Utter the name LTJ Bukem in the vicinity of any self-respecting fan of drum & bass and you’re likely to be left with something resembling a gushing gooey mess. An outright legend all over the globe, LTJ has commanded the respect and admiration of the drum & bass fraternity in his position as head of influential UK label the Good Looking Organisation for a number of years. Not only an astute businessman, Bukem’s career as a DJ stems back some 17 years, over time building a reputation for his tight and technical DJ sets. He’s also known for the seminal Progression Sessions CD series, and after hooking up with MC Conrad 13 years ago he’s been a close collaborator with the equally admired MC ever since. With the pair’s polished set at this year’s Field Day still fresh in the mind of many punters, they’re gearing up to do it all again, and this time he’s bringing Japanese drum & bass cohort (and GLO labelmate) Makoto along for the ride. ITM’s i_have_ADD cornered Bukem for some Q&A.

What was it about drum & bass that initially grabbed your attention? And after your many years involved in the scene what keeps you interested in the style?

I think the originality of the music, which is why for some reasons the music doesn’t get as big as it should. Maybe it’s ahead of it’s time in many ways, I mean you hear so much of the music we were playing 10 years ago in a lot of the current scenes… I’m a big fan of the drum break full stop, how can you not get involved?! Plus the whole electronic scene was so exciting back I the 80’s.

This will be your third tour of Australia in just over a year, what is it about us down here that keeps you coming back?

I totally love the weather, food, people, atmosphere and the overall vibe of the place. I could definitely live in Australia.

Obviously you have a very close working relationship with MC Conrad. How did you guys originally meet, and how long have you been working together?

I met Conrad 13 year ago at a party he was MCing at. He MCed over my set, I got a copy of the tape and the rest, as they say, is history…

You’ve recently signed a number of tracks by Australian producers Vice Versa to your label. How were you introduced to their music, and what do you have planned for them on the label?

I was introduced to them by Alf, a guy who runs a small drum & bass night in Sydney. He and the Vice Versa boys came to my hotel room and played me some tracks that I fell in love with immediately, thank you Alf! They have only just started sending me bits so we will have to see where it goes from here. I am excited about what might come out of their studio in the future, they have a real feel for the music.

I heard that you and Conrad were recording a Progression Sessions CD on your recent Australian tour earlier this year. Any plans for the recordings to see the light of day?

We record every set as I love to hear what sounded good, or not, how well I mixed, or not, and also for future web content on the Good Looking Organisation site. I would love to do a Progression Sessions from Australia, any city would be perfect as the people really get their groove on when we come to town.

In general, do Australian audiences react any differently to your sound than those in Europe?

Music is our only universal language, everybody reacts differently as music affects us all in different ways. There is so much love, you totally feel it as a performer when playing in Australia.

Having been involved in music for quite a while now, how have you seen the industry as a whole change its attitude towards drum & bass over time?

I’m not sure if the attitude has changed, the industry definitely has though. 5 years ago every major label was looking for it’s drum & bass act, now you don’t see it as much, and for many reasons. There are not as many distributors as there were before, and piracy is killing us all. Kids have to realise we need loyalty not piracy. Very different times.

What was your primary reason for starting up your own record label.

I think mainly the control to release music of my choice, and to release it in the manner we chose. Also to help the many artists that have walked through our doors with nothing, to hopefully give them a piece of their musical dream.

You’ve had success with your production work and also with DJing. How do you balance these two aspects with your business role at the record label?

You can’t, it’s either music or business, I don’t think anyone can do both properly. For instance I have only made one album in 10 years. Maybe having the label as opposed to being signed to one has made this the way it is. Not a regret, just a fact.

Having toured the world rather extensively where is your favorite place to play? What audiences appreciate your sound most?

That’s an impossible question to answer. I mean it when I say we have had some amazing experiences in a lot of places. I love connecting with people on a musical level. Thanks to the many people that have felt the connection, we have really had an amazing journey.

Just out of interest, as your name is Danny, where did the initials LTJ come from?

I made it up because I didn’t want to be just DJ Bukem. A friend of mine in 1990 suggested it and it stuck, but it doesn’t stand for anything, although I’ve heard some interesting suggestions…

As a successful DJ and a producer, how important are these two aspects to your sound and approach? Do you think being a DJ gives you added insight into production?

I think you need to be both these days, it’s not a case of one helping the other, it’s essential to do both to give you the best chance of progression.

You have a rather distinct approach to drum & bass with a unique sound. What is your opinion of the harder and darker styles of drum & bass?

I love aspects all styles, people forget I have been DJing for 17 years. If you listen to one of my sets from 13 years ago some of the tracks sound very similar to a hard track of today, so it makes me laugh when people ask me that question. I still love that rough edged sound and it appears from time to time in my sets now, as do many flavours.

Finally, what are your plans for the future?

To carry on as we are, trying to bring what we think is good music to the many wonderful people that have followed us enabling us to be here. To the people, thank you!

Makoto Release Tour, featuring LTJ Bukem, MC Conrad and Makoto dates:

Thu 26/06 – Melbourne, 33&1/3
Fri 27/06 – Sydney, The Metro
Sat 28/06 – Perth, Sonik