01-16-2007, 12:36 PM
What can be said about Lifted Music that has not already been said? The newest record label to come out of the dnb/jungle scene, and by all accords the hottest label to come out of the dnb/jungle scene in a while.
Along with the hottest producers on the planet, they also have the most talented label boss you could ask for. With four years of a&r and label management for such powerhouses as Barcode and Renegade hardware, Chris Renegade is on top of the game.
If you have not heard of Lifted Music or the music they are making, you need to get your head checked.
This is the future of jungle music, get with it.
Thanks to Chris for sitting down with Doug from Visionaryurbantactics.com for this q&a session.
1. How did you become involved with the scene?
Since I was listening to Jungle when I was at school, I always wanted to be somewhat involved with the scene. Back then I wasn't too sure in what field but once I left I wanted my own label. My break came when I contacted Yoko @ Renegade Hardware asking if there were any positions available... I was offered work experience with paid travel for a couple of days a week - and it took off from there. 6 months later I was head of A&R / Label Manager, taking care of the 3 labels at TOV Music. To be fair, I worked extremely hard to prove myself at the beginning, but because it was such a buzz for me to be working closely with all these artists I’d looked up to for so long, I didn't care how hard I had to work. After a while we started up Barcode recordings, and I used that as a kind of practice for Lifted Music. Although that wasn't my mind frame at the time, it was a good experience and I respect the crew down at TOV for giving me that opportunity and having faith in me. It was crazy having control when I had been working for such a short amount of time.
2. As a DJ can you tell us about any music we should watch out for in the New Year, what tracks have you recently signed to Lifted Music? Or any other producers that are doing it for you right now?
Hmm. well apart from the Lifted Atists, I’m really feeling Audio at the moment. I'm into most of Noisia’s stuff. Gridlok, Pendulum & Subfocus always come correct with the engineering. I'm into anything that is well produced, well engineered and most importantly a progression in the sound... If it sounds different to anything I’ve heard before, or a step in the right direction - I’m normally all over it.
3. Tell us how Lifted Music came about.
While I was working closely with Spor and pushing his sound through the Hardware & Barcode imprints we became good friends outside of the Drum & Bass scene. We both thrive on doing things our own way, and we both became un-happy with working for TOV Music. One night we had one of those exciting over-exaggerated chats on the phone one and decided we want to start up our thing. The next day we sat in a local pub and got some ideas down for it. We were both good friends with other artists such as Evol Intent, Rob from Unknown Error & Ewun to name a few. So from there we spoke to everyone we looked upon as pushing a progressive, high level of production and came up with the crew.
4. How has the first release been? There of course was alot of talk on the net about it.
Yeah, it's gone allot better than I expected... we knew we had something good going from the start, or we would have never started it. But we didn't want to be just another new record label. We knew we had to really make an impression, not just with the Music, as that speaks for itself... but with the whole concept and visuals. We are all into creative art, weather it be in sound or hung up in a gallery. So we've tried to make an extra effort with all of it, and will continue to do so.
5. What can our readers expect to see from Lifted Music in 07?
The Second Lifted Release is most probably going to be from Spor, a 4 tracks extended play titled "Supernova". A couple of Djs other than us have the tunes now, but we like to keep it on an exclusive level until the tracks are 100% finished. Following that, there is a 12-inch release from Ewun and Rob UE in the works. As well as a couple of big name remixes for the summer. There are loads of plans for Lifted Music in 2007, but I don't want to let too much out right now. Once these plans are forming shape, people will know about them.
6. Are you planning any Lifted Music showcases? Like at Miami's wmc perhaps?
I was going to do a party in Miami this year. But we've decided to leave it until next year for WMC. Although saying that, I’m in talks with someone about of a Lifted Music party with Me, Evol & Ewun about 3-4 weeks after WMC in Miami. There is also going to be a Lifted Music party in Atlanta soon, as well as Seattle. Spor has been touring the US & Canada for the last 3 months playing Lifted Launch parties, while Unknown Error & I have been taking care of Europe gigs. Evol Intent & Ewun are constantly playing out, and I’m over in the states for 6 months from mid February.
As far as Lifted Parties with more than one of the crew - so far we are looking at Atlanta, Seattle & Miami over the coming months. We're also planning parties in Russia, Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain and Australia at the moment.
7. Is your producer line-up full or will you be accepting new producers as time goes on?
Well for now we're not signing any new music unless it's really good. I've had a few big names telling me they want to record for us, but for now we are keeping the Lifted Music name close to our chests. There is a couple of big remixes in the works and once they are out there we'll be looking to expand. We are all really good friends, and it would be weird to have this new artist on board, it would have to feel right and the artist would have to be coming with some big, big tunes.
8. What does Chris like to do in his off time?
Time off? what’s that?...
Nah. Music is my first love; I’m normally listening to something wherever I am. If I’m not playing out, I’m found in clubs (non-dnb) or local pubs with old friends. Erm. Been drinking too much recently if you call that a hobby.
9. Digital vs. vinyl, which do you like when djing out?
Well I used to play allot of vinyl and I still do at home. I still get hold of the release's I’m really feeling, but when I’m playing out I tend to stick to CDs, especially if I’m out of the country... it's just allot easier to travel with, especially when having to process Visa's to get into other countries. It's easier to get through customs without a heavy bag of "you look like a international DJ that’s going to make allot of money here" Vinyl.
10. And finally, is there any USA crew you want to send a shout out to.
Yeah, always got love for my Yankee friends... first off to Evol Intent & Ewun, Dieselboy, Hive, Echo & Infilrata. To all the Seattle crew - Syze, Aker, Crystal, Illcease etc. All the promoters I’ve met around the states, as well of course all the crazy partygoers!
------------------->
we a r e l I f t e d . . . .
Lifted Music Limited.
PO BOX 666
ST. ALBANS
AL1 9FS
tel // +44(0) 7776 327 346
fax // +44(0) 1582 832 945
aim // Lifted HQ
web // http://www.liftedmusic.co.uk
shop // http://www.shoplifted.co.uk
myspace // http://www.myspace.com/wearelifted
forum // http://www.liftedmusic.co.uk/forum "
Along with the hottest producers on the planet, they also have the most talented label boss you could ask for. With four years of a&r and label management for such powerhouses as Barcode and Renegade hardware, Chris Renegade is on top of the game.
If you have not heard of Lifted Music or the music they are making, you need to get your head checked.
This is the future of jungle music, get with it.
Thanks to Chris for sitting down with Doug from Visionaryurbantactics.com for this q&a session.
1. How did you become involved with the scene?
Since I was listening to Jungle when I was at school, I always wanted to be somewhat involved with the scene. Back then I wasn't too sure in what field but once I left I wanted my own label. My break came when I contacted Yoko @ Renegade Hardware asking if there were any positions available... I was offered work experience with paid travel for a couple of days a week - and it took off from there. 6 months later I was head of A&R / Label Manager, taking care of the 3 labels at TOV Music. To be fair, I worked extremely hard to prove myself at the beginning, but because it was such a buzz for me to be working closely with all these artists I’d looked up to for so long, I didn't care how hard I had to work. After a while we started up Barcode recordings, and I used that as a kind of practice for Lifted Music. Although that wasn't my mind frame at the time, it was a good experience and I respect the crew down at TOV for giving me that opportunity and having faith in me. It was crazy having control when I had been working for such a short amount of time.
2. As a DJ can you tell us about any music we should watch out for in the New Year, what tracks have you recently signed to Lifted Music? Or any other producers that are doing it for you right now?
Hmm. well apart from the Lifted Atists, I’m really feeling Audio at the moment. I'm into most of Noisia’s stuff. Gridlok, Pendulum & Subfocus always come correct with the engineering. I'm into anything that is well produced, well engineered and most importantly a progression in the sound... If it sounds different to anything I’ve heard before, or a step in the right direction - I’m normally all over it.
3. Tell us how Lifted Music came about.
While I was working closely with Spor and pushing his sound through the Hardware & Barcode imprints we became good friends outside of the Drum & Bass scene. We both thrive on doing things our own way, and we both became un-happy with working for TOV Music. One night we had one of those exciting over-exaggerated chats on the phone one and decided we want to start up our thing. The next day we sat in a local pub and got some ideas down for it. We were both good friends with other artists such as Evol Intent, Rob from Unknown Error & Ewun to name a few. So from there we spoke to everyone we looked upon as pushing a progressive, high level of production and came up with the crew.
4. How has the first release been? There of course was alot of talk on the net about it.
Yeah, it's gone allot better than I expected... we knew we had something good going from the start, or we would have never started it. But we didn't want to be just another new record label. We knew we had to really make an impression, not just with the Music, as that speaks for itself... but with the whole concept and visuals. We are all into creative art, weather it be in sound or hung up in a gallery. So we've tried to make an extra effort with all of it, and will continue to do so.
5. What can our readers expect to see from Lifted Music in 07?
The Second Lifted Release is most probably going to be from Spor, a 4 tracks extended play titled "Supernova". A couple of Djs other than us have the tunes now, but we like to keep it on an exclusive level until the tracks are 100% finished. Following that, there is a 12-inch release from Ewun and Rob UE in the works. As well as a couple of big name remixes for the summer. There are loads of plans for Lifted Music in 2007, but I don't want to let too much out right now. Once these plans are forming shape, people will know about them.
6. Are you planning any Lifted Music showcases? Like at Miami's wmc perhaps?
I was going to do a party in Miami this year. But we've decided to leave it until next year for WMC. Although saying that, I’m in talks with someone about of a Lifted Music party with Me, Evol & Ewun about 3-4 weeks after WMC in Miami. There is also going to be a Lifted Music party in Atlanta soon, as well as Seattle. Spor has been touring the US & Canada for the last 3 months playing Lifted Launch parties, while Unknown Error & I have been taking care of Europe gigs. Evol Intent & Ewun are constantly playing out, and I’m over in the states for 6 months from mid February.
As far as Lifted Parties with more than one of the crew - so far we are looking at Atlanta, Seattle & Miami over the coming months. We're also planning parties in Russia, Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain and Australia at the moment.
7. Is your producer line-up full or will you be accepting new producers as time goes on?
Well for now we're not signing any new music unless it's really good. I've had a few big names telling me they want to record for us, but for now we are keeping the Lifted Music name close to our chests. There is a couple of big remixes in the works and once they are out there we'll be looking to expand. We are all really good friends, and it would be weird to have this new artist on board, it would have to feel right and the artist would have to be coming with some big, big tunes.
8. What does Chris like to do in his off time?
Time off? what’s that?...
Nah. Music is my first love; I’m normally listening to something wherever I am. If I’m not playing out, I’m found in clubs (non-dnb) or local pubs with old friends. Erm. Been drinking too much recently if you call that a hobby.
9. Digital vs. vinyl, which do you like when djing out?
Well I used to play allot of vinyl and I still do at home. I still get hold of the release's I’m really feeling, but when I’m playing out I tend to stick to CDs, especially if I’m out of the country... it's just allot easier to travel with, especially when having to process Visa's to get into other countries. It's easier to get through customs without a heavy bag of "you look like a international DJ that’s going to make allot of money here" Vinyl.
10. And finally, is there any USA crew you want to send a shout out to.
Yeah, always got love for my Yankee friends... first off to Evol Intent & Ewun, Dieselboy, Hive, Echo & Infilrata. To all the Seattle crew - Syze, Aker, Crystal, Illcease etc. All the promoters I’ve met around the states, as well of course all the crazy partygoers!
------------------->
we a r e l I f t e d . . . .
Lifted Music Limited.
PO BOX 666
ST. ALBANS
AL1 9FS
tel // +44(0) 7776 327 346
fax // +44(0) 1582 832 945
aim // Lifted HQ
web // http://www.liftedmusic.co.uk
shop // http://www.shoplifted.co.uk
myspace // http://www.myspace.com/wearelifted
forum // http://www.liftedmusic.co.uk/forum "