Thursday November 1st sees head of SOUNdTRAX Recordings and all round drum & bass legend Big Bud launch his new album Blue and Green at our FREE Kmag Presents event at Café 1001. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we caught up with the man himself for a brief chat about all things Bud…

Hello Big Bud! You're set to take over Cafe 1001 for your album launch this Thursday. How would you describe the record?
It's a collection of ideas/vibes that I'm into at the moment I suppose. Like the last few albums I’ve done, there’s no real concept or anything. It starts with a few tracks of what I suppose you'd expect from me, i.e. atmospheric, musical stuff. Went a bit minimal on a couple of tracks and that was a real challenge, to hold back and try and make a track with lots of space. Enjoyed it though and think I'll be following that direction for a while. Did a house tune, couple of dub bits and an ambient piece to end with, a lullaby I wrote for my daughter, little bud no.3.



Your label, SOUNdTRAX, is also ten years old this year. What's your all-time favourite release on the label?
It’s really hard to pick just one because I'm very proud of everything that's been released. But if I have to pick, it would be Asteroids by Electrosoul System. Still play it out all the time, it sounds like nothing else. ESS is a genius - he manages to get more great ideas into one tune than some people get in a career!



Aside from your own album, what else does the future hold for the label? Any exciting releases on the horizon?
They're all exciting for me. Watch out for a debut from another new talent, Oliver York. That should be out before the end of the year. Release 050 will be a 4 track EP from a producer from Melbourne with two dnb tracks and two dub grooves. After 10 years and 50 releases, I think it's time the label broadened its horizons and released other styles too.

Having been in the game a long time, what would you say are the key differences in the scene between now and when you started?
Bit more crowded than it used to be! Other than that, the general standard of new producers blows me away - I'm finding out about amazing new talent every week! And is it me or are the crowds getting younger every year?!



What can you tell us about the other artists playing on the night?
We'll be streaming it 'live' on Bassdrive radio so I invited two other DJs from the station. Ashatak and D-Funk . Ash runs his Directors Cut label and also has my favourite show on Bassdrive. I tune in every week for his 'shizzle'...

D-Funk is one of the owners of the station and had his debut release on SOUNdTRAX this year. Both good lads and great DJ's...

For those who haven't seen you DJ before, what can we expect from a Big Bud set?
The same as what you get from the label, really. I like to play a few different styles, so some liquid/atmospheric vibes through to real stripped down, bass heavy grooves. Bit of dubwise, anything I’m feeling...

What else have you got planned for this year?
Album launch parties for the rest of the year. 2013? More of the same I suppose: touring, FLYING [something he's mortally afraid of], playing, drinking, smoking, producing... and to make a sexytime!

Big Bud will be playing at London's Cafe 1001 for his album launch party this Thursday. For further details (though not tickets because, as ever, it's totally free!) go here.

Related Links:

• Kmag Presents Phuzion & SOUNdTRAX
• Big Bud Guest Mix
• Mambo New London Store
• Gumball 3000 Ryan Dunn Tribute
• Horizons Music Production Q+A

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