DJ, producer and label boss, drum n’ bass big-man Big Bud has been making music since the mid 90s, and in that time has released over 100 tracks and five artist albums. Releasing tunes on seminal drum n’ bass imprints like Creative Source, Nuphonic and*LTJ Bukem’s* label Good Looking Records, but he’s since fired up his own Soundtrax Records. Infusing the fast tempos of drum n’ bass with a heavy dose of funk, jazz and reggae, he keeps things on a soulful tip at all times.

When he’s in the studio, it’s a matter of anything goes. “I don’t tend to go in the studio with any specific idea other than to make some new music. So I tend to just take some samples and jam with them until something sounds good and I go from there.” He’s impartial to a creative helpful hand, however. “Big bag of weed usually helps too.” ITM has a chat with the soulful don of drum n’ bass.

You’re quite unusual for a British DJ in that you seem to be far more regular around the world from Greece to Kosovo to… Australia. Is this a deliberate attempt? And does this influence you music?

Yes you’re right there. I do get way more gigs abroad than I do back home in the UK. Not exactly sure why that is but to be honest, I’m not bothered. Playing in other countries is always more exciting for me anyway. From the time I get to the airport until I return, I’m never sure what’s going to happen or where I’ll end. I’ve had so many crazy adventures over the years as I usually don’t just fly in for the gig and leave, I like to hang around and check out what’s going on in all these places.

What’s the craziest place you’ve DJed, and what has been your favourite gig?

Oz and NZ are my favourite countries in the world, but I seem to be getting booked a lot in Eastern Europe lately, and I always have a great time there too. Invercargill down the bottom of NZ was a mad one, they told me I was the 1st overseas DnB DJ to play there, even the local mayor rocked up to the gig. Kosovo too I was the first to play. And a mad little town up in the mountains of Oregon called Bend was a real adventure. Again, I was the first to hit that spot. Becoming a bit of a trailblazing pioneer in my old age!

Favourite gig ? Tough question but recently, a gig in Bulgaria with Kenny Ken + Ragga Twins was a wicked night but also I played at the Exodus festival last year, a few hours inland from Byron Bay. I was only booked to play the Friday night but blagged another slot on the Saturday night and then played a 7-hour set on Sunday night too… That was a heavy weekend!

You got in to DJing quite late in your career, what prompted the move?

Yea I was never that interested in DJing at first, just happy to spend all my time in the studio. A fear of flying too didn’t help, but once I got over that and started to travel and realised how much fun it is, now I can’t stop. It’s the best job in the world!

What do you see as the essential attributes of creating a good set?

It’s gonna sound obvious, but great music.. I like to mix in key so I spend a while working out the key of every track and presenting them in a way that makes sense musically as well as keeping a flow, and taking the mix in a few different directions over the 2 hours or whatever that I’m spinning.

After working with some big labels, like Creative Source and Good Looking records, you ended up starting your own label. How do you find the challenges, do you find your time is distracted from music in to marketing and admin?

Yeah I love running my own label and not being told what to do by anyone. The marketing side of it though I’m not so into, would be cool if I had someone to help out with that but at the moment I do everything myself. From A&Ring new tracks, contracts and accounts right thru to standing outside clubs with flyers! I don’t have an agent either so all the gigs I get I sort out myself. It’s allgood though cause I like to keep it personal, and most of the guys I play for around the world have become good friends over the years!

You’re coming over to Sydney to play Sole Food’s second ever night. What can we expect from a Big Bud show? Visuals too?

Gonna be dropping lots of tracks from the new album Connections as well as lots of forthcoming Soundtrax releases. Got some great stuff lined up for the future, just signed another 12” from Electrosoul System, got more from Furney too and lots of fresh blood coming thru too, Derrick+Tonika from the Ukraine and Mikal, a lad who I think has a very bright future.

You’ve got a strong dub vibe coming through a lot of your sounds. Do you think there’s any music that can’t be integrated in to a D&B framework?

Good question. I think DnB, like jazz is able to suck in most any kind of other music, mix it up and it works. I’ve been hearing a lot of music from the Balkans lately and there’s an influence of that creeping into my music. So yea I think most flavours would work, not so sure about country and western though!

From memory of being in Amsterdam, there’s a pretty sick skunk with the same name as you. Has Big Bud ever smoked Big Bud?

Yes I have, on many occasions. But I didn’t inhale.

And is there one pearl of wisdom you’d like to share with us now?

Worrying is praying for what you don’t want to happen! So why would you do that? Why worry? Just get yo’ ass down to Sole Food on the 27th in Sydney, leave your cares and troubles at the door and escape in a night of the best dance music on the planet. DnB baby! You know it makes sense.

Big Bud tour dates:

Sat 27th June – Sole Food, Sydney
Thur 9th July – Byron Bay
Sat 11th Jul – Melbourne