Pinch

Pinch Interview

DJ PINCH aka Rob Ellis is Bristol’s answer to Bass. As both DJ, producer & label boss of Tectonic Recordings, Pinch has cemented his place at the top of the Dubstep game.  With Dubstep being a multi-faceted genre, Pinch and his Tectonic label have produced some of the most unique & progressive sounds available on UK dancefloors. With his release of Tectonic Plates Vol. 2 this month, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce Pinch to our readers. His curation on the album is second to none with featured artists including Skream, Flying Lotus, Benga, Peverelist and many more. What I really liked about this album was the fact that it draws away from the generic “bass-wobble” sound of Dubstep and feels more like a techy soundscape. This feature, added in with a touch of 2-step, makes it a very soulful and enjoyable listen.

I recommend this album to both seasoned Dubstep listeners who want something a little different as well as for the uninitiated who want to experience the sound-range that the Dubstep genre has to offer.

The tracklist for the CD is:
01. Martyn - Yet
02. 2562 - Kontrol
03. Skream - Trapped In A Dark Bubble
04. Benga - Technocal
05. Flying Lotus - Glendale Gallereria
06. Joker - Untitled_Rsn
07. Pinch & Moving Ninja - False Flag
08. Peverelist - Junktion (Shed Remix)
09. 2562 - Greyscale
10. Skream - Precression
11. RSD - Forward Youth
12. Pinch - Joyride

- For those readers who don’t already know you, please tell us a little about yourself and your label.

P: I make and DJ dubstep music on a deeper tip and have done so for over 5 years now. Tectonic, along with Earwax are my labels for releasing dubstep music I like as well as my own. Tectonic is for a deeper sound, Earwax a more dubwise and dancefloor sound. I’ve also had releases on other labels including Planet Mu, Soul Jazz, Punch Drunk and Tempa.

- When you produce tracks, how would you describe your personal sound?

P: I think my tracks tend to take a deep, thoughtful sound but I also like to think there’s a variety in what I do. I just make what comes out of me at the time.

- You have a new Tectonic Plates Album coming out this month. Can you elaborate on your choice of artists and the overall ‘sound’ you were trying to achieve with it?

P: I’ve selected tracks from some of my absolute favourite producers - generally there is a bit of a ‘techy’ theme to the tracks - I think each artist has put something forward that fits with the sound of Tectonic.

- Dubstep also seems to be one of the only genres that can cross pollinate between other dance/bass genres like 2step, techy stuff etc. How can Dubstep continue to stand out on its own? What is the recipe for the defining sound of Dubstep?

youtube : DJ Pinch at Fusion Festival 2007

P: It is a versatile sound - that’s down to the variety of people making dubstep, when music is made with genuine intention the sound is about the mood of the person behind it. Unfortunately, if there is one, the recipe for dubstep seems to involve putting a LFO on square wave bassline, adding a half step beat and throwing a couple of samples over it. I’m not really interested in this myself. I don’t like the thought of being contained within a very fixed idea of what something should be like - it’s boring.

- Ok, geek/tech question for you now; what setups are you using for both your live sets and in the studio?

P: Live - 2 x 1210 turntables + dubplates/vinyls
Studio - computer + software + monitors

- For you, what takes more precedence, making music or looking after the Tectonic label?

P: Neither is more important - it just all happens as it needs to. I do wish I had more time in general though!

-  How are you coping with the gradual change of vinyl to MP3? What measures are you taking to keep up at a competitive level with other labels?

P: Tectonic catalogue is all available digitally as well as on vinyl/CD. Long live vinyl!

- Have you released anything with a Japanese distributor/label?

P: Yes the 2562 LP was also released in Japan through Boundee.

- Any future projects you care to share with the audience?

P: I’m always working on things, trying to push myself forward and develop my sound. I’m currently getting to grips with moving over from pc to mac and logic 8 and I have a bunch of collaboration projects in the pipeline... watch this space : )

myspace : http://www.myspace.com/tectonicrecordings

Written by Selph