Shockone by junglist247365, 05/02/09 12:24:19

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1.) At what point did you decide to start producing Drum and Bass? and what do you draw inspiration from in creating your music?

It was around 2004 that I decided I want to produce drum and bass. I had been messing around with lots of different stuff up until then. I draw inspiration from anything and everything. I couldn't really say that there are definite genres or certain things in life that inspire me. I am always thinking about music, I am a believer that creativity is something that comes through you, not necessarily from you. You must be open to energy around you and willing to explore what ever direction you find yourself heading in.

2.) Phetsta describes the Drum and Bass scene in Australia as mainly having a "dancefloor driven vibe", creating the need to play a very diverse selection of tunes. Would you agree with this, and why do you think Aussie's love the "Top 40" sounds soo much?

I would really call it top 40 sounds, but yes we do play quite a diverse sound. I think the reason for this is that the crowds we play to are quite diverse. Which is great because it means drum and bass is gaining good crossover appeal into more commercial audiences.

3.) Having just released "The ShockOne EP" on Viper, and having personally received my copy to play, through what avenues of pure genius did you acquire the inspiration for the song "Polygon"? ..and describe how the decision to use Reija Lee for the vocals came about.

Genius is a strong word! I listen to a lot of house/electro house and indie music and I think its a pretty clear influence from that style of music. I wanted to write something that had that same energy of the house music it is influenced by. Other than that again, it was just a matter of getting in there and experimenting with sounds and seeing what came out. Reija Lee (Thomas) is actually my little sister. I felt the tune needed a vocal to provide a central point of focus and her being a musician and singer she was naturally the first person I asked. I will be working a lot more with her in future pieces.

4.) Your audiences are definitely hearing some new sounds from you on your new EP like in the song "True Believer" that you worked on with Phetsta and Metrik..tell us a little bit about that project as far as the process working with those two.

Well we started 'True believer' at Tom's (metrik) house in London when me and Phet were last on tour.
We spent two days at his and starting working around an old house accapella (the vocal). The tune was initially a lot mellower. After the two days we decided Phetsta and I would take the parts back to Perth and continue working on it there. I loaded it up and had the idea of making something reminiscent of dnb circa 2003 when tramens and reeces featured heavily in drum and bass. This was the last tune finished for the EP so it was basically a week non stop of me and phet in the studio getting it done, before the EP had to go for mastering.

5.) Adichigahara's Theme is an absolutely HUGE Dub step tune and I think took many of your fans by surprise. When did you decide you were interested in trying to produce a Dub step tune? and what was your true inspiration for this song?

I've been into dubstep for a long time and just decided I'd have a try at producing it. This is the first dubstep tune I've ever attempted writing. It was one of those rare moments of starting and song and not stopping for two days and then it being literally completed. I went back in a week later to see what needed fixing and tweaking and upon deliberation with production peers decided it was perfect the way it was. Also to end all the questions about it, 'Adachigahara' is a demon from Japanese folklore who is said to have fed on human babies. I thought by the sound of the tune it was an apt name.

6.) It is always really interesting to what DJ/Producers such as yourself did before becoming the artist we know you as today. Would you mind telling us a little bit about your work background and hobbies you enjoy in your everyday life?

Well I come from a musical family, my father is a guitarist, and mother a bass player, sister a bass player and vocalist. My family has owned a PA company my whole life, so I grew up in pubs and bars setting up Sound systems and sleeping in road case lids. At age four I was given a drum kit and have played ever since. I am a trained drummer and have a Bachelor of music majoring in creative technologies. Basically since finishing high school I have been studying music and writing music or playing in bands. The only other thing I've ever really had my heart set on is basketball. I've played since age 7 and still do!

7.) How would you personally advise driven young producers out there to go about establishing a positive and productive reputation for themselves and maybe get noticed along the way?

Well if you have a good college of university doing production in your town I advise studying at it. It's a lot quicker to have someone teach you the fundamentals of audio rather than learning them from youtube etc. It takes a whole lot of time to develop your art, the more time you dedicate to it, the quicker you will find yourself achieving your goals. Quite simple really

8.) Onto production gear..What hardware and software do you use for your music production? Also, how long would you say it takes you to complete a track from beginning to end to your satisfaction?

99% of what I do comes from the computer, basically because thats all I can afford! I use Cubase SX as my main DAW and all the usual plug-ins that everyone else out there is using. Native instruments feature heavily in my vst folder. It varies, 'Adachigahara's theme' took two maybe three days, Polygon on the other hand took several months of tweaking and rewriting. I think there is actually 7 different finished versions of that song, all slightly different.

9.) What are some of your favorite tracks (classics) that you find yourself repeatedly dropping at parties over the years?

Its a cliche, but Alien girl still smashes. Also biosfear by konflict and stakka and skynet is still killer.

10.) Has production completely taken over for you, or do you still consider yourself a DJ first and Producer second?

I never considered my self a DJ before a producer/musician. When my first release came out I didn't even own decks, it was only when people started asking to book me that I learnt to DJ.

11.) Phetsta hinted that he may be relocating to the UK in 2010. Do you have similar plans and if not, where do you see yourself ending up in the next few years?

Yes I will be relocating there eventually, when is another question, a lot of factors at home to work out before I move over, but it will happen.

12.) With the massive successes of "The Sun" and "Cyclones", and some of us are already aware that a VIP of "The Sun" has been produced..are there any plans for a "Cyclones" remix or VIP?..and is there a release (month) set for these yet?

No I doubt we will rework cyclones, as we feel there isn't much more you could do with that tune. I think we both feel it is the most musically accomplished thing we have written and we're happy to leave it the way it is .

13.) Despite the fact that not many locations such as here in Austin, Texas could be any further away from Perth, Australia than we are, the following you have here is tremendous. In the future when an opportunity presents itself, would you have any interest in coming to the Live Music Capital of the World and play for your Texas Massive?

I'd love to come and play Texas, someone book me and ill be there

14.) Would you mind naming a few artists that you have personally longed for the chance to collaborate on some DnB production with and why them?

Well I have alrady started tune with the Brookes brothers, but we ran out of time to finish the tune, so I would love to finish a song with them. Culture shock and Subfocus I would also like to work with

15.) With all of your successes on the Viper label, I think everyone is curious about your relationship with Futurebound. How did this all begin and how would you describe him? Also, will there be any future collaborations with Matrix and Futurebound perhaps?

He was basically one of the first people to support the more electro sound of what I do, so thats how it all started. Top guy, runs the label extremely well, bad man DJ, great dad and an all out good guy to work with. Yes there will be, probably next time I tour we will finally finish one of our many started tunes.


16.) What has been the most interesting thing that has happened while touring the mainstream Drum and Bass circuit in Europe and surrounding countries? Has there been anything unusually funny that you can remember happening at some point?

Nothing particularly unusual, just a lot of awesome shows, amazing crowds and a shit load of time spent in airports and on shitty ryan air and ez jet flights. Flex crew in vienna and Chibuku crew in Liverpool must big themselves up for being the craziest crowds I've played to.

17.) We have all watched DnB as a genre change and/or evolve over the years. Discuss your opinion on how you think Drum and Bass is evolving and how do you hope to influence it?

I see it at the moment as not taking it self as seriously as it has previously (it's just music people, enjoy it), and I like that. I just want to keep expressing my self and being creative, I have no idea what kind of sound will come out, hopefully something people enjoy!

18.) Tell us a little bit about the other side of ShockOne that people may not know about in regards to your everyday life..are you a funny guy?..are you dating or do you have a family?..things people who follow your music may not know about you.
I am about as normal and boring a guy as you will ever find. I pay my rent, do my grocery shopping, worry about not being able to pay my rent, or buy grocery's (buy my music kids ) play basketball monday and wednesday nights, wake up late and get pissed off that I've wasted my morning, drink too much coffee, have a girlfriend whom I love and drive a pretty beaten up 1985 Toyota camry (silver).