Livewire is a drum & bass producer from Stroud, Gloucestershire. With a string of releases under his belt and support from the likes of Netsky, John B and Crissy Criss to name but a few, we caught up with him to find out more.

Please introduce yourself...
I'm Dave Phelps also known as DJ Livewire and I'm 26. I've been DJing for about eight years now and producing for a bit less. I started to take it a bit more seriously about two or three years ago when I bought myself a PC and some monitors and since then I haven't been able to stop.

How would you describe your production style?
I would say liquid but I try to make it very energetic too so it works on the dance floor as well as at home. Recently I've been making stuff that's a lot more stripped back and rolling. Avalanche is very different to my other stuff and I hope to put out a lot more stuff like that in the future.

 

LIVEWIRE- AVALANCHE (FORTHCOMING REG002) by daveylivewire

 

What equipment do you use?
Currently my setup consists of a very slow PC that needs upgrading badly, an Edirol UA-25 soundcard, Alesis M1 Mk2 monitors, M-Audio Oxygen 8 V2, M-Audio Studiophile Q40 headphones and a small Behringer desk. Software-wise I use Cubase 5 to make music and I sometimes rewire it with Reason 5. My first release, Let's Roll ft. SC, was made just with Reason but after that I switched over to Cubase.

As for plug-ins I use Massive a lot, also Albino 3, Sylenth, Pro-53, Halion 3 and the standard Cubase synths too. For processing, I use the Waves plug-ins, also the Kjaerhus free ones, Izotope Ozone, Camelphat and Antares Tube and the standard Cubase effects too. I used to use lots but I've narrowed it down to the things I find work best for me.

Who or what influences you?
My main influences probably come from inside the DnB scene, my favourite producer is Nu:Tone and his music is always a big inspiration to me. I think he's one of the few producers who have a truly unique sound and mixdown. Recently I've been inspired a lot by people like S.P.Y., Jubei and Skeptical, people that make more stripped back drum & bass with fewer elements. I've always been into that kind of stuff from a DJing perspective and it's something I'd love to be able to make.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?
That would be the couple of vinyl releases I've had as I've been a massive vinyl buyer for many years and it was always my dream to get my music pressed. Aside from that, I would say the support I've had from people I look up to in the scene has been a very big thing for me and it still seems strange that these people are playing my music. So thanks to all the people that have supported my music, it means a lot.

What can we expect in the future?
I've got a few releases forthcoming, first up is my solo release on Regal Records, Don't Let Go / Avalanche, and I've got two collabs with Ravager, Words & Ideas / Longest Journey, coming soon on Climate Digital. I also have another track called Set You Free coming out on Climate Digital in the near future as well as couple of remixes for other artists too. One of my collabs with Indivision called Skylights is currently being remixed by Phetsta, so look out for that one too.

I'm also involved in a new label called Density Records, it's aimed at the more rolling, bass heavy side of DnB and is being run by myself, Lewis Subverse who runs Deep Soul Music and James OD who runs J11. So if anyone would like to send demos feel free to send stuff via SoundCloud.  I've recently got back into DJing properly after taking a break to concentrate on my production, so look out for me at your local roller-disco in the near future.

 

LIVEWIRE & RAVAGER- WORDS & IDEAS (FORTHCOMING CLIMATE DIGI) (CLIP) by daveylivewire

 

Anything else?
I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me so far in any way, particularly Rob Dimension and Seb at Regal Records, Will at Climate and all the DJs that have played my music.

Words: Joanna Ranson

 

LIVEWIRE D&B MIX MAY 2011 by daveylivewire

 

Related Links:

• Introducing: Livewire
• Podcast 22
• Podcast 17
• Free Tracks: Indivision
• Podcast 24

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