Instra:mental

East London venue, The Nest will be kicking off 2012 with a spanking new sound system and a month full of Friday night events to blow away the January blues, bringing together both the best of new and established electronic artists to the joy of local Dalstonites. Future events will see the likes of disco editing duo Tiger & Woods, Psychemagik, NY/London bloggers Bicep, and Slutty Fringe DJs, as well as Russ Yallop and Maxxi Soundsystem, whilst Anneka will play live, alongside Rustie and Melé. First up this Friday 6th, will be a night with Red Bull Studios, presenting London duo Instra:mental, Redinho (Numbers), and Krystal Klear known for his 80s-tinged grooves. Here we speak to the headlining drum'n'bass heads about their musical loves at the moment and progression over the years...

Dazed Digital: How have your own productions progressed over time and how would you describe what you do now?
Instra:mental: The Instra:mental productions have changed over the years due to mindstate and also different equipment we have picked up during this time. The early 170 autonomic tracks filled with melancholy and nostalgia came from a lot of influences from the past... like growing up in a video shop watching 80s sci-fi and horror, also a lot of music was still being discovered by digging in the crates for artists that we were feeling.

We had an early past in drum and bass with releases with source direct and that was a door back into the music scene when we returned with the new sound we had been working on. With the album we took it in a very cold sci-fi direction, there were slight glimpses of warmth but they were being suppressed by a cold electronic sharpness. All the music we write are snapshots of where we are mentally at that point in time.

DD: Do you think the most influential artists in your musical field have changed as of this year?
Instra:mental: There is a great deal of good music right now, for me (Jon Convex) artists like Martyn, Addison Groove, Mosca, Consequence, dBridge and labels like 3024, Swamp81 and artists we are putting out on Nonplus.

DD: What are you listening to in your own time at the moment?
Instra:mental: Albums that are currently in my playlists are from artists: M83, Aeroc, Sandwell District, Balam Acab and a mixtape by Gucci Vump.

DD: If in doubt, play ____?
Instra:mental: Autechre

DD: What labels to watch out for in 2012?
Instra:mental: Nonplus records, Convex Industries, 3024, Swamp81, Naked Lunch, Exit.

DD: What are you most excited about next?
Instra:mental: A compilation on Nonplus is in the making with some very nice tracks shaping up from Artists we work with. Also my "Convex Industries" label which will be putting out limited Vinyl and will be releasing an Alex Smoke project called "Wraetlic" which sounds amazing. Apart from that Im closing in on finishing my solo album, alex has more Boddika material with Joy-O and there could well be another Instra:mental 12" in the coming months. Very busy.