Now an essential part of the H.E.N.C.H. (Hard Earned Never Caught Hustlin) collective which includes Bristol players like Jakes, Headhunter and Gatekeeper amongst its ranks, Komonazmuk had released music on Combat Recordings, Mode and Terminal Dusk before finally hitting out on H.E.N.C.H with the somewhat revered Bad Apple 12" last year.

Rolling that constant kick punch of technoid drum programming around his keen ear for subtle, pulsing, delayed melodies and, quite often, intense, forceful low end, he's avidly working his way round to a busy release schedule, taking on a host of new and exciting projects that will undoubtedly change the shape of his coming year.

Known to the taxman as Kieren Lomax, it was his mother who unwittingly blessed him with the production moniker the record buying public know him by.

"'Common as muck' was something my mum used to call me. I think it's because she's a bit of a council estate snob," he quips jokingly. "I just remember my mum always saying 'you're so common, bloody common as muck!'," he chuckles. "It kinda suits me though... English was never one of my strong points."

After a period making drum & bass as part of the group Ice Minus, releasing on Tech Itch Recordings before starting their own imprint of the same name, Lomax admits he became somewhat detached from the music he was making.  

"We all had different things going on... children, new houses etc... personally I wasn't feeling a lot of the drum & bass I was hearing at the time so I just lost interest with the scene," he recalls. "I was going through a period of not writing any music when Headhunter mentioned I should have a listen to some dubstep. I went through lots of mixes and MySpace pages and found some really good tracks, so I set up my kit and got back on the production."

Having spent some of his formative years learning the theoretics of music practise, studying the processes and techniques associated with recording and production, the back end of tune making comes easy to Lomax, whose passion for snarling riffs was stifled a little by the linear subject matter he was being taught.

"The course I did was just at the start of hard disk recording so we concentrated on the traditional recording side, compression, EQs and micing up instruments etc. This was all useful information but at the time I just wanted learn how to sample and make dirty bass lines," he chuckles. "I didn't last the two years there. I wasn't learning what I wanted to learn so I quit, got a loan, bought a PC and Cubase VST and started to teach myself."

"I do love talking tech though! Gatekeeper even came up with a the name 'The Manual' for me!" he beams. "I like people coming to me with production questions or asking my thoughts on their mix down... I mean, I've been working with Appleblim recently and he can use the equipment and has an amazing musical background, but he lacks engineering skills. We make a great team in the studio, we seem to both complement each other's flaws..."

Finding solace in working with other producers, Lomax really believes in his contemporaries and his surroundings, citing Bristol and its teeming underbelly of bass producers as a big part of his inspiration.

"I think I would of been into music no matter where I grew up; I just maybe wouldn't be writing the music I have," he muses. "I love Bristol, it has such a warm feel and the creative buzz is massive right now. I mean Bristol has always had a key part in a lot of popular and underground music but now the street art and fashion design is really getting a lot of attention too. I think the size of Bristol has a big part in this as it enables everyone to get to know each other on a much better level," he enthuses. "I can pop out for a pint of milk and bump into any number of people from the Bristol music scene... plus everyone inspires each other to do better and make the next step."

And when asked what lies in the future, his answer is as thorough and as deep as the clips of his recent productions that are littering his MySpace page player.

"I'm currently working with lots of artists, including Appleblim. Together we've been doing lots of remix work for the likes of Harmonia & Eno '76, Lee Jones and Side Show. Also there's Arkist, a new name to the Bristol collective, I think he'll be getting a lot of attention in 2010... we've been working on lots of collaborations from deep drum & bass to rolling electro and we have also just finished some projects for Levis and Adidas. Gatekeeper and I have been working on a 12" for Apple Pips which should be out in the spring. I have a mix CD that I'm doing for H.E.N.C.H which will be out early 2010... I think."

"I'm also working out my next release for H.E.N.C.H which will be a four-track EP, I have a solo 12" coming up on Apple Pips called 'Dance Too' that will feature a remix from Lee Jones and I've recently be signed to the Reprise Agency which has really helped me with my bookings. I'm currently in talks about a H.E.N.C.H tour... we're not sure of all the logistics yet, we just know it will happen in 2010."

Words: Oli Marlow

 

To book Komonazmuk email [email protected]

 

Download Komonazmuk's Kmag guest mix here

 

Tracklisting

1. Arkist - Back Upstairs
2. Æon - Defiance
3. Steve Foulds - Gental Seduction
4. DJG - Avoid The Noid
5. Djunya - On The Verge
6. Jus Wan - Beyond
7. Mode - On & On
8. Blood Man - Launch
9. Samuel H Simpson - Spronkle (F Remix)
10. Indigo ft. Chunky - Levitate
11. SLT - Tippers Delight
12. Droid Selector - Crimson Tears
13. Player One - Want Your Love
14. BSE - The 405
15. Magenta - Nostoros
16. Bare Noize - Chucky
17. Distinction - Bionic Bugs
18. BSE - Dirty Friday

 

You can buy all of Komonazmuk's tracks here

 

• Komonazmuk
,
• HENCH

Related Links:

• Punch Drunk's Bristol Dubstep Compilation
• Laid Blak Release Bristol Love Single
• Give Em Props: DJ Joy-C
• Uprooted: Lomax - Artisan VIP
• If Symptoms Persist Video

Like it? Share it!
Sign up for more with the Kmag weekly newsletter.