It seems to be a particularly fertile time for bass music right now. Brilliant new music seems to be coming from every angle and in every mutation possible.

We have recently been graced by brilliant LPs from the likes of Starkey, Ikonika and Flying Lotus, with highly anticipated imminent releases from the likes of Guido, Lorn and Ital Tek.

With this deluge of great music, one could be forgiven for missing the odd gem here and there, however, you would do well not to sleep on the often brilliant, multifaceted debut LP, Lets Talk Math, from Seclusiasis affiliate BD1982.

With only two EPs and a handful of remixes to his name, he has not yet garnered the same kind of attention as other Seclusiasis fam like Starkey, however, any one that got hold of his brilliant Shotta Pon Da Corner / Space Boots 12" will vouch for his skills on the buttons.

Transcending the rigidity which dance music often seems to impose on artists, the LP eschews constrictive sound palettes and rhythmic uniformity, amalgamating a wide breadth of sounds and styles into his intricately textured, organic rhythms and futuristic sonics. Harnessing elements of funky, grime, dancehall, dub and hip hop, Let's Talk Math both references where he is coming from and creates something unique, fresh and forward thinking.

Being the amiable guy he is, he has also been kind enough to put together an exclusive mix for Kmag, which you can download after the interview, packed full of heavyweight dubs...

For those that don't know, can you introduce yourself?
 
My name is BD1982, I make heavy bass-oriented music, am a member of the Seclusiasis crew, and I've just released my debut album called Lets Talk Math. I also live in Japan at the moment, really like old zombie movies and often eat green curry.
 
How did you get into DJing/production?
 
When I was 14 years old I got a four-track tape recorder and drum machine to try and make jungle, but it didn't really work out so well. I kept experimenting a bit until a few years later when I found a really good deal on some used turntables and mixer and started seriously buying records. In 2001 I got back into the production side of things and have been trying to level up since then.
 
Could you give a brief overview of your musical background and how you got to the point you are at now, in terms of sound/taste/influences?
 
I think my inspirations generally progressed from Motown and The Beatles to Alice In Chains and Sex Pistols to The Prodigy and Metalheadz. Definitely jungle had a huge role in shaping my current musical tastes as did Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral and Massive Attack's Mezzanine in not only instrumentation but also creating textures and atmospheres. Also Wu-Tang, UK garage, Mo' Wax releases, dub reggae and dancehall played a huge part in where I'm coming from.
 
What is the bass music scene like in Japan? Do you think that living out in Japan has had any influence on your music?

The bass music scene generally in Japan is still relatively small, but very passionate. There are a lot people actively involved in pushing things forward, whether it be booking larger names from outside of Japan, to homegrown underground club nights and, of course, production of new music.

I think the main influence that living in Japan has had on my music is being able to think about what I want to do with each track on its own and taking time with things. Back in New York and Philly, there was a general sense of rushing things along to whatever's next but I'm definitely able to concentrate a bit more on details here. Kinda crazy still saying that while living in one of the most crowded cities in the world though.
 
How did your affiliation with Starkey and the Seclusiasis camp come about?
 
I was familiar with Seclusiasis the whole time I was living in Philly from 2000-2005 and went out to a few of the shows the crew had put on, most notably the Run The Road release party which was Jammer, D Double E and Ears' first US performance.

I ended up meeting Dev79 a few years later after moving to New York from Kyoto and we became friends, he asked me to come down to Philly and play a few Seclusiasis club nights where I met Starkey, Stumble and the rest of the crew at the time. Dev79 later asked me to officially join the crew and I've been grinding with Seclusiasis ever since.
 
With the LP, did you set out to write it as an album, or did it develop more organically into such over time?
 
It definitely was more of an organic decision to release all the tracks together as an album. I usually take a good amount of time gathering drums, hits and tweaking synth patches to have a nice palette to work with and make tracks without any idea where they'll end up. I really think that Lets Talk Math works as an honest snapshot of my influences and progression over the past couple years but also hints at where the new material is heading as well.
 
In the album, I hear a lot of rhythmic similarities to the recent tribal house/funky coming out of the UK. I also hear a distinct grime sound to some of your stuff. Do you feel an affinity with UK bass music?
 
Yeah, I've been a huge fan of the music being made in the UK from jungle, to UK garage, the early dubstep stuff, grime and the new UK funky/heavy bass hybrid stuff that's coming out now. The energy levels and the ability to commit to a certain groove within a tune is what I think is the most inspiring to me. Without a doubt I think the UK has always been pushing the boundaries of bass-oriented music and will continue to do so for a long time.
 
The album has a lot of variety to it. What do you see as the key elements that tie it together? That tie all the music you make together?
 
After listening back to the album in sequence when it was finished, I thought that the drum programming styles and general vibes in the tracks were what tied things together the most. Tempos are varying, I try not to over-use the same drums or samples for the most part, but I always try to achieve a point to where you could hear just about ten seconds of a tune and recognize it's mine. It's definitely something I strive for and really respect when other producers can achieve it.
 
With the album complete and out in the public sphere, how do you feel?
 
It feels great to have this chapter of the music I've been working on closed and out there for consumption. Kinda reminds me of finishing a year at school or a job in a way, feeling accomplished and ready to see what's next down the road.
 
Have you got anything else in the pipeline over the next few months?
 
Yeah, a bunch of things are going on actually. Besides playing some gigs in and around Tokyo, first up in line is completing about ten tracks for Makumba Sound, a side-project with 100mado from the Back To Chill crew in Tokyo.

There are some remixes out soon for Dev79 and Matt B. A follow-up single from Lets Talk Math with some really exciting remixes. Later on in the year some tracks out on Street Bass Anthems Vol. 5 and the Slit Jockey Records Mixtape Vol.2.

I also have about another album worth of material in development stages so we'll see where that all ends up too.
 
What other artists are you feeling at the moment? Any tips or hidden gems you have discovered recently?
 
In Japan I think some guys to really look out for and check their current output would be Ena, DD Black, Xlii, Broken Haze and Prettybwoy. I'm really into checking out 70s and 80s horror / exploitation soundtracks and would recommend Nico Fidenco, Fabio Frizzi, Gianni Rossi and Goblin for starters.
 
Can you explain a little about the mix you put together and what you wanted to do with it?
 
Basically the mix is a bunch of stuff that I've been DJing out the past few months, recent bangers that have come out, some upcoming tracks and a few dubs of mine mixed in with several cuts from the album.

 

Words: Sam Collenette

Photography: Michael Hicks

 

Download BD1982's exclusive mix

Tracklisting

1. House of Gypsies - Africa (Freeze Records)
2. Mujava - Wild Percussions (Sheer House)
3. KS-20 - Fun-Key (unreleased)
4. Scorcher & Cassie - Me & U (Brains Remix) (unreleased)
5. BD1982 - Lets Talk Math (Seclusiasis)
6. DJ Prettybwoy - P.C. (unreleased)
7. Addison Groove - Dumbsh*t (Swamp 81)
8. Makumba Sound - Tokyo Mod (unreleased)
9. Esko - Faithful (forthcoming Car Crash Set)
10. Orion - Hits From The Bongo Pt. 2 (Carajo Columbia)
11. Anjey Satori - Ritual Woodoo (unknown)
12. BD1982 - Rap Tapes (unreleased)
13. Joaan - Splendor In The Grass (forthcoming 7even Recordings)
14. SBTRKT - One Week Over (Brainmath)
15. Kid Majesty - Desfile Des Los Santos (Ill Friction)
16. Makumba Sound - Chopper Riddim (unreleased)
17. Bubblez - Move Down Low (Devotional Dubz)
18. Terror Danjah - Air Bubble (DD Black Ghettobass Remix) (unreleased)
19. Chief Boima - Baobab Connect (Dutty Artz)
20. BD1982 - Don't Slip (Seclusiasis)
21. Elephant Man - Hurr (VP Records)
22. Jam City - Scene Girl (unreleased)

Mix hosted by www.digital-tunes.net

 

Get Along by BD1982

What We Seek by BD1982

• bd1982
,
• Seclusiasis

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• Makoto Releases Charity Compilation Album
• Virus Night In Tokyo
• Kastle Readies Time Traveler EP
• Shackleton To Mix Fabric 55
• Free Dev79 Remix

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