We have an exclusive interview lined up for you today with Gavin Dista Douglas and Shaun Bradshaw AKA DJ/Producer duo, DB. These guys are known for there rough and tough old school speed Garage sound which they’ve been kicking out relentlessly for the last couple of years. 

So, tell us a bit about yourself and how you met up.

(Bradshaw) I think we first met around 2009. We both randomly ended up working for a shit Painting & Decorating company together. I didn’t drive at the time & Gavin picked me up for a few days. We didn’t know we shared the same interest in music for the first week, then one day on the way to work Gavin played a Bassline House CD in his car. I remember saying I kind of like this music but prefer Speed Garage the old ’97 – ’98 style.

(Dista) I was like ‘Yes mate! Me Too! I even produce under the name ‘Dista’. I remember him squinting at me and saying ‘your Dista??! – ive got some of your vinyls!’. I dropped him off and the next day he brought one of his mixes for the car – I had some ridiculous sub in the boot and we had it blasting to and from work for a week. It was clear we were on exactly the same vibe.

(Bradshaw) We added each other on MSN messenger and Dista sent me a clip of something he’d been working on – Dista’s Theme.

(Dista) Dista’s Theme! Yeah it was your mix that inspired me to write that y’no! Straight Oldschool Speed Garage!

(Bradshaw) I wanted Dista to press it to vinyl but we lost touch after the decorating firm went bust. I wasn’t until 2012 that we met up again and started writing together as DB.

What inspired you guys to start making tracks together?

(Bradshaw) It was Facebook. Myself & Gavin messaged each other and Gavin said come up to mine and we’ll produce a tune.

(Dista) We’d agreed to go for that ’98 sound but I was used to writing Bassline so Shaun was on my back all the time telling me to take the claps out and put rougher snares in and oldschool warps.

(Bradshaw) I remember taking a Vinyl up to Gavin’s with a clean bass warp and no drums over the top to sample. After a few beers we made our first DB track. We both thought it sounded great until we had sobered up the next day.

(Dista) Yeah we had to bin the first one off. But we got back on it the next week and BOOM it just clicked.

(Bradshaw) Dista was always good at putting the drums together, it was capturing that Oldschool Speed Garage bass that we struggled with. The first one that we felt ready to show off to the world was DB – Joy (Dista & Bradshaw’s 5AM Mix). The reason we called it the 5AM Mix is because I was basically at his house for 24 solid hours and it was stupid o clock by the time we finished it.

(Dista) We were complete unknowns at the time so we just uploaded it for free on the Soundcloud. It actually did better than we thought and got hammered in Sheffield on radio and in the clubs.

Tell us a bit about Urban Sprawl and the ethos behind the label.

(Dista) It all started when I got a message from a download store asking if it was possible for them to sell my music. At the time we were the only people doing that sound so we’d begun to gather a bit of attention. I started a secret Facebook group appealing for fresh Speed Garage producers and it took off, with around 100 people joining the plight. Producers, Dj’s, Vocalists, Promoters – the whole spectrum, and we made it non profit as a incentive to secure the best artists. We’ll have been up and running 2 years in June.

(Bradshaw) I think the thing that separates us from everyone else is that we don’t follow trends. Were doing Old school Speed Garage and were unapologetic about it. We’re not trying to sell out to get plays or fit in with whatever sound is current. Were just doing what we love and there’s something honest about that. Its what gives the music its integrity.

Tell us a few of your current fave Speed Garage bangers?

(Dista) Bradshaw’s the vinyl nerd, ill let him take this one.

(Bradshaw) Para – Got My Mind (Phonetix Deeper Than House Mix) the tune still sounds unreal every time I hear it, 2’s Co – Why – what a tune. This track was made in 2012 on my old label Ruff N Tuff. The Tune was so good Gavin re released it on the Urban Sprawl Snipers compilation.

And your all time 5 Speed Garage anthems?

(Bradshaw) Tough question but I’ll try !

Ruff Driverz – Deeper Love (Ruff Mix)

Sly Slipppin” EP – Badboy

Todd Terry it’s over love – (Dillion & Dikkins Devine Mix)

Celetia – Rewind (Rob Bee Remix) the non MC version

Rodger Ruff – (Do Ya)

(Dista) Trust me he could go on forever – his collection is like a rarseclart library.

Urban Sprawl is one of the few labels still putting out Vinyl. What’s in stock for the avid vinyl collectors out there?

(Bradshaw) Although me and Gavin have given most of our tunes away for free download on Soundcloud we press about 10 vinyls of each release for the collectors. I myself only spin vinyl so it’s nice to put a needle on a record.

(Dista) If it is gonna be in stores we try to release vinyl before the digital to give the smaller Djs a chance at the exclusive. It’s nice to piss the digital only Djs off too!

Who’s supporting Urban Sprawl on the DJ circuit?

(Bradshaw) I don’t like big name Djs dropping but a few that spring to mind are Jon Buccieri, Jd Smith, Ryan Kelleher, Craig Pullan, Davey Boy, SBS, Tom Shorterz, Naughty Nick….

(Dista) Yeah man gota mention DJ Impact’s Sunday Service, Rare Candy, Matt Craig, Wisk and Stuie Bizzle at Silk, Chris Dutton, DJ Richard, Bass Dominators and my boy DJD whos been there since the beginning. Sorry if I’ve missed anyone – you know who you are !!

Well it’s looking good for the Sprawl in 2015! DB already have there first tune out there – a 2015 remix of their debut single – Joy. If your reading this I’d encourage you hit that switch and play it loud!

dB – Joy 2015 (Dista & Bradshaw’s Watch This Refix)

If your interested in finding out more, take a minute and check out the links below:

US WEBSITE: www.urbansprawlofficial.com

FB – www.facebook.com/urbansprawlofficial

TWEET – https://twitter.com/speedgarage2015

BANDCAMP – www.bandcamp.com/urbansprawlofficial

Or search Urban Sprawl on your download store.

DB Interview