Featuring productions by Break, Octane & DLR, Need For Mirrors, Mute, Silent Witness, Ulterior Motive and more, 'The Other Side' will mark another milestone in the career of DJ Break and Symmetry Recordings. We sat down with Break, to discuss the artist and flavours involved in the latest LP from Symmetry.

 

Hi Break, here we are again at the release of a Symmetry album, but this one is a little different. Tell us about it.

I've been getting sent so many wicked tunes from other artists, it seemed like a logical step to do a VA and get a load of cool people involved. This album’s got a great diversity that I couldn't have achieved as a solo project.

 

 

 

Who are some of the artists you are working with on this one?
We've got Silent Witness, Octane/DLR , Eastcolors, Need for Mirrors, Prolix, Xtrah, Ulterior Motive and Code 3 also Fields, Hydro, Mako & Villem and last but not least Mikal, so it’s a real nice selection of artists representing.

 

 

 

You’re got a wide range of different flavours on the LP, every track is another turn in the road. Was this a deliberate approach?
I was keen to cover several flavours of d&b, and sadly had to cut several tunes, to ensure it didn't get too samey. I always like to play and listen to all different styles, so we gotta keep that variation up.

 

 

 

How did you go about picking out the track which you’ve included?

I can usually tell on the first listen if I like a track, and then test it out on the dancefloor, or if it’s not that kinda tune I just have it rolling in the car for a week or two, and then see how it feels.

 

 

 

How do you feel that Symmetry the label has evolved over the years?
I'm always trying to improve and refine my sound in the studio, it’s the same thing with the label really. Getting other artists involved over the last year or two has been really exciting, I hope it helps to evolve the sound of the label, and show our standpoint in the scene.

 

 

Is it possible to pin down, after your years of experience, what it is about d&b that keeps you coming back?

It is hard to explain, I have made lots of other kinds of music, but d&b seems to encapsulate everything I like
in one go. It has the funk, soul, energy and darkness all going on, but is by far one of the most difficult genres to produce well, due to the speed and level, so the quest is quite addictive. Like a lot of good 90's music it has the real flavour, for me that has been overlooked for a long time.

 

On the same note, can you pick out some of your favourite memories of your time in the game?

I loved going to the End as a raver for years and to play b2b in that booth with Randall a few years later was nuts. There have been loads of great sets everywhere though...but being able to work with many of people I looked up to as a kid, like Die & Nico, have probably been the highlights.

 

You can catch Break, Die, Octane & DLR, Xtrah, Randall and many other special guests, at The Other Side album launch party, courtesy of Circa, at Hidden on September 22nd.

 

Related Links:

• Break's Resistance
• Break Releases Framework
• Octane + DLR Sample Pack Competition
• Xtrah Releases Cyrax On Symmetry
• Video: Break ft. Kyo - Hold On

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