Scratcha DVA Interview & Guestlist comp!

That giant blancmange of a flyer above is exhorting you to get down to Cable for Chew The Fat and watch the cream of UK bass music (and Mumdance) mash it up a week on Friday. Looks amazing, don't miss! It's also in association with the We Fear Silence guys, who've offered us a guestlist plus one for you guys - so if you want to get yourself and a mate in for free, just email an answer to this question to the usual address (thebassmusicblogATgmailDOTcom).

Which club did Chew the Fat start off in?

Once you've done that, you can read this interview with Rinse FM's Scratcha DVA. Scratcha's been making a name for himself lately, having taken Funky and twisted it out of all recognition, into a deeper, darker place. Just check out his releases Jelly Roll on his own imprint DVA, and Natty on Hyperdub. So we thought it'd be good to get him in for a quick chat, ahead of his back to back with Roska next week. Thanks to Scratcha for answering our pesky q's!

(apologies for text formatting there. Posterous is refusing to play ball)

Scratcha - who are you, and what do you do?

My name is Leon Smart pka Scratcha. I DJ, I present a breakfast radio show on RinseFM and I produce tracks for my record label called DVA Music which is where the name Scratcha DVA came from. I also wear strange glasses, I'm getting fat and I've never been to jail.

Can you tell us a bit about your grime past?

Yeh. I wouldnt say past cause I still play grime at radio and some of my production is still really grimey, but I was involved in a crew called Aftershock which featured names like Terror Danjah, Triple Threat and Bruza. It also had a lot of hungry beatmakers around which is probly why you're thinking what you're thinking now.

What made you switch tings up?

Im inspired by and like all different types of music and i make whatever music i feel comfortable making. Sometimes it ain't even music, like Jelly Roll. But yeh im always switching. I make my music look to suit my mood. I have to be in the right mood for certain ideas or the right enviroment. Sounds so cheezy saying that, but its true. Like these times i'm in the middle of making an Electronic CD project and another soulful jazzy project, and in my personal life I dunno whether I'm coming or going. My music mirrors my social state a lot of the time.

The grimey breakfast show is wicked! What's been your best moment on the show so far?

The 09 Xmas Special Show with females only. Somehow Davinche made hes way into the studio but yeh it was fun. I dressed in drag for the ocassion.

On a production side, it seems like you've been bubbling for a few years now, but it looks like it's really picked up in the last year or so. Why do you reckon that is?

Because I started to let things off. Sometimes when you're in crews and that, there are rules and waiting times and stuff. When you're on your own you can release whatever you like. So I started throwing feelers out to DJs and then just started releasing vinyl and digital myself. I feel alot of people are scared to release into shops and online, or they're just happy to hear Marcus Nasty play their tune inna dance. I find the people who have interest now are the people releasing their tracks to stores and making them available. Also obviously the Hyperdub hook up with Cooly G and Kode 9 has overly helped my profile.

Have you had to change up the way you promote yourself, and get your tunes out there, since the internet side of things has got so big? People are all giving away lots of free tunes and stuff these days, trying new things...

I found its about giving the right tunes to the right channels which will determine where my tune ends ups and the response I want from a certain track. I dont give away free tracks. Only when asked by Rinse to promote something. Other than that i feel people should pay for music. Why not? Its my work. Like the RWD Magazine has always been free from my local record shop. I dunno how i would feel if they tried tell me to buy it. I dont think I would. So my music will always be sold not free. I think dats fair tho.

It sounds to us like there's a bit of a shift going on - the stuff that you play, taking funky away from the cheesy stuff, and what people like Martyn are doing - going from dubstep to a slower, funkier sound. Do you think the sounds are going to meet in the middle somehow?

I just play whatever I like. Are you trying to make me say.......... 'FUNKSTEP'!!!!!? There you go i said it.

We weren't, but that'll do! Your track with Cooly G - 'Oi Dirty' is wicked - does that have a release planned?

I don't have a clue whats happening with that. I know its for The Cooly & The Gang EP which is forthcoming on either her label or Hyperdub. Cooly's mind doesn't work like ours so expect something dramatic to happen with it.

What's coming up next for you?

Natty and Ganja on Hyperdub, The New World Order EP on DVA Music which features Mr Bakongo & S.Chu and DJing in lots of dances where people cant dance properly. Thats all I want.

Anything else you want to plug?

DVA MUSIC, my twitter @ScratchaDVA, RINSE FM, HYPERDUB, ROSKA, COOLY G and SQUARE PIE in SpitalField Market.