PARADOX ISOLATIONIST LP INTERVIEW


Whats your ideal woman?

Interesting first question. I go for the Artistic, intelligent and slim species. I‘m a bones man so I like slim and lean women, preferbly european size 7 to 8. I got a odd fetish with hip pelvic bones that stick out like a broken bone. I really don‘t know why.. but I do.

When + how were you first introduced to DnB? Do you remember the first party you attended?

I stumbled into Hardcore and Jungle with the early Moving Shadow, Reinforced, XL, Surburban Base and Strictly Underground releases. One of the first hardcore raves I attended was back in 1991 with Hype and Grooverider headlining.

What does your hairstyle say about your personality?

I‘ve had the same hairstyle for about 15 years now. Some of my family still find it alittle embarassing but they are all used to it. What does it say about myself? Well I‘m a proud leo, a fiercely loyal and musically millitant person indeed.

What style did you first start producing?

Myself and Dj Trax we‘re writing extremely fast Hiphop/Hardcore/Jungle at 160+ bpm before we signed to Moving Shadow. I rapped on our first Moving Shadow 12“, but then it was a case of I realised I was crap, put the mic down, and moved more into production.

Is there is a such a thing as a drum pattern being too complicated?

Yes, if it‘s not tight enough depending on the bpm. The tighness is the real key. It‘s nice to listen to freeform drum patterns in Jazz that are loose on purpose, but in DnB I personally must have a “tight as a quantised nut“ ethos in all my own productions. My golden rule in drums is that they must “swing“ which folds the speed of the break back. It‘s an obvious edit to do and let‘s the speed breath. It‘s a simple guidline I work to.

When you co-produce a track do you work side-by-side, or trade online? Which is your preference w/ artists like Seba?

I never do online collaborations. I must work side-by-side with co-producers in the lab. It‘s the only way I will work so myself, Seba and Nucleus always travel to each other‘s studio‘s. Preference wise both artists mentioned are equally talented so working with them is pure gold.

What do you think of the new "minimal" dnb movement? In your opinion, is it a throwback to the past or is it something entirely different?

Well any influx of ambience back into the DnB scene I‘m really pleased with. If it influences the scene away from the nintendo sound then it‘s all positive in my books. Is it a new sound? no It‘s not anything different, but that‘s definately not a bad thing. In my persional opinion.. judging by certain strains of todays jump-up dnb.. in order to go forward we have to look back - Period.

Whats your favorite track on the Isolationist LP and why?

My favorite track is the cd-only number called “Abysm“. Some might say it‘s just downtempo but it‘s not the case to me, I still see it as DnB but just at a slower tempo. Abysm captures the two alias‘s very well for me personally and I wanted to put it on the vinyl but it makes the Cd version special along with the Sample Me loops plus the extra DnB bits. On the vinyl on the other hand It‘s difficult to choose between the ambient jungle bits and the 70‘s funk excursions, but I feel “Jerico“ hit‘s the Paradox b-boy spot and I enjoy performing that track live on stage.

If you we‘re given a £20 credit note at your local DnB store who would you be looking for?

Parting with real cash? Christ my list would be as long as an oscar speech but current wise I‘d buy Raf + Illogik, Equinox, Blumarten and Lynx & Kemo.

How does Dev Paradox relax outside the studio?

Partying, sleeping and drinking. On tour I love proper tourism and I‘m forever taking snaps. I spend alot of time in the studio really just listening to everyone else‘s music albeit praising or cussing I always tell the truth. Restaraunts I love. Movies I‘m always watching for samples and to chill. I adore photography just as much as music to be honest. Liverpool football club is my team which I‘ve followed from the early 80‘s. I‘m thinking about maybe playing some golf for the first time when I get back to Lithuania and see what that‘s like.. it sounds relaxing to me but I haven‘t a clue what it‘s like.

What does your "Live" set-up consist of?

It‘s all hardware and pretty old skool. The crux is a Akai sampler and a midi controlled Commodore Amiga from the early 90‘s. Every country I fly to I always get a different Synthesizer to the last so there‘s different sounds at every show, makes it more interesting for the crowd and also for myself. I have my own mic also so beware of general banter. I never usually have mc‘s on my live shows, but If I did It would have to be strictly someone of my choice like Sterlin, Lowqui, Kemo or Sp:mc

What was your initial idea for creating Paradox Music Recordings?

I had co-ordinated a few labels with Dj Trax before starting P.M. and back then myself and Nucleus we‘re recording consistently for 4 Hero‘s Reinforced Records, but I really wanted a flagship label of my own so I started Paradox Music in late 2002 for mainly Paradox solo 12“s and peers like Seba and Nucleus. The label started on a huge minus due to the expensive sleeve jackets that feature a die-cut Paradox logo hole in the jacket and what with the die, layered spot varnish and many other silly frills the jacket is still more expensive to manufacture in bulk than designing different sleeves per 12“ release. The label has released 18 12“s plus a longplayer and still is the main hq for solo Paradox material.

Outsider has just released it‘s 21st 12“ release. What‘s the concept behind the label?

Outsider is also a label I‘m very proud of. I started the label to find new talent and give producers their first vinyl breaks via submitting a single track backed with a Paradox b-side to get the shops initial-stock attention. The back catalogue really is impressive with so many timeless pieces of music and this is why I‘m so happy with the label‘s identity. Mark my words, you could pick up any Outsider release in 10 years time and I guarantee it will still sound fresh and I‘ll stake my reputation on that. The label has been going for 7 years now and we have just released the 21st 12“ and the 2nd cd album. Up next is the 22nd 12“ with Gremlinz & Rumbelton at the helm.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to up and coming producers?

Work on your own sound and identity. At the end of the day this is pivitol and will also help you mature as a musician.

What was your favorite event that you have been too? Played at?

From a Live P.A. aspect there are loads of events from the Liquid Rooms in Tokyo, my first PA in Iceland, Star Warz in Belgium, Sun and Bass in Italy, Russian parties and untold Usa events plus touring with Seba and Nucleus, but overall what i really love is the grimy small venues with low ceilings with black walls dripping with sweat, that you just cannot beat. I‘m live this weekend in San Francisco USA promoting my new Isolationist LP so I‘m really looking forward to that live PA. Frisco has that stale funk smell about it that I like.

What can we look forward to from Paradox Music and the labels in the coming months?

Well the Alaska & Paradox Isolationist LP is out next week on May 25th and this weekend like I said before is the Usa LP launch party. The next 12“ release on P.M. after that will be out after the summer entitled “8 Track“ by Paradox.

The 12th Esoteric 12“ is going off to cut next week and that little jungle beauty is called “Esoterica / Illuminism“ by Nucleus & Paradox. “Esoterica“ is my favorite of the Esoteric catalogue so far actually. Alot of people ask us whats the obsession with the word “Esoteric“ as many track titles are based around the label name and sound similar like “Neoteric“ and “Exoteric“. Well It dates back to the Reinforced days in 1997 with our first R 12“ and then we went onto record a whole album under the title “Esoteric Funk“ so yes, it‘s an obsession, but it typifies the label‘s sound perfectly. Esoteric music is the continuation of the Reinforced Nucleus & Paradox ethos we we‘re carving out there, but don‘t ask me the title of Esoteric 13.. it‘s all too confusing already.

I‘ve just released the 5th Arctic Music release and after that is the 3rd solo 4 x 12“ Alaska LP coming on Arctic Music and that goes into manufacture at the end of the year so another big longplayer on the horizon.

Outsider is about to drop the 22nd 12“ with Canadian duo Gremlinz & Rumbelton representing Outsider Music, and also another volume in the Age Of Outsiders album series to come that‘s being compiled right now, and again, promises to be really really special.

Any funny or embarrassing moments?

Ok, I got an interesting one which is abit of both and it involves me getting pissed as per usual. Back in the day at a night called “Speed“ in the mid 90‘s I was out celebrating my birthday and I tried to leave the club drunk with a bottle of beer and Goldie got into a fight with the security over the bottle. The press were outside taking pictures of the scuffle and a few weeks later an amusing article surfaced in a mag entitled “Mentalheadz“. Ahh the good old days.. a week later Goldie said to me outside Black Market in soho “I saved you life“ which I beg to differ of course, but respects for sticking up for your mates I say, so big-ups to G.

The Alaska & Paradox Isolationist LP is released worldwide on May 25th 2009 on Paradox Music in 3 x Glass Vinyl 12“, CD and Digital formats.

Paradox Website: http://www.paradoxmusic.com
Paradox Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/devparadox
Live PA Bookings: info@paradoxmusic.com

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excellent interview,