Australian musical pioneers Nubreed have a resume longer than your arm. On the stage their dynamic live show, with all sorts of toys, never fails to impress. Jase, Mykel and DB take some time out from their tour for their latest compilation, Y4K, with ITMs Pete (SignalDrivers). Chatting about touring and making music they reveal some of what we can expect from them in the near future.
ITM: I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing you guys live at the Monkey Bar in Perth a year or two ago and couldn’t look away. I recently also had the chance to dance my socks off to Danny Bonnici recently at Heat. You’ve been chosen to do the latest offering from Y4K. What’s your take on it?
Nubreed: We always considered Y3K and Y4K to be the most up to date reflections of the latest and greatest in breaks at the time. We tried to capture the same feeling as our live sets and own songs combined with our favourite peer’s tunes to create a journey that you could listen to at home or in a party environment.
ITM: So you’ve been on top of your game for a while now. What do you do to make sure you stay there?
Nubreed: As the saying goes… you’re only as good as your last record, so we try and keep that in mind when making them. Also, keeping your ears in touch with what’s rocking the dancefloor helps.
ITM: I am a huge fan of “One Day”, but that’s just one of many hits you guys have done. Which song did you have the most fun making?
Nubreed: Every song is a different experience and there’s a different formula in making them. Bushpig was interesting because there were 6 people working on it!
ITM: The list of remixes you’ve done reads longer than my arm. Who would you love to remix if you had the chance?
Nubreed: We would love to make our Bjork remix official!
ITM: How’s the “Dirty Fours” project going? I like the name because we all know that breaks DJs feel a bit dirty after playing 4/4.
Nubreed: It’s coming along… our track titled “Machines” is currently out and we are planning a Dirty Fours album after the second Nubreed one.
ITM: What would you describe as essential in your studio? Anything weird in there?
Nubreed: Creativity along with food, vsts, samples, dogs and a little inspiration… and bits of Mike’s dreads!
ITM: What advice can you give to those aspiring producers out there?
Nubreed: Learn the business then work your music if you want to get serious. Learn the ins and outs of mixing a record and try to be happy with every part of anything you make, so when it gets released out into the public you can live with it and aren’t cringing while it’s getting played! Do it because you love it, otherwise don’t waste the time and money.
ITM: You guys are one of the pioneering acts in Australia. How do you see the scene here in Australia, particularly breaks?
Nubreed: It’s good to see a few newer DJs and producers stepping up and getting serious about releasing records. Guys like Nick Thayer, Basskleph, Blueprint and the Darkbeat boys have been doing good things. Also friends like Dan Mangan and Sean Quinn have been knocking out some big tunes lately.
ITM: How do you see the scene evolving in the future?
Nubreed: The definition of the breaks sound is expanding even more. Blurring into all genres like electro, tech, house, disco and broken beats. Something we have always envisaged for the future of dance music is that these days all styles get played in a single decent DJ set, which is great. There aren’t too many DJs solely playing the nuskool breaks sound anymore, it’s a dying breed! Change is good, adaptation is the key!
ITM: You’ve played all around the world. Where is it at?
Nubreed: For the clubs it’s definitely the electro influenced chunky techy business.
ITM: Ever get bored of all the hot chicks and the rock star lifestyle?
Nubreed: You must be meaning chicken wings and hair wax… sure it’s a great life doing what you love, but it’s not as glamorous as it appears. Making tunes that can get you travelling to new countries to rock parties is amazing, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
ITM: Apparently you guys did China and they loved it, but they kept waving their hands up and down shouting “hey, hey”. What’s the weirdest place you’ve played?
Nubreed: It’s not really the weirdest, but in Hong Kong last year the crowd all had camera phones and watched half our set through their cameras held in the air while taking shots.
ITM: A few of the boys have their side projects, as well as the Nubreed stuff, how do you find time to chill? What do you like to do to relax?
Nubreed: DVDs, girltime, spending time catching up with fam and other artists projects, mountain biking, beaches…. making tunes!
ITM: What can we expect from Nubreed in the future?
Nubreed: The second album is now in the works and will be completed after our Y4K tour. Also have some remixes and more Dirty Fours releases coming.
Nubreed present Y4K is out now through Distinctive/Stomp. They continue their national tour to support its release in March and April:
Fri 30th Mar – Chinese Laundry, Sydney
Fri 7th Apr – Platinum, Gold Coast
Fri 21st Apr – Velvet Underground, Cairns
Fri 28th Apr – Savvy Bar, Adelaide
Fri 5th May – Halo, Hobart
