Exclusive – Foreign Concept Interview
We spoke with Brighton based DJ and producer Foreign Concept.
After exploding onto the drum n bass scene last year with dance-floor
smashers including “Mob Justice” and “Jaipur”, we talk future plans,
influences and top tips for 2012.
The drum n bass scene seems to have gone through a lot of
changes the past few years, with jump-up and radio friendly styles
getting push into the background a bit. How do view the scene and the
changes that have occurred?
I think the scene has become really healthy recently. I always
thought a few years or so ago when the commercial end of drum n bass
began getting a lot of radio play, that it would ultimately benefit the
scene as a whole. For me personally, I think commercial stuff has a time
and a place, but I also think its a good entry road into the deeper
stuff. I guess people have heard the bigger tunes on the radio, and
through that over time discovered other types of drum and bass. If you
look for example at Enei’s latest track, its just had over 100 thousand
hits on youtube, on UKF’s page. Its great to see that kind of music
getting the same recognition as the “bangers” now.
You’re a relatively new name on the scene. whats it like to
be working with big labels like Shogun and Critical that are at the
forefront of this deeper style you mentioned?
It’s been great. They are both labels that i have always really
respected so its an honour to work with them. Kasra at Critical got in
touch a year or so ago after a mutual friend passed on a few of my
tracks and ended up putting out my debut single earlier in the year.
It’s been a real learning curve working with him, and I’ve learnt a lot
about how the business of music works. I’ve just signed an album deal so
will be working with them very closely in the future. It’s a great
position to be in at the moment as Kasra’s ethos is “if it’s a good tune
– I’ll put it out” . So I feel like I’ve got the freedom to write
different types of music which is perfect for me. He’s building a solid
camp there with a few other producers that I’m really into so its great
to be involved. Working with shogun was wicked as well. I think having
releases with those guys as well as Critical has done me a lot of
favours in terms of exposure, which is what its all about when your
starting out.
Apart from the album, what are your other plans for the near future?
The next release on Critical for me is my remix of Enei’s track
“Obession” which will be backed by his remix of my track “Mob Justice”.
Theres also two collaboration tracks due out in the next month, “True
Enemies” with Anile on Commercial Suicide, and “Essential Tremor” with
Kodo on Vampire Records.
I’m also working on a track with Riya for a forthcoming project of
hers. And then it will my debut EP on Critical later in the year at some
point.
Who are your main influences, and if given the opportunity would you most like to collaborate with?
Influence wise there’s a lot to mention. I’m really into hip hop, and
I listen to as much Jazz as I can. But I try and take influence from
everything really, I really like going out and seeing what kind of
tracks work on a dancefloor . It’s interesting to see the change in the
types of tracks that get people moving over the last few years. Within
drum and bass if I could get in the studio with anyone I think it would
be dBridge. He justdoesn’t make bad music!
2012 looks set to be another big year for you, and for the
drum n bass scene. Who are your top recommendations and names to look
out for??
Its definitely really healthy at the moment. I know Enei, Jubei and a
few of the shogun guys have albums out next year so I’m looking forward
to hearing those. I think Xtrah, June Miller and Skeptical will have
big years again as well. Eastcolors, Villem/Mute & Mako are
definitely worth keeping an eye on , they are making quality tunes at
the mo. If i had to give a top recommendation for next year , its this
guy called Emperor. He’s a young lad from Halifax , and I’ve heard a few
of the tracks he’s writing for Critical and they are straight murder. I
really think he will be one of the biggest names in underground dnb in
the next few years. His production is unreal for any age let alone 19.
So yeah that’s my top tip!
Catch Foreign Concept at the following UK shows over the next few months:
27th Jan:Up DnB @ The Registry, Portsmouth
28th Jan: Motive @ The Volks, Brighton
3rd Feb: Technology @ Hidden, London
24th Feb, Abstractions @ The Lab, Bristol
9th March , Critical @ Life, Brighton
16th March Critical @ Fabric, London
30th Mar, Momentum @ Wire, Leeds
http://www.facebook.com/foreignconcept
Exclusive Foreign Concept Interview for Maxumi Magazine
INTRODUCING FI-CHEK
Fi-Chek recently won the Shakedown Festival mix competition
deservedly getting the chance to open the main arena at East Sussex's
biggest live music event. His animated performance hypnotised the
crowd and blew the judges away as he seamlessly mixed back and forth
between electro, breaks, drum n bass and dubstep. Switching tempo and
blending styles like he was born for the main stage. Having recently
moved into the realm of production, Fi-Chek is already showing signs
of an artist ready to destroy dancefloors the world over. With
rumbling bass and big-ass breaks his tracks, which include remixes of
Busta Rhymes, The Prototypes and Major Lazer in his preferred style
of moombahton/moombahcore, sees the tunes completely transformed and
full of energy and originality.
