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Soundproof, the dynamic duo of dj Stinky
Jim and studio boffin Angus Mo Delay McNaughton join HDU for their tour
this month (Oct 98). Soundproof are the dub demons responsible for one
of the remixes on HDUs latest Flying Nun release Higher++. Angus and Jim
have worked together previously in Unitone Hifi. Peter
McLennan dropped around to the Basque Liberation Front HQ for the lowdown
...
Go Angus, says Jim. You better say something in this interview. Angus
agrees. Yeah, okay. What was the question?
How did Soundproof come about....
it came out of some of the songs that Jim and myself were writing together,
and out of the demise of Unitone Hifi. We still wanted to work together.
Im sitting with Soundproof, faced with the not inconsiderable task of
discovering whats going on in the lives of two our our most illustrious
beat merchants.
Okay boys, lets hear it. Whats the difference between Unitone Hifi and
Soundproof?
Oh, about an orchard worth of fruit, Id say, laughs Jim. Well, weve moved
on in the last year or two says Angus. Weve certainly dropped the emphasis
on dub music Jim concurs. With Soundproof, theres still a huge reggae
element, thats always going to be there in our music, and a dub element,
in as much as the mixing desk is an instrument and is a part of the whole
creation process, but with Soundproof I think were able to stretch it
further, all over the place. Judging by the reaction weve had from Europe,
the one thing people cant deal with is that the variety of what were playing
is so wide. Were talking about people at labels who release music that
I find unclassifiable, and they cant classify what were doing. Theres
a lot more interesting tempo elements, and time signatures. Were not beholden
to a four, four mentality.
Okay, so, what is the rhythm style?
Jim: Theres a lot of Bossa Nova in there.
Angus: It emerged on Box Juice, (which features Daddy Dom from The Peter
Stuyvesant Hitlist getting saucy on the Hammond organ). That was developed
from a breakbeat we were chopping up, recycling (ah, so theyre greenies!),
and it worked so well we tried it on a couple of other tunes.
Jim: And people love it. Its an instant head nod.
Ahhh, its becoming clearer. After the no-boundaries approach of Unitone,
Soundproof have developed a fresh approach to writing, one thats less
lateral, more focused.
Jim: In the time that weve been going, we could have probably released
an album if we were working in the mindset we had with Unitone, which
was get enough stuff together and chuck out an album. With Soundproof,
were amassing the material, then well decide how well deal to it. Were
putting down a track, then doing a rough mix of it, living with that a
bit, then mixing it. Its a bit more of a considered approach. At the same
time, were trying to avoid overworking a track.
So thats how they do it... when can we expect a Soundproof release?
Were going to put an ep out ourselves on 12 inch vinyl says Jim. Weve
got a track on a compilation called Son Of Bastard Tracks, on Rockers
Hifis label Different Drummer.
Theres a Digidub remix coming out, and theres another track on a French
compilation called Wreck This Mess. Thats been the plan, to put out things
on complations or remixes, that allows other people to go out and promote
us without us having to do that hard work ourselves, and that is the hardest
part, getting out there in Europe.
If we'd tried to just put out an ep out straight away, it wouldnt have
stood a chance. Its the value of association, people pick it up and see
Moody Boyz, Rootsman, and maybe read the small print and go, oh, a track
from New Zealand, whats this? Getting your work alongside all these other
people who we know of and respect, it gives you a level playing field
to have a look at what you do.
Any response from the major record companies?
Yeah, which is odd, cos it never happened with Unitone, but were telling
them to wait until were ready. Its really interesting, that when people
cant have something they suddenly really want it. But, its not like were
ever going to do a cd single and try to hawk it round the country, and
do gigs in towns we don't even particularly want to visit, like Christchurch.
Oi! exclaims Mainlander Angus, rising from his chair, and for a moment
it appears Soundproof are about to become a solo act.
Okay, enough tomfoolery, Ive got one more question. Whats Soundproof live
all about?
Well, the plan is to emulate the studio setup... Its important or us that
there are things we can manipulate live says Jim, that its not just a
press play, sit back and skin up scenario, much as that would be quite
nice, and if anyone wants to pay us to do that were more than happy! But
there has to be some element of live music in there. Playing with HDU,
that hybrid, cross pollination concept, will be great. We really enjoyed
remixing their track Lull. We love that track. Im amazed that more people
havent done it, you know, this sort of gig. People arent pushing it at
all.
Originally published in Lava Magzine, October1998
copyright Peter McLennan
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