With several high profile releases in the pipeline, things are looking positive for up-and-coming drum & bass producer Script. His story stretches back over three decades to an impulse buy in a record store that would change things forever and set him on a path of musical discovery.

In the early 90s he was regularly attending parties around the London area including the legendary AWOL events and by '92 he was finally bitten by the DJing bug. As the music evolved and split into sub genres Script found himself drawn to the harder "more sinister" vibe coming from labels like Metalheadz, No U turn, Moving Shadow and Renegade Hardware - a sound he still considers to be one of his greatest influences today.

It was around this time that Script started producing his own beats and it wasn't long afterwards that his dubplates started to appear in the record bags of some of the biggest names on the scene. Changes in his personal life put music on the back burner but even during these turbulent times he continued to buy vast quantities of vinyl, even finding time to play out when possible.

About six years ago Script met FD through a mutual acquaintance spawning a friendship that would finally lead him back to the studio. Today, his tracks are receiving support from the likes of Icicle and Alix Perez and with releases ready to drop on Total Science's CIA Deepkut and Zero T's new label Footprints, things are looking very good for Script. We spoke with him to get the lowdown...

What originally attracted you to drum & bass?

I've been into electronic music ever since the mid 80s; I was into breakdance but was absolutely crap at it! I used to get all of the Electro series on cassette. Back In '88 I was in the local record shop 'Loppylugs' and I saw an LP called Northern House in the dance section that had a mad psychedelic cover. Unfortunately, their headphones were broken so I had to take a chance and bought it without listening to it. There was a tune called 'Voodoo Ray' by A Guy Called Gerald. I was in hook line and sinker.

I used to go to Astoria on Saturday nights to Crazy Club and later Fantasy... The vibes were something else. I had never witnessed so many happy people loving the seriously heavy basslines and bashy beats at ridiculous volumes. The scene progressed from acid to hardcore through to jungle and eventually drum & bass

Having grown up as dance culture evolved in the UK, what influences the music you make today?

Listening to different types of music really can influence you. I listen to some old soul music, old skool hip hop, funk and, believe it or not, some 80s business, but with electronic music I have always been into stabs and emotional pads thanks to the hardcore days of '91-'92. I love them, they have so much impact and effect.

On the dnb side of things my two biggest influences would have to be Metalheadz and the older Virus sound. Metalheadz because of the ethos, the label, the music and The Blue Note was an amazing place to be. The early Virus sound on the other hand is so warm and organic but, most importantly for me, it's the funk - it's down right dirty.

Producers that are a big influence are Photek, Optical, Source Direct, LTJ Bukem, Goldie, Doc Scott, DJ Crystl and of late people like D Bridge, SPY, Zero T, Jubei, Total Science, Rockwell, Ulterior Motive, Fracture & Neptune and Icicle. Events that I really enjoy are Medium, EOC, Renegade Hardware, Metalheadz, ABOC, Technology, Rupture and Technicality. You are always pretty much guaranteed come away inspired after going to one of these nights.

Tell us a little about the tracks that have been signed and how they came about...

About six years ago I met FD through Subterra, a friend from Flex FM. We became good buddies and found that we were into the same sort of dnb. I used to go round to his quite often and we'd get on a beat together.

Anyway, to cut a long story short we went to Subterra's wedding in August last year and we stayed in a pub called The White Horse. The following day we wrote White Horse, it's all a bit weird when you think about it.

We played it to Zero T, he really liked it and sent it over to Total Science who signed it pretty much straight away. Next thing we know we're at A Bunch Of Cuts just a couple of days after it was signed and we heard Doc Scott opening his set with it. It has been getting loads of support, so thanks to everyone that has been playing it.

I've also just finished something with Zero T called Guessing Games that he's signed to Footprints. It's not out until September but you'll be able to hear it on Zero T's FABRICLIVE 52 mix in June - I'm really happy that my second release will be on one of the world's best club CDs. It's a dancefloor stepper with a very old skool Virus sound to it and, of course, some stabs. Hahaha!

What are you working on at the moment?

I want to continue making more dnb over the next few years and improving my knowledge and skills in the studio. It's quite a tough transition for me moving from an Atari 1040ST, an Akai sampler and other outboard gear to using everything on board especially as it's been so many years in between.

FD and I have just started something new as we thought it was about time to get on a beat again, and I'll also be in the studio on my own a bit more.

I have some good bookings including Essence Of Chi, Renegade Hardware and Technology and I also have a fortnightly Tuesday night radio show from 10 - 12GMT on www.atomic-vibez.co.uk with regular guests which I enjoy doing. It's fun doing the radio from home because I have so much music that I can pick from the shelves as opposed to carrying a massive record bag with only a limited amount of tunes in it.

All in all though I'd just like to have a few more releases that people enjoy and the chance to DJ a bit more as its something I really love to do.

 

Words: Ron Blanco

Download Script's exclusive A Woman In Every Port mix

Tracklisting

1. Fade Away - Lenzman Ft Jo-S (Soul-R)
2. Three's A Crowd - Artificial Intelligence Ft D Bridge (V)
3. Above The Clouds - Total Science & SPY (Shogun Audio)
4. Steptoe - Calibre (Signature)
5. Kyushojutsu - Data ft K2 (Cylon)
6. Groove Scam - Spinline (Shogun Ltd)
7. Poison The Well - June Miller (Cylon)
8. Living Proof - Code 3 (Exit)
9. The Bug - SPY (Spearhead)
10. White Horse - FD & Script (CIA Deepkut Dub)
11. Response Call - Code 3 (Exit)
12. While You Were Sleeping - Total Science & SPY (CIA Dub)
13. Remembrance - Bal (System Remix)
14. Save Me - SPY & BTK (CIA Dub)
15. Floating Zero - Noisia & Phace (Invisible)
16. Robots - Bailey & Zero T (Ulterior Motive Remix CIA Dub)
17. Gangsta - Total Science & SPY (Shogun Audio)
18. Cougars - FD & Keza (CIA Deepkut Dub)

Mix hosted by www.digital-tunes.net

 

• Script
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• FD

Related Links:

• Issue 68
• Register an event
• S.P.Y Guest Mix
• featureRotation
• Podcast 11

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