Starting out predominately as a producer in his teens, Bristol based Elemental encountered great success with early releases on labels such as Hotflush, Pitch Black and Halo Beats. As time wore on he fell into DJing, championing the use of Ableton and MIDI controllers for unique live sets. Now running his own label Runtime, we spoke to him about upcoming releases, plans for the future and how the empire began.

As a producer where do you feel your roots really lie? What sorts of sounds were you going for when you first branched out into production?
My early roots stem from hearing my Dad's jazz, avant-garde and classical music, later I got into early nineties hip-hop and hardcore rave music. I got really excited about music when I first discovered the sounds of jungle and early drum & bass on London's pirate radio stations.

I've always been a producer first and foremost, DJing came later. The sound I have always aspired to create is colourful and emotional, featuring both unheard and archetypal sounds, original beats with funk.

Considering that you make all sorts of beats, across varying tempos, what do you really enjoy making most?
At the moment I'm enjoying making spacious beats. I'm not particularly attached to any tempo but I tend to make stuff either at 130-140bpm or around 85/170bpm.

Over the last year or so I've been really enjoying doing stuff at 170bpm, as it's been a long time since I worked at this tempo. I recently had a lot of fun going back to my junglist roots, doing a remix of Affrobilly Jones' Clear the Clutter.

2009 saw the release of your first album Messages From The Void. What's in the pipeline for yourself as a producer? Another album on its way or any other individual releases?
I've been journeying beyond the void, bringing back mystical sounds from other dimensions so yeah, definitely another album in the pipeline. I'm also working with a couple of labels with a view to releasing some of my 170bpm material.

In terms of releases, prior to setting up your own label Runtime, you had tunes signed to Hotflush, Pitch Black and Halo Beats, did you feel creating your own imprint gave you the freedom to release exactly what you wanted?
Having my own label allows me the freedom to release the music I make when I want, and more recently to put out music I'm feeling from other producers as well as collaborations.

Can you tell us anything about these other producers and what releases they have coming up in the near future?
Kolbi Toez, London based producer, released the Phobic EP in September 2011 (which got very little hype but the tunes are heavy) is someone we're working with and looking forward to putting out another release with this year.

 

ENA is a producer from Tokyo, Japan, already gaining a lot of attention within the bass music scene both at 140 and 170bpm. He's got a really original sound, a different approach to making music and he's definitely one to watch. His Use Your Imagination EP has recently been released including collaboration with myself called Tides. Watch out for more collaborations from us on their way.

 

You've been kind enough to put together a mix for us. Can we expect to hear some Runtime exclusives on that or is it more a selection of what your into at the moment?
A bit of both, some unsigned Elemental tracks as well as forthcoming stuff from myself and other producers I'm feeling at the moment, with a range of tempos between 130 to 170bpm.

When it comes to playing out live, your one big on the use of Ableton and live Midi controllers, what extra elements do you feel this gives your live performance?
Using Ableton and Midi controllers enables me to immediately react and adapt the music to the situation and create something unique each time, blending different elements of different tracks, which allows some level of improvisation.

However, I became a bit bored after three years of doing live sets in this way and I am now focusing back on straight DJing, while researching different ways of performing live sets.

Finally, where can we catch you this summer?
I am in the process of designing and building a mobile solar-powered studio, which will hopefully be ready for the summer festival season, allowing on-site, studio performances and collaborations so watch this space!

 

Words: Sam Oliveira

 

 

Download Elemental's Kmag guest mix here

 

Tracklist

1. Scarecrow - Guardian
2. Sotus - With U - Elemental Acid Boogie Remix [Lowvibe]
3. ENA - Analysis Code [7even]
4. ENA - Water Circle [Runtime]
5. Shed - WAX20202 - Elemental Mix [WAX]
6. Troy Gunner - Heads in Hands [Mindset]
7. Om Unit - Naiad
8. ASC - Rare Earth
9. Elemental - Poly6
10. Morphy - Poolbeg St Dub
11. Elemental - Exile [Tribe 12]
12. Elemental - Games We Play
13. Om Unit, Mark Pritchard & Danny Breaks - Alien Titchmarsh
14. Elemental - Flow

Related Links:

• Elemental Interview
• Video: Ableton Launchpad
• Ableton At Bloc Weekend Festival
• Dubspot Online
• Ableton & Akai Announce APC20

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