K Jah In 2020, COVID, Music & More.

Ruffneck Ting, Natty Dub, Hocus Pocus, Serial Killaz, Mac 2, Hazardous and Subwoofah. These are just a selection of the labels that have received the K-Jah treatment. Combine this with 4 nominations at the We Love Jungle Awards and the ridiculous amount of dub filled rinse outs he’s unleashed both across the UK and beyond and… well it’s pretty obvious that the drum & bass scene likes what he’s doing. As for the rest of 2019 and beyond, there’s so much more to come, so we take some time out to find out what's going on.

Thanks for taking time to talk to me, with the whole COVID-19 lockdown going on at the moment. How are you finding this all? Are you and your family all ok?   
I'm finding it as scary, stressful and surreal as everyone else I imagine. It's highlighting the fragility of the life we have built on Earth and also exposing the huge divisions in society between the rich and the poor regarding survival chances, access to healthcare and economic disparity. This has to be addressed properly if we are to have any form of functioning society after this pandemic ends. We also need to plan properly for the next pandemic. Thankfully all my immediate friends and family are safe; I have family who work in the NHS and I'm very worried about their safety.

Totally agreed. We could talk about it a lot, but let's go back to the start for you, how did you find music, or how did it find you?
I grew up in a musical household; mum liked classical and my dad liked jazz, blues and folk. I always preferred dance, soul and hip hop and would always tune in to Dance Energy with Normski to hear acts like Bomb The Bass, Technotronic, Lisa Stansfield, Neneh Cherry, Rebel MC, Soul to Soul, etc. Id also go to Our Price with my dad and whilst he was buying Jazz, id be buying compilation albums such as Hardcore Ecstasy which is the first time I heard 'rave' music; specifically Energy Flash - Beltram and Dominator - Human Resource. And that was it; just like the Mafia, once you are in you are in fully!

Tell us about Fantasy FM, your school years and Club Junglist.
Fantasy Fm was the first pirate station I heard when I was about 11; they were playing Trip To The Moon - Acen and those breakbeats just blew my head right off! Hardcore jungle music right there! At school, I was the only one into Rave / Jungle or so I thought; went to my first rave in 1995 which was Club Junglist in Birmingham to see Micky Finn and Top Buzz and my classmate Ben was there!

Who inspired you growing up and who inspires you now?
DJ Ratty, Top Buzz, Randall, Nookie, Danny Breaks, Roni Size, Dillinja, Die and Wax Doctor are always right at the very top of my original Jungle influences. Nowadays I'm inspired by everyone, I'm always hearing new music by big names and not so big names that inspire me or make me reevaluate my own music.

What's been your biggest musical achievement?
Being nominated (and finishing in the top 3) for best breakthrough DJ / Producer three years running for the We Love Jungle Awards was a particular high. Setting up my label South Central and the reception of the first release (Dutty Like A Bumbo) was also a big high. Truthfully, I think the big highs and big achievements are still to come; don't think I've realised my potential at all yet.

Talking about production. What are you on DAW wise, fav plugins and what things have you found most helpful in the last 2 years? 
I use Cubase although I have been impressed with Studio One at times. The best plugins for me are the Waves suite of plugins for the sheer variety. STS also make some excellent sounding, if temperamental, free VSTI's.
Tell us about your label "South Central Recordings".
Just a project to put out more vocal-based tracks that I produce with vocalists that I regularly work with and admire. I'm letting it grow organically but trying to keep it simple in terms of only putting out 2 tracks per release and keeping the artwork consistent. It's going really well so far, I'm on the 5th release which are remixes of the first release. 

I'm going to go through your last 3 releases, can you tell us a little about what inspired you about making them and how you feel about each piece of music? 

I'd heard Natty D perform the main hook live during a few sets he was hosting and when him and Reggaeman Gav dropped by for a session I suggested those lyrics to him and he went with it. Gav just listened once and smashed it with his verses. I just had to add some bashy business for them to chat to. Had support from Andy C this one did1

I always wanted to work with Megatron since he hosted a set for me in Bristol at Ruffneck Ting; he didn't disappoint either and the track just wrote itself really.

A chance to work with the Don Dadda, Mr. Computer Tounge, The One Take Wonder himself? Id snap your arm off mate! Cheshire Cat is one of my heroes and proud to say a friend too. Just had to get a vocal from him and he dropped Ah Weh De in one take one Friday afternoon. I deliberately kept the production as minimal as possible so his vocal rightly had the main spotlight. 

The "We Love Jungle Awards" has played a big part in your career. 2nd place 2017 We Love Jungle Awards (Best Breakthrough Producer), 3rd place 2016 We Love Jungle Awards (Best Breakthrough Producer)
and with nominations in 2015 for "Best Breakthrough Producer" and "Best Breakthrough DJ" it's really opened up doors for you right?
Yes and no if I'm honest. It gave me a platform and exposure which I'm not sure I exploited properly if I'm honest. It was great to have some initial recognition though but this scene moves so fast that you always have to be in people's heads which is hard to keep on top of especially with social media. 

So your latest release..... let's talk about this one!! "Dutty Like A Bumbo" (Coda Remix) / Ah Weh De (Euphonique Remix). Tell us about this... 
Due to the overwhelming success of the original Bumbo I realised it needed a remix so I asked fellow Natty Dubs Recordings label mate Coda to work his magic. Hits me back 3 days later with an absolute sheller of a remix reminiscent of that late 90's heavyweight era. If I had a penny for every inbox asking me on a release date id be semi-comfortable! To complete this remix package (hint) I then asked my Manchester matey Euphonique to use her magic in remixing Ah Weh De seeing as she rinsed the original so much! As the original was so simple (deliberately so) she had room to get seriously creative and she smashed it out of the park with a huge bassline and attitude!

Yes yes Euphonique, shouts out to our fellow lady junglists! She's amazing to work with right?
Yes definitely! I just sent her some stems and a smiley face and she replies two days later with a ridiculously heavy remix of Ah Weh De. That bassline!!!

Who else do you love working with and why?
Vytol is a regular collaborator with me and it just clicks, our music is getting better and better each studio session! I love working with Saxxon, Dawn Raid, Coda and Jinx too, their vibes are right up my street. As for vocalists, every vocalist I've worked with has been a pleasure to work with. I also have to shout Sam Natty Dub Recordings, Dazee Ruffneck Ting Recordings and Aries for their continual massive help and guidance too!  

If I gave you £10k right now what would you do with it and why?
Give 9k to educational charities and spend 1k on studio upgrades.

 
What parts of the world have you visited or played in that you love or would love to go back to?
I loved Belgium and Finland when I played there, both for the raves and the scenery. Would obviously go back in a heartbeat to Amsterdam as well. 

If you were stuck on a desert island and you could take only one tune with you, what would it be and why?
Optical - To Shape The Future Remix. 

So some other new projects... Tell us about the full-length LP coming on Natty Dubs Recordings later this year... 
Yeah I finally completed an LP! Its a range of D+B styles from 95 inspired Jump Up Jungle to mellow Housey Rollers, Ravey Steppers blended with fresh rollers and jungle sounds. I hope everyone will like at least one track from the LP, I tried to tip my hat to a lot of influences whilst keeping that K Jah sound to the forefront.

Any other news we can look out for? 
working on music for Co Lab, Born On Road and Wrong Turn. South Central will be releasing another pair of remixes plus new material with Natty D, Cheshire Cat and others! 

If you could collab with anyone and why, who?
DJ Die because he is a badman!

If we should check out one up and coming producer, who should it be and why?
All of them, everyone is trying to make their best music. One day you might get sent something quite ordinary, the next week that same person might send you an anthem. 

Biggest crowd you ever played to and if you could play one festival or gig, where would it be?
The main room at Que Club Birmingham to about 1000 people was the biggest. Id love to play Boomtown or Let it Roll. 

What are your dreams and goals for the future?
To be healthy and to enjoy making and earning a living from music. 

Tell us about why you love jungle and DNB so much.
It's the glue that all the other musical genres orbit around. It's got everything you could possibly want from a music genre so why look anywhere else. ( I listen to lots of non DNB but you know what I mean)

What do you think the first rave back after us all being locked up is going to be like?
A bigger strain on the NHS than COVID 19 probably. 

Yes, that thought had crossed my mind, I was onlt talking about the A&E's being empty earlier.... Has this experience changed you or the way you look at life?
Yes. All those dystopian novels I read when I was younger sadly appear to be coming to life. 

Best advice you have ever been given and what advice would you give to up and coming artists?
Be humble in the right way. And be pushy in the right way too. 

What do you think about our www.jungledrumandbass.co.uk website, and what's it's best feature?
Intuitive and simple layout and excellent writing from industry veterans is its main selling point! 

Nice one, thanks! Have you cut your own hair yet?
Did it yesterday, grade 0 all over, I look like I make tech house not jungle. 

Dettol or Zoflora?
Zoflora for the scented win. 

What's keeping you sain? Have you had more studio time?
Perspective and my girl are keeping me sane. Haven't been in the mood for lots of studio, I imagine that's the same for a lot of people. 

Thanks for taking time out. Love your work and your continual motivation. Any shouts and thanks?
Big love to everyone who has been supporting me over the past 15 years or so, especially Vytol, Jinx, Dazee, Cabin Fever, Aries, Dawn Raid, Erbman, Cheshire Cat, Diligent Fingers, Kella, Justin Kool, Saxxon, Sappo, Suv, Jaxx, Verdikt, Natty D, Frenetic, and a whole host of other people! Big love to everyone involved in the scene in any way shape or form. I hope we have an active scene to return to and build once this pandemic has passed, thankful for the technology to keep it going online and the new music that is being created! 

Big up and best of luck for 2020 and beyond!

Interview by Missrepresent April 2020.

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