Xtrakta recently won our Unsigned Track competition for April 2011 with his dubstep track In Too Deep so we decided to find out more about him...
 
Please introduce yourself...
I am a 22-year-old DJ / producer from East Grinstead formerly known as DJ Frenzy or N2-Tain. I play and produce dubstep, bassline, UK garage and drum & bass or anything else that I might just happen to like.
 
How long have you been making music?
Only for about the last two years properly. I messed around with different software when I was younger, but I have been DJing since the age of 11 and even got my first club gig at 13! As I am quite new to it, I'm always happy to hear any feedback about my tracks whether it be positive or negative. I know that I still have an awful lot to learn.
 
How would you describe your approach to making music?
I don't like to spend too long making one track. If I haven't got a good idea where a track is going within an hour or two, then I'm likely just to give up on it. I think if the inspiration is gone, then move on. Sometimes I just sit down and all the pieces of a track just fall into place and sometimes I get absolutely nothing!

What's your studio setup like?
DJ wise, two Technics 1210 turntables, two Stanton Str8-100 turntables (I actually prefer these to the Technics), two Numark Axis 9 CD players, a Cortex HDTT5000 (biggest waste of money ever!), an Akai Remix 16 Sampler (from about 1996), a Behringer DDM4000 and, finally, Serato Scratch Live. Not all top of the range equipment, but everything does exactly what I want it to. Production wise, I have to confess, just Fruity Loops running on a MacBook. A lot of people are quick to diss the software but I used to mess about with it when I was a kid, so I've got to know it quite well and it does everything I need it to.
 
Talk us through your winning track, what did you have in mind when you made it?
I'm not really 100% sure. I was definitely pissed though. That seems to be when my best work comes out. I was feeling quite emotional when I made the track as I had a few issues in my life that I couldn't make any sense of and In Too Deep was the result of that.

 

Xtrakta - In Too Deep [Unsigned Track - Free Download] by Xtrakta

 

What else have you been working on recently?
Well, I usually have four or five tracks on the go at once that I go back to now and then, but I'm currently concentrating on a few remixes for Capekojak who is a dubstep producer that is local to me. His stuff is very chilled and sometimes it's nice to have those tracks that aren't just dirty bass wobbles.
 
Got any releases in the pipeline we should look out for?
I am currently an unsigned artist so no. At the moment, some of my stuff is available for download for free on my SoundCloud page. I recently uploaded a drum & bass track called When All Else Fails which is one of my favourites and also available for free download.

 

Xtrakta - When All Else Fails [Unsigned Track - Free Download] by Xtrakta

 

Got any DJ dates you can tell us about?
Unfortunately I'm not recognised enough to have any gigs lined up at the moment, but I do occasionally promote my own nights when I have time. If any promoters are looking for a versatile bass heavy DJ then feel free to contact me on xtrakta@hotmail.co.uk and I can send over demos. I apologise for the shameless plug!

 

Related Links:

• Introducing: Xtrakta
• Kmag Unsigned Competition Apr 2011 Result
• Kmag Unsigned Competition Returns
• Introducing: Drop/Dead
• Introducing: Drop/Dead

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