With releases on Fokus out now and with an album out later this year, we caught up with Nottingham based drum & bass DJ / producer Dynamic to discuss influences, production tips from LTJ Bukem, plus he provides an exclusive mix...

A lot of your tunes seem to have a definite jazz influence. Is this something that's ingrained into your musical background?
Absolutely, you answered the question. Growing up listening to and falling in love with the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Dilla, Thievery Corporation, Jazzanova, Goodlooking Recs, Cookin Recs and Giles Peterson (to name just a few) was a huge influence and something I've always gravitated towards musically. I guess it's the subjectivity and freedom I love most about jazz forms -  absolutely no restrictions, like an open language. So, in that sense, things are ever evolving which in turn allows for that openness to keep things fresh.

When did you first start making drum & bass, and who were your key early influences within the genre?
Properly, around three years back. Key influences within the genre I guess were more prevalent within the atmospheric / jazz side of drum & bass. Ltj Bukem and Goodlooking Recs obviously played a massive part within that vein. Then there's the likes of Calibre, Alix Perez and Redeyes...  Label wise, there's Soul-R, Fokuz, Celsius, Signature... they're just off the top of my head. The list, as they say, goes on... I've always held a penchant for the more musical side of dnb.

Your tunes tend to be at the more liquid end of the drum and bass spectrum. Do you enjoy other styles and would you ever consider branching out?
Totally. I'm a lover of music and all musical styles. Although i predominantly write 'liquid' dnb these days, my listening is all over the place. So, in that sense, I'm always getting ideas both from and for other musical styles. For instance, at the moment I'm writing some dubbed-out/abstract stuff in a more minimal vein. I'd actually say the majority of the music I write is in fact downtempo - which always helps me to break things up with the dnb nicely. Incidentally, I'm writing a downtempo CD project with Fokuz at the moment, plus there'll be some stuff of that nature on a forthcoming LP I'm releasing with them. The liquid end of dnb plays only a part in both my listening and writing.

To have LTJ Bukem playing your tunes out must be something of a rush. When did you first come into contact with him and has he given you any advice?
Sure, it's been a nice feeling. He's an artist I've been heavily influenced by over the years. I first came into contact with Danny a couple of years back. Basically sending stuff over, him getting back to me, and then regularly going over to Fabric in London to listen to him testing my stuff out on dubplate, which has been a huge learning curve. In terms of advice, I guess it was mainly with respect to production. For example, the music and edits were hitting the mark, but the production aspect required a little more work in order to stand up alongside other tracks within a DJ mix, hit through properly in a club etc… advice that I really appreciated. However, with that in mind, I dont just write dnb for the club - I'd never feel comfortable being restricted in that way. Sure, there will be pieces I'll write aimed at the dancefloor but then there will be stuff i'll make simply to kick back and chill to.

 

 

You've also been getting some radio play from Fabio and Grooverider. How did that come about?
I started sending Fabio tracks around a year back. Then last summer he started spinning them on his show - which has been pretty consistent from show to show over the past year or so.
Grooverider has also been featuring some stuff on there now too which is really nice. This is also where a lot of my fresh material can be heard, as they get sent new music right away.

You have an LP coming out on Fokuz this year. Tell us a bit about that...
I've been in contact with Fokuz for a couple of years now. I started by sending them some tracks and around 18 months ago they decided to put out a digital LP of mine -  a smaller project, with a view to developing things and taking things further as time moves on. So now, as the music and production has evolved to a point where we're ready to take things to the next level, I have another LP coming with them, this time on both vinyl and CD formats, along with a bunch of other 12"s, cd's and digital releases penned in for this year. They're good guys and I can't say enough nice things on how they work as a label, which obviously plays a part in why they've been around for so long. It's been a total pleasure being on board.

What else have you got planned this year, release-wise?
A 12" single with Intelligent Manners - Autumn Leaves & A Season of Love dropped last week on Celsius.Neon City EP also dropped last week on Fokuz Digital which is out now as a Juno exclusive! The LP Modal Lounge forthcoming on Fokuz - which will be available on both vinyl and CD Formats - landing this March. Various 12" singles penned in for release over the coming months with Fokuz and their sister label Expressions. A 12" Single and a digital EP dropping soon with new label Black Reflections Recs who are based in Madrid. A Downtempo CD + 12" Single package which will be released over the coming months, also under the Fokuz Banner. A bunch of tracks confirmed and forthcoming with Goodlooking Records over the course of the year, plus a few other bits and pieces in the pipeline. So, a fair bit happening this year!  

Do you DJ and, if so, where can we catch you next?
Yes, I DJ too - both dnb and downtempo sets. My next gig is coming up this April playing in Kreuzberg, Berlin. I also have other things in the pipeline throughout the rest of the year, in both the UK and mainland Europe. Dates & details will be added to my Facebook page when i get around to updating it and full contact details for bookings can also be found on my Soundcloud page.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Just a shout to the peeps who have supported and followed my music over the last couple of years and also to the fellow artists and labels whom i've been working with: Juice, P.George, Command Strange, Intelligent Manners, Pouyah, Black Reflections, Phat Playaz, mSdoS, Arp-1, Nookie, Radio1, Mary Anne Hobbs, Gilles Peterson, Fabio & Grooverider etc... And most notably LTJ Bukem & Marco at Fokuz for supporting and believing in my music from day one! One Love.

 

Words: Jet Vevers

 

Download Dynamic's Kmag mix here

 

Tracklisting

1. mSdoS - Countenance - Liquid Drops - [DUB]
2. mSdoS - Love of our Soul - Beatalistic Recs
3. Command Strange - Rock Steady - [DUB]
4. Lynx - Shaku - Digital Soundboy
5. Flaco - Punta Las Marias - Goodlooking Recs - [DUB]
6. Flaco - Gimme That - [DUB]
7. Command Strange & Intelligent Manners ft. Pouyah - Do it all Night - [DUB]
8. dRamatic & Dbaudio - Coast to Coast - Flexout Audio - [DUB]
9. Penny Giles - Au Revior Blackbird - Goodlooking Recs - [DUB]
10. Phat Playaz & Blade - The Blade Project - Phat Playaz Collabs LP - Fokuz Recs
11. Donnie Dubson - Muted Horns - [DUB]
12. Command Strange - Winter Morning - [DUB]
13. Dynamic - Being with You - [DUB]
14. Dynamic & Command Strange - Girls - [Expressions007 12" Vinyl DUB]

Related Links:

• Dynamic Guest Mix
• Command Strange Drops Debut LP
• Command Strange Guest Mix
• The Essential Fokuz
• Introducing: Iriann Joyce

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