Matador hands the RUKUS reins to SCI+TEC and Turbo Recordings producer SHADED this month, he joins the on-form roster with his new EP ‘Below Low’. Joining him on the EP is another Rukus debutant, skilled studio vet Russell, a name to certainly keep an eye on in 2018. Russell makes his first appearance on the imprint in a remix capacity, stealing the spotlight with his personal twist to ‘This Function’. It’s a driving peak-time techno cut with an unrelenting air. What’s more, you can listen exclusively in full premiere only on When We Dip today as we go in-depth with the man behind the music. It’s all below. Enjoy!
WWD: Hey Russell, welcome to When We Dip! Tell us about your new remix on RUKUS.. what was your process for creating it, did you have an idea in mind straight away when you heard SHADED’s original? Or did it take quite a lot of playing around to get it right?
Well, I wouldn’t say I have a process exactly. My music taste is quite broad so I like to take each track as it comes and not restrict myself to a particular format of writing. The vocal in SHADED’s ‘This Function’ caught my attention immediately, and I worked from there. There were so many unique elements to play around with so the remix was a lot of fun. I had an idea of where I wanted to go with the track and things took shape pretty quickly.
WWD: Where did you produce it?
I produced this track across two computers and an iPhone. I work on my laptop if I’m travelling with a few Arturia plugs installed and a shitload of drum loop banks. I built my studio a couple of years ago at home and here I have a Mac Pro running Logic X, Reason 10 and Ableton 9. I also have a few outboard synths and I use my IPhone for Figure and some of the iOS Korg Plugins, which are pretty savage indeed. All of this together amounts to a fun setup which can adapt to wherever I am and however much time I have to give, it also keeps production simple and interesting, which is very important for creativity.
WWD: This is your debut on RUKUS, and the first release under your own name, but you’re no stranger to production.. Can you tell us a bit more about your history as a producer.
Well I’ve been producing for almost 20 years, mostly electronic music but I have dabbled in orchestral styles and also producing rock and pop music. I did tour as a live act around ten years ago but took a break from it to open a recording studio and become a music technology lecturer. I was awarded a Meteor music prize in 2010 as a member of a production team and I’ve continued to educate both myself and others throughout the years.
WWD: As a live artist, what would you say are the best and worst aspects to a focus on a live set up?
The best thing about being a live artist is starting a track on Monday, polishing it up throughout the week, playing it live that weekend and seeing the crowd love it. Obviously the downside is you have to write all the music yourself, but this gives you flexibility to tailor each live set for a particular party, sort of like having a big box of records to chose from as a DJ. And if you’ve prepared enough, you’re more likely to be relaxed and have fun with it.
WWD: What’s next for you after this release?
I’m spending the next few months putting together my new live show for touring in 2018. I also have a solo EP coming out next year on RUKUS with some cool remixers onboard. So, I’ll be in the studio a lot. You can watch every one of my studio sessions on twitch at www.twitch.com/russelluptunes
SHADED’s ‘Below Low’ is out on RUKUS, Friday 17th November with remixes from Russell and Hector. Buy here.