You wait and wait and wait. Then two come along at once: a double header of juggernaut-level EPs from London-based powerhouse Trex. Both loaded with life and set at full-throttle.
First things first… Shadow Era on Randall’s Mac2. Damian B asks…
Where did this EP come from?
This batch has come together in the last year or so. Apart from the collaboration with Florida-based Jaybee, which was the last one completed and still sounds fresh! The others had been on-going projects which all tied together at the right time for the EP.
How did the Randall link-up come about?
I’ve been sending out tunes to Randall for a while now, and Get Yours caught his attention so he grabbed it for Mac 2. From there we started to piece an EP together from other material that I’d been working on over the last year or so. Plus, I’ve been buying Mac 2 tunes as far back as ’99 so to have a release forthcoming is an honour for me.
Speaking of history I believe you and D&B go way back?
Yeah, whether it was handing out flyers, raving, promoting or DJing, I’ve been a part of it. In the last six or so years I guess the main focus has been on producing. I’ve had a few things released up to now on labels such as Ingredients, RUN DNB, Flexout Audio and Lockdown to name a few.
I hear you have a longstanding Bristol connection in the music…
I grew up in the West Country and cut my teeth by attending the legendary Full Cycle nights in room two at Lakota and the Ruffneck Ting nights both in Bristol in the mid to late 90s. I guess those nights moulded my outlook on D&B and I think I still carry that with me now.
Re ‘now’… What catches you?
D&B-wise I’m into all sorts really. As long as it’s rolling then I’m in it. Producer-wise, you’d catch me listening to NFM, Jubei, Skeptical, S.P.Y, Marcus Intalex and Total Science to name a few.
Next, up, your Something New EP on Lockdown. What’s in that name, Joe?
It reflects the need to experience new things regularly. In this instance traveling, which is something I love doing: it keeps your mind active and alive. Ella and I wrote this track while living in France last summer. The other three tracks on the EP are all quite different but also sit together comfortably. I think it’s important to rep different shades of D&B so it doesn’t get monotonous.
‘Ella’? ‘Ello ‘ello?
I’ve been collaborating with Ella for a long time now. Something New is probably the best of the most recent bunch. She is a very accomplished, multitalented musician and vocalist. So to work with her is an honour.
What’s your fave tune on this EP?
Concrete Ambience is my favourite from the EP…
Are your urban surroundings the ‘concrete’ in question? Do they rub off on you and find their way into the creative blender?
Probably without realising it your surroundings rub off on you. Just walking around Camden and Kentish Town there are some interesting characters. Or simply: nutters. I’ve played Concrete Ambience out a few times and I was very happy with the way it worked the dancefloor.
Speaking of the dancefloor, where’s a dream place you’d love to play?
From what I hear, Exit festival in Serbia is amazing! So to play there would be a great experience. Also I played Glastonbury around 10 years ago and it was fucking awesome. To go back and do it again would be special.
All that herbal, ‘peace and love’ festival stuff aside, I believe there is a dark secret with you Joe. Something that no-one else knows. Something that almost scuppered such ambitions and snuffed out your entire career?
Yes. There was something I had to do in order to save my musical ambitions and my relationship from total failure.
Joe, just tell us. It goes no further.
I had to snap my copy of FIFA13 after I worked out that in one month I had played a total of 96 hours of online game time.
Game over!
Something New is out now – Listen & Download
