Its been a hell of year for drum and bass legend. Undoubtely one of the biggest stars on the scene the Shogun Audio head honcho has enjoyed touring the world alongside landing a coveted Radio One Slot. In the first of our interview series that profiles the artists preparring to kick off 2012 festival action, at the epic Bugged Out Weekener which take splace at the end of January, we grabbed 5 minutes to review the year with the legend that is Friction.
Firstly, happy Christmas and New Year, how has 2011 been for you, any highlights?
Its been a great year to be honest. I’ve won awards, been given a show on Radio 1, my label has continued to get bigger and bigger and I’ve continued to be able to travel the world playing music. I definitely cant complain!
What were your top tracks of the year?
Icicle ft. SP:MC – Dreadnaught,
Dub Phyzix & Skeptikal – Marka
Wilkinson – Tonight
Shogun Audio has been your baby for many years now, and you’ve released a series of acclaimed tracks in that time, how heavily involved in the A & R process are you?
A & R is basically my role with the label now aside from ownership. Its also a job I love doing!
Do you manage to find time to nurture some of the younger acts on the label?
Its hard to find the time but it has to be done. The majority of the time I’m giving feedback on the phone while running to a departure gate 🙂
Have you got any top tips for those to watch in 2012?
Rockwell and The Prototypes
Your DJ schedule is always hectic, with gigs across the globe, do you ever get jaded by it all, or is playing live still where your heart is?
Well I’d be telling a lie if i said it didn’t get tiring but for me its the job dreams are made of and one I’d never take for granted. I love being able to see the world (although saying that, sometimes I’m in a city for 6hrs).
Drum and Bass as a genre seems to be very cyclical, with it moving between underground to mainstream and back again, how has the genre evolved for you since you started?
Yeah exactly that to be honest. Its a genre that evolves and mutates all the time. We go through commercial periods and underground periods but we are also one of the most solid genres. Most people into any form of dance music like a bit of dnb!
Your heading to the bugged out weekend at the end of January to play the Union stage, what can we look forward too?
I’ll just be doing my upmost to entertain the crowd by showcasing what me and the drum & bass scene has to offer and its a show I cant wait to play at.
Are there any acts of the line up you’ll be sticking around to see?
Loving the output from 16 Bit so will def be checking out their set.
What have you got lined up for 2012?
To continue writing my album, getting going with my dnb show for Radio 1 and continuing to travel round the world!
The Bugged Out Weekender:
Line Up.
LIVE
Hudson Mohawke, Inner City, L-Vis 1990 and The Neon Dreams, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
DJs
Diplo, Chase and Status, Claude Von Stroke, Erol Alkan,
2ManyDjs (DJ set), Joker, Fake Blood, Eats Everything,
Simian Mobile Disco, Maya Jane Coles,
2 Bears (Joe Goddard & Raf Daddy), Riton,
Andrew Weatherall & Ivan Smagghe, Sub Focus, 16 Bit, Friction, Zinc, Redlight, SBTRKT, Joy Orbison, Martyn,
Julio Bashmore, James Holden, James Holroyd, Matt Walsh, Casper C, Stopmakingme, Green Velvet, Kevin Saunderson,
L-Vis 1990, Bok Bok, Ben UFO, Girl Unit, Jam City, Jackmaster, Deadboy, Spencer, Justin Robertson, Hannah Holland, Severino,
Dan Beaumont
Guest hosts: In:Motion, UNION, Night Slugs, Numbers, Dalston Superstore
For more info visit:
http://www.bigweekends.com/buggedout