SRC
From: Birmingham. Tracks played by: Elijah & Skilliam, Dusk & Blackdown
Best known for his 8-bit grime epics that are regularly played out by Rinse FM’s Elijah and Skilliam, Dusk and Blackdown and Oneman, Birmingham’s SRC is one of several producers recently snapped up by the Numbers umbrella that’s formed from Glasgow labels Dress 2 Sweat, Wireblock and Stuff.
His Gold Coins EP will be dropping on the label this year; ‘til then you can check his downloadable series of beat tapes. The latest, SRCD Volume 4 is easily available, and features his best known track ‘Goomba’, as well as the stunning ‘Peanut Punch’ and ‘One Penny’.
SRC, introduce yourself.
“I’m SRC and I make beats.”
How would you describe your music to the uninitiated?
“I’d just say it was my take on instrumental Grime music really.”
How long have you been producing for?
“I found an old DVD of mine the other day with my first few beats from 2005 so I’m guessing I started late 04 / early 05.”
What software/hardware do you build on?
“Hardware is a Compaq PC, couple Behringer monitors, a Xenyx mixer, M-audio Axiom 25 Keyboard Akai MPD24. Software wise, I move between Reason, Ableton Live, and FL Studio. I want to get a few synthesizers soon though and maybe an MPC.”
What do you take inspiration from when it comes to your beats?
“Just life and so many different types of music, I go through phases of listening to different things. At one point I was listening to a lot of Chinese Folk music, chopping up some of that and making beats.
“For my grime tunes it’s mainly the kind of music I grew up listening to (UK Garage, early Grime, US Rap & R’n’B). I’ve been listening to some New Jack Swing lately and trying out some of those techniques in my newer stuff.”
There’s also – obviously – a massive video game influence on your tunes. Is that something you deliberately tried to push, or has it just come naturally? What are your favourite games?
“Yeah I’ve always liked 8-bit and chip style music, they have really memorable music, and most new games don’t.
“With my game style beats, I’ve been playing about with ideas for a few years, but I think I got it right with ‘Goomba’ and then more ideas came after that. I didn’t intend to push them more, I usually send out batches of beats to DJs and those were the ones that seem to get the best response.
“Favourite game, there’s a lot but I’d have to say Super Mario Land on the Game Boy, it’s got no save function so you’ve got to play non-stop. I still play it today. Definitely all of the Sonic series as well, but more recently I’m on the PS3. (Modern Warfare 2 and FIFA 10).”
You’re from Birmingham. What’s it like doing grime there – it’s mostly Bassline right?
“Well yeah Bassline’s definitely dominant here, but at the same time there’s quite a healthy Grime and Dubstep scene. I don’t think they play much grime on the radio now but people are still doing promo CDs, videos and so on.
“I think the scene here is really MC lead though, so producers are seen as utility rather than artist. There are plenty of good ones though so hopefully they’ll break through this year.”
There’s the Gold Coinz EP coming out on Numbers this year. Anything else on the horizon?
“Yeah, an EP with No Hats No Hoods will be out later this year and also a track with Elijah & Skilliam’s Butterz label. Hopefully a lot more things but I don’t like to say before they’re set in stone.”
Tell us something we don’t know about SRC.
“Hmm. I want to buy a yacht.”
Download: SRC – FACT mini-mix
Tracklist:
SRC – Tatanga’s Kingdom
SRC – Lemsip
SRC – Tokyo Takedown
SRC – Goin Out 2
SRC – Gold Coinz
SRC – Daydream
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