INTERVIEW: Benga
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:26 am
Without doubt one of the most talented and exciting producers in the dubstep game, Benga and his Big Apple Records crew have helped shaped the sound of the genre as we know it and influenced everyone from Skream to Digital Mystikz over the years. We caught a quick bit of banter with the man himself ahead of his back-to-back with Hatcha at Heavy Industries on June 30th in South London....
Let’s take it back to the beginning then...when did you first pick up a slab of vinyl? How did you first get interested in DJing?
Ooo a while ago I was about 12, maybe even younger. I couldn’t say the first record i picked up.
When did you start producing then? Were you self-taught?
Yeah I was using a music generator thing around the age of 12/13ish.
Would you say that there is one tune that more so than any other laid down the blueprint for the dubstep genre? Or was the progression from UK garage very gradual?
Erm not really it was more the full half-step kick-and-snare that changed it but then I’m not one to leave my whole drum pattern half step...
Benga is also a type of Kenyan music. Is this where you took your name from?
No Benga is my name...that’s what all the kids are called from Mars.
You make some pretty filthy tunes. How do you get those twisted sounds out of your computer? Any tips for aspiring filth merchants?
Ooo tips...do you know any filth merchants that can give me a hand?
The dubstep scene seems to be a very positive one with little or no beef in it – is this true or not?
The only beef your getting is from Bagel King (all hours bagel shop in South London). It’s a hard one to point out why dubstep is so anti-violent...
You recently dropped your ‘Benga Beats’ CD...how has it been going down? Is it an album or more a collection of tracks?
It was more a collective of songs a lot of the tracks would not of seen a release. It was a way to get the beats to people - people who might not own decks.
What music outside of dubstep are you getting excited about?
I don’t listen to a lot from one genre if you get what I mean. There are certain tracks out there not necessarily new either. Röyksopp – ‘So Easy’, Zero7 – ‘Distractions’.
June 30th sees yourself and Hatcha teaming up for a lickle back-to-back action at a new party called Heavy Industries in the Skud room at Corsica Studios in London. It’s a kind of techno-meets-dubstep things – so do you see much similarity between the two genres?
Slightly in certain songs - I think it’s there without meaning to be. It’s just another one of dubstep’s silent influences.
Have you been to Corsica Studios before? If so, how would you describe to first timers? If not...what have you heard?
Haven't really heard that much about it – I’ve heard the systems are good in there....
Will you be checking out the house/techno room on the night?
Yeah I’m not one to stay put...
And finally, what’s the most common misconception non-believers seem to have about dubstep?
I've heard whispers that there’s no movement or energy in dubstep...they obviously ain’t heard the right dubstep!
Have a nice day gov...
Benga plays back-to-back with Hatcha at Heavy Industries on June 30th at Corsica Studios in London. See http://www.jamesmowbray.com for full details.
You can also buy his Benga Beats CD here:
http://www.boomkat.com/label.cfm?l=3420
Let’s take it back to the beginning then...when did you first pick up a slab of vinyl? How did you first get interested in DJing?
Ooo a while ago I was about 12, maybe even younger. I couldn’t say the first record i picked up.
When did you start producing then? Were you self-taught?
Yeah I was using a music generator thing around the age of 12/13ish.
Would you say that there is one tune that more so than any other laid down the blueprint for the dubstep genre? Or was the progression from UK garage very gradual?
Erm not really it was more the full half-step kick-and-snare that changed it but then I’m not one to leave my whole drum pattern half step...
Benga is also a type of Kenyan music. Is this where you took your name from?
No Benga is my name...that’s what all the kids are called from Mars.
You make some pretty filthy tunes. How do you get those twisted sounds out of your computer? Any tips for aspiring filth merchants?
Ooo tips...do you know any filth merchants that can give me a hand?
The dubstep scene seems to be a very positive one with little or no beef in it – is this true or not?
The only beef your getting is from Bagel King (all hours bagel shop in South London). It’s a hard one to point out why dubstep is so anti-violent...
You recently dropped your ‘Benga Beats’ CD...how has it been going down? Is it an album or more a collection of tracks?
It was more a collective of songs a lot of the tracks would not of seen a release. It was a way to get the beats to people - people who might not own decks.
What music outside of dubstep are you getting excited about?
I don’t listen to a lot from one genre if you get what I mean. There are certain tracks out there not necessarily new either. Röyksopp – ‘So Easy’, Zero7 – ‘Distractions’.
June 30th sees yourself and Hatcha teaming up for a lickle back-to-back action at a new party called Heavy Industries in the Skud room at Corsica Studios in London. It’s a kind of techno-meets-dubstep things – so do you see much similarity between the two genres?
Slightly in certain songs - I think it’s there without meaning to be. It’s just another one of dubstep’s silent influences.
Have you been to Corsica Studios before? If so, how would you describe to first timers? If not...what have you heard?
Haven't really heard that much about it – I’ve heard the systems are good in there....
Will you be checking out the house/techno room on the night?
Yeah I’m not one to stay put...
And finally, what’s the most common misconception non-believers seem to have about dubstep?
I've heard whispers that there’s no movement or energy in dubstep...they obviously ain’t heard the right dubstep!
Have a nice day gov...
Benga plays back-to-back with Hatcha at Heavy Industries on June 30th at Corsica Studios in London. See http://www.jamesmowbray.com for full details.
You can also buy his Benga Beats CD here:
http://www.boomkat.com/label.cfm?l=3420
