Kumarachi Interview

How did you get into music production? What were the initial steps as you have a very disitinct sound which is a pleasure to the ears

Thanks a lot!! I’m really happy you enjoy it!

I’ve always had an interest in playing music and recording, I started off learning to play piano, which lead to playing guitar and drums as well. And after a while trying to record stuff on an old cassette player we had at home when i was about 14/15 years old. I then learned to sequence a bit with an Atari and an ancient version of Cubase.

It was about 2002/3 that I was introduced to working with audio on a PC and Cubase VST. I was living with Pete 1st Blood (Nottingham hip hop producer) at the time and he showed me how to use Cubase VST and record / edit audio and introduced me to sampling.

When I eventually got myself my own computer that could handle audio I must have made hundreds of beats of different styles and tempos, just trying things out really. Some based on samples some totally made from the ground up by myself, I’ve always really enjoyed starting with nothing and building to a finished tune.

Since then I’ve just kept trying to get tracks sounding how I want them to, and build up a catalogue of tunes that I’ve liked really, and have been lucky enough that they’ve to be picked up by labels like Audio Addict, Sleep Less, Deep In The Jungle and Slap Funk, as well as by Dj’s which has all been quite a humbling experience.

Was there a moment or a tune or a DJ set that made you decide you were going to produce and was it always going to be DnB/Jungle?

I think maybe watching that classic Roni Size BBC set was definitely one of those moments. I remember trying to emulate those sounds and the Good Looking “Logical Progression” kind of sounds with an old GM sound box and the Atari I had.

DJ sets wise, around 2000 to 2004/5 at The Bomb in Nottingham from the likes of Roni Size, High Contrast to Ray Keith, Andy C had a big influence on me, actually experiencing the nights and sets in there is something that definitely influencing me into wanting to make DnB.

Yeah its always been DnB with me, over the years I’ve played in bands and produced other styles but have always been listening to and making DnB/Jungle alongside anything else Ive been doing musically, even if the tunes weren’t being put out I was just making tunes and playing to friends.

Which DJs and Producers do you look up to?

Definitely the likes of LTJ Bukem, Goldie, Roni Size, they’ve got tunes from 15 plus years ago that sill hold up today, which is unbelievable considering how much production software and values have supposedly “come on” since then.

I’d also definitely have to say the likes of Noisia, Break, Ulterior Motive, DJ Hybrid, Jaybee, Jam Thieves, Agro, Edit, Ray Keith, Dillinja, Hazard, Scartip, Dawn Wall, Calibre, its an endless list really as I enjoy all sides of Drum & Bass.

Tell us your top 5 current tunes, any genre

Lenzman – My Tearz (Ulterior Motive Remix)
Dawn Wall – Angel Field
Noisia – Dead Limit
Break / Xtra – Regulate
Gold Dubs – Nocturnal Confusion (DJ Hybrid Remix)

Now you have this amazing new EP ‘Hold It Down’ out now on Audio Addict Recs, talk us through the track ‘Don’t Go’ we love that one, what was the thought process behind it?

Thanks a lot!

Well I had to have an amen tune on there! I wanted to reference those old beeping synths and pad sounds, so I tried to make a hook out of them as well as the vocal stab. I always loved the comb-filtered / resampled beats on tunes from way back so went for that on the intro as well, and the drop is quite simple all in all.

I really wanted it to feel kind of old skool but up to date at the same time. Thats kind of the feel of the EP as a whole, trying to reference classic DnB/jungle sounds, just done how I felt they could go together.

Finally, any last words and shout outs?

I’d like to send shouts to DJ Hybrid and all involved with Audio Addict Records / Deep In The Jungle Records, MC SAS and the Sleep Less Records crew, Scartip, Pete 1st Blood, Liam Bailey.

I’d also like to shout the likes of Logan D, DJ Vapour, Ray Keith, Kenny Ken, Jaybee, AshAttack, Liondub, Random Movement, Dazee, Agro, Section, Jo Deviant, Jungle Citizens, Yasser and all the other DJs who’ve been supporting its much appreciated and humbling.

Finally, a massive shout out to yourself, Tariq and Free Breaks Blog. Thank you for supporting so much this past year.

The ‘Hold It Down EP is out now on Audio Addict Records, buy here and stream clips below:

Kumarachi Interview