DrumTalk - More or less

With his debut release, coming out on More Music, including a re-working from none other than Mark Romboy, James Hutchins spoke to the illusive artists known as DrumTalk...

For those unaware ears, how would you describe your sound? The sound of machines being controlled by a human or the sound of a human being controlled by a machines. A synthesis of various drumming traditions. Fuji music of Nigeria, Gwo-Ka of the French-Caribbean, to name but two. Techno music of the Motor City. Always poly-rhythmic. More bumping than banging.

What was it that sparked your interest in producing? The soul-enhancing effect of harmonic vibration. Wanting to create those vibrations, not just be a casual onlooker. A need to get as close to music as possible.

DrumTalk, a new name to everyone’s lips, but have you produced before under different monikers? If so tell us more! Yes I have but I'm afraid I can't tell you any more than that. That would be to make my like considerably more complicated than it is at present. That's not me being willfully obscure. More like self-preservation. I'm not in the business of own-foot shooting, as and when I can help it.

What is your approach to making music? Logic, Cubase? Software instruments? Live sounds? Computer machines. Synthesizer machines. Echo machines. Hand claps, fingers snaps, banging on a drum.

You recently released your single ‘Silver & Gold’, What inspired you to make a track of this kind? The world of alchemy.

Along with the release came a remix from veteran Marc Romboy. How did that relationship come about? It was actually the label (More Music) who made that arrangement. I was happy with the idea and happy with the result.

How long have you been making music and Djing for? For a little while longer than I've known how to do it properly. Which is about ten years.

What are the top 5 records getting regular rotation in your sets at the moment?

- DrumTalk - Red Blood (Huntleys & Palmers free download)

 - Niama Makalou - Kognokoura (Daphni's Part 2 Edit) Sofrito

- The Busy Twist - 1995 The People's Ear

- Auntie Flo - I Want To Blow Your Mind Feat.Esa Huntleys & Palmers

- Wookie - Scrappy Manchu

In front of you is The Beatles - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club, Marvin Gaye- What’s going on and Michael Jackson – Thriller, Which one do you choose? They're all classics in their own way but I think probably What's Going On would be the one for me. I think I could put that on any time and my mood would adjust to fit, whereas Sgt Peppers would be a little more mood dependent as to whether or not I'd really get into it. And Thriller is just a little too much a big shining pop machine for my taste.

What are the 3 three artists to have lived that you would love to collaborate with? I don't really have an answer to that I'm afraid. I don't really see things in quite those terms. Obviously there are many people whose work I hugely admire and am even in awe of but that doesn't equate to a desire to actually work with them. But I can see you'd really like to me to answer this one, so at a push, I'd say Bjork. I think she would be fun and exciting to work with. I think with her, it would be impossible to envisage what the outcome would be.

What does the future look like for DrumTalk, any upcoming releases you can fill us in on? The immediate future looks very much like a remix of an old Trinidadian tune by Lancelot Layne, rendered in black wax by Soundway Records. It then might look like edits of two Nigerian fuji tracks, subtly re-formed to operate at full potential in the 21st Century clubbing environment. I've got a number a tracks that I've been working on that I will shortly be completing before finding a suitable home for them. Any interested parties please enquire within.

DrumTalk - Silver & Gold is out now on More Music - Purchase Here

Listen to Drumtalk on Pulse Radio