Attack of the Ninja Tune!
Sellotape and cucumber
| 16 May 2006
We went a bit silly with the interviewing this month and talked to not one, not two, but four Ninja Tune artists for your reading pleasure. Since the label was started in 1991 by DJs Matt Black and Jonathon Moore, otherwise known as Coldcut, it has garnered some hefty names for its roster like Amon Tobin and Roots Manuva. Now it's time for you to get to know the rising challengers.
Daedelus' MySpace account (the electronic equivalent of leaving your diary open) states a three-word mantra of "Experimental, experimental, experimental", and The Skinny are not inclined to disagree. The Los Angeles native's second album 'Denies the Day's Demise' hits the shelves this month and is certain to shake up the expectations of those who have familiarised themselves with his askew hip hop sound. A smattering of Latin flavour and a reinvigorated percussive core make this one of the most interesting electronic albums to come out this year.
What does the new album mean to you and why have you gone for a more vocal led sound?
"'Denies...' is a more personal outing from the get. I've always been enamored with those records that surprise, and although I've spoken and sang on say 'Invention' or 'Of Snowdonia', I hope this collection of songs raises a few eyebrows. After my previous 'Exquisite Corpse' I thought about what should follow the mass contributed effort, this is the result."
Do you feel that the new album has defined and progressed your own sound significantly?
"The thought process is I've been doing some versions of hip hop for a few records now, altogether electronically infused/confused, but certainly in that vein. Now with this outing it's my intention to regain some of my rave roots. It's all continuing forward, one record is a reaction to the last, never fully escaping, but who'd want to?"
Why did you choose to make the new album without any outside collaborators?
"There are some guests, not loud names, but notably the members of the group Jogger (as first heard on 'Exquisite Corpse') contributed to Sundown and Our Last Stand. But it was a different mindset that set this record in motion, as the general lack of samples also stands testament to."
When will you be back in the UK?
"I'll be back in early June if all works out. I can't wag a finger at the UK audiences, needless to say most like their lager, but it's been lovely on the right nights. Trying to get in the mind of an audience is what I play for, I'm proud of the improvisatory nature of my show."
ZerodB aka Chris Vogado and Neil Combstock, are busily garnering a reputation as musicians who party hard while forging a relationship with the infamous Ninja Tune label. Their debut album 'Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines' is due out this summer, but zerodB are already out and about touring their arses off.
Your live party tour "Bongos, Bleeps and Basslines" has begun - just how much bongos, bleeps and basslines can goers expect?
"Err, a hell of a lot, in ball park figures, bongos-wise, were talking about New Years Eve 2000 celebrations in Rio. Bleeps; think along the lines of watching one of your most famous exports, Billy Connolly, on his first appearance on the BBC. Basslines; trouser flapping - say no more."
You have a reputation for partying hard, how do you keep the party going, and what tunes do you use to wake up the crowd?
"Personally, a good bottle of vodka, Cachaca, limes, ice and Redbull. Musically, keep the change up. Never let the crowd get too comfortable, keep surprising them. It keeps their interest high, i.e. not six hours of the same beatmixed drivvle. Hit 'em hard. Tunes wise - if we gotta wake the crowd up, The Sun Ra remix Satellites are Spinning we did, always seems to peg a matchstick into the socket, but [the] all time floor-filler is Come Party. [It] never ceases to amaze me: always works. It's kinda like Tom Brown's Funking for Jamaica at a wedding. Everybody dances and so far our title track Bongos, Bleeps and Basslines seems to be having the same effect."
Your music is a concoction of hard jazz, electro, latin, hip hop
and house - do either of you have a preferred style or is the magic in
the blend?
"Like good coffee, it's all about the blend. Indeed, 'Brazilian Warrior Jazz Blend 2006': a good year methinks."
What do you hope your debut album will achieve?
"Wake people up! World domination - the usual - 'I want for a better world and to help children all over the world' etc."
Carlos Nino and Fabian Ammon work together as Ammoncontact, a jazz and funk-influenced hip-hop group who recently signed to the Ninja Tune clan. Their latest album 'With Voices' enlists the help of many big names in poetry and music, including Cut Chemist, Kamau Daaood, and Dwight Trible.
Why did you decide to take your music to a more vocal place with your latest album?
"'With Voices' was a natural progression from our previous instrumental work. Our sound attracted more and more vocalists as time went on and the concept of creating a devoted album to collaborations with our friends became very exciting."
Was there a favourite collaborator to work with?
"Dwight Trible is always amazing to work with. When he sings, it's magic!"
What swayed you to work with Ninja Tune?
"Ninja Tune was interested in our music and we were interested in reaching the Ninja Tune audience. Happily, the experience has been positive!"
Who do you make your music for?
"Music comes from the heart. After that, our music is for anyone listening."
Manchester: the home of Britpop, Factory Records and paparazzi-bashing indie superstars. However clichéd that perception may be it's still not the place that you'd expect to find one of Britain's most proactive exponents of all things funky and jazz. Throughout his career Mr. Scruff has reinvigorated the British hip hop scene, bringing a shrewd and eclectic choice of tracks to his mixes and a cheeky northern sense of humour to his artist work resulting in the unique, quirky sound we know and love as Scruff.
How's life in the world of Mr. Scruff?
"Busy but good! Currently studio bound, working on the next Solid Steel mix and artist album, with occasional forays into the outside world to play records."
Are you working on new material at the moment? Any collaborations/MC's in mind?
"There is a new LP under construction, plenty of surprises but I'm not saying anything at the moment!"
How's Hot Pot Radio going?
"The show is now on XFM in Manchester: it is great to be back on local radio again. Look out for Treva Whateva's beetroot risotto, and my onion pancakes in a milkshake sauce."
How do you see the state of UK hip hop at the moment?
"Pretty good. The scene generally seems quite comfortable with itself, and it is becoming quite diverse too."
Any tips for good music this year?
"Loads! Keep an eye out for Broken Keys, Jamie Finlay, Calibre, Jonny Miller, Broke 'n' English, Krispy, Cut Chemist, Quantic."
How are your culinary skills? Do they really live up to the hype?
"Not really. I am competent in the kitchen, but I tend to cook with unusual ingredients, such as straw, plastic toys, pea gravel and onion skin."
What's your favorite type of pie?
"Sellotape and cucumber."
Daedelus' MySpace account (the electronic equivalent of leaving your diary open) states a three-word mantra of "Experimental, experimental, experimental", and The Skinny are not inclined to disagree. The Los Angeles native's second album 'Denies the Day's Demise' hits the shelves this month and is certain to shake up the expectations of those who have familiarised themselves with his askew hip hop sound. A smattering of Latin flavour and a reinvigorated percussive core make this one of the most interesting electronic albums to come out this year.
What does the new album mean to you and why have you gone for a more vocal led sound?
"'Denies...' is a more personal outing from the get. I've always been enamored with those records that surprise, and although I've spoken and sang on say 'Invention' or 'Of Snowdonia', I hope this collection of songs raises a few eyebrows. After my previous 'Exquisite Corpse' I thought about what should follow the mass contributed effort, this is the result."
Do you feel that the new album has defined and progressed your own sound significantly?
"The thought process is I've been doing some versions of hip hop for a few records now, altogether electronically infused/confused, but certainly in that vein. Now with this outing it's my intention to regain some of my rave roots. It's all continuing forward, one record is a reaction to the last, never fully escaping, but who'd want to?"
Why did you choose to make the new album without any outside collaborators?
"There are some guests, not loud names, but notably the members of the group Jogger (as first heard on 'Exquisite Corpse') contributed to Sundown and Our Last Stand. But it was a different mindset that set this record in motion, as the general lack of samples also stands testament to."
When will you be back in the UK?
"I'll be back in early June if all works out. I can't wag a finger at the UK audiences, needless to say most like their lager, but it's been lovely on the right nights. Trying to get in the mind of an audience is what I play for, I'm proud of the improvisatory nature of my show."
ZerodB aka Chris Vogado and Neil Combstock, are busily garnering a reputation as musicians who party hard while forging a relationship with the infamous Ninja Tune label. Their debut album 'Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines' is due out this summer, but zerodB are already out and about touring their arses off.
Your live party tour "Bongos, Bleeps and Basslines" has begun - just how much bongos, bleeps and basslines can goers expect?
"Err, a hell of a lot, in ball park figures, bongos-wise, were talking about New Years Eve 2000 celebrations in Rio. Bleeps; think along the lines of watching one of your most famous exports, Billy Connolly, on his first appearance on the BBC. Basslines; trouser flapping - say no more."
You have a reputation for partying hard, how do you keep the party going, and what tunes do you use to wake up the crowd?
"Personally, a good bottle of vodka, Cachaca, limes, ice and Redbull. Musically, keep the change up. Never let the crowd get too comfortable, keep surprising them. It keeps their interest high, i.e. not six hours of the same beatmixed drivvle. Hit 'em hard. Tunes wise - if we gotta wake the crowd up, The Sun Ra remix Satellites are Spinning we did, always seems to peg a matchstick into the socket, but [the] all time floor-filler is Come Party. [It] never ceases to amaze me: always works. It's kinda like Tom Brown's Funking for Jamaica at a wedding. Everybody dances and so far our title track Bongos, Bleeps and Basslines seems to be having the same effect."
Your music is a concoction of hard jazz, electro, latin, hip hop
and house - do either of you have a preferred style or is the magic in
the blend?
"Like good coffee, it's all about the blend. Indeed, 'Brazilian Warrior Jazz Blend 2006': a good year methinks."
What do you hope your debut album will achieve?
"Wake people up! World domination - the usual - 'I want for a better world and to help children all over the world' etc."
Carlos Nino and Fabian Ammon work together as Ammoncontact, a jazz and funk-influenced hip-hop group who recently signed to the Ninja Tune clan. Their latest album 'With Voices' enlists the help of many big names in poetry and music, including Cut Chemist, Kamau Daaood, and Dwight Trible.
Why did you decide to take your music to a more vocal place with your latest album?
"'With Voices' was a natural progression from our previous instrumental work. Our sound attracted more and more vocalists as time went on and the concept of creating a devoted album to collaborations with our friends became very exciting."
Was there a favourite collaborator to work with?
"Dwight Trible is always amazing to work with. When he sings, it's magic!"
What swayed you to work with Ninja Tune?
"Ninja Tune was interested in our music and we were interested in reaching the Ninja Tune audience. Happily, the experience has been positive!"
Who do you make your music for?
"Music comes from the heart. After that, our music is for anyone listening."
Manchester: the home of Britpop, Factory Records and paparazzi-bashing indie superstars. However clichéd that perception may be it's still not the place that you'd expect to find one of Britain's most proactive exponents of all things funky and jazz. Throughout his career Mr. Scruff has reinvigorated the British hip hop scene, bringing a shrewd and eclectic choice of tracks to his mixes and a cheeky northern sense of humour to his artist work resulting in the unique, quirky sound we know and love as Scruff.
How's life in the world of Mr. Scruff?
"Busy but good! Currently studio bound, working on the next Solid Steel mix and artist album, with occasional forays into the outside world to play records."
Are you working on new material at the moment? Any collaborations/MC's in mind?
"There is a new LP under construction, plenty of surprises but I'm not saying anything at the moment!"
How's Hot Pot Radio going?
"The show is now on XFM in Manchester: it is great to be back on local radio again. Look out for Treva Whateva's beetroot risotto, and my onion pancakes in a milkshake sauce."
How do you see the state of UK hip hop at the moment?
"Pretty good. The scene generally seems quite comfortable with itself, and it is becoming quite diverse too."
Any tips for good music this year?
"Loads! Keep an eye out for Broken Keys, Jamie Finlay, Calibre, Jonny Miller, Broke 'n' English, Krispy, Cut Chemist, Quantic."
How are your culinary skills? Do they really live up to the hype?
"Not really. I am competent in the kitchen, but I tend to cook with unusual ingredients, such as straw, plastic toys, pea gravel and onion skin."
What's your favorite type of pie?
"Sellotape and cucumber."