Bass Music Mix 28 - Actraiser
September 5
We've been so busy lately it's been hard to arrange new bass music mixes - but I'm glad to say we're back on the case with this fresh mix from Bristol's own Actraiser - and we've got more in the pipeline, so stay tuned.
Actraiser has been producing and releasing deeper dubstep and bass music for a while, and his tracks all have a level of attention to detail which is reflected in this rather impressive mix - 50 tracks in 67 minutes, it layers, splices and edits to excellent effect, and manages not to sound like it's just crammed a shitload of tracks into too short a space. Even more impressive when you see that it includes artists as disparate as Jack Dixon, Moderat and Caspa. Stream the mix below, you can download it from the Soundcloud page (or from this permanent link), and there's a tracklist on each of the soundcloud and mixcloud pages. Now read on for the interview.....
For those who don't know, please introduce yourself - who are you and what do you do?
Hi, I'm Actraiser, an electronic music producer based in Bristol. I specialise in deep dubstep and dubstep techno music but I like to make many other styles of music as well. I've had numerous releases on labels such as Sub Depth, Haunted Audio, RedVolume, Stoke Audio, Echodub, Cold Busted, and Gradient Audio. I also have forthcoming material on Paradise Lost, car Crash Set, Pangaea and more.
I produce deep tracks that maintain a hint of heaviness. I do like to make the odd minimal track but generally I like deep music with a tougher edge, kind of the rough with the smooth really. I think that whatever style I choose to produce it maintains the Actraiser sound that I aim for.
How did you get into producing?
I started making drum & bass a long time ago, and DJed quite regularly under the name Strafe. I did produce the odd track but nothing serious really. After getting into the production side of things a bit more I then went in a completely different direction and made a summer funky breaks LP for Freestyle Records as Dr Strafe.
It was over 2 years ago that I finally decided that my heart was really with the deep sounds of dubstep and future garage. So I started experimenting in the studio, with mixed results, but once I finally finished my 'Nevermore' track I knew this was the right direction to go in and it wasn't long before labels started picking up my tracks for release. I've enjoyed a fairly healthy following and great support from people, labels and DJs ever since.
What was the thinking behind this mix? Is it the sort of set you'd play out in a club?
A few of my past mixes have been very popular and I still get messages about mixes I did 2 years ago so I figured it was time to make some new ones, mixes that would stand the test of time and give the listeners something to really get into from beginning to end.
I started off doing a regular mix using CDJs, but after hearing my friend (and fellow producer) Vandera's recent mixes I decided something special was needed. So I used software for the first time to create a mix featuring 50 of my favourite deep dubstep / dubstep techno tracks. It's been described by fellow producers who have heard it as being akin to Andy C's style of mixing, but with deep 140 music instead of drum & bass... a comparison I am happy to accept!
It's mostly on a 4x4 dubstep tip, with many double (even triple) drops, and creative uses of track parts to create something that results in a satisfying listening experience rather than just a collection of tracks played one after the other, and I hope that people like what I have done with it. Every track is one I would play in a DJ set in a club.
I've also completed another 1 hour mix in this way featuring only my tracks, this will be surfacing online soon. I've already got another 50 tracks in mind for my next big mix, so watch this space!
You've got a pretty solid Soundcloud following - what do you do to promote your stuff?
Well I've been producing for a while, under different names, but the Actraiser thing has been for about 2 and a half years. In that time I've seen a steady rise in followers. I often wonder if my constantly changing genres confuses people, but I've had lots of great feedback from people who say they enjoy my tracks whatever tempo or style I go for, which is very encouraging and keeps me enthusiastic about trying new things.
Soundcloud is a great tool, and has brought to my attention many of the amazing, and often unfairly overlooked, producers out there creating really forward-thinking music that can slip by undetected due to many labels not keen on putting out music that they fear won't sell loads of copies. This is more to do with how hard it is to make money in this day of illegal file sharing and what-not, rather than the guys running the labels not wanting to rock the boat.
I've used soundcloud and AIM to build contacts and get my music heard by the right people, these two things (along with other things like forums and facebook) have been incredibly valuable to making a name for myself.
Outside of writing tunes, what do you get up do? Do you have a music related-day job or anything?
Well I produce at a frightening rate, and am often told to slow down the music I put up online for people to hear as it can be a bit overwhelming. I currently have music signed for licensing companies for use in adverts, documentaries, and other forms of media, and I am also now producing sound tracks for independent video games for the Xbox live service, which is one of the things I've always wanted to do as I have a love for retro & indie games as well as music. It has been a hard path and taken a lot of work to get here but I think I am finally on the right road to making a career from music.
The Bristol scene is pretty vibrant at the minute - how are you finding your sound fitting into what's going on around?
Well I DJ in Bristol now and then, either in clubs or for various art / graffiti shows that occur fairly often here, and my sets have always gone down well. People are very receptive to what I am doing, but then Bristol is reknowned for it's great attitude towards music. I've had great support from local guys here, including radio shows, club sets, and some releases.
It's also a great place to hear deep dubstep music, and you can meet all the people who's music you enjoy on a night out, so it's very good for networking.
What's coming up next? Releases, gigs, and so on?
Well I've had some recent releases, firstly the Tiger Road EP, which I am very proud of, it's 7 slices of futuristic electronic music that can be filled under many genres, future garage, dubstep, minimal techno. I've heard it described as music you would hear in Fabric in the year 2078, which I thought was a pretty funny, and apt description.
I've also had an LP released very recently called 'Art of Balance' on Cold Busted. This is an eclectic selection of tracks including some trip-hop, jazz funk, funky, future garage and more. It has received enormous love from around the world with DJs such as Danny Rampling, Steve Mac & Darren Emerson playing it and giving props, so that's been really encouraging. It's out on CD & digital now.
Next up though I have some much darker dubstep and dubstep techno music coming out on Paradise Lost, 6 tracks in total spread out over an EP and some various artist releases so those will be big. Then there's a 4 track tech-house EP on Pangea recordings which showcases my deep house & techno music. I'm also playing a set at Motion in Bristol on 24th September so be sure to get down there if you can, it will be big!
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Well I like to listen to an eclectic range of styles, but I mostly enjoy listening to dubstep & dub techno tracks by the artists featured in this mix, and deeper drum & bass music by people like LS1, Future Engineers, Marcus Intalex, Breakage, Fanu etc.
I also like the funky mixes by Featurecast and A Skillz, as well as drum & bass anthems by people like Matrix & Futurebound, all the way to chilled out beats by RJD2, Bonobo. So yeah pretty eclectic, I even listen to chiptune and retro video game soundtracks now and then too.
Any shout outs / mentions, or anything we forgot?
For sure, firstly to Vandera who's mixes are so good and inspired me to go back to the drawing board with my own mixes. Alex DFNRT who not only produces amazing music but has always been really helpful to me with regards to all sides of the music game. Must also give a shout to my lovely and talented girlfriend Caya who does all the artwork for my releases and mixes, she always manages to make something awesome so I will always have her do the art if possible!
And of course the obligatory shout out to all the nice people who like my music! Keep the messages coming!
If anyone would like to book me, or contact me about soundtrack work etc then you can do so via my soundcloud or facebook pages.
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Posted by bassmusic
