Friction Interview
One of the biggest DJ's in the drum n bass scene has just released a double CD mix album in association with Ministry of sound entitled 'Mixed', Khanage caught up with Friction to find out more about the project, his label Shogun Audio, Its artists, Upcoming projects and everything inbetween!
Was there a specific point that you decided that you wanted to pursue music as a career?
It was when i first started going out to clubs like labrynth at the lazerdrome, and raves at Hastings pier, i just knew wanted to deejay
Can you pick out some tracks that were rocking young Frictions stereo/ walkman back in the day?
Edge One, a classic rave track. There was Prodigys stuff too, massive attack, west coast hip hop- dre and snoop, even 80s based dance stuff.
Who were the deejays/ labels/ producers that you admired in the early days?
Carl cox & Randall, labels wise it was always quite random where the good tunes wold come out. Things were alot less formulated back then
How did the mix album for Ministry come into being?
They approached me and wanted to me to do the mix, and my thing was that I wanted to do a double CD where i could play stuff that maybe doesnt get the credit and exposure it deserves. Went for the double CD decided to go for it!
The mix was done totally live, give us a run down of the set up you used. Is the mix a direct reflection of what people can expect from you in a club?
Depending where i play, yeah I would say so. Thats why I wanted to do a double CD...to show what I will play at huge festival to a more intimate setting
Your known as a very versatile deejay in terms of style, was it important for you to reflect this with the mix?
Yeah, thats very important to me. I have very varied influnces within music and its important to reflect that. In an hours set its hard to show all styles but I can do different sets at different parties, thats what its all about for me.
What are your favourite places to play across A] The world? B] The UK?
Japan, Id say. Everytime i go there there is a connection there, I get to play for 3 hours plus and I usually play at Womb in Tokyo, a excellent spot. I love my tours of Australia and New Zealand too.
In the UK it was The end, in London. The club was very special to alot of different people, it had quite a spiritual vibe and an emotional connection to lots of people. If you ask most drum n bass deejays they will say that.
It was a dream come true getting the residency, my management team did alot of work in making it happen and the parties went off and we went back a few times.
We are now starting the night at Cable in London, which is looking wicked.
Your label Shogun Audio recently put out Alix Perez debut 1984, were you pleased with the reception?
Yeah, really pleased. We worked really hard with Alix to put together something that reflected him and would also appeal to people who might not know him. From a critical point of view it was recieved amazingly and the sales were fantastic aswell, it was fresh and different.
Is the label going to be concentrating on artist albums?
Yeah, thats where we want to go. Ninja tunes & Warp are good markers for where we want to be. Icicles album will just blow people away, its on a totally different tip to anything people have heard and I am very excited about it. I am planning an album project that will be more across the board, and then there is the Spectrasoul album which will probably sit in the middle of my project and Icicles project in terms of style. We want to release quality electronic music.
What do you look for when signing an artist to the label? What can we expect from Friction in terms of tracks and projects?
Well, as i mentioned, I am working on my album. Its hard work just purely because of time but I am loving being in the studio.
I am juggling alot, so the sleep is suffering right now! But im making some proper deep stuff and then some stinkin' dancefloor material. People are like 'how can you go from that to that?' but thats just me!
Give us one sentence that sums up the artists signed to Shogun:
1. Icicle
2. Alix Perez
3. Spectrasoul
4. Rockwell
5. Ktee
6. ID
7. SP
What can we look forward to from the label release wise?
Well, we've got the spectrasoul 12' Absentees and Glimpse, then there Icicles debut dubstep 12' which is xylophobia and minimal dub Then we've got Alixs Dark Days EP which is starting to blow up. following that is my 12' with Camo & Krooked, massive festival type tune. We got Rockwells 12' that just dropped Ful Circle and My War and we;ve just signed another 12" from him, sounding really good!.
What are you listening to outside of dnb?
Let me just go through my itunes- We've got Bobby Caldwell, Silvia Stripken, Rick Holmes, im loving what Skream is doing too right on the other side.
What 3 things can you not live without on tour?
Decent hotel rooms are a must, i cant do the cell thing at all!
Four hours sleep a night, My iPod and a decent sound technician!
If your weren't a deejay/producer what would you be doing?
Probably selling cars, if i had the choice- Mazeratis or lambourghinies
What occupies your time outside of music?
My friends and family. I meeting a mate of mine in abit that I haven't seen for like 6 months! and if i've got any time free- I'll be watching my son play football!
Any random tour stories you are able to share with us?
Ok, I was playing in Puerto Rico. The flight took off- we got to about Ireland.
