Arguably one of the biggest tracks in the DnB scene during late 2010/early 2011 was Crystal Clear & Zen’s anthem of the dance ‘Heavy’. Smashed across the board by a spectrum of DJ’s it was a Ronseal track of the highest order, and is still heard being hammered out in the clubs today. All great tracks usually receive the VIP treatment and now Ganja Records has finally released the VIP of Heavy, which paired with Bullet on the flip will add further dancefloor devastation to the masses. Drum+Basics caught up with Crystal Clear & Zen to ask them about the release and they were kind enough to answer some of our questions!

How did you guys meet and end up working together?

Zen: Myself and Andy (Crystal Clear) have worked on on quite a few projects and we’ve gone back many years from an old pirate radio station called Shadow FM probably when we were about 16.

CC: We met first in a guy called “Natty Dread’s” flat in Wandsworth in the block behind the Arndale Centre where a long since defunct pirate radio station used to be based. It was the baitest flat in the world. The door had been kicked off so many times that in the end it was just held up by placing another door up against it and wedging it against the opposite wall. I was 16 and traipsing up there to play on “Shadow FM” every Sunday…I don’t think my Mum actually knew how dodgy it was to be honest! But yeah that’s where me, Zen, Twisted Individual (or Badder G as he was known then!), Upperkut from Kool FM and a bunch of other people first met.

You’re now known as Playaz/Ganja veterans, how did you come about joining the label?

Zen: I wouldn’t call myself a Playaz/Ganja veteran… I’ve been on various labels, and when we teamed up, our productions have come out on Playaz/Ganja. This has been an honour as DJ Hype and Playaz/Ganja are a legendary force in the scene and have been for many years now.

CC: I was leaving Formation and had been talking/sending tunes to Hype. He was expanding his roster at the time (with GDub, and Taxman also jumping ship), liked what I was doing but was afraid of stepping on SS’ toes by poaching one of his artists. I told him I was leaving either way and if he didn’t sign me then someone else would and the rest is history. 

Heavy was without doubt one of the biggest tunes of late 2010/early 2011 when did you decide to work on a VIP?

Zen: Heavy was one of those tunes that came together really quickly, everything seem to slip into place, the chunky beats, the vocal hook and the big bass. We knew we had something but when you write a track you never really know how it will go down. It did really well, and stood out and one of those tracks that every DJ played and the ravers really reacted to it making it an anthem. We thought we’d go back in and make it a bit different. The VIP is more broken up and hectic, but still stamps that heavy sound, which is the theme of the track.

CC: We went in about 6 months after the original was released to give it a revamp. We had some big gigs over the summer and wanted something special to play and that was that. Bundles of Thai food and a couple of studio sessions later and we’d smashed the VIP and the flipside Bullet out and were ready to test them in the club.

Bullet’s a tune that’s doing serious damage on dance floors across the globe at the moment, how did the track come about?

CC: Pretty much exactly the same as Heavy. We just wanted something nice to mix, with some nice warm bottom end on it. I did a prototype mix at my studio and then we finished it together at Zen’s…….over more Thai food. Seriously, the Spicy Basil on Kilburn High Rd is the nuts! Highly recommended!

Zen: Bullet is a stripped down dance floor track, definitely a good vibe, I love dropping this one in and out the mix, flows nicely! With our friend flown over from the mountains of Jamaica (near Sea View Gardens) to do the vocals, Barrington gives this track the finishing touch and identity.

Your solo labels Cold Blooded (Crystal Clear) and Flip Audio (Zen) have released some cracking tunes in 2011, what can we both expect from them in the near future?

CC: Thanks dude, glad you’re feeling the output. It’s always been about putting out quality rather quantity for me and I’m always happy when people “get” what we’re doing. 2012 is going to be an exciting year with stuff from Mattix & Futile, Harvest and Freeze who’s first single is up next. There might even be some output from a bloke called Crystal Clear and also things from me and Stapleton.

Zen: 2012, will see more variety, different styles of tunes, all with quality control in mind. Gonna be working with different artists, so 2012 will be a diverse year.

What’s been your favourite gig of 2011?

CC: This is a hard one as there have been so many great parties in 2011. Playaz @ Fabric is always great. Similarly Belgium is always off the hook and the scene out there is thriving right now. I’m there this New Year’s Eve for Rampage and really looking forward to it. One party that does stick out was Wasted in Ghent. 4,000 people in a conference centre going ape shit. Sweat dripping off the ceiling and me working with my partner in crime Stapleton. Great fun! There’s a video of our intro here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfCvxvc6R-k&feature=channel_video_title

Zen: I would say 2 events have stood out, first stealth bombers and murocks event in Belgium… Huge crowds and great vibes. Also Innovation in the Sun 2011, really enjoyed my set hear… got the crowd moving, but the end of my set I had skibadee, shabba, fatman dee and rhymes all on the mic…Vibes!

Which artists are you really feeling at the moment? Any new talent breaking through you can tip us off about?

CC: I tend to keep my cards close to my chest til I’ve agreed with the artist to put something out! Haha. Mattix & Futile, Harvest and Freeze bits are all featuring in my sets right now though.

Zen: There are too many good artists to mention that I’m feeling across the board, many been consistent in the scene for years. Im still looking for new talent so watch this space, also watch out for co labs with a good friend plain dialogue in 2012.

What advice would you give to aspiring record producers and DJ’s?

CC: Ummmmmmmmm how long have you got? OK, some bits of advice would be:

Never stop learning. Always continue to evolve and develop as a producer.
If you hear 200 tunes using the “Brutal Electro” Massive preset, then chances are your tune won’t stand out if it sounds exactly the same, with the same bass preset in.
Sending a private track to 40,000,000 people on Soundcloud probably won’t get it listened to by the people you want it listened to.
Tagging producers on your tune on Facebook is unlikely to get it listened to.
Compare your tunes in the studio to stuff you know sounds banging in the club. If your tune sounds cack next to the tried and tested tune then it probably shouldn’t leave your studio.
DJ’s, there is a vast array of producers who can also DJ and they’ve got their own tunes to play and build their own profile with. I would advise learning to make tunes to make your life easier.
I could go on…

Zen: My advice would be… be original, don’t clone others music. If your a new producer put the time in and this show, theres nothing worse then a new producer sending 10 tracks of poor quality as opposed to someone who send 2 good tracks.

I’m sure I read a tweet from Crystal Clear that he partakes in clay pigeon shooting, is this how you unwind?

Zen: I wouldn’t know about that.. I’m a city boy, those country folk do clay pigeon shooting and fox hunting… lol can’t say I’ve ever tried it.

CC: I do, I love it!!! I started doing it with a mate of mine when I moved out to the country and now I’m like a welly-clad born again country gent! Haha, I might start working in the grime scene…all these kids talking about straps I’d probably get props for actually owning one (albeit a 12 bore shotgun!).

What do you want Santa to bring you this year?

CC: Ummmm well, I’m just building a new studio so I’d like the knowledge to be able to wire it all up properly. I can make a beat but I’m clueless when it comes to actually wiring a patch bay up! “A soldering iron??? What’s one of those then?!”.

Zen: Hmmm for Christmas this year I’d like Alicia Keys to become divorced… so I can marry her.

We’d like to thank Crystal Clear & Zen for their time, Heavy VIP/Bullet is now available on Ganja Records via all good music retailers.

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