Enjoy rinsing it out? Raiden has been an attention-grabbing name in drum n’ bass for the past 7 years, and he followed his first massive hit Fallin’ on Renegade Hardware with a prolific release schedule, before eventually deciding to take complete artistic control of his career – the Offkey record label was born. With his musical roots in early Detroit techno, Raiden’s mission statement was to inject that icy atmosphere into his sets and productions – resulting in the birth of what is referred to by some now as ‘techno drum and bass’.
Taking things to the next level, Raiden has recently given up his DJing to concentrate all his energies on live performances. Featuring loop-based layering that’s crafted and manipulated live, and going well beyond standard turntable mixing, his technique allows remixing, filter and utilise studio production technique on the fly. Raiden is on his way back to Australia where he’ll be showing his live performance for the very first time – ITM finds out what we’re getting ourselves in for.
Good Day to you Mr Raiden, what’s happening?
Yeah not bad, feeling a bit tired today. I’m currently suffering after a heavy night out, I was clubbing in Berlin last night directly from a gig in Rome. But I’m just showing off now!
It’s been a while since you graced the shores of Australia, what can we expect from your ‘live’ show this time around? And what are you looking forward to most about your trip?
My lives sets are an eclectic mix of many styles of electronic music, all mashed up into DnB and remixed on the fly. I combine my own material with splices from artists as varied as Jeff Mills, Nitzer Ebb, Vengelis, Aphex Twin and Surgeon. The live sets certainly has a different flow to standard DJing, as its more than just blending 2 tracks from A to B. And I’m very much looking forward to the adventure of coming to Australia, it’s a very long way to come on your own so I’m sure I will return to Europe with many stories and a stronger sense of friendship.
You’ve recently released work with hard edge techno producer Rodell, which is so heavily influenced by hard warehouse-style techno it’s hard to tell what genre it fits into. Any plans to release straight up techno tunes in future, or are you strictly a DnB man?
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of techno, especially the Detroit sound from the mid to late nineties. I was in a minimal techno Club in Berlin last night and I found the music incredibly boring, yet I’m not a big fan of stupidly hard techno either. There doesn’t seem to be much going on in between minimal and Shranz these days, so until there a possibility to of hearing Detroit vibe again I will be sticking firmly with DnB.
Theres been a string of new artists released on your label and Temper D has just started his imprint as well. Tell us a bit about some new upcoming artists to look out for on the tech style tip this year?
For me right now I’m not so focused on the newer up and coming artists. I’m currently focusing on the more established producers as the can take this sound much further with a high degree of production which is badly needed in the techno-influenced sound. I think the artists to look out for over the coming year would be…
Dying Punks, this is my project with Dean Rodell and it’s the only true cross techno/DnB project. Dean Rodell is a very established techno producer, so together we have a lot to bring in terms of true crossover techno style production.
Current Value is making a lot of techno style DnB, and it’s seriously funky with an incredible production sound, he is cable of making many styles and I think his talent will push things forward. I’ve never seen anyone work a studio like Current Value.
I’m interested to see where someone like Audio can take this sound, he just completed a track for the forthcoming Offkey LP and it’s some seriously fresh sounding ideas. Cooh is probably the most exciting new comer at the moment, he’s able to make a track a day and never seems to run out of ideas. Definitely keep an eye on him over the coming year, as he’s coming up fast!
Being a very underground style with less of a market than the more mainstream DnB that’s out there, what is it that keeps you interested in the sounds you are currently pushing?
Records sales definitely don’t affect my interest. I think the market for underground music is very widespread, just because it’s not in the media so much doesn’t mean there’s no one listening to it. I’m finding myself playing in more and more obscure places where they have a passion for a more underground sound as well as the major cities. The thing with underground music it that it’s consistent and not influenced by trends, so it comes across more honest and people see that. The interest comes from not making music what the media might want you to listen to, but from what I personally like and trying to perfect that.
Do you have any general tips for young or budding producers/DJs itching to get into the game at the moment?
You have to be passionate, and be into it for the right reasons. The Iinternet has a huge amount of online tutorails and books available that can give you valuable skills that you would never learn on your own. If you’re good you will go far, it’s simple as that so practice, every great athlete has to train constantly and being successful with music is no different, but most important thing is to have fun!
The techier styles in DnB have grown hugely over the last few years with artists like Proket, Prode, The sect, Catacomb, Phace, Noisia etc. all exploding and really finding their niche within the worldwide drum n’ bass movement. How are you enjoying what you are doing the moment and what plans doyou have regarding labels/tunes/ collaborations etc for the coming year?
I’m loving what I’m doing now more than I ever have done, as I’m getting really close to what I’m trying to achieve musically. I’m very busy production wise at the moment, I’ve just finished a batch of remixes that include Adam Freeland’s We Want Your Soul, Woody McBride’s Basket Ball Diaries and a remix for a US hip hop crew called Prolific plus more. On Offkey I have some tracks on the Firm compilation LP, a collaboration EP with Current Value and a Dying Punks EP. I also have a single coming on Position Chrome this year with some more experimental ideas and also a dubstep release with Subtrakt. Over the last two years I have been quiet in terms of production as I have been building up OffKey and breaking new artists, but this year I plan to be a lot more active in the studio.
I grew up in the UK, and techno and DnB always went hand in hand for me as I only ever went to free parties and warehouse events, steering clear of mainstream clubbing. What is it about that kind of sound that you love so much, and do you see yourself continuing to push this style well into the future?
I love this sound as it has all the elements I want in electronic music. I’m very much into the hypnotising Detroit techno vibe, fused with basslines and energy while always focusing on experimentation. I feel this sound is just starting to blossom so there much more work to be done in refining this sound. This techno influenced sound is certainly getting bigger and more interesting, so there’s every reason to keep on keeping on.
Who have been some of your main influences over the years, and what would you say inspired you to start making tunes originally?
My main influences is the Axis Records and Underground Resistance sound, with people like Jeff Mills and Robert Hood, for their minimalism and hypnotism with their mature sci-fi edge. Also I love a lot of Aphex Twin tracks as he always has something unique. I’m also a very big fan of the Surgeon, musically and for his DJ sets. He plays a very eclectic mix of all styles and this has had a huge impact on my live performances. The inspiration to start producing is purely down to the fact that I really wanted to make music and mess with the technology, I still do it for the same reasons today. Its’ my hobby first, job second.
Forums, downloads and the internet in general have changed the music industry allot over the past few years. Would you say it has had more of a positive effect than negative on the way people are involved in music?
Its definitely changed things, I don’t think its better or for worse, just different. The positive side is it helped music reach a wider global audience and allowed you to access music that you may never have found before. Its also allows the listeners to be in direct contact with the artist. There’s a lot of negativity where you find people criticizing anybody who tries to do something, probably because they are incapable of doing anything themselves. These people believe they are helping the scene, but in fact they’re doing the complete opposite. Most internet forums to me are just internet toilet graffiti.
Last but not least, when you’re not in the studio or touring what do you get up to in your spare time?
Living in Estonia we have a big culture for sauna. I start each morning with a swim and sauna. You sit in the sauna until you can’t take the heat anymore then jump into a pool of freezing cold water. It’s much nicer than it sounds, you feel reborn. I’m currently into riding my road racing bike, having fantasies of winning the Tour De France, and I like to go fishing. It’s important to have hobbies for wellbeing and happiness.
The return of Raiden is nigh. Check out his latest mix in ITM-FM, and catch him at the following shows around the country…
Fri 2nd May – Sydney
Sat 3rd May – TBA
Fri 9th May – Perth
Sun 11th May – Melbourne
Fri 16th May – Adelaide
Sat 17th May – Canberra
i_have_ADD says...
that itm-fm mix is intense. techno and dnb don't sound like they should work together, but they do!