Interview: Damian B
“I’m actually from London but moved to Gloucester and it’s a cool place… if you look past the murders, ghosts and traditional madness.”
What happens when an über producer pulls down the shades on a heavy, hectic ‘jump up’ past in order to (adjusts spectacles)… to go even heavier?
Tell us more, Mr Callide…
I want to write music that has no boundaries and can be played universally in any area of the scene. I also have seen an angle which I really want to explore taking inspiration from tunes like Pendulum ‘Masochist’ and Fresh’s ‘Signal’… no one’s doing this anymore and they’re 2 of the heaviest tunes to come out of the scene. Intraspekt shares this vision so that’s our game plan. It will be showcased on 1Xtra on October 16 when we’re in for a mix and a chat.
So to this end, an album is born. Tell us about the concept behind the Madhouse….
The Madhouse LP is a collection of some of my craziest beats from the last seven years. It’s also kinda like a showcase to show that D&B doesn’t have to be a simple 1 – 2 -1 -2 pattern, or a copy and paste for five minutes. It’s also a celebration and time to put the jump up sound to rest as I launch my new collaborations with Intraspekt.
I think people may forget how hard you go in! Listening to this it’s a bit unnerving… wow! So what exact D&B made you this way, as an influence? Was there a particular moment?
Yeah I guess there was a moment, or at least an era: me and my friends were seasoned party heads, every weekend going to every rave/event across the country… One Nation, Bedlam, Energy, Bristol Academy, Opera House, Manor House and many more. Between 2004-2006 pretty much all D&B tape packs had shout outs to Gloucester and that was us.
Making people react to music is a science and I learned this from this era, I also found that the best way to make a crowd go crazy is to surprise them: make a tune do something they didn’t expect. I guess Supreme is an obvious example that everyone will know, and this is for me one of the prime elements I apply to my production.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4YFKrwYfOA
What are some other tracks on here people NEED to understand about you?
Ecstasy Rising is cool one and actually became a bit of a cult tune across the world! I still get posted videos from different countries with huge audiences losing the plot to it, ha ha!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWhGD0-F9RY
I guess it became an underground anthem. Set Style also: Hazard used it as an intro, and then Crissy reported on 1Xtra to have caused a riot at a festival with it!
What do you think was the spark that incites crowds?
The arrangement of Set Style combined with the Clash-style vocals just make it a very special type of tune that when played at the right time, on the right sound system: it flicks the crazy switch in people’s heads ha ha! That’s the formula we went for anyway.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oom705Yosc
Speaking of great gigs, what are some of yours you’d cite as legendary?
Damn that’s tough. Hmmmm. Venezula, Mexico, Las Vegas… I’d probably go with La Cova in Spain a few years back with Erb N’ Dub. Ask Erb N Dub how I got him out of the Country – great story.
But yeah: almost 2,000 people, massive sound & lighting system all in a huge cave inside a mountain. It was epic.
Harking back to names like Hazard I also hear various things in your sound, from Mampi Swift’s relentlessness to Gen Dub to Full Cycle so who/what do you see as allies in the music? Who thinks the same?
My influences always came from early Mampi, Dillinja, also Friction and anyone looking outside the box.
Who do I see as allies in the music scene? Anyone who’s stayed true to themselves and the scene when this whole ‘Bass Music’ thing kinda took over. It’s easy to forget how tough the last few years have been for a lot of D&B producers and how the commercialisation of areas has somewhat watered down some of the biggest label and producers, but it’s a double-edged sword which has also been a benefit to the scene in some ways. Now that the storm has passed it’s business as usual for many, and I myself have re-focussed my placement in the scene which is to explore and re-invent the sounds of the early 2000’s, producing dancefloor D&B but a bit darker.
Back to that term ‘jump up’ what sort of significance has this style got with D&B? I do love how this style alienates the more, shall we say, polite part-timers, the ones who must only like ‘minimal’ and the like.
Jump up is bigger than it’s ever been, but it’s hugely different from what it used to be. For the most part it seems more stripped back and in my opinion about more the impact rather than the longevity.
I want to write anthems that can fit in to any type of set and can be played for many years to come, I can’t do this with jump up so for that reason I’ve gone for the dancefloor category – if there technically is one – looking at Reeces, 808’s, Tech and epic intros.
I just found out you’re from Gloucester… isn’t that the home of the most haunted pub in Britain, The Ram?
I’m actually from London but moved to Gloucester and it’s a cool place… if you look past the murders, ghosts and traditional madness.
What’s an exclusive bit of info or gossip you could give us that no-one else knows/you’ve never said in an interview?
Until becoming a director in Cygnus Music three years ago, I used to be The Environment Manager for The Road Safety Partnership for Gloucestershire County Council. My job was to investigate road accidents, visit fatalities and generate road safety schemes with a budget of about £1.5M each year.
Holy Road Safety Batman! So regarding Cygnus, your music company, you’re a busy man. How do you do it all?
In the words of Roy Castle (RIP) – dedication’s what’s you need.
Is it an easier world with digital promo or do people just get lazier now it’s all push button and easy?
Well, it’s certainly more competitive. I manage the promo mail outs for some fantastic labels and it’s the norm now to send out promos via email, presented with graphics, a write up, water marked audio and press information. Our mailouts have been consistent in high quality presented to the highest standards with the scenes best labels, so it always pushes through and gets to the heads. Our site is www.cygnusmusic.net
What release dates you got?
My Madhouse LP is out now System Shock Recordings. Callide & Intraspekt – Synthetic Future EP is coming via The Zoooo Records on October 14 and there’s a 1xtra Guest Mix and Interview on October 16. Stay tuned for more…
Madhouse is out now. Listen and download.