DJ C

Interview

- What was the direct influence to give you the idea of making breakcore tunes? What kind of music roots you have?

C: I used to play in free-improvisation bands -- inspired by the Miles Davis electric stuff, John Zorn, John Coletrane, Ornette Coleman, etc. I also grew up listening to reggae with my parents, as well as all kinds of other great music like the Beatles and the Stones. During the '80s I went through many phases; from metal-head, to punk-rocker, to break-dancer, to pop and classic rock-fiend, and back and forth between. In the late '80s / early '90s all of those influences came together for me, and I began making music that was a kind of hip-hop, dub, metal, punk, noise, improv stew. I also got into ambient music around that time, when I discovered Brian Eno's experiments.

C: The Orb's "Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld" was a huge influence on me when I first heard that, around 1991. They were combining so many of the styles I was into. The next huge musical leap was the jungle movement. When I first heard those chopped up, crazy hip-hop breaks, mixed with dubby bass-lines, I was like: "This is the kind of danceable-ragga-jazz-hop I've been waiting for!" As jungle became less about frenetic beats and more about attitude during the late '90s, I became less interested in it. It was the release of DJ Scuds "breakcore" stuff on his Ambush label during that time that gave me hope for the future of electronic music.

Beatport Player

Download music or get this player

- Do you have any political policy or emotional concept for your tunes? If you have any particular concept for making Breakcore, please tell us.

C: Politically, I try and represent my beliefs. If there's any emotional policy, it's that the tunes should be visceral, and get right at the heart of the matter. Often I just want them to make folks feel the need to shake their ass.

- Do you think that is there any relation among situation of world today and Breakcore music’s rapid growing? Please write your thinking.

C: I've thought about this before. I remember first thinking about it during the '90s when jungle, hardcore techno, and then breakcore were on the rise.

There was a sense that the music was speeding up as the new millennium was approaching. Even though it was just a date, it seemed like there was a collective energy that was building as a result of the unknown future that would occur. Sure enough, in the year 2000 a group of "neo-conservatives" would take over the world's most powerful government in a dramatic stolen election. In 2001 a spectacular attack on United States' icons of financial and military power would lead to a clamp down on democratic values like freedom and liberty, and bring the world into a never-ending war. I'm not so sure what today's music represents, but I could definitly feel something during the '90s.

- How do you expect the future of Breakcore scene? Do you think you are still composing Breakcore tunes after 10 years later?

C: I think breakcore is basically 10 years old at this point. I spent much of the first half of the '00s making a kind of ragga-core-jungle, but now I've moved on to other sounds. I'm really into mashing up genres. Because music is ever-changing, the only thing that keeps it fresh is when sounds are combined in new ways. My favorite kind of music sounds very familiar, but also has something I've never heard before.

- Which artists do you respect in Breakcore scene? And why?

DJ Scud: He's like a father of the scene.

DJ Rupture: He's the one who really turned me on to the shit in the first place.

Parasite: Toxic Dancehall & Death $ucker rock!

Aaron Spectre: A friend, and a rising star.

Jason Forrest: Not afraid to color outside the lines.

Venetian Snares: So prolific, and great production

- Please write any message to viewers who never listen Breakcore music.

C: Breakcore is not for the faint-of-heart, but once you understand it, listening can give you a rush like no other music.

DJ C : http://www.mashit.com/djc

Written by Hirokit