Refix: Studio musings, releases and an exclusive mix
Genuine, heart-felt dubstep from the heart of a North Kent Downs farm is what the savvy trio that make up the Refix outfit are bringing to the next TB feature. Read up about their rural-based studio musings, latest releases and find an exclusive mix from the boys.
How did you guys meet up and get into music?
Ben: Basically, I moved in next to Joe when I was about 20 and always had a musical background separate from what Joe was doing. Then one day, I went over to his house – because I knew he had a studio – and we just started making beats for fun at first. Then it got a bit more serious and we started Refix. After a few years of just me and Joe, now Matt’s on board as well. We spend most of our time down at Matt’s studio working down in the lovely countryside. It’s nice being in the countryside and not in London.
Joe: It’s in the North Kent Downs. Kind of in the middle of nowhere really. You couldn’t get any more middle of nowhere if you tried. The studio’s in a stable; put it that way.
Does that lack of distractions help you guys when it comes to making music then?
Joe: When you’re in the middle of London, everyone just seems really stressed and everything’s so fast. Its just calm out there and there’s no distractions.
Ben: I think the main thing for us is that there are no distractions to go off and do something or we can’t just go off and pop to the shops. We have to just come with our packed lunch every day and we’re stuck there for the whole day.
Joe: Also, with all the space, you don’t fall out as much. 2 guys working in a small space all day can get a bit graining to be honest with you.
You’ve got your latest release ‘Minimally Conscious’ which is out now with Alice Grace. How did that collaboration come about?
Joe: Well, we always work in a similar way. We hooked up and just started writing the hook, and this one was actually quite quick because all the decent stuff that we write comes quickly. We have the philosophy that you cant polish a turd so if something doesn’t work really quickly then we close the session and start again. We wanted to find a singer and Alice just seemed to come out of nowhere; we got her in the studio and she just smashed it. She was really easy to work with and she’s so keen and very talented. Think she’s fresh out of music college as well. We cut another track and we’ve got another release coming out later in the year, which is a bit heavier. Retrospectively, we prefer that one. We do like ‘Minimally Conscious’ but from working with her we just think that she’s getting better and better. You know, when you first start working with someone you’re just feeling each other out and trying to work out how far you can push each other. Also, the singer needs to get comfortable with you and whether you actually like each other.
What do you have to say about the direction of dubstep and bass music as a whole right now?
Joe: It’s weird because dubstep started off as this new genre, which has now got loads of vibes coming into it. You’ve got the house vibes, drum and bass vibes and its split at the minute with the epic Nero and Skrillex sort of vibe and the underlying, dubby vibe as well. But, it’s still working together nicely.
Ben: Yeah, I’m trying to work it out because we’ve tried to go down one or two different routes. Sometimes we go with stuff that is really hard and banging for the dance floor but we also try to do stuff that you listen to whilst sitting at home as well. We both feel that we want to take it harder, but keep it musical because I think that’s the main problem for me, when it just becomes noise. I get it and sometimes I like it, but if it’s hard and filthy, I still want it to have some kind of musical context otherwise its just industrial techno or something. I don’t know how long they can keep up that scene before it becomes a little bit too much. We talk about the future of bass music; drum and bass did that with jump up and it got ridiculous and really nasty and you have to ask yourself where is that kind of drum and bass now.
Otherwise though, I personally see bass music at the forefront of music as a whole. There’s always a dubstep tune in the Top 20 these days and obviously after Nero hit #1, (DJ) Fresh hit #1 and Chase & Status getting up there all the time. It’s the biggest type of music at the moment, for sure. It’s given Simon Cowell a run for his money; it’s just a bunch of kids that are just sitting in their studios doing their own thing and that’s real cool. If the tracks are good, then they’ll rise to the surface.
So what have you guys got coming up?
Joe: Well, there’s the ‘Minimally Conscious’ release out, then there’s the surviving one coming out in November. Ton a free downloads that we’re looking to give away and we’re working on a secret remix, which will be coming out around December time. That’s what I’m most excited about right now actually. Then obviously, there’s the live stuff and more sets. The more bookings we get, the merrier.
Carnival Kids – Go Bang (Refix remix)
Jack Stat – Acid Step (Afghan Headspin remix)
Buraka Som Sistema – Hangover (BaBaBa) (Caspa remix)
16 Bit – Boston Cream
Exponaut – E621
Caspa – Sir Rock Alot
Nero – Crush On You
Dark Elixir – Headslung
Refix – Shine (instrumental)
SebastiAn – C.T.F.O. (Nero remix)
Ajapai – Blast
Mord Fustang – The Electric Dream (Charlie Darker remix)
Refix ft. Taji – Soldier
Dismantle & Hizzleguy – Kung Fu Style
Dismantle – Computation
Redlight – Source 16
Crushington & Optimus Gryme – Hangman
Refix ft. Alice Grace – Surviving
Deekline & Ed Solo – Paella (Dodge & Fuski remix)
High Rankin – Lift Me Up
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