Its been a long time since our last feature in August, but we hope its been worth the wait. We kick off 2010 with a unique insight into the world of roots sound-system culture in the form of Kumi Hi-Fi, the lovingly-restored French incarnation of UK sound-system, Jah Trinity. We speak to Kumi Hi-Fi's Nico Planno:

Tell us about the sound system you are restoring.

Jah Trinity was a Gloucester sound-system which was created by the two Westcarr brothers: Milton and Terry and Raf their partner. When, in 1985, they gave this name to their sound, they were already known in their job. Indeed, from the beginning of the 80s, they worked under the name of ‘Lord Demonstrator Hi Power’. Gadee Crucial (Terry) chose the records, Milton Naphtali (Milton) dealt with the technique when Raf was in charge of coordination at the micro. It was when sound-systems tingled so competition was hard. In November 1983, Lord Demonstrator even won the ‘A1 Youth Rockers in Roots’.

Read more: Kumi Hi-Fi

In August's feature we talk to the original Mr Big Toe and long time friend of Dub Studio, John Farrugia, about sound-system business, music and culture, in Scotland and his native Canada.

_{Its all good - Big Toe's HiFi with LHT Sound System}

How did you guys get together?

Well I am originally from a farm in Ontario, Canada and I had been living in Canada two thirds of the year and St Lucia, West Indies for one third of the year throughout the 1990s. After arriving in Scotland back in 2003 to pursue art and music, I set about building speaker boxes and sculpture, and Big Toes Hi-Fi came to life. The name Big Toes was a handle I got whilst DJing in a wee fishing-village dancehall in St.Lucia in the late ‘90s. I had broken my big toe on my right foot earlier in the week playing football with some kids. So needless to say my toe was all black and blue and swollen. During the course of the dance that night, a Rastaman singer stepped up and took the mic, he had riddim & style… but he couldn’t pronounce my surname, and while attempting to big up the selector Johnny Farrugia, he looked down at the ground… saw my big swollen toe and declared - Big up to the BIG TOE!!!

Read more: Big Toe's Hi-Fi

 

A lot of DJs use dubs because they fit in with their label operations, not so with you, what's the attraction?

For me it's all about the opportunity to play the best music in the best format. I've been cutting plates of various descriptions for around 15 years now. I started cutting down at Music House in the mid nineties - all the main players used to visit and cut new tracks there. I've heard some of the biggest Drum & Bass tunes ever produced cut in those studios.

Read more: Mr Bang-e (NeuroFunktion)

Where are you from? Being near Bristol, do you think that has an influence on your production?

I'm from the city of Bath, its about 12 miles away from Bristol. I would never have said Bristol influenced my sound until recently. I've always appreciated the way the Full Cycle guys approached their production, and now the newer school of producers like Distorted Minds and TC. I've got sick of that generic D&B drum sound and it feels like the Bristol guys still have some flava in their drums, they sound more funky, more organic, so in this sense it has been influencing me. Also when I DJ I play a lot of Bristol-style rollers amongst my more uplifting euphoric sets which I guess I'm most known for.

What inspires you to produce?

For the last year it hasn't really been about being inspired, its having work to do. I've always had this remix to do or this VIP, or changing a version of an old tune. So it felt like I had stuff to complete/finish rather than feeling any creative urge to do it. I think you can read a lot into being "inspired" but truth is you just have to get your head down, even if your not inspired. I'm more inspired to watch TV all day and go and buy clothes! Hahah! So I know I just have to get my head down sometimes regardless of whether I'm in a creative zone or not.

So how does the VIP thing work? What's the motivation behind it?

Well the motivation is usually born out of DJing and having a big tune that goes down well, but you want your own exclusive version to play out. Luckily the VIPs I've done have actually got released, so I guess its more like doing your own remix, but you don't usually start them knowing your gonna get paid, they just start out as DJ tools.

What would you say the main reason for cutting dubs is from a producers point of view?

Read more: Danny Byrd

How would you describe your sound?

The stuff I make is music with a lot of bass in, at various tempos!

Would you use the term dubstep?

Read more: Ramadanman

As part of our artist features section, once a month we will be tracking down one of our regular clients to find out what they are up to and to get a little insight into the whole dubplate thing. This month we hunted down Forensics.

How long have you been producing for?

Started producing as Forensics early 2005, I think. Could have been late 2004! Had dabbled a little bit before then anyway, plus been in a few bands.... but that was really the start of me producing.

Read more: Forensics

In October we hooked up with DJ Joker.

When you produce a beat do you have any idea what its going to sound like?

Purple. I like to make purple music if that makes any sense.

Read more: DJ Joker

In September we spoke to Bristol Sound Legend, Rob Smith.



(photo: relaxmax)

What do you think of the Bristol scene at the moment?

Really exciting..! So much new stuff coming out everyday.. I can hardly keep up. Joker is killing it at the moment.. Pinch, Pev, Gemmi, also great stuff from guys like Phaeleh, Time, and much more, I could go on and on..

Read more: Rob Smith

In August we caught up with one of the hottest new names in Drum and Bass, Cyantific.

What inspires you to produce, are you inspired by other drum and bass producers, other genres, or something else?

All sorts, Funk, Soul, Electro, Techno,

Read more: Cyantific

We kicked off the artist feature section in July with one of our longest-running dubplate clients, Bristol Dubstep pioneer, DJ Pinch.

How important is cutting dubplates from a producers point of view? Does it help your production?

Personally I think if you attend a cutting session of your own tracks then it's a great way to develop as a producer.

Read more: Dj Pinch