Earlier this month, it was announced that Luca ‘Drop the Lime‘ Venezia, the man behind New York’s Trouble & Bass label and general US dance music kingpin, would this year both release a new album and mix the 53rd entry in Fabric’s FabricLive mix CD series.
FACT caught up with Venezia, on the week he drops new single ‘Sex Sax’ to talk about both releases, and the way his ‘50s rock roots have influenced them.
When you spoke to FACT in late 2008, you said this new album “wasn’t gonna be a full length necessarily for the clubs”, claiming it would be “more song-orientated, more spooky and psychedelic”. Did that turn out to be true?
“Absolutely true. There are of course your fun party tunes on the album, ‘Sex Sax’ being one of them. But there is a lot of western / surf / rockabilly guitar spiked songs that blend with growling bass and spooky synths.”
What can you tell us about the album? Title? Length? Guest appearances?
“I can’t give that all away, but expect something short and sweet that sticks to the teeth.”
When did you find out you’d be doing the next FabricLive CD, and did that affect what went on this album?
“There had been talk about it for a couple years since my residency, but I’m happy I didn’t do it until now. The timing is perfect, stylistically and momentum wise in relationship to my album dropping in the fall. The Fabric CD hints towards what my album is like, but I made it something special in itself that is exclusive for the vibe and relationship I have with an amazing musical entity.”
The FabricLive CD apparently has you doing vocals, right? How’s that work?
“Once the mix was complete I went back and adlibbed vocals on top of the entire mix…the same way I perform vocals live while DJing. I just make random phrases up, tease parts of my own songs and then take the best bits. What I sing on the Fabric CD, doesn’t and won’t exist anywhere else but the fabric mix.”
Any overarching themes, or aesthetics that emerged while you were making the new album? Anything in particular that influenced the genesis and development of the record?
“Over the past year and a half I began dropping rockabilly, doo wop and Motown songs into my club sets to add an organic element…eventually that began to creep into my production and remixes as well and I embraced my rockabilly and 50’s rock roots again. I picked the guitar back up and began writing riffs over the electronic beats…think Enrico Morricone meets Gene Vincent or Elvis on top of dark grinding bass lines.”
Album aside, what else do Drop the Lime and Trouble & Bass have going on right now?
“We took the label into overdrive this year and plan on expanding the brand beyond music. We’ve started our own clothing company presented by Mishka, and The Captain has been directing and producing all of our artist’s music videos as of late with ctrlalt media.
“I am also producing a lot of other artists on the side now – an EP for Mad Decent act Bosco Delrey, our own act 77Klash with AC Slater, and a rockabilly side project called Bad Lupo Grande.”
What particular producers, DJs and tracks are you into right now?
“There’s so much good music out there right now. It’s a really exciting time. Some good producers and DJs: Caribou, Zombies For Money, Blessure Grave…the Drake album is amazing.”
Photo by Ysa Perez
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