Space Dimension Controller - Galactic Funk

With a philosophy of “If it ain't spacey, it ain't sexy”, Space Dimension Controller arrived on the scene in 2009, with FACT Magazine and Resident Advisor commissioning highly-praised mixes from the galactic space warrior. In 2010, SDC's existence to the electronic community became more widely known and his production prowess furthered following his attendance at the Red Bull Music Academy in London. When asked to describe his music, he doesn't have much to say; and really the only way to describe it is...galactic funk. In the lead up to his impending Australian tour, Jet Geaghan space probed the man whose mother calls him Jack Hammill on all things SDC.

Pulse: Many young producers cannot help but just focus on their next EP, finishing remixes and getting their name out there. Your mission statement, however, seems to be concept driven from the get go, and you've already started an imprint, Basic Rhythm. Is this going to be vehicle purely for interstellar meandering or something not so intertwined with your persona? Space Dimension Controller: I think you have to pace yourself. To me it's the wrong idea to just bombard everyone with remixes and singles all the time. I'm really against the idea of being on loads of different labels too, that's a bad look. I've had an idea since before I released The Love Quadrant in 2009 and hopefully that will materialise soon. The label isn't for my music, it's for other producers that I'm into that might not be "dance floor friendly" enough for other labels. Though I'll be releasing dancier stuff at some point too I'm sure.

You've already released a prequel so to speak, for the album, The Pathway to Tiraquon6. It in itself has been praised for its restraint and focus on a, for want of a better word, bigger picture. In a scene where LP teasers usually amount to nothing more than a single with/or remixes, you can understand how your audience might think you've simply released two albums, albeit most gratefully. How is Welcome to Mikrosector-50 going to be different? The prequel is written by Mr. 8040 about period of time when he wasn't around, and since Mr. 8040 is the purveyor of funk in the SDC story that's the reason the prequel is restrained. Story-wise, the order is The Pathway to Tiraquon6, Journey to the Core of the Unknown Sphere, The Love Quadrant, Temporary Thrillz, and Welcome to Mikrosector-50. You can expect a return to the Galactic Funk.

Have you got remix packages lined up for the album? Are there artists you'd particularly like to have a crack at your, er, parts, whether now or on Basic Rhythm in the future? No. There will be no remixes on the album - I'm not really a strong believer in the idea that an album needs a remix. A lot of labels do it, and to me that just seems as if they don't enough confidence in the album in itself. I'd love to release an album of Iron Maiden outtakes.

And artists who you'd like the chance to rework? There's no doubt been decent demand after the reception of your Shake remix. No one really. I don't enjoy doing remixes, they stress me out and distract me from making my own music.

You stated some time ago that your synthesizers keep you happy. Which ones are your chummiest accomplices? Hardware hasn't been superceded in the future? My first was the Moog Voyager, but the 3rd oscillator just died on it the other week. I use a lot of less known synths, I think you get the most unique sounds of those. People tend to just blow their cash on the classics like a Jupiter/Oberheim/etc. While they sound amazing, they are also used by so many people which makes the sound less unique whenever used raw.

The Basic Rhythm nights that preceded your label were always fairly intermittent - do you want to pick those up again? Do you see yourself staying in Belfast? I'm still doing the Basic Rhythm nights, it's part of Shine in Belfast - I think i've had about 8 nights now. Right now I like staying in Belfast, it's nice and quiet. I love London and Bristol though, but I'm not sure if I'd get anything done there because there is more to do.

We've seen you booked with some fairly prominent bass music figures like David Kennedy aka Pearson Sound. How have those nights influenced you and your sound? They haven't really, I don't take influence from DJ sets. I'm on the Eurostar on the way to Belgium at the moment to play with David actually.

Is Australia the furthest your music has taken you? How does an experienced traveller such as yourself feel about touring so far? Yeah, it will be. The only other place close to that far away is Honolulu. Flights can be a bit annoying, but if I get a lot of wine and tunes i'm usually ok.

The Red Bull Music Academy seems to have been a great stepping stone for a lot of producers and DJs, including yourself. Is there anyone you'd say the academy is not suited for, or is it simply gold under the rainbow? I can't think of anyone it would be wrong for, it's just a beautiful experience for everyone involved.

Having been to the future, can you tell us whether the mediterranean states recover from their debt crises and how this affects electronic dance music? In a few decades the tortoises of the mediterranean evolve, grow a second brain, and leave their shells to walk upright. They use their shells as shields and conquer most of the major cities. They manage to enslave pretty much everyone in those cities, but they never really venture anywhere with a colder climate. Some of the more reclusive tortoises try to get into music production, but they never get anywhere so they have to resort to booking DJ's from other countries. Not many play though, because the tortoise people have no currency other than high quality vegetables and very high quality speed.

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