Brother has been producing drum & bass since 2005. Previously he was in a band but after realising the physical and technical restraints of a live band, Brother decided to pursue a more independent path. He's just released his debut album, 'Hidden Depths', for Fokuz Recordings so we tracked Brother down to ask him a few questions. You can download a promo mix of the album here.

How does it feel now you've finished working on the album?

It feels really good actually, some of the tunes on the album are roughly three years in the making, and it has taken me quite a while to finish them off, so it does feel like a weight has been lifted from around my neck. It's nice to have all the music finished and to have an actual product to look at and listen to.

 

What can people expect on it?

It's quite a mellow album, a lot of the tunes are pretty laidback with a nice summery vibe. I use a lot of jazz, blues and soul music as my sampling sources, which gives the tracks almost a retro sound. The CD release contains a few tracks that have already been out on vinyl on Fokuz as singles, and there are also a couple of downtempo tracks on there, which is a bit of a departure for me.

 

Is this an album a collection of dancefloor tracks or does it work more as a coherent whole?

It's more of a collection of tracks that are best suited for relaxing at home to, or listening to on an iPod, rather than a dancefloor. So in that respect I think it does work as a coherent whole. The album has a nice flow to it, ranging in moods, from melancholic to uplifting.

 

Did you set out to achieve anything with it?

I suppose the main aim was to try and reach a wider audience, to introduce more people to my tunes. Also to help raise the profile of Fokuz Recordings, which is a great, very professionally run label putting out some excellent music.

 

What was the experience like working on an album instead of singles?

Well, as stated above, the album is more a collection of tracks, and the main bulk of the tunes were already written before Fokuz came on board with the project, so it was really a case of selecting the best tunes, and then finishing them off, and making sure the whole thing had a flow to it.

 

Who have you collaborated with on it & what was it like working with them?

There are a couple of collaborations on there, one track called '125th Street' was made with Hobzee and Zyon Base, two really great producers who are making some great tunes. It was all done over the internet, I've never even met them in person! I think it was Hobzee who had started off the track, he sent it to me, I added some parts, then sent it on to Zyon, he added some parts, etc. The great thing about it is that we all use the same sequencer, so it made it a lot easier to do.

 

There are two tracks, 'Far Apart' and 'Special Thing' that I made with the help of another guy I've never met, Elle Rollo. He supplied a lot of the samples that appear in the tracks, and a lot of the arrangement ideas. Again, it was all done over the net.

 

On what formats is it being released?

It's out at the moment on a limited edition, eight-track vinyl LP and a double CD containing all 21 tracks will be released in September. Also, two tracks were released on a 12" vinyl sampler ('125th Street' and 'She Said').

 

Anything else you're doing you want to tell us about?

At the moment I'm working on a couple of tunes with MC Fats, trying to get them finished off is my main priority. Aside from that, just continuing to write tunes, and improving my sound.

 

www.myspace.com/brotherdnb

 

• Fokuz Recordings
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• Brother

Related Links:

• Fokuz Releases New Compilation
• Electrosoul System Interview
• Vital Elements Reaches Double Figures
• Marcus Intalex Reaches 21
• In The Studio: DKay

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