LONDON ELEKTRICITY - Dogs On Acid

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DOA: Your first releases were coming out in the mid-90's. It's now 2008, and you're still going strong. Does it get any easier to come up with great material? What would be the biggest change to your production from then to now?

London Elektricity: No, it gets harder I'd say - as you get more experienced you also get more critical, so half the struggle is to ignore your own paranoia and just get on with making the tunes. The biggest change in my production since I started (apart from the obvious changes in technology from Akai/Atari to in the box Mac) has been that I (think) I know what I'm doing now, whereas when I was producing back then, I didn't have a clue. Having a clue doesn't necessarily make you a better producer by the way!

DOA: Your latest album is Syncopated City. How long have you been working on this project? Is there any specific theme or mood behind this LP?

London Elektricity: I started this album properly in May 2007, although I did write the title track in the year 2000 and then shelved it for ages. There does seem to be a dark theme in the lyrics certainly - a kind of combination of obsession, alien invasion and suicidal tendencies! In the music, well, it's more lush than my previous efforts, and I think the orchestration is something I’m happy with.

DOA: What's your production studio consist of today?

London Elektricity: I write at home, where I have Cubase on Mac running through a Mackie Onyx and Mackie HR824s, and a few instruments like guitars, bass, Wurlitzer, Omni chord, Bontempi organ plus some old analogue synths, etc. I record wherever I can - the room doesn't matter as long as you can get the performance you want. I took my setup into the Hospital mixdown room to mix the album.

DOA: Over the past few years, talented producers like Logistics, Dillinja, D.Kay, Craggz & Parallel Forces, Photek, John B and others have been invited to remix your work, especially from your album tracks. Will there be any of that coming in the future?

London Elektricity: Hehe well, allegedly, Danny Byrd is remixing ''Just One Second''. That could mean we'll get the mix in the next 10 years...

DOA: In terms of DnB labels getting it done overall, Hospital has been in the upper echelon, especially in the last few years. What would you attribute your continued success to?

London Elektricity: Turning up on time and working hard - that applies to all the Hospital workers! It's the only way to make a business work. Oh, and also you mustn't blink when it gets scary.

DOA: One thing many might notice is that Hospital is seemingly on the pulse of implementing new Internet mediums to promote your work, whether it's a video on production skills or your award-winning podcast. How vital do you think the success of a label hinges on such a focused approach to the Web today?

London Elektricity: The web is totally ingrained in everything we do. We'd be fucked without it!

DOA: What's next up for Hospital, from the next 12'' to the next album project?

London Elektricity: After my long player, we have the Future Sound of Cambridge Vol. 3 project, which has turned into an album featuring Commix, Loggy and captain correction himself, Nu:Tone. They've done 2 tracks each and then 4 or 5 collaborations. It was supposed to be an EP, but the music kept on coming so we decided to make an album of it! Also, we have the debut 12'' on Medschool from Randomer (''Blind''), which looks like it's gonna be the biggest thing yet on Medschool, followed by a Martsman EP called ''Trueschool Drumkit Wonder''.

DOA: Has there been talk of regrouping the London Elektricity live act for a tour in support of this album? If so, when can fans expect to witness this truly epic collective in person?

London Elektricity: LOL no!!!!!! Never gonna happen. We went out on a high in 2005 and have vowed to keep it that way. The only thing that would get the live band together would be a massive chart album hit or sponsorship from L'Oreal. Can't see either happening although my hair is now going gray so George Clooney better watch out...

DOA: Which artists from today would you consider to be some of the new breed of talent that will be shaping the future of this scene?

London Elektricity: Definitely Martsman and Randomer, Mistabishi, Break…

DOA: What would you consider to be your favorite track or release that you created?

London Elektricity: Blimey. I don't like much of my output, to be honest, as I can nearly always see that my stuff could have been loads better than it was. I am very proud of these however: ''Fast Soul Music'', ''Billion Dollar Gravy'' (the track) and ''Bare Religion''.

DOA: Can we get a current top 10 from you?

London Elektricity:

01. London Elektricity ''Bare Religion'' (Hospital)
02. Mistabishi ''Printer Jam'' (Hospital)
03. Randomer ''Blind'' (Medschool)
04. Commix ''Bear Music'' (Hospital)
05. N.E.R.D ''Nerdstep'' (London Elektricity Dub)
06. Martsman ''Trueschool Drumkit Wonder'' (Medschool)
07. Break ''Destiny Comes Ringing'' (Commercial Suicide)
08. Commix, Nu:Tone & Logistics ''Coffee'' (Hospital)
09. Steppatech ''Darkestra'' (Dub)
10. Nu:Tone ''Balaclava'' (Hospital)

DOA: Let's get a little personal with FIVE QUESTIONS:

a) MySpace or Facebook?

MySpace - less time consuming!

b) What's the last movie you saw?

I haven't seen a movie for about a year, but I did take the lady colminator to see Spamalot last week. Killed it!

c) What's your favorite drink?

Caiparinha or Tea.

d) What's the most disgusting food you've eaten recently?

I had no choice but to have a pizza in Pizza Express and it was about the size of a 5p bit and cost 8 quid. That's definitely disgusting, but to call it food might be a bit dishonest.

e) Can you give us an acronym for D.O.A.?

Dine on Anteaters.

DOA: Where do you see DnB progressing to in the not too distant future?

London Elektricity: Hahaha Christ only knows - if I knew that, I would retire instantly, 'cos it would be no fun without the surprises.

www.myspace.com/londonelektricity | www.hospitalrecords.com

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Words: khal