Features

Drum and Bass producer Paul T

Paul T has been involved within the drum & bass scene for over 15 years, ever since he started DJing in 1993 with the Conflict agency.

Around the same time, he collaborated on productions with Jay D'Cruz and Rachel Wallace of Suburban Base Records, and this led him on to work with renowned drum & bass artist Adam F.

Uplifting beats and soulful rhythms are what you find in most of Paul T's tracks, and with it, deep and powerful basslines that leave you in a world of liquid heaven.

Knowledge caught up with him and discovered what his influences were, and how he came up with Chances, the free track he's giving away.

"The track didn't take too long to come up with, but that just happens some times, I try not to make 'filler' tracks any more," he explains modestly.

If you take that approach to every track you produce, you will always get the best results, and the track itself is a perfect example of his style and commitment to drum & bass.

Paul is a musician and as well as a producer, he can play piano, and is a self-taught bass player. This has helped him sculpt his own sound, and allowed his production skills to flourish.

He is currently working on projects with producers Survival and Edward Oberon, and has had recent releases on Good Looking Records, Vampire, Spearhead and Phuzion.

There is an album on the horizon, with fellow producer Survival and is due out in early spring:

"We have about seven tracks done so far, and there has been a lot of live instruments like saxophones and trumpets, and I'll even be playing bass myself."

It seems like it has all been happening in the past few months, and with an album to promote there is the prospect of a tour:

"You never know what's going to happen, but I'm hoping to perhaps get some more gigs, and the album could be a good platform for it, possibly with Survival and Oberon."

Future releases include Absolute Faith, a track forthcoming on Good Looking Records, and features elements of soul, jazz and melodic influences. Rolling hi-hats and sweeping pads allow you to listen to this tune anywhere, not just in a club.

As for the state of the drum & bass scene itself, Paul has an optimistic view, and believes things can only get better, even thought producers are no longer making much money from vinyl sales:

"Most producers these days find it hard to make any money from vinyl sales, and usually do it for the love of the music. Because it's so expensive to produce, you'll be lucky to break even."

The scene has gone in various directions recently, almost a blend of dubstep and minimal and this sort of drum & bass has a benefit for everyone, producers as well as the audience as Paul explains:

"Drum & bass has gone quite minimal and it brings a lot more diversity for the audience, but the scene as a whole is definitely in a good place, production quality have risen a lot over the last few years."