interview

25/09/05
brought to you by joe 90

1. You've released shedloads of records, but only one Domu album so far - why is this, and why is now a good time to step up the Domu persona?

Domu is my main project, so the original tracks take longer to iron out for me. I work very quick usually, thatís why I always have loads of stuff out all the time, but this lp took me about 4 months, and I took the demo-ing process very slowly and sourcing vocalists and stuff was tricky. I thought it was time to release an lp which was a step up from Up and Down, because I didnít want to be known only for the remixes of the last few years. Also, DKD was out, NSM was out, I just felt it was time to get another longplayer alongside this period in the scene.

2. Lots of vocals on this record - is that where its at for you?

In terms of the creative process of making a record, the hardest thing for me is to collaborate, or let others have control. I let the vocalists write the songs on this one, to see if they were on my wavelength from the beats I gave them. And they were completely on point. Up and Down finished with a positive but sad love me or leave me song, and ROTR goes from leaving this bad relationship into a new happy one. I see this as the middle section in a trilogy that will end up with the story finishing properly, maybe with the character being killed off. Who knows but the vocals are there to tell the story, and are essential in stepping up your game. Now with technology so cheap, cutting beats isnít the only skill you can rely on to keep your name.

2. Tell us a bit about the singers you got on there

Rasiyah has sung with the Bugz and on the DKD lp, so she is a west London head in that respect, and we did Like This together in two sessions, and Im very happy with it. Yolanda I met in your good town of Bristol, as she MCd for me 3 times, and when she moved to London, I sent her some demos and she wrote to 5 of the 10 tracks, she came in and bashed em all in one take. Yolanda is a real star. Ola Onabule is on Sambaghetto, and is a Bedford based (where I live) soul singer of African roots. I heard of him playing the live circuit and running his own label, so wanted to hook up and colab with a fellow Bedfordian. The rest of the vocals come from me and Nicola Kramer, a long time vocalist and friend of mine, except Unfazed, which features MC Trauma, a rapper I have known for 15 years or so we have been working on his stuff for years, so that will soon come.

3. Of the numerous labels you've recorded for why choose archive for the domu album?

Archive took a big gamble with my first 3 releases before the lp, and Enrico really pushed me to do it full time. I still had a part time job in 2000 I had 3 of the 5 first Domu releases on Archive by then so it made sense to do it for them. It worked out well and sold 5000 or so.

4. How important is it at the moment for the 'broken players' (sorry) to come with strong artist lps?

Times are hard right now, so the quality control is super high, both personally and from the scene. I think an lp is an example of your story telling skills, how you arrange an lp is like Djing, moving along the journey with pace. So with your lp you are really saying ìThis is my skills at their fullest, at this point in timeî and reflects a point in my life at that time, which is important to document from a selfish point of view. But it also acts as comback to all the other artist albums, because there is always friendly competition between us all.

5. If I were to put you on the spot (which I'm gonna) how would you describe this record?

It was a little dark period in my life when I was trying to finish this, as it was the first time I felt the pressure of exceeding my past work. I'm very aware that repeating yourself a little is good for building your sound, but too much for too long and you stagnate. I think Umod wasn't as good as it could have been, and Rima was slept on a little, so I wanted to make a little impact with this for the dancefloor and the listener. So it was made at a time when I was unsure of my stature in the scene, maybe thinking about packing it all in (see next question) if I couldnít work through and make this the best lp I could. And the demos changed so much, and the tracklisting, but in the end it is a more positive record than most of mine. I guess it reflects coming out of a period of uncertainty with a little clearer vision and focus.

6. Why 'Return of the Rogue'? If he's returning, where has he been?

With obvious Star Wars connotations aside, it was a return to my main name, which had suffered a little being subject to only remix work. And also a return in my mind to staying focused on music, because as times get harder, you cant help but feel ì ive been skint long enough and maybe you should just get a normal job. But the return is a return to the frame of mind required to do this full time. I'm cool now, I think.

7. Do you think it's time for people to stop obsessing about how broken the beats are and just get into some soul music?

When a scene becomes a scene, sometimes the fans think they should decide where it goes, and certain ones prefer one sound to another. That's why I have all these other monikers, for these people who like to segregate their sounds to identify more with one than the other. But for people who like it all round, then its Domu. Sometimes its dark and hard, other times slow and lovelyÖthatís life. I can have some serious mood swings and get bored quite quickly of the same thing for too long, so it has to keep moving or its dead. The bottom line for a track for me, if it is tastefully done, is that it creates an emotion. And I guess that is soul music, 'cos it hits you in the stomach, your hairs stand on end, and sometimes you smile with such intensity, or you are moved to tears

8. What else is happening in the world of Domu and his various personalities?

Bakura album CD for Japan, with the tracks released on Especial for the DJs. Also I will lay to rest the Nicola Kramer lp before starting Rima and Umod second lps. Loads of remixes as usual Mark De Clive Lowe, Phuturistix, Eddy Meets Yanna, Teddy Rok 7, maybe some new Sonar Circle Drum and Bass too.

9. Future plans, ideas, conspiracy theories?

Now I've seen Revenge of the Sith, I need a new film to look forward to. Other than that, working on my house, and maybe a bit of teaching might be cool. Also i'm gonna develop the website to sell my music and mixes as for conspiracy theories, I am positive that Bib Fortuna from Jabba the Hutt's palace IS Anne Robinson.