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KASRA
 DOA: Tell us a bit about your musical background.
I was given a great musical education by my parents, my dad would amaze me with the sound of the rock greats like Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath and my mum would soothe my soul with the wonder of Motown and Stax. I'm a big lover of alternative underground guitar music and some of my favourite acts are Shellac, Sonic Youth and Pavement. I find the DIY ethic of drum and bass one of the connections between the two.
DOA: Tell us about your day job.
I work for Rough Trade records, home of bands like the Strokes, Libertines and Belle and Sebastian. My job is as a Product Manager which is basically like a project manager for a records release, overseeing the marketing, promotion and all the things that make sure a record comes out and does as well as it can in the market place. Working at a small yet successful independent gives me a great insight into the workings of the industry and means I can take some of the business model and use it with Critical.
DOA: Why did you decide to set up Critical?
It seemed like I decided to start the label at the same time as everyone wanted to set up a label. My main reason was that I was being sent and hearing great music which didn't have a home and I had run my own little indie record label so was pretty confident that I could do a good job with a drum and bass label.
DOA: Despite the occasional collab with guys like D Kay and Cyantific, you're more known as a label boss and DJ, do you think that's to your advantage with regards to Critical? (ie it's not just an output for your own music, retaining objectivity with A&R etc)
Totally, I have the advantage of not having to pay my bills through the label so I can put out the music I like when I like. I dont feel like I have to stick to one sound or put a record out every 3 weeks so I can pay the rent. Its a liberating experience and sometimes you take a hit with a risky release, but whats exciting about music if you dont take some risks?
DOA: How has the way you run your label changed over the years? What are the biggest lessons you've learnt?
Building up a label is a long and gradual process, i've found that i've learnt alot over the past years. Drum and bass is a tough market with alot of music hitting the shelves every week. I think one thing i've learnt over everything else is that you have to get into the mind of the kid going in to the shop or going online every week to buy tunes. They might only have say £20 a week for new music. Is the music you are releasing good enough to be part of that £20 purchase? Oh and never work with animals or children.
DOA: Going back to your collabs, how did they come about and what role did you play in the studio?
I've been friends with Dkay for a while now and before one trip to Vienna to DJ we spoke about making some music together. I went through my record collection and sampled some choice cuts and we just sat down and made it. I wont lie to you and say I'm at the forefront of music technology so David did do a lot of the sequencing and Logic work but we had equal claim to the ideas and feel of the tune. The same can be said for my work with Cyantific, I had some wicked samples and an idea for a tune. We got together got some snacks in from Marks & Spencer and got stuck in.
DOA: You've DJed all over the place, have you got any funny gig stories?
Some I can say here some I cant, but they involve everything from tear gas, being asked to play PJ & Duncan, illegal substances and dancing on stages, 120 mile an hour journeys on one of the most dangerous roads in Europe and being playing a set to 700 kids off their cakes in an old Polka dance hall hidden away in an Austrian forest.
DOA: If there was a vinyl ban and you could only keep 5 of your records, which ones would you keep?
Drum & Bass -
1. Ed Rush & Optical - Watermelon
2. Break - Cold Sweat
3. Ed Rush & Optical - Medicine Matrix Rmx
4. Marcus Intalex & ST Files - How You Make Me Feel
5. Calibre - The Way That You Move
PS This s subject to change!
Non Drum & Bass -
1. Nirvana - In Utero
2. Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
3. Dead C - Harsh 70s Reality
4. Pavement - Wowee Zowee
5. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
DOA: Who are the most exciting producers you're working with right now?
Lomax is definitely one of the most exciting producers i've worked with. We are currently working closely together to build up his profile and output over the coming months with a view to an album project in 2008. Ive also got a similar situation with Subwave from Russia who makes wonderfully versatile tunes and has got tons and tons of potential. Outside of these 2 Critical artistes theres always going to be Break who as it stands is consistently making some the roughest beats around.
DOA: Tell us about your forthcoming album project.
Its very exciting! The album vinyl will feature Dkay , Cyantific, Silent Witness, Break, Calibre, Q Project, Lomax and Icicle & Nymfo. The CD will have one disc mixed by myself with the tunes from the vinyl plus some CD exclusives from Break, CLS, Whizz & Daze, Lomax, Subwave and more. The second disc will have all the tunes unmixed for the digital DJs out there.
DOA: What are your plans for Critical over the next few years?
To make the album a big success and put Critical firmly on the dnb map. To build up the careers of the Critical artists like Lomax and Subwave and to continue to put out good music. Plus watch out for the first in a series of Critical / DNAudio nights happening in London later this year.
Thanks for the support DOA!
www.criticalmusic.com
www.myspace.com/criticalmusic
www.myspace.com/kasracritical
Mix download back soon!
Mix Tracklisting:
LOGISTICS - LITHIUM - HOSPITAL
BREAK - RINGING EARS - COMMERCIAL SUICIDE
COMMIX - SATELLITE TYPE 2 - HEADZ
LOMAX - BAD COP - CRITICAL
ICICLE - LATE NIGHTS - CRITICAL
COMMIX - FACELESS INTALEX MO BASS RMX - SHOGUN AUDIO
COMMIX - BELLVUE - HEADZ
ICICLE - SHADOWS OF TOMORROW - CRITICAL
BREAK - TIMELINE - CRITICAL
BREAK - COLD SWEAT - CRITICAL
C4C - NEVER ACID AGAIN - C4C RECORDINGS
BREAK - UNTITLED - CRITICAL
LOGISTICS - WIDE LENS - HOSPITAL
LOMAX - INNOCENT X - CRITICAL
BUNGLE - THE FUGUE - CIA
CYANTIFIC & KASRA - OUTER LIMITS - CRITICAL
SUBFOCUS & BROOKES BROS - LATE RUN - RAM/BBS
BUNGLE – TOO LATE LOGISTICS & KASRA VIP - CRITICAL
LOGISTICS - RAM RAID - HOSPITAL
BREAK - THE DRONE - SYMMETRY
BREAK - SUBMERGED TEEBEE & CALYX RMX - SUBTITLES |
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Dogs On Acid > Comments > KASRA
07-03-2007 09:13 PM
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Checking the mix....
