Wobble

ATP Energy Currency Album Launch

Combining the influence of LTJ Bukem with a love of jazz, self proclaimed Melbournian science nerd ATP's (named after 'Adenosine triphosphate' a cell which transports energy within the body) Drum 'n' Bass is wooing not only a local audience, but also international labels and artists. Whilst performing around the traps he's also managed to bang out a number of releases (on labels including It's Too Loud, Liquid Brilliants, and Golden Orb) and hosts Nu Soul FM on Bassdrive.  With support from the likes of LTJ Bukem, Vice Versa, Crissy Cris, Stunna, Amaning, Physics, and Flirt with Dirt, Qumulus, DJ Clart, Lenzman, Overfiend, Jay Rome, Youthman and Radiata ATP is doing Melbs proud. We caught up with ATP on launch eve of his first LP "Energy Currency" out on Vibration Records.

It's taken you approx two years of work to get to this point, tell us about the journey you've had with the release, what have been some of the challenges you've faced?

Yeah it's certainly taken a while to get things in order but I can assure, it's not because I'm lazy or anything. Firstly, I've been studying full time for the past two years and that has played havoc with both my time to produce tunes and time for DJing. I've just finished though so it's nice to get back and make beats when I want to. Vibration records have also being taking a well deserved break and there has been a lot of work going on behind closed doors to re-launch the label and get a handful of releases scheduled for the next 12 months or so. Any other challenges I guess would be put down purely to my laziness though!

How did you come to choose Vibration Recordings for the release? How important was the choice of format for the release?

I've know Toby (head of Vibration) for a while now and he's been in the drum'n'bass scene since the beginning. He's got a huge "little black book" of contacts and knows the scene inside out. He also has a great plan for the label and we see eye to eye on many of the issues facing drum and bass and the great music scene. He's also a nice guy! I guess label choice is important and I did choose wisely I think. For me it's not so much as important to sign with a big label, but to sign with a label that supports its artists. I've been lucky enough to now join the Vibration Records team and I'm really looking forward to working with Tobes and the other guys (So: Flow and Biddle) in the months and years to come. Format-wise, it's extremely difficult to get much signed to vinyl these days unless you are under the wing of a larger label or you're a big name producer. I'm neither but it doesn't worry me much at all. I'd say that most people use digital music these days and it's a handy and easy way to shift yourself!

Tell us about some of the artists you've collaborated with on the release?

I've been really lucky with the 2 guys I've collaborated with on the LP. Fabio Chap from Brasil is such a chilled and happy guy. We've made a couple of tunes together and we're in the progress of making some more. He's a big talent and I'd certainly be keeping an "ear" out for him in the future. Glen E Ston is simple! He's a genius. I don't know a tune of his I don't like; he just knows how to use samples and how to build tunes. The suspense and beauty he brings to his music is mind-blowing and I am so grateful we could get together to make this tune for the album.

Have you got any other releases planed for the near future? What are you working on at the moment?

I sure do! In fact there is so much stuff in the pipeline; I have to write down lists so I can keep on top of things. There are heaps of collabs I'm working on currently. Calculon, Dave Owen, DJ Clart, Jett, Mage, DB Audio, Elijah John, Ross D just to name a few and there is talk of a few more with other regulars in the scene. I've also just started to work with a local vocalist "Gareth Millar". This guy has some killer talent and I'm so excited about what we've done so far. Release-wise there are some releases that have just come out and a few more to come very soon.

What would you say has been the most valuable piece of advice you've received in regards to music production?

I've had heaps of help over the years but I think the best thing I was told was to always start with high quality samples, that way you're already off to a good start. I was using shitty samples for ages and it certainly had something to do with the overall reduced quality of my mix downs. I think also being patient is something I was told to keep in mind once. It's quite a challenge for me as I'm a "want it now" kind of guy and I see the finished product a lot of the time before I've put the required effort into the tune. This is probably the area I've been focusing on the most in the last 12 months. I hope it shows!

 

December 5th 2009 sees the release of the anticipated LP by ATP. Energy Currency is the product of almost 2 years solid work by the Australian producer and has so far received strong support by some of Drum and Bass' heavyweight DJs and producers.  Chk it out here...http://forum.melbournebeats.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=19016