Paul 'Seiji' Dolby is a man who should be known by anyone with the slightest interest in electronic music. Having been producing for over ten years, originally releasing his music on the highly influential Reinforced Records, Seiji is a producer to be reckoned with. As well as being a founding member of the immensely popular Bugz in the Attic, he also is also producer and co-writer for Roisin Murphy. The launch of his new SEIJI series has so far provided us with music that perfectly encapsulates the current UK underground scene.

Firstly, the first release on the SEIJI series Yesman/ Elevator was massive, but what made you decide to start the SEIJI series?
It just seemed the natural thing to do; the SEIJI series is way for me to get my music out there quickly without it sitting around getting old. The reaction to the Seiji goodies on seiji.co.uk was great so it seemed like the logical next step to do some proper releases.

What can be expected from future releases in the SEIJI series?
I'm gonna be rolling these out every three months next year. Right now I'm seeing the series as instrumental dancefloor tracks in whatever style I'm feeling at the time. I definitely don't want to plan to stick to any one genre or sound, just gonna try and make bangers in many different flavours.

How would you describe your new tracks Straylight and Weedkiller?
Well, it could be stupid of me to pretend that I'm not influenced by funky and garage so I suppose it's just my take on those sounds right now. 

 

Straylight by seiji

 

Weedkiller by seiji

 

What do you use to make your beats?
Right now I'm working completely in the box so it's just software and plug-ins but I've still got my MPC 3000 and EMU 64 so I might break those out soon.   

Do you feel that the current UK funky music is an extension of the earlier broken beat sounds?
No, I think the UK funky scene is driven by a different energy but I'm pretty sure that the broken beat scene had an influence on the rhythms for sure.

Have the varying genres of music you have made over the years reflected the music you have been feeling at that particular time?
Yes, totally all I've ever really done is respond to what I'm hearing and feeling at that time and the reason it never really sounds like anyone else is because I'm so bad at copying other people!

Do you think the music scene is more exciting now or when you first got into producing?
I'm really excited by the scene at the moment just as I was when I started making music. Obviously there have been times when I have gotten more interested in other things but I suppose it's more to do with how I feel about things than the quality of music out there. After all, let's face it, the minute you start moaning about how music's become rubbish, that's when you should really go looking for the good stuff because there's always someone somewhere making fresh interesting music.

Which producers you are really enjoying at the moment?
There are so many great producers and artists out there it's hard to single anyone out but here goes... Ramadanman, Redlight, L-Vis 1990, C.R.S.T, Shortstuff, Lone, Greenmoney, Funkineven, Mark Pritchard, WAFA... I could go on for hours.

Must say a thank you for the free releases on your website, how come you have decided to do this?
Thanks for listening! I'm pleased that people appreciate the freeness but I don't see it as being particularly generous on my part, it's a two way thing and it just seemed a natural way to get my music out there at a time when sharing music seems to be the standard. Can't beat the system... go with the flow.

Is the mix you did for us typical of the kind of set your doing these days?
Yeah, it's a sort of condensed version. I mean I'm not going to be able to play footwork and jungle everywhere I go but it felt right for this mix.

Is there any chance you might make some drum & bass again?
Of course, you never know! I just respond to what I find most exciting at the time. I'm not sure that I ever made 'proper' drum & bass anyway!

What else do you have coming out in the future?
SEIJI 3 is going to drop in February, in the meantime I've got a few remixes coming out, an artist on Mad Decent called Boscoe Delray, Tricky, Drums of Death...

Words: Ben Sanders

 

Download Seiji's guest mix

 

Tracklisting

1. Out In The Street - Mark Pritchard
2. Lion Heart - Dillinga B
3. Chiggy Time 161-130 - Seiji
4. Timber (Seiji Remix) - Coldcut & Hexstatic
5. SEIJI 2 Weedkiller - Seiji
6. Grab Somebody - Ramadanman
7. My My Racecar (Seiji Rub) - Boscoe Delray
8. Let The Sunshine - Labrinth
9. IRL (French Fries Remix) - Girl Unit
10. Pulse Flex From the Drop (Mele blend) - Wiley/LilSilva
11. Smasher Mixdown - Mumdance
12. Sticky Situation (Seiji Special) - Lady Chann
13. What Micky Talkin About - Ms Dynamite / Micky
14. Claptrap - Joe
15. Get Wild (Redlight Remix) - Kano
16. Don't Let me Go - Mala
17. SEIJI 1 Yesman - Seiji 

Mix hosted by www.digital-tunes.net

 

Seijigoodies 7 - Rumpus by seiji

 

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