast fairly suddenly so there was a lot of packing, unpacking, repacking, storing and sorting out to do. I’ve been here a month or so and it’s a real breath of fresh air, literally and mentally.
Now 2015 has started and I’m on a Hospital album with one of the tracks from the Warm Communications release. There’s more music being released over the next few months and I’m raring to go!
Since then a more organic sound has redeveloped, some DJ sets are becoming more diverse and there’s more of a feeling of ‘anything goes’ again.
Can you explain more, about your own POV?
Moving back to the UK from the US in 2011 after 6 years, life took a while to settle down and I had to get used to being here again. There always seemed to be something needing to be done or dealt with that kept me away from the studio.
When you slow down or stutter for a while you have to rediscover your vibe and inspiration for making music.
At that point there were two dominant polar opposites in D&B and they were both so far removed from why I was ever into it. I think the response Digital and I got from relaunching Phantom Audio helped a lot and kept me thinking I still had a worthwhile part to play.
Can we find you playing live soon?
I’ll be at the massive Renegade Hardware birthday bash on Feb 7th in London and then in Marky’s Innerground room at Fabric on February 20 so come on down!
VIP Dial/Cobra
Image by Melvin Kobe
