Blue Daisy Interview

Forward-thinking London based producer Blue Daisy will be dropping his new album The Sunday Gift in less then a month's time. We've already had the privilege of a listen and are happy to report that it's a worthy, and perhaps more importantly refreshing, debut for fans and newcomers alike. In anticipation of the release we sent over some questions to shed some light on what we can expect...

There seems to be a real focus on building soundscapes and cinematic song-writing on this album, much more then ever before, what's motivated you to make an album like this now?
I can't pinpoint any particular reason for this direction other than it being the journey my mind was taking during the making of the album. It represents me from the inside out in that moment in life. It reflects the environment I created around myself, so this is just me opening up to the listener, painting a picture, the unknown, Mona Lisa, Da Vinci spirit and allowing the imagination of the listener curate and relate it to their own.

Also other than the fact that it is me at that moment in time, I feel it does represent alot of shiz that is going on in the world today, from war to segregation and the digital influence that we follow so dearly in life now. Yeah, I suppose it can be depicted as a political record in some ways too..

It's a real diversion from the beat scene that a lot of people are associating you in with since the early Flylo comparison, - have you paid the scene any mind recently? Is it something that has any influence on you all?

I've had this convo with a few peeps, for starters I've never considered myself to be a "beat maker", even though thats what some may derive me as being. I've always made sure that I never got my head caught in that whirlwind, and to be honest there are only a few that I run with, this few I know are not just running with that style of music 'cos its in or trendy, they are running with that style cos it is them. It's their form of communication and their way of expressing what's true to them

You know, it's like the Dead Prez line "If you a fighter, rider, lighter, flame ignitor, crowd exciter, or you wanna just get high, then just say it, but then if you a liar-liar, pants on fire, wolf-cry agent with a wire, I'm gon' know it when I play it".

This is the truth, there's so much "wolf-cry agent" material in the "beat scene" in my opinion. It lacks that inspirational, innovative, unique out the box creative feel it once had. Like what happened with dubstep. But yeah, nah i've never really paid much mind to one genre anyway, i'm pretty slack with that "conforming" attitude. I just listen to whatever fits my fancy.

What's the thought behind the name The Sunday Gift?
Sunday originates from my birthname, which represents a Sunday born child in Ghana (where my parents originate) Alson on top of that interpretation of 'gift' is the fact that my mother's name is Gifty - I was also taught that Sunday is the day of rest, God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh. All these elements put into one make the name "The Sunday Gift" . So it's like saying I've finally reached the day of rest after my journey of creation and that it holds deeper meaning than just music. This is me, my heart, my love and pain depicted via this gift. A gift given unto me by the most high.

In terms of software and hardware, what was used to make the album?

The album was made on FLStudio 5 and Cubase, that's all I'm saying. Ha!

Your Boiler Room live set was too nice, one of my personal favorites. How are you going to incorporate this album into sets like that? Or are you planning to do something a little different?

Definitely planning something different for the live shows for the album. I've been working it out in my head and will be looking to curate a show with a drummer, guitarist, synths, keys and visuals. So yeah that's my next stress point to overcome and I hope I have enough hair left after Haha!

On that note, do you have any notable shows coming up that might want to notify people about?
16th September - Sonic Warfare, Melkweg, Amsterdam; 23rd September - Tempo Clash, Corsica Studios, London; 15th October - Scala, London (W/Stac); 3rd December - Syndicate, Singapore. More dates will be confirmed on later basis, keep up to date onTwitter.

Phaeleh Interview

Bristolian producer Phaeleh has been making waves in the dubstep scene for some time now. Since his first release on his own Urban Scrumping label in 2008, he's had singles on labels like Surface Tension and Wheel & Deal, an album (Fallen Light) on Afterglo and his first single of 2011, Falling, is coming out on Skream's Disfigured Dubz imprint in March. We spoke to him to find out what he makes of it all...

How has the last year been for you?
The last twelve months have been good I would say, I think key events have been being asked to do a second mix on Electronic Explorations for Rob Booth. That gave me somewhere to showcase new material. Enough respect for Rob Booth and what he's done with that, it's an amazing platform for new music. I mean I am usually busy making bits and bobs these days, but I make time to listen to stuff like Electronic Explorations, some of Bun Zero's stuff and The Yardcore Sessions on Sub FM.

Your schedule is looking quite hectic too...
Yeah, the gigs have definitely been good, the album release in October and Falling coming out on Disfigured Dubz has kind of catapulted everything. So yeah, I am in demand now, but I know music has its peaks and troughs...

Have you any favourite places to play?
In terms of the UK, I always seem to get a lot of interest in Manchester and London – especially London at the moment. I think in the UK those two places, but I do have to admit I love playing Europe. They generally make you feel more welcome. They're interested in you as an artist and in listening to your own material rather then just getting smashed. I think it's because we are spoilt for choice; I know in Bristol and most other major cities, you can find a big line-up and still have other options open.

You seem quite detached from any sort of cliques in the scene and wider genre, are there any producers you feel an affinity for?
Yeah, I think with all music genres there's going to be a clique element, and sometimes it does seem to be weighted towards networking. But I am the type of person who would rather stay inside and make tunes then be out networking. That being said I do like to work with people like DJ Madd, Matt-U, TMSV, DJ Rum... anyone on that kind of tip really.

I've seen you praising Kahn as well, he's quite the producer...
Oh yeah, Kahn, he's so sick. I've been playing his beats for quite a bit now, not just for the diversity but the musicality of it – it appeals to people. Punch Drunk in general are doing a lot for the Bristol music scene, I mean I've passed a few things to Tom but generally my sound is a little detached from theirs but still enough respect for what they are pulling out; supporting people like Kahn and Superisk. Should be a good year for them and a lot of other people in 2011.

You've got a quite a slick technical sound, how did that come about?
I think it's coming from a electronic background where it's more about building sounds through intricate layers rather dominant basslines and drums; and also I think learning to play musical instruments helped in a way. But I think it just comes down to sitting in a room for too many years on Cubase pushing yourself.

Would you say you're a software man or a hardware man?
A bit of both I would say. I recently moved house, so I have more room for synths and samplers and that. I've been using them more in the way of experimenting and looking for ideas. Just hitting record and going with it as opposed to edits.

You touched on your history in electronica under the moniker of Preston, when did your sound begin to change and why?
I've always been doing what I wanted really, like I used to make a bit of everything - from jungle to hip hop to stuff veering onto gabba alongside the chilled stuff. But as I got used to doing more live sets and partyesque tunes it kind of met in the middle, as well as me just personally developing as a producer and making tougher basslines and better sounding beats. I think foremost it was about making music that I enjoyed and that I wanted to listen to though. However I think over time you find you can slot parts of yourself into certain genres. I mean, I wasn't with dubstep from the beginning. I think 2006 was when I first heard it. It certainly influenced me but it wasn't a case of 'yeah now I'm going do dubstep', my own personal definition just coincided with it.

That chill vibe does come through first and foremost though, I've heard people compare you to everyone from Burial to Massive Attack...
Well, I've got no problem with people comparing me to them! But yeah, it does surprise me what people come up with. Some people hear the harder stuff, and others hear tracks like Afterglow orRounded which are getting quite a few plays and take opinion from that, but I don't mind.

I see you have been championed by the likes of N-Type and Skream as well, you can't get much higher praise then that, how does that feel?
It's surreal to be honest with you. I have so much respect for their work, they've been doing it since the scene started off, whereas it's taken me time to get out there. But as you say, it's the ultimate big up. Like when you have the vinyl in your hand and you think 'Woah this is N-Type's label', or 'woah this is Skream's label' it takes time to sink in and believe it's happening, but yeah it's amazing. I'm just appreciative they let me put the tunes on their labels – has done me a lot of favours.

Big names comparisons and backing aside, you seem quite humble, one think thing I picked up is that you personally reply to everyone on your social networking pages, that's cool...
Yeah, a lot of people pick up on that. I think it's just because what separates me is that it took me a very long time to get noticed by the scene, so I am just very appreciative of anyone reaching out. I mean there have been times doing it this long, where you're thinking 'pack it in, it's not happening' so I am just thankful for the support.

What about your label, Urban Scrumping, are you going to bring it into the forefront?
Yeah, definitely. It's been going slowly as I've been busy moving house and releasing the album in October. But we do have a few things coming out, a compilation with just with a few artists from the everyone on the label to get the name out there again. We have a new artist as well, J1, really glad to be working with him, he has such a diverse sound - kinda housey, kinda electric, a bit of garage. We are working with Gyu again as well, excited for that.

Do you have side projects then? I heard about the possibility of live elements...
I am someone always floating around ideas, and I mention them to people, and they get passed around. Some people have been asking me if I was going to back the live element as I used to bring out a lot of hardware before I became more laptop based, but I don't know, I prefer DJing now, it's more fun. I did used to do lots of crazy electronics, live looping and sampling to create these layers, so yeah, I might look to put more of a performance element in but there is no rush. My two main things for the year is getting Urban Scrumping on track and getting the artists exposure and a collaboration with DJ Madd. Just getting a few tracks along but again no rush, just trying to define the sound.

That being any said, any chance of a full length from Phaeleh?
I would like to get another album in October. Obviously it's down to time restraints but I did most of the work on the last album with a few tunes already made in a few weeks. I am itching to get down and invest some time in it though, to make it exactly how I want it, and to release it by the end of the year.

Finally, what you can tell us about the guest mix?
It's a mixture of a things that I have been playing out recently, just what I have been listening to as well. Releases from Box Clever, Black Box and few others' bits and pieces.