::: AURDISP001 - Be-1ne in the mix :::
I’m really proud to present the first in a series of exclusive mixes/interviews from some of the most prolific and forward thinking producers & DJs in the bass music scene today.
Kicking things off is Birmingham-based Be-1ne, founder of Area Recordings, skilled DJ and producer, keen cyclist and cat lover. Those of you who like the darker, more sinister side of dubstep will love this mix he has crafted exclusively for the Aural Displacement blog.
Be-1ne - Aural Displacement Mix 160111 by Be-1ne
Area Recordings have just been shortlisted in the top 10 New Labels for 2010’s Dubstepforum awards, if you like what you hear then get voting and show some love.
See below for what Be-1ne has to say…
Where do your backgrounds lie?
I guess musically my background is all over the place, I have a really wide and varied musical taste, but if I had to pick, my background is definitely hip hop and beat-orientated, as far as production goes. As for DJing I’ve always enjoyed playing eclectic sets. Dubstep ticks a lot of boxes for me so when mixing, the tracks have lots of different elements and musical stylings that enable me to play in a specific style, but switch it up and play sets that don’t sound repetitive (if that makes sense).
What was your first experience of ‘Dubstep’? Did it instantly draw you in or was it a while before you began to like it?
I heard about Dubstep through Om Unit posting up mixes on a Scratch forum I used to go on, which was probably about 2005? I thought it was quiet boring when I first heard it, it just reminded me of beats I would practice scratching over. I thought it had potential, but have always much preferred listening to songs than beats. I tried joining DSF back in 2006/2007 but never received the account set up email!. I then started listening to loads of Glitch Mob mixes and was messing with analogue production before hearing Loefah’s 3rd choice remix, and that sucked me in as I felt the music had reached a point I could relate to. I messed with producing it in late 2007 / 2008 before taking it a bit more serious in the summer 2008. In my last year of Uni I set myself the goal of producing a sets worth of material and getting it all cut to dubplate for my dissertation project and that’s when it all started to click for me in terms of creating my own sound and trying to push my music.
How and when did you get your first release?
The first release I featured on was an album called ‘Cydonia’ by a band called ‘Orb’ back in 2001. I had my first writing credit in 2002 on a project by my friend Witchman called ‘Unknown Ghosts’. I did a few bits and bobs in between, but I would say my first release proper was ‘Revelation’ which I released on Area Recordings in April 2010 as it was an entirely self produced piece of music and I had gone through the process of taking it from my bedroom and setting up the label and releasing it.
What made you decide to start Area Recordings? Area Recordings grew out of a few things. Firstly, I set up the label as I felt there was / is a real lack of this style of dubstep for people to buy on vinyl, and I do really believe in the quality of the music that the label is releasing. Secondly was also a continuation of the uni project which a lot of my older dubs and my introduction to cutting dubplates came from - it felt like a natural progression. And thirdly, I never really had the desire to approach another label about releasing my tunes, I felt that if I was going to release something I would like to do it myself and although it may not have the support of an established label, I was setting up something new for people to discover and giving other vinyl lovers more music to spin.
Do you have a residency anywhere at the moment?
I don’t have a club residency, but I’ve done a weekly Monday show on Sub.FM between 4-6pm GMT for the past 2.5 years. Keep an eye out as it will be moving to a later time slot 6-8pm GMT on the Monday and become bi-weekly, just sorting the finer details of the move.
Where was the most enjoyable show you’ve played so far?
Ah man, I’ve played so many cool shows over the years it’s a little tricky to pick just one. The most recent one I enjoyed a lot was at Sub Squad in Southend. It was a nice room, nice vibes and a nice sound and the reaction I got to my tunes was fantastic. Really proved to me that people love the deeper side, so big up S-Dot and Fused Forces for having me and pushing the sound.
There’s a mix on your Soundcloud page of ‘Autonomic’ style tunes, is this just a one-off or is it something that you’re moving into?
This is definitely something I dabble in, but I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m shifting. I mean I have a wide taste in music and love hearing new sounds and the autonomic stuff really ticks a lot of boxes for me as a music fan. Its great to have a mix with and produce, so as far as the mixes go I would look out for more in the future. As for releases, I don’t really know, I’ve had some really positive feedback on the stuff I sent out to a couple of people and would like to do a varied style EP for my next solo release on Area.
2010 has flown by, and we’ve seen a lot of quality releases with artists continually raising the bar throughout every genre - if you could pick three releases from last year to take on a desert island, which three would they be and why?
2010 has seen some great music come out. My three desert island discs are easily:
No 1 - Fabriclive 50: D Bridge & Instra:mental Present Autonomic: I have totally rinsed this album this year. Probably one of the most played things I’ve bought.
No 2 – V/A – Half Light on Methodology. Krystian Forensics who runs Methodology put out some seriously high quality compilations last year. This one has some great tracks and showcased a lot of artists working in the 111 tempo, which gives some really interesting and fun results musically.
N0 3 – Lysergene – Sub Ritual / Be-1ne – Revelation 12” LOL. But seriously, I genuinely love those tunes and still very much like listening to them. Lysergene is a heavy producer and I cant wait to get more of his stuff out there, people really shouldn’t sleep on his productions. As for Revelation, sometimes I really do listen to it and can’t believe I made it.
Outside of writing music/DJing what do you get up to?
I do a lot of cycling as I pretty much refuse to pay for public transport unless necessary - it’s dirty unreliable and cycling is good exercise, along with a lot of swimming. Aside from those and spending time with my misses and the cats (Big up my cat!!) usually sorting things out for the label (Area Recordings) and listening to music. I’m getting back into watching films more regularly as well, which I really enjoy. So if anyone has any recommendations fire away!
Tell us something that not many people know about yourself?
One of my front teeth is fake.
What have you got planned for the rest of this year?
At the moment I’m currently putting together the release schedule for Area Recordings. We’ve got the Lysergene 12” out February / March time. Then a double pack in the works for May showcasing some different producers on the label, with another 12” due mid-to-late summer and a possible Be-1ne EP next Autumn.
Besides that I shall be working on a split vinyl release with Fused Forces, I’m really excited about getting in the studio with them. Along with a couple of other projects that aren’t far enough down the line to announce. Sorry.
Have you set any goals with regards to your music?
Well I’ve got a few releases waiting to come out on other labels. I have a remix of SubStep Infra Bass’ Monotonium due out on Apparition, a track on DJ Crises’ Mindstep label, looking forward to doing some more work with Forensics and Methodology as well. That’s the stuff that’s written and awaiting release.
Outside of releasing and writing I would like to start playing out a little more. I always seem to get a good response to my sets, I just think promoter’s are scared or apprehensive of booking deeper artists. I mean I’m probably not established enough to headline your night, and make you a load of dough. But I can definitely rock a dance floor with my dubs!
