Manchester based Transcode has already garnered support on his energetic & boundary pushing techno from the likes of Laurent Garnier, B-Traits and Alan Fitzpatrick. With a number of projects in the pipeline and releases lined up on Stil Vor Talent and Filth On Acid, it seems that his story is only just beginning.
> For the people reading this who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your style, and the key elements that define it?
I would say that my style is definitely on the side of deep and energetic techno. I like to take people on a journey through my productions and sets so I feel like having range helps me creatively in the studio. You can expect to hear some dark and driving techno but also some more emotional and deeper tracks, all of which will be club ready!
> Could you talk us through your creative process and list any specific equipment used to bring sounds to life?
In terms of software, I rewire Reason into Logic as my main two DAW’s. I find the combination has a nice balance of tools to help with creative workflow and the right plugins and features to get the music sounding professional. I usually start off with drums, bass and stabs to create a vibe. Then I usually build a track around that, however it’s never set in stone when I enter the studio, every session is different! I have a few hardware toys but my favourite synth has to be the Moog Sub 37, the low end weight is hard to match in the software world. Sometimes I run it through the pentode and triode valves of my Black Box HG-2 to give it extra saturation and warmth in the mids, again something hard to come by in the digital world!
> You had a couple of big releases last year on Stil Vor Talent. How did that collaboration come about, and will you be working with them any more in the future?
Yeah I’ve seemed to have built up a great relationship with the guys at Stil Vor Talent. I had actually never sent them music before but around August 2016 I sent them a few unsigned tracks at the time. One of the tracks in the playlist I sent them was entitled “Simulation”. They replied to my email around 2 weeks later and said they would love to sign it. It was released on a compilation but managed to do really well in the Beatport techno charts getting into the top 20 at no. 17 and has collected over 50,000 views on my personal Soundcloud page to date. After the success of that track they were keen to hear more, so I sent them around 5 or 6 tracks about 1 month later and I got a personal message from the label boss himself saying he loved them and wanted to sign all of them! I’m really happy with how things are going with the label, I have a another split artist EP coming up with them in April which will be shared with Rafael Cerato. After that I have a couple of tracks which will be released on compilations later in the year.
> You also received support from B-Traits & John Digweed last year, what would you say was the key defining moment of 2017 for you?
Well having B-Traits playing“ Simulation” was definitely a big highlight for me. I was also privileged enough to have Darren Emerson remix one of my tracks which got heavy support from John Digweed in his Transitions radio sets. There was a few highlights last year but I would also say getting my first top 10 on Beatport was big moment for me!
> What is in the pipeline, do you have any big projects you are currently working on?
Yeah I am really excited about what I have planned for this year. Firstly the split artist EP with Rafael Cerato on Stil Vor Talent is out in April. There is also a follow up EP around the corner which is set to come out mid year on Reinier Zonneveld’s Filth On Acid. I’m really excited to release with them again, I have a good relationship with Reinier and it’s great to be part of the Filth On Acid family! I’m also particularly excited about this one as I think it could be my strongest EP to date! After that, later on in the year I have a colab with Intec artist Luca De-Santo and following that an EP on EGG London’s new label “What Came First”. Definitely have a great year ahead release wise and really excited to show everyone what I’ve been working on.
> Where is your next gig, and what can people expect from you when they come to see you play?
My next gig is on the 27th April which will be in Manchester for the next Tekniq party. It’s yet to be confirmed 100% but I’ll likely be playing alongside Drumcode artist Vincius Honorio and Intec artist Phutek at Joshua Brooks. It’s an intimate venue and has a wicked soundsystem so expect banging beats all night that will leave everybody buzzing!
> Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today, we like to finish our interviews with a couple of questions that are a little bit light hearted… without getting too personal, could you tell us something most people won’t know about you?
I like to eat cereal without milk, I’ve been told that’s weird haha! I’m also my own worst critic when it comes to music production, I have a lot of music that I don’t think it good enough to release so if anybody feels like that way, you are not alone! I think it’s a positive thing though as I’m always striving to improve my production skills and get better at what I do so I can hopefully reach and effect more people with music that they have a connection with.
> You don’t need to mention names, but what’s the most “outrageous” thing you have ever seen in a club… was it something outrageously brilliant, like a blindfolded DJ mixing seamlessly and scratching with their elbows, or something outrageously cringe-worthy, like some embarrassing drunken raver urinating on the dance floor?
Well in terms of pure skill, I’ve seen the legend DnB Dj Marky pick up a vinyl deck on his shoulder whilst scratching live with it. It’s pretty insane, but also impressive!
> You can find Transcode on Beatport HERE and Soundcloud HERE
