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D.KAY
 DOA: First off, I want to say congrats on crafting an  album that seems to truly expound on ideas you’ve brought  forth on some of your recent work. With Individual Soul, did you go into that album with any ideas of what you were trying to accomplish? If so, do you feel you’ve achieved those goals?
D.Kay: Thanks, glad you like it. The idea of Individual Soul was to make something unique and special, more than just 10 rollers. So I was looking for a concept. One day I was making this track and had a few musicians around (more by coincidence than by plan), and was like, “well, maybe I should try the guys out, see what happens”. So we went in for a night, and the result was really pleasing. The track was the first to be on the album (“Interlude”). The night turned out to be a blue print for the production of the album. I made 10 more “master” tracks, and had all sounds, etc. played in, and had some guided jam sessions on top of it as well. I used an external studio for recording and mixing, each in 2 week sessions, approx. a year apart. The final product I’m well happy with, I think we accomplished a very authentic sound, varied and intriguing. The album feels like one complete thing, musically and sound-wise, so I’m happy with it.
DOA: I’ve seen on DOA where you said that 90% of the album involved live musicians. How hard was it finding musicians who had the right sound for you, and was it hard for them to tailor their playing to a more DnB-style tempo?
D.Kay: Finding musicians was quite easy. I had known them through mutual friends. They’re all pro musicians, making a living from playing, so their performance in the studio was blinding. They didn’t have any problems with the tempo, or anything else - on the contrary, they loved the music and everyone was really up for creating something special. Good job guys!
DOA: What were the song writing and production sessions like? Did you write a lot of this out, or was it more of an improvisational feeling to the sessions? How much creative input did the players have, and were there any situations where you had an idea for a fleshed out song, but it got changed and came out better due to someone else’s input?
D.Kay: I had 11 tracks written and arranged before we went in. The mission was to re-play everything programmed, and add bits’n’bops here during directed jam sessions. The talent of the people involved was amazing, so it didn’t take long to get from each player what I wanted. Musically we stuck to what I had programmed or written. So you can say it’s pure undiluted D.Kay music =).
DOA: The ideal question is, now that you’ve created an album that many people will associated with DnB acts going *live* (London Elektricity, Craggz & Parallel Forces, etc.): do you have any plans on taking this album and playing it live?
D.Kay: Yeah, there are plans and layouts for a great live show, but it would involve about 12 people to be taken on the road. Not cheap… I’ll have to see how the album goes and decide on the back of that whether to take it live. It really depends on the demand, so we’ll see.
DOA: From the looks of it, you set up Brigand Music not just for your own tracks, but to simply release great music, period. You’re a producer that can drop a grimey Ill.Skillz track one day, and then go deep with DJ Lee the next. The thing is, there might be some questioning as to why you chose to produce an album full of the jazz-inspired jams. Does it bother you that some people might try to pigeon hole you as someone who should only be making one style of DnB? And, for sake of fun, if you could only make one style of DnB, which would it be and why?
D.Kay: I don’t really care about opinions about what I should do or not, I let the music take the lead. Whatever inspires me is what I do. That’s it, honestly, but it’s something different when you write an album. You want to make sense; it’s burdened with more responsibility than just knocking out 12 by 12. I rolled on the jazzy one because that’s just what felt right at the time. The next one might be dark, who knows.
DOA: On this site, and throughout many circles, an album of this sound is immediately compared to the older Roni Size/Reprazent work, as well as other producers who delved into Jazz (Flytronix, old Peshay, etc.). Do you feel as if this album should be compared to their work? If you could describe your album, once and for all, in one sentence, what would it be?
D.Kay: Compare all you want as long as you see the differences right, its all good. This album is like Drum & Bass made in the 70s.
DOA: To take it back, I want to talk about how you got to be where you are now. When did you start producing? How long was it before you started to get your beats noticed, and ultimately picked up by producers?
D.Kay: I started experimenting with audio editing programs on PC while I was in my last year at school and bought my first sampler 1998. It took about 2 years to get noticed by UK labels (Moving Shadow). “Barcelona” really got the ball rolling, I guess. I started to release steady by 2001.
DOA: As I mentioned before, you’ve done tracks with Raw.full under the “Ill.Skillz” guise, as well as producing under the name Mindmachine. Do you still plan on putting out music under those different guises? What makes you decide to put out music as Mindmachine as opposed to D.Kay?
D.Kay: Ill.Skillz is alive and kicking but the other name has been put to rest really. I don’t identify with it anymore to be honest.
DOA: In looking over your catalogue, you are one of the only artists who has released tracks on such a diverse group of labels: Metaheadz, Hospital, Bingo, TOV, 31 Records, Moving Shadow, Renegade, and a whole host of others. Is there any release that truly stands out for you, and if so, why? Also, do you go about creating tunes thinking “I’m going to send this to ____ label”?
D.Kay: I like all the tracks I’ve done, but one that I still play in every set is “It’s On The Way” on Soul:R. It works every time and everywhere, it’s such a pleaser. And girls love it… Every label has its style, so most of the time it wasn’t so hard to find out who would like it.
DOA: Arguably one of your biggest tunes, “Barcelona”, has a vocal mix with Stamina MC, who is also featured on your solo album. You’ve also done work with Jenna G, Verse, and others. How does working with another producer differ from collaborating with a vocalist/MC? Are you instructing them what to say/sing and how to do it, or are they bringing that to the table?
D.Kay: So far, I’ve only had great experiences with vocalists, as they all were truly inspired. I leave it to them to come up with their part. I think it’s only authentic when it’s truly them singing their own melody and lyrics.
When there is doubt or room for discussion I’ll offer my services, but apart from that I leave the singing to the singer.
DOA: Now that you are a label head, and given that Brigand #7 was the first release that did not have a D.Kay tune on it, are there any producers out there who’ve you’ve signed to drop tracks on your label, or acts you have had your eye on that you would like to sign?
D.Kay: Yea there’s a track forthcoming by Cardiff guys Dan Marshall & Prim8. The track is called “Jungle Jazz” and the flip will feature a remix by myself. It’s a wicked disco-y thing, another different angle on Brigand Music. We flip it every time. I would like to sign every track that is unique and inspired, please hit me up on AIM: dkaymindmachine.
DOA: While you are definitely not the first DnB producer from Austria, you most certainly are the biggest. Has the scene in Austria changed since you’ve risen in popularity? Who would you rate as being top prospects out of Austria?
D.Kay: The club scene has exploded. I was part of building the scene’s basic foundations in Vienna, both by putting us on the map with tracks but also with event promotion and radio shows, doing stuff for magazines, etc. I like to believe we really accomplished something. Now, there’s a big DJ in town every weekend, and the local DJ scene is crowded, too. We only need more MCs. We have a weekly DnB night in Vienna that I run (with my partner Raw.full) and we always have a packed dance floor. The night is called “Beat It” and goes down at Flex, the best club in town, you can ask anyone. On the tunes front, Concept + Shnek are stirring up some trouble ATM with a remix for CIA and some other bits of their own. There actually might be something on Brigand later this year;)
DOA: Could you hit us off with a current top10 of tracks you are feeling right now?
D.Kay:
D.Kay – Individual Soul LP – Brigand Music
D.Kay – Galaxy VIP – dub
High Contrast – If We Ever
Redeyes – Poetry In Motion – dub
Noisia & Mayhem ft. KRS1 – Exodus - Vision
Nu:Tone – Beliefs – Hospital
Twisted Individual – Galloping Elephants – Grid
London Electricity – The Great DnB Swindle (Logistics Remix) – Hospital
D.Kay + BSE – Bullet In The Head – dub
D.Kay + Mat – Jungle Funk – Brigand Music
DOA: What do you have going on in the immediate future: Brigand wise, D.Kay release wise, tours, etc.?
D.Kay: Well, gotta work the album, got a couple a 12s lined up and a few tunes on the go. I recently finished another 12” for Metalheadz with DJ Lee, and there’s a “Wax’d” VIP by myself that should see the light of day.
DOA: Do you have any shout outs?
D.Kay: Big up every Drum & Bass fan on the world and especially
every DOA user!! PEACE
myspace.com/brigandmusic
myspace.com/brigandtracks
myspace.com/dkayalbum
Brigand Music on YouTube
Words: khal
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Dogs On Acid > Comments > DOA Q&A: D.Kay
07-12-2007 07:37 PM
