Hello Flava!
Thank you for answering my questions for drum+basics. I think we’ve been talking about this interview for about a year or more since I met you in the toilet at Launch!
Hello there! It’s great we finally got together on this! You can’t hurry these things I say – so all good!
How did you end up in the dnb/jungle scene and for how long have you been involved?
I grew up in Kettering (the same hometown as the mighty Storm oddly enough) and it’s hardly a magnet for jungle/dnb vibes! I kinda got into some of the early hiphop, acid house sounds and progressed to my first ‘rave’ at milwaulkees in Bedford and loved the vibes! I was soon raving every weekend! It wasn’t till I moved to Watford and went to uni that I hung around with a group of friends who had decks at their house. I soon got sick of sitting watching and asked for a go – and clanged it up for the rest of the night! I loved the whole concept of it – thats when I bought some fisher price turntables – think they were citronic belt drives! this was probably about 19 years ago now (god that makes me sound old!)
You are both a DJ and producer – what’s the hardest part and what do you enjoy the most?
Ive only recently become involved in producing and I’ve got absolutely hooked – Im gutted I didn’t get involved years ago cos Ive got so much to learn its daunting! Ive recently got myself Garageband and am teaching myself the basics – its very time consuming – I don’t get any housework done anymore – but Im actually doing pretty good on it so watch this space ….
You always smash it on the dance floor with your selection, do you prepare for a gig or do you improvise in the club?
Haha! Before a gig I get so nervous its ridiculous – to be honest I only ever try to plan my first 3 tunes and usually end up changing my mind as I step up – I just go with what I think the crowd will feel – playing a set out is so different to a radio set – no room for “fillers” – every tune counts!
You are also heavily involved in RudeFM.com – what can you tell us about that?
I’ve been playing Saturday nights 10pm onwards on the station for 15 years – I like playing music that I like to people that like to hear it – its that simple! The station is all about the music which I love and its more specialist DnB than other stations, attracting a more mature listener base.
Speaking of RudeFM, is it correct that you met Digital and Horrific James there which led to the release of Trident Code on Function Records? For how long have you been making music together?
I met Horrific James 15 yrs ago as soon as I joined Rude – he did Saturday nights too and we soon found our love for the music bonded us in particular our favourite producers Digital and Spirit, and we have been close friends and b2b partners ever since! It was a huge event for us both when Digital did a guest show on the station last year- we were absolutely shocked when he said he loved our energy and would we make a tune with him – Hell yeah! Trident code was born.
What was the process of making this EP?
Basically we each took charge of two tunes each – we would come to the studio with samples prepared, with an idea of what we wanted – then we somehow communicated our ideas to Steve who was brilliant at doing the “boring stuff” on the computer – I swear he’s got the patience of a saint – we were so lucky to get the opportunity to work with him!
What’s your favourite track? I personally love Lava and Voice of The Jungle.
The two tracks I worked on more were Lava and Friday the 13th – I have to say I love Lava – deep and rolling – wicked in the mix but I also love the tearing rave vibes of Friday the 13th – its a tricky one!
Any other exciting releases to look forward to?
Yes there is! The Test, by myself, Dissect, and Digital should be forthcoming on commercial suicide – myself and Dissect are currently working on the flip for that! A grotty little number called Primal by Digital + Spirit V Flava and Dissect which is forthcoming on a Function Records collab album called “Synthesis” featuring Spirit, Nomine, Total Science, Klute, Resound, Theory, Response and Om Unit. Theres a couple of other little vibers in the pipeline aswell – something with Digital and the lovely DBR guys, another grotty track with Nomine and Digital – so its all quite exciting! Im not slacking!
When you are at home, what music do you listen to?
At the minute any spare minute I have Im on garageband. Its so important to me to know whats going on when I get in the studio – I spend hours staring at that computer screen and need to know whats happening there – its all very well bringing ideas to the table but its just the tip of the iceberg – Im pretty stubborn when it comes to how I want a track to sound – whats the point of compromise if you’re not really feeling it! This way I get total control!! (Demented laughter)
What would you say is so special with the dnb/jungle music and its scene?
The scene has expanded so much over the years that its a very niche area that I’m truly into but if music didn’t evolve as a whole then we wouldn’t have ever had DnB in the first place I guess! (that answer totally makes sense in my head)
Do you still enjoy to go out raving even if you’re not playing?
I enjoy going out if I know its gonna be worth the effort – for me the best nights guaranteed are Launch and Rupture, any Function nights, or anywhere Im playing basically!
When can we next catch you play?
Its been pretty hectic with the Trident Code release so I’m hitting garageband hard and you can usually catch me most Saturdays at 10pmish on Rudefm. Should be reppin at the Function nights planned next year! My job as a chef is quite demanding so just rollin with it for now.
Famous last words?
I wanna big up Digital for being a true legend and wicked mentor – Horrific James for always bring the vibes! Also all the loyalists! LTV – LIVE THE VIBE!
THAANNKKSSS and big up!
Get the Trident album HERE and follow Flava on Soundcloud & Twitter.
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