EverydayJunglist: Simon, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions. Lets start out with the basics, what were your early musical influences?
Simon Bassline Smith: My early musical influences come from the 1980s. I grew up on a mixture of jazz, funk, electro, hip hop and house. The likes of Lonnie Liston Smith, Roy Ayers, Afrika Bambataa and more were pioneers of this sound back then - I would make weekly trips to the record stores on Derby, Nottingham, and London and spend all my money on the latest releases import vinyl.
EDJ: How did you make your way into DJing?
SBS: I was in a breakdancing crew in my hometowm of Derby. I had always been the one buying records while my mates danced. I started scratching and messing with records on a single belt drive turntable at home. At around the same time I started promoting my own night at a club called The Bluenote and built up a huge following of like minded kids that just wanted to hear good music and dance. It wasn't long before I was getting booked around the city and then the rest of the country in clubs like Rock City, The Palais, The Powerhouse, Hammersmith Palais and to my knowledge I was the youngest DJ on the circuit by some years. In 1987 things took a twist and I found myself playing 8 hour sets on the holiday island of Tenerife, Spain at a club called Bananas. This was to become my real schooling in how to DJ, how to please the crowd, how to play with the crowd, how to mix and select! It was an exciting time in dance music and I was playing a small part in the development and growth of the acid house movement in Tenerife where hundreds of kids came to 'let themselves go'! 1988 was known as the 'summer of love' and I spent all that period behind the decks playing tunes like 'Richie Rich - Salsa house, Todd Terry Can you feel it, and a lot more.
EDJ: Where did the middle name 'Bassline' come from?
SBS: That name was given too me back in the day when I used to play at 'Reggae & Dub' parties... My tunes had more BASS in then the reggae and dub and blew up the speakers!! After that night I was given that name....
EDJ: Absolute 2 was one of the first DnB Labels ever conceived. How did you come up with the idea to start a label? Who was on the label? How did it evolve over the years?
SBS: It was after returning to the UK after spending over 3 years in Tenerife that I started getting booked to play a lot of big raves in England. Parties like Amnesia House, Perception, Mythology to name a few and things really started to take off. Around 1991 I bought an Akai S1000 sampler and an Atari 1040 computer and started messing around with them. At around the same time I knew I was in prime position to start my own label and sign what I considered to be good music and so I started Absolute 2 records... A short while after I started the label I met Doc Scott at a rave and he gave me his demo which had about 10 tracks on. I instantly knew this demo had something fresh and cutting edge about it. I launched my new label with these tracks. Absolute 2 Records was born!!! I signed Doc Scott, The Pied Piper and Nookie as well as realeasing tracks and remixes from Grooverider, jumping Jack Frost, Ray Keith. After a couple of years I also released my early production exploites - Music & Life, Jungle, Palomoino to name a few.
EDJ: In 1998 you met up with the duo Drumsound, since then the three of you have come out with numerous releases. What do you think the secret of your success as a trio has been?
SBS: Technique was all about starting a new imprint to showcase my new partnership with Andy Drumsound. We both were making tunes at home in our respective home studios and over a period of time started making more and more tunes together. It was natural to join forces as we both have so much in common and a strong belief to succeed in the world of music.
EDJ: The three of you also started Technique Recordings some 10 years ago. Since then you have had some major players in the drum and bass arena come aboard such as Roni Size, Friction, Fresh and a few others. When going through possible releases, what do you look for?
SBS: Technique was started to showcase our own music and nearly 10 years on we have managed to acquire some of the hottest new talent on the block. Currently on the label we have Phesta from Australia, Terravita from USA, Technicolour, Tantrum Desire & Youngman MC from UK. I always look for quality as well as the potential each artist can bring to the table.
EDJ: Lets talk about the production side of things. What kind of toys do you play with while in the studio?
SBS: See knowledge magazine - July 2007 edition for an in depth way we work in the studio with a lot of useful tips.
EDJ: What is you favorite piece of equipment?
SBS: Right now - My blackberry - LOL ! If didn't have one I would be able to do this interview in a traffic jam smack bang in the middle of Germany on way to hotel for tonights gig!! Seriously - Has to be my computer as its the work horse for everything!!
EDJ: We all know that building a tune is never the same, but how long do you typically work on a track?
SBS: As long as it takes - hours and hours sometimes and other times not so long. I don't keep track of time spent on each track I just carry on working on them until I feel its finished...
EDJ: What are your top 5 tracks you've released?
SBS: Odyssey - Prototype Records
Cold Turkey - Technique Records
Palomino - Absolute Records
Planet Saturn - Good Looking Records
Body Pump feat Youngman MC - Technique Records
EDJ: There is a lot of talent coming out these days as drum and bass grows. Which up-and-comers do you think are going to make a huge impact on the DnB world?
SBS: Currently, Chase & Status have developed into formidable artists and their new album 'More than a Lot' is really progressive... I am also a big fan of the new artists on Technique 'Tantrum Desire' and 'Phetsta' who has been on the label a few years now....
EDJ: What do you have coming up in the future?
SBS: Look out for the following:
Sample CD on loopmasters by Drumsound & Bassline Smith called 'Studio Techniques'.
Drumsound & Bassline Smith - Bellydancer
Drumsound & Bassline Smith - Can you feel it
Next year I am planning to release a 10 year of Technique album, but at this time its just in the works...
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