radio waves from space

This episode is a guest mix by Debasser who along with Dj Cutlass Supreme are some of the leading producers and pioneers of the UK Bass scene which is inspired by the detroit booty bass, ghettotech, dubstep and bassline.

Debasser’s productions have recieved props from Disco D (RIP), DJ Godfather and DJ Assault and he has been playing live, Djing and has had releases on Novamute, Seed Records and Input-Output as well as their own imprints WIDE and WIDER. These guys are all about playing music that doesn’t take itself too seriously and you can shake your hips to.

Playlist

Pulp Fiction (Foamo Remix) - Alex Reece
Piggly Wiggly - Proper Villians
Revox (Justine Martin Remix) - Time Green
Double Dub - Christian Burkhardt
Mars - Fake Blood
The D.O.C. Pt 2 - Cut & Run
Catalanas Roll - Ilario Alicante & Delete
Work The Wall (Yankee Zulu Mix) - Worthy
Wassup Wassup (Bart B More Remix) - Diplo
Jerk (NYE Remix) - Debasser
Vertigto (Matt Cox Remix) - AC Slater
DC 303 - Aldo Vanucci & Featurecast
International Hustler - Solomum
Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) - AC Slater
Jackpot - Marco Carola
Shake It - Hostage
Hear Me - Drop The Lime
On The Prowl - All Good Funk Alliance
A Face Like That - Debasser
Vertabrate (Mom & Dad Remix) - Techjio
Freaks - Egyptrixx

RWFS had a chance to sit down and have a chat to both of them recently.

RWFS: If you had to describe the ethos behind wide records, what would that be?
Debasser: We put out music that brings the much overlooked dance element back to dance music. It’s not that we have a problem with the more noodly sounds but for us we want music that actually makes people get up and move to.

DJ Cutlass Supreme: The ethos is to mix and match our favourite genres - ghetto tech, booty bass, electro, techno and jungle - into something aimed squarely at the dancefloor. As Debasser says, electronic music (especially electro and techno) have a tendency to lose themselves up their a–es every so often and take it all a little bit too seriously. We want to retain the party element and as WIDE parties have always been about Bass and Booze, this is what we want aim to reflect.

RWFS: How did you start making music?
Debasser: I began making music properly when I got my first Amiga back when I was about 15.

DJ Cutlass Supreme: I started to make music when Debasser showed me how to use Ableton. I still don’t make music ‘properly’ - it takes the fun out of it. All my stuff is created to fit into my sets. DJ tools really.

RWFS: Who or what are your inspirations?
Debasser: The early drum and bass pioneers were a huge influence to me. Rap, Hype, Sappo, Zinc and Ray Keith to name a few. I was also a massive fan of Joker Records and a lot of the stuff coming out now is going back to this sound which is a great thing. I think Keith Tenniswood is probably the master of the electro bass sound - ‘ave That is one of the greatest tracks! To ease on the heavy bass I’m also a big Prince fan and when that softens me too much I sometimes dig out my old Maiden albums.
DJ Cutlass Supreme: My inspirations are numerous. Top of the list? DJ Zinc, Lee Scratch Perry, A Tribe Called Quest and photos from the late 80’s of kids in ridiculous clothes raving in muddy fields somewhere around the M25. Best bass track ever? Ding Dong Bass.

RWFS: So, what else have you got in the pipeline for you and WIDE this year?
Debasser:We’ve a number of new artist joining the roaster which we’re very excited about. Plus we’re in the process of re-releasing Fat Girls complete with around 15 remixes, which should be awesome. We’re both working on a couple of new EPs for ourselves, mine should be out by April if I can get it mastered it time! Plus we’ll be putting out the second part to “WIDE Records Presents….” later in the year. I’ve also have a release due on the new Balkan Label (set up Josh of Seed Records) and I’m finally going to do the follow up release to KLS on Input-Output Inc in Sweden at the end of the year.

DJ Cutlass Supreme: I’m working on a new EP, doing a megamix for the Balkan releases and finally getting round to releasing the follow up to my “DJ Cutlass Supreme Presents UK Bass” mix. I’m also intending to brew my own beer.

RWFS: Who is inspiring musically for you in 2008/9?
Debasser:Without sounding too much like salesmen, we’ve been blown away by the quality of stuff being sent to us. Pain Struck Stanley Dumb have been a real surprise venture for us and the feedback received from Dave Clarke was just fantastic. I think we can also expect very big things from Egyptrixx. Generally it’s been good to see a return to the more raw bass sounds, influenced largely by the 4×4 / Bassline scene. Hopefully this trend will continue. It’s very easy to get lost in production and technical bits while writing electro dance music, but you have to keep sight of that essential dance element.

DJ Cutlass Supreme: I’m loving the whole Bassline sound and the thousand of anonymous bedroom producers ripping it to shreds. Its great to see ridiculous basslines and back in force and wonderful to wave farewell to the dour formulaic experimentalism of Dubstep. Bassline will no doubt burn itself out by the end of the year but leave us all with some very happy memories. In terms of artists - Egyptrixx and Pirate Soundsystem are going to be huge. The Bok Bok people are also doing Bass a great service. Also look out for Ireland’s T-Polar and Germany’s Doshy. Lets just hope there is a label out there brave enough to put out their BASS

RWFS: What can we expect from cutlass supreme/Debasser and Wide in 2009?
Debasser: I’ll be learning Canadian and WIDE is going to take over the dance floor.

DJ Cutlass Supreme:Plenty of new tracks and remixes. Lots of people saying - “F–k! That’s on WIDE Records too?”.

RWFS: Any upcoming gigs?
Debasser: I’ll be playing in Reading this weekend, and we’re both over in Bristol at the end of the month. In March we’ve a return visit to Glasgow which is always a blast.

DJ Cutlass Supreme:Yes, we’re both back at the Blue Mountain (Bristol) with the legendary Grooverider who I’ve always wanted to do a gig with. I also know a really good pub round the corner from there that I’m dying to get back to. We’ll also be playing at Monox in Glasgow and hopefully getting very drunk with lots of Scots. They are the best people in the world to DJ to and if I was told I could only play in Scotland I would be a very happy man.

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