| 26 March 2011
Recently I took the time to catch up with Gareth Evans aka Undersound one of the artist's from our latest release "Vibration Records VR013" an up and coming artist who is making some big waves in the liquid DnB scene.
ITL: Undersound, thanks for doing this interview for Itstooloud.com :)
We first got talking last year via aim instant messenger and I was impressed with your music, thankfully you signed us "Month Of Sundays" which got released earlier this year and went down a real storm, and today we released the anticipated "Lost Words" you've been releasing some great music with us and other labels, Its obvious from your production that you have a great deal of musical knowledge, do you have a background in music, can you tell us how you got started and what gave you the musical bug.
Undersound: I started playing the piano at the age of 5 and it’s just snowballed from there. I have trained classically since then. When I was 14 I won a scholarship to study in a specialist music school, where I was surrounded my amazing musicians from all over the world so inspiration was always around me.
ITL: Thats pretty impressive, no wonder your tunes are so good :) I have noticed you have been very busy recently building a great reputation throughout the melodic drum & bass scene, can you tell us what you have you been up to, as well as releasing with us on Vibration Records who else have you been working with and what other releases can we expect to hear soon.
Undersound: I love releasing music with bassdrive, they seem to enjoy all variations of dnb I throw at them. And the listeners of bassdrive are really loyal from what I can gather. I am excited about my latest release with you guys. Being on the flip with ATP is huge for me, I have a lot of respect for him and his music. I have just set up plans to do an ep with Urban chemistry recordings which I am super happy about. I love having the task of writing a few tunes for one release. You can be really diverse with each track. I am doing an ep for Andy Sim’s "Think Deep Recordings" which will be on a jazzier tip and have recently completed a much heavier release for "Black Reign Ltd" which should be out in the next month or 2.
ITL: With so much on, are you doing any regular nights, have you got anything planned we should know about.
Undersound: I haven’t dj’d out in a long time, but I’m hoping that is going to change soon. I have a few dates lined up for the summer and possibly going to look for an agent.
ITL: Can you tell us what studio equipment you use, and why you have chosen to use them in particular?
Undersound: Um, my studio is a little different from most dnb producers from what I can gather. I am surrounded by loads of instruments. I produce on cubase 5, Yamaha hs80 monitors, ART valve pre amp, a really old red audio condenser mic, edirol fa 101 interface, line 6 pod guitar processor, Akai mpd26, 9 guitars, one bass, mandolin, flute, French horn, trumpet, Korg trinity synth, and sometimes I run bass through old guitar distortion pedals.
ITL: Thats an eclectic setup you have there, hope to hear some of that mandolin in your tunes soon :)
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with, and do you have many plans musically for 2011?
Undersound: Collaberation wise I have some exciting bits on the go with Andy Sim, Paul SG and High Contrast. There is a fair few releases already scheduled for the next few months and i have lots on the go in the studio.
ITL: Whoa, that's some impressive colabs, i think I can speak for us all in saying were looking forward to hearing them.
Melodic/Liquid Drum & Bass is a growing scene, and slowly getting to more ears around the world, how do you think the scene is progressing, and is there anything you would change if you had the choice.
Undersound: I think with people like bassdrive doing what they are doing it’s all going the right way. I am pretty clueless on what’s going on though, I tend to bury my head in the sand and just write and send tunes. I do listen to a few shows on bassdrive to keep up with my peers and to check in on some of the label shows that I am on such as yourselves.
ITL: Hey thanks for tuning in to our shows, you'll have to do us a guest mix some time.
With so much music pouring at you from every corner, what do you do to relax when you want some time away from this hectic lifestyle.
Undersound: Recently I have started just going off on day trips to take photos and see cool stuff, good for fresh air. Though when I’m not doing dnb I’m usually writing other genres or doing instrumental sessions work for someone.
ITL: Thats the first youve mentioned other genres to me, you'll have to send some bits over.
If any of our readers want to find our more about you, and listen to some of your audio, can you tell us where we can find you in the wwworld.
- www.soundcloud.com/undersound-1
- www.twitter.com/undersounduk
- I also have a facebook page but can’t remember the address, search undersound on face book I’m sure it’ll find me
ITL: Well, Undersound, we really wish you the best for 2011, thanks for taking the time to talk to us, and looking forward to all these great releases this year.
Take it easy.
Tobes - Ever Resounding Vibrations
photo courtesy of: www.mikedeere.co.uk
