Whats up Rustie.. Please introduce yourself : who are you, where are you from, what kind of musical background do you have, what led you to be Boomkat's new favorite artist?
Im a producer from Glasgow, Scotland. I grew up playing the guitar and then got into djing and then producing. Im guessing Boomkat liked my record, I dont know that im their new favorite artist though.
You're part of the label/crew Lucky Me... Who are those peoples and how did you met them?
LuckyMe are currently: Fine Art, Hudson Mohawke, Mike Slott, Summel, Dema, Mr Copy, Jay P, Nadsroic and myself. I met them at party's in Glasgow.
You guys are really doing good these days.. Hudson Mo has signed a deal with Warp and your eps/tracks got crazy reviews.. It seems like all of a sudden Glasgow has appeared on the international map of coolness for everyone interesting in hip hop... How do you explain that? The city is more known about club culture, house, techno, Soma and such... Was there any hip hop scene before Lucky Me outthere? Is there a good city to live to?
If it is on some coolness map, I hope its because there's some interesting new music coming from the city. There's been a wee hip hop scene in Glasgow for as long as I can remember. It always seemed to be quite a traditional boom bap type affair though. I prefered going to the nights that play lots of different stuff.
Let's talk about Jagz The Smack. Its kinda been the starting point from where you had a bigger exposure. From how long have you been you producing, how did you basically set up this release with Stuff Records? Also, it's pretty hard to find right now.. Any reprint planned?
Ive been producing for about 5 or 6 years, mainly just dabbling for the first 2 or 3. I'd been sending music to Stuff Records for a while, but most of it was rubbish. I think the e.p just got repressed for Japan and the US so there might still be a few floating about. I just checked and rush hour have some copies.
As I read on your LM site bio, you used to produce electro under the Voltaic moniker, before turning street bass. What led you to this evolution? Is the term "Street Bass" also a quote from the Seclusiasis crew compilations? What would be your own definition of it?
I did the Voltaic stuff with a friend, but I had always been making lots of different music myself. 'Stuff' decided to release some of it and it did much better than i expected. I dont see my friend from Voltaic much anymore and now im just concentrating on my solo production. I dont know about the 'street bass' thing i dont write the LuckyMe site. Seclusiasis are cool though.
You also had tracks on the recent compilation EPs from Up My Alley and Dress2Sweat.. can you introduce us to these labels and how did you hook up with them?
'Up My Alley' (pause) contacted me and asked for some tracks, they're based in Germany and the 'Beatnicks' compilations they're putting out are about kinda weirdo/geek-hop shit. 'Dress2Sweat' is based in Glasgow and is run by a friend, specialising in ghetto/booty/club shit.
Are you still a vinyl dj? Or did you switch to mp3s and laptops like most people do? ls that an important thing to you? I'm asking this because it's seems like this style of tracks you make would most likely appeal to a new generation of djs who would consider normal the mp3-use only on a set, but like, the EP you released sold pretty well if i'm right, so it means it's still got djs that are looking for this kind of music on this format, not only old record nerds that are looking for 70es funk or 90es boom bap..
I use serato, so I play both mp3's and vinyl. Its not that important to me but it's nicer to have the vinyl. I wouldn't like to see it dissapear.
So what's next for you? Any LP in the work? Anything else? Have you been called by bigger labels?
No album planned yet. Im going to be doing a 12" for hyperdub, more stuff for 'Stuff' and other bits and bobs.
Can you set up a little playlist of what you are playing in your sets these days? favourite records of 2007?
Some stuff im playing at the moment:
Samiyam - samiyam tell'em
Mark Pritchard - call to arms
Super Smokey Soul - geek beat (hudmo remix)
Chingy feat. luda - gimme dat
Mike Slott - flunky
Some favourites from 2007:
Heralds of Change - puzzles
Caribou - melody day
Fulgeance - chico e.p
Phat Kat - cold steel
Panda Bear - person pitch
Ok, thanks a lot for your time!
www.myspace.com/rustiebeetz
