DOWNLOAD: Echodub Podcast

In a world where every record label has a voice thanks to the socially [inept] network the internet has provided, some imprints choose to use it a little better than others, offering an insight into fresh and creative music from aspiring producers.

Echodub do that anyway, packaging up free releases from producers you should definitely check, but head honcho DFRNT has taken it a little further with the podcast series...

"Since we spend so much time exploring new and intriguing music, it seemed like a logical progression to allow Echodub members to present their musical interest as a series of podcasts."

DOWNLOAD: Echodub Podcast

INTERVIEW: DFRNT [Echodub/On The Edge]

Alex Cowles has an impressive DIY ethic. Producing deep, engulfing synthesized dubstep under the vowel less DFRNT moniker he’s on the eve of releasing his debut album, ‘Metafiction,’ a dual CD project that includes remixes from Scuba, DJ Madd and Ital Tek amongst others. But the Echodub label boss just doesn’t seem content with unleashing 18 tracks on the public, along with running the Sitting Ovation blog he’s also working on a broader magazine project whilst continuing to DJ, produce and hold down a day job.

We sent a mainline to the Scot whilst he was deep undercover in Bruges to press him on a few matters to accompany the exclusive mix he’s provided us.

Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?

DFRNT: year old producer from Scotland, who works as DFRNT, heads up the Echodub label/collective, manages a magazine called Modus, and writes the SittingOvation blog. I've been producing dubstep for a year or two now, although I've been listening for a few.

Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?

9 till 6 I'm a web designer, so that takes up the bulk of my day. I'm also doing one or two freelance projects in my spare time, although I've got to cut down on all that, to spend more time with my beautiful fiancee, and our new puppy. We've just bought a house, so I think that should help influence some new sounds and direction.

How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce?

Well I used to play instruments as a child, and when I got a computer at home, I think it was the logical progression to see if I could use it as a tool. I was big in to the eJay programs. Dance eJay and suchlike, which helped me gain an understanding of the workings of a sequencer, as well as a bit of practice making songs with loop based software. From there it was a short jump to Sonic Foundry (now Sony's) Acid program, via a short-lived stint with FruityLoops.

I caught the mashups bug and did that for a while, but I never felt like I connected properly with the music, since I was already working with finished tracks. The original production followed that really. I felt with the original production I could really try and take it somewhere. Without the copyrighted material it felt like I could give it more value.

What aspects of dubstep connect with you, and similarly spur you on to continue producing?

It still amazes me today that everyone seems to know everyone else, from the smaller guys starting out, to the bigger producers. It's a bit trying to call it a very close community, but in some respects it feels like that. It's something of a musical movement which I feel like I can really be part of. I sometimes tell people that for me it's like what Punk or Rock & Roll was for my parents. Something new and exciting that they grew up with.

Production wise, I'm really inspired by a lot of the new talent that is emerging. These producers who can string something beautiful together seem to be popping up all over.

What’s your production set up like? Has it changed a lot since day dot?

I started with just a PC and headphones. I think I could still strip the setup back to that today and keep producing, although at the moment I'm working with a couple of studio monitors and a set of those lovely wee Korg Nano controllers hooked up. It's basic, and all my sound making material is software based, but it works for me, and it keeps things simple and clutter free.

What are the biggest influences on your music right now?

Aside from the new producers that are cropping up all over, I guess there are a few things. My move from the city out to a small coastal town is probably going to have a big effect on my music although I've yet to see that really develop. I still find influence in the bigger producers who are doing their thing; people like Breakage or Scuba. I'm also enjoying the Djing at the moment. It's giving me lots of ideas for tracks, and I feel like I'm working a little more towards tracks that I can play out in a club.



Your debut album ‘Metafiction’ is on its way, tell us about the inspiration behind it?

Well it started as just a collection of tracks I had that I felt were a new direction for my sound following the initial EP I put out on Insectmind. I didn't want to let them all go for free, and figured that actually I'd probably be able to put together an album with a few more.

I'd sent Z-Audio some Echodub tracks with a view to asking them to distribute our stuff for us, but Zac called me up and asked me what my own production plans were for the future. I explained about the album possibility, and they and he picked it up for release on his label On The Edge, so it's now grown from just a handful of tracks to a double-disc CD with 18 tracks and 5 remixes, as well as some vinyl releases to go with it.

You have some big name remixes on the second disc on the album how did they come about?

Well it was decided that some of the tracks on the album would probably not be ideal for vinyl, considering their lack of dancefloor sensibility, however with a couple of well placed remixes, there was the potential to get the tracks out to people going to the clubs, and so it was just a case of asking people if they were interested.

I decided to approach some producers who had influenced the original productions, so there was this nice full-circle thing going on, where they'd be remixing tracks that had been inspired by them in the first place. Indigo I was working with through Echodub, and Synkro was connected to him, and to On The Edge already, and then it was just a case of taking a chance on the likes of Scuba, Ital Tek and Quantec. Luckily they all liked the album and agreed to do a remix. To be honest it's still not really hit home how lucky I've been with the remixers. It's a real honour to have them onboard.

Tell us about your label Echodub, how did it come about and what projects are currently under way?

Well I think it started much the same way as allot of labels – just a way to put out my own tracks. I thought I could handle it myself, and that way I could keep control of the music, the artwork, the promotion and resulting profits. From there I figured if I could do it for myself, then maybe I could do it for other people, so I approached a handful of producers who I really admired at the time, and asked them to come onboard. I treat it like a collective, so we have a set number of guys on the label and we all work together on things and I just stick to putting out their material, as opposed to releases from anyone. It's a different way of doing things, but I like the family aspect of it. I'd like to think that everyone involved feels like it's a stepping stone they can use to get their music further out there.

In terms of forthcomings, well we've got about 10 digital EP releases still to come through the usual channels, then we've launched Echodub Direct with a view to putting out free EPs. We're going to be stopping the digital EPs at number 20, and then moving on to vinyl releases, starting with a limited run that we're looking to do something unique with. We'll deal with sales and promo on that one ourselves, then get going with some regular EPs on wax. I'm planning more free compilations/albums too.


The two free compilations you’ve put out ‘Anechoic Chamber’ and the latest one ‘Echodub Loves Vol.01’ are very good indeed what’s the thinking behind these?

Well 'Anechoic Chamber' was a free album to promote the label and our producers. It was a “here's what we can do” type of thing, and we pushed it far and wide to really get the name out. We're looking to complete a “remixed” version of that album for release this Christmas.

'Echodub Loves Volume 01' is something a bit different, where I asked all the producers in the collective what new producers that they were feeling at the moment, and we made a list. I then approached them all for a single track to put on the compilation. Since there were so many we were enjoying, I decided to split it in to volumes and I've since been thinking that there's a potential to make it a series going forward. Perhaps bi-annually showcasing new talent, while also helping to put Echodub on the map for the styles involved.

You also run Modus Magazine and SittingOvation, tell us a bit about those projects?

Well SittingOvation was started in a similar vein to Echodub. I'd spend a while trawling the dubs section on Dubstepforum, and would get annoyed when someone producing something that I felt was beautiful didn't get much in the way of praise, or often overlooked entirely. So from that notion, SittingOvation was born to help raise awareness of producers that I rate. I've developed it to cover dubstep and dub-techno in a wider sense now, and as well as highlighting new artists, I'm trying to cover a bit more news and release info, although it can be a mission to keep it up to date in amongst other things.

I'm not quite sure where my desire to do Modus came from to be honest. I like the design aspect of the magazine work, and there didn't seem to be many print magazines covering dubstep that I was in to, so it was likely just a hole that I felt needed filling, so figured that it might be worth a shot. Turns out it's a lot of hard work, but we're working towards out first issue at the moment, and although it's taking much longer than I had anticipated, we've got some incredible content lined up so that it's not just another list of reviews, and actually feels more like a nice edited publication, that shouldn't date quite as quickly.

Can you shed some light on the mix you’ve done for us?

Well It is a collection of tracks that I'm feeling at the moment, with the addition of some exclusives from me. It was a bit of a test run for the new tracks to see if they'd stand up in the mix, as well as a bit of a showcase for the tracks I was enjoying. It's a mix that I've tried to add a bit of variety to with some more percussive, and slightly more experimental tracks than I'd normally play, while still trying to retain some of the feeling you'd get with other DFRNT mixes. I'm actually really happy with the way it turned out.

What else is coming up for you?

I'm playing Manchester on the 17th of September at Sicknote, which is going to be a bit of an album launch type thing, and then I've got a gig lined up in Edinburgh at a new night called Diamond Dollar, but following that there's no gigs set in stone. A couple of “maybes” including a slot with Silkie, and one with Kode9 but that's all in progress at the moment.

Have you got any more words of wisdom for our readers?

I guess to producers and DJs I'd say that if you're unsure about doing something to progress your musical career – just go for it. Do what you need to do to make it happen, and things will work out. You can't sit and expect everyone else to release your tracks, and for you to become a big DJ or producer if you don't put the hard work in. There are so many ways to push your output that if you just sit around waiting for someone else to do it – it won't happen.

Also – speak to people. Go and meet them and talk to them face to face. Speak to them online, AIM, email, MySpace, SoundCloud – whatever you need to do, but as you build relationships, you'll build your career. It's an age old cliché but it's most definitely “who you know.”

::

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT – Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

01 Synkro - Digital Soul [Dub]
02 Roof Light - Kamino [Echodub]
03 3rdeye - Undulate [Echodub]
04 DFRNT - Saturation Point [Dub]
05 Egoless - Model 3180 [Dub]
06 Moonchild - Tears of a Cosmic Vein [Dub]
07 Myrkur - Homecoming [Dub]
08 Ike Release - Citadel [Dub]
09 Indigo - Creep [Dub]
10 Martello Rotativo - Get Busy [Echodub]
11 Synkro - Deep Down [Dub]
12 DFRNT - On The Move [On The Edge]
13 DFRNT - Sectioned [Dub]
14 Ike Release - Shinobi Dub [Dub]
15 Morphamish - Hold Sway [Dub]
16 Gravious - Continuum [Dub]
17 Vandera - India Joya [Dub]
18 DFRNT - The Darkness [Dub]
19 Seal - Crazy (Metaphase Mix) [Dub]

Link:
http://www.myspace.com/dfrntdubstep

DOWNLOAD: Echodub Loves - Vol. 01

Much like it says on the tin (ok... album art if you're really that pedantic), the follow up to the first FREE Echodub compilation 'Anechoic Chamber' is here, in the form of 'Echodub Loves.'

Apparently...

"This album is the first in a series of releases that Echodub are putting together to highlight some of the artists that we love.

We selected a number of artists, and asked them all to contribute to what we feel is a showcase of some of the most beautiful music coming from the deeper end of the dubstep, electronic and IDM genres."

DOWNLOAD: Echodub Loves - Vol. 01

Tracklist:

01 - Skyence - Precious Time
02 - Martello Rotativo - Get Busy
03 - Apathesis - Untitled
04 - Autopilot - Once More (Echodub Edit)
05 - 3rdeye - Undulate
06 - Kerogen - Hope
07 - Psychonaught - Warm and Easy
08 - Bojcot Selectah & Dawn - Believe
09 - FBOM - Each Day
10 - Mako - Avec La Tech
11 - Moonchild - The Glass Lake
12 - Roof Light - Kamino

Link:
http://site.echodub.co.uk

INTERVIEW: Gravious [Hotflush/HPLL]

Scottish producer Gravious, has re-appeared with a glut of live shows, after a seemingly year long hiatus from releases, after 3 singles on HotFlush and its sub label Scuba. His recent 'Futurist EP' (full review here) for the London based Highpoint Lowlife label was reportedly inspired by visions of the future fitting considering that on the strength of it and of his own productions his future is as bright as a certain mobile phone companies idea to give away 2 for 1 cinema tickets.

We caught up with him to learn a little something while we nabbed our 20th exclusive mix.

Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?

Gravious: Yes! My name is Ali, and I produce slightly leftfield Dubstep tunes under the alias Gravious. I'm an Edinburgh boy, but have been based in Glasgow for the last 8 years. My first release came out on Scuba, a sub-label of HotFlush Recordings, back in 2006. That was followed by 3 more on HotFlush, and more recently by an EP on Highpoint Lowlife.

Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?

Outside of music, I am still Ali, but I do a 9-to-5 for an organisation distributing funding money to voluntary and community projects, as the music alone doesn't keep me fed and sheltered.

When did you get into producing?

My mate Rob showed me the basics of production back in 2001, and it really took hold over the next few years. Before then I'd played guitar and stuff, and been well into music, so it seemed like the logical step as I got into more electronic styles.

What is your set up like now compared to back then for making music?

To be honest, I'm still on a pretty basic setup compared to most! I just have a PC, a small midi keyboard and a pair of speakers. Most of the software I use is about 5 years out of date, and I don't use much in the way of plug-ins, but the stuff I do use I know inside out. I kind of like being limited in some way, as you can totally lose yourself in all the hundreds of synths, VSTis and stuff out there. I've used a lot of those things, but I find it slows down the creative process if I have too many...

What first sucked you in to dubstep?

I first heard dark-garage and early Dubstep through J Da Flex and Femme Fatale when they were both had 1Xtra shows back in 2004, and that was what really hooked me on the sound. There were tracks they played that just sounded like nothing else – futuristic and bass-heavy, and with really different beats. From there I started buying records, and checking out the forum on the old Dubplate.net, which always had mix-sets and Rinse shows posted up – which was about the only way to hear that stuff up in Scotland. It was about then, 04/05, that I also started producing Dubstep stuff myself.


Gravious – Subterfuge [Hotflush]

There is loads of quality music coming out of Glasgow your hometown at the moment do you get mixed up in all the goings on up there and what are you really feeling at the moment?

There is indeed! Obviously Rustie is putting out some massive tunes, and has been for some time now – likewise HudMo. I'm also feeling Darell's beats at the moment, after seeing a few of his live sets at my mate's night, so check him out.

There's a really healthy scene for that kind of off-kilter bass heavy stuff up here, which is wicked, although I've not been too involved with those guys directly. There are also some really good Glasgow based people on Highpoint Lowlife too – check out The Village Orchestra in particular. I've not been playing that much in Glasgow recently actually! Which is a shame (hint hint promoters, ho ho), I think I need to get myself out there a bit more locally.

Who is exciting you musically at the moment?

In dubstep, people like Hyetal, Peverelist, Untold and Joker are all really doing it for me at the moment. They all have a distinctive sound, and have interesting stuff going on in their tracks that set them apart from much of the rest of the scene. There are always others too, but I have a poor memory! Otherwise, ‘Mirrored’ by Battles has been on constant rotation on my player for the past year.

How did your latest release the ‘Futurist EP’ come about for Highpoint Lowlife and what was the inspiration for it?

Originally, Thorsten from Highpoint Lowlife approached me about some tracks for a compilation album project, at the start of last year, but eventually that ended up being a 3-track EP that came out in May. The three tracks weren't written specifically as an EP, and in fact I made ‘Vultures,’ the second track, back in 2007. It came out of my anger at corporate greed in Africa, as it happens (right on brother...). The other 2, ‘Jupiter Jazz’ and ‘World of Tomorrow’ were more blatantly retro-futuristic in their style, so they are pretty heavily indebted to historical visions of the future, which is something I find really interesting. You can tell a lot about a period in the past from its visions of the future, like the gleaming utopias of the 50s and 60s as opposed to the Terminators and post-apocalytics of the cold-war era.

I can hear a hint of Underground Resistance and Detroit techno in the ‘Futurist EP’ and other bits, you have that futuristic soulful melancholic vibe going on at times but with that dance floor edge, is that an important part of your sound or just coincidence?

To be honest, it is more coincidence than design, although I have been getting more into the UR/Detroit stuff recently. It must have influenced me indirectly though, I'm sure, because I can hear it when I listen to that stuff now. However, I've seen a couple of reviews of my track ‘Jupiter Jazz’ recently that claim I named it after a UR track, but I'm afraid that's nonsense! It's actually a reference to Cowboy Bebop, a slightly obscure but brilliant Anime series which I was mildly obsessed with when I made it.



There is a really melodic sound to your tracks. How do these come about, do you tinkle on a keyboard, pluck them out of thin air or just have a knack and ear for melody?

Melody is really important to me in my tracks, so it's usually the first thing I work on. So much dance music has great sounds, but no tune. Sometimes that's great, but I find it hard to make good tracks that way. For me, if I'm lucky or on a roll, I sometimes just hear something in my head, and put it down, and it works. More often though, it's just mucking about on my little keyboard and seeing what happens, then tidying it up afterwards.

I see you’ve been playing all over the world recently to everywhere from Australia to Holland what has been your favourite moment out on tour?

Running over a 2-metre long snake on the way out to a bush rave in Australia was pretty crazy! Couldn't really call that a favourite moment though... That gig was in this Mad-Max style home-made shack about three stories tall, and it had the most incredible lighting set-up I've ever seen, so that has to be up there.

The view out of the TV-Tower I played in Hungary was pretty awesome as well. Generally, it's still pretty mind-blowing just pitching up to these gigs and finding that people the other side of the country/continent/world recognise some of my tunes!

What does your live show entail?

The live show entails me with a laptop, midi-controller, keyboard and Ableton with Reason plugged into it. Basically I don't have enough arms/RAM to play everything live, so I play bits live, use a bunch of audio loops and effects, and sort of recreate the tracks again on the fly.

Tell us a little bit about the mix you have done for us, what tracks just really had to be there?

There's a bunch of tracks I'm really feeling at the moment on there. ‘Pixel Rainbow Sequence’ by Hyetal is one that I've been caning for a bit now, so I'm glad to say that will be out really soon. It has great futuristic vibes over a solid beat. I threw that DFRNT track in there too, but there were loads of other great tracks of his I could have put in – he's got some big stuff up his sleeves, a fellow Scot as well... The Kaskaad, Vaccine and Funk Ethics tracks are also belters, and the Ikonika one is a an old favourite. There is also, a cheeky first public outing for my remix of Deep Child.

What have you got in the works right now and what’s forthcoming?

The Deep Child remix is out soon on a Sub Continental Dubs 12”, and I have two remixes of tracks by German rudeboy Don Goliath coming in the next few months. I also have 12”s lined up on Pollen records, Davey Jones (a new project from the Clandestine Cultivations guys) and !113g@1 v@1u3 in Australia.

I will also be launching Gravious.com in the next week or so, so check it! It has audio for just about everything I've done, and loads of mixes archived.

Have you got anything else you want to tell us, words of wisdom for our readers?

If you do a live set, stick tennis racket grip-tape to the bottom of your kit – it stops the bass from rattling your laptop onto the floor...

::

DOWNLOAD: Gravious – Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

Vision - Jass
DFRNT - Throwback
Funk Ethics - Razor Boy
Gravious - World Of Tomorrow
Kaskaad - Chaise Longue
Hyetal - Pixel Rainbow Sequence
Scuba - Klinik
Ikonika - Phonelines VIP
Dan le Sac & Scroobius Pip - Thou Shalt Always Kill (Vaccine Remix)
Kaskaad - Goa
Deepchild - Wannado (Gravious Remix)
Untold - Just For You
A Shoreline Dream & Ulrich Schnauss – neverChanger (CacheFlowe Remix)

Link:
www.myspace.com/gravious

SUBSCRIBE: Echodub Direct

After the surreptitious release of the 100% Scot free (geographical pun intended...) 'Anaechoic Chamber' complilation album back at the end of last year Echodub are now offering a direct delivery service of new music, to you, the end users.

"Wait...What?"
Echodub are going to be putting out a series of free EPs from our producers. This will be brand new material, and seperate to the regular releases you can pick up on iTunes, Juno or Beatport.

When each release is ready, it will be released to everyone who signs up, and you will recieve an email with a download link and a bit of information about the release.

"Ah seen, ok... Why?"
Echodub value the people who enjoy our releases, and we like to give something back with a bit of exclusivity, so this is our way of saying "thanks for digging our music."

SUBSCRIBE here: http://direct.echodub.co.uk

Link:
echodub.co.uk

STREAM: DFRNT - New Sound 003

New podcast from DFRNT on Radio Magnetic.

"When requesting this mix we asked for something that represents his own music and influences and thats just what we got, all that detroit goodness mixed up with some tech dub / dubstep basslines. A firm favourite in our household."

STREAM: DFRNT - New Sound 003
(podcast link available also)

Link:
http://radiomagnetic.com

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT - May Mix

DFRNT, Echodub owner and the leading light behind a super new project, Modus Magazine, has just upped a new mix for May. I for one am super glad, his selections are refined and will probably help cure the symptoms of anyone's Bank Holiday induced suicide Tuesday.

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT - May Mix

Tracklist:

01 Adam Johnson - 4 Squares (DFRNT Remix)
02 VVV - Untitled 4
03 Ike Release - Jenova
04 Jimmy Edgar - LBLB Detroit (Vista Edit)
05 Sines - Marimba Rhythm
06 DJ Madd - Why
07 ID & Reso - Engram
08 Synkro - Music Makers
09 Deekline & Wizard - Back Up (TRG Remix)
10 Untold - Sweat
11 Tri-Funk - Untitled 624,10
12 DJ Madd - Illusion Dub
13 DFRNT - Mucho Mojo
14 VVV - It's All For You
15 2562 - Kontrol
16 king slaFF - Aqua

Link:
www.myspace.com/dfrntdubstep

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT - Metafiction Promo Mix

The debut album from DFRNT is almost upon us. From the listens we've been privvy too thanks to an early promo copy we can safely say its going to be well worth the late June wait, its all techno skip and super warm sine wave bass... some proper b-line business.

He's put together a 20 minute promo mix to showcase his style and give a little glimpse of what will follow this Summer on On The Edge Records.

Stay tuned for a full review.

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT - Metafiction Promo Mix

Link:
http://dfrnt.alex-c.com