Adam F: Collaborations and explosions
Once upon a time, there was a fair-haired DJ that loved nothing more than collaborating with some of the biggest names in hip hop and RnB to make global hits.
While it sounds like the story of David Guetta, it’s actually the story of Adam F, the jungle DJ and label boss, who in 2001 released Kaos – The Anti-Acoustic Warfare, an album’s worth of collaborations with some of the biggest US rappers of the day.
One of the tracks, Smash Sumthin remains one of his best known and loved releases, and features Wu Tang Clan’s Redman on the mic.
Adam F continues to DJ in front of huge crowds across the globe, and also runs BreakbeatKaos with Bad Company’s DJ Fresh. The label is regarded as one of the most forward thinking drum’n'bass labels, and is home to Australian stadium rock style drum and bass act Pendulum.
His new single When The Rain Is Gone sees the Liverpool-born musician turn his hand to dubstep. It’s backed by remixes from Delta Heavy, Subscape and house heavyweight Michael Woods.
We had a chat about why he decided to release the new single on 3 Beat instead of his own label, and who, to quote his pal Fresh’s recent hit, he thinks is ‘hot right now’.
You’ve been in the game for a long time – what’s the secret to your longevity?
Ultimately, I would think my love and passion for new underground and cutting edge music and production. Having been involved with all sides of the music scene from an artist, DJ, record label owner and producer keeps me fully emerged and motivated.
You’ve had hits across so many different genres. Is there any uncharted territory that you’re keen to explore next?
I’m excited by the fact that now more than ever so many genres are fusing together, we can see that when we go to parties and clubs worldwide in how so many different DJs are mixing up their sets unlike any other time before in club music history. So as long as it’s a new fusion of exciting music and production then that’s the genre I will be exploring next.
You had a hit with Missy Elliot – do you keep in touch? Why doesn’t she really make records these days?
That’s a question for Missy I would think… I love Missy and would always jump at the opportunity to work with her again.
There’s been an influx of new producers and DJs that embrace the sort of abrasive dubstep sounds of Skrillex/Borgore etc. What do you think of it?
When a sound is so big and popular is seems to like a natural pattern for other producers to follow. It happened when Pendulum smashed it with the Hold Your Colour album we released on BreakbeatKaos. Rob Swire had such a unique production style that so many producers tried to emulate. There are innovators and followers always. Interestingly followers can sometimes evolve their sound after the initial influence to become their own fresh sound that becomes part of the evolution process too.
Your label-boss-pal Fresh is doing well in the charts at the moment, do you think this could be proof that drum’n’ bass isn’t dead?
To me it shows that a new generation of music lovers are open to all styles of music at the moment. Many electro/dubstepDJs are also playing a slice of dnb/drumstep in their sets at the moment, so dnb is being heard more than ever in clubs and on nights where maybe in the past it would have been restricted to the more dnb exclusive genre nights.
Why did you decided to release When The Rain Is Gone on 3Beat?
It’s always about the people and the team involved in a label that pull me in. The guys at 3Beat believe in what I have made as an artist before now and are excited about my new music. If someone believes in you and your vision that’s the key to a healthy working relationship.
What does releasing material on a label that isn’t your own add to your creative process?
It allows me to focus on being creative and less on the day to day running of the business side.
The Michael Woods remix is interesting – what other house producers/DJs do you respect?
Some of the more popular names would include Deadmau5, Kaskade, Porter Robinson, Madeon, Allesso, Wolfgang Gartner, Justice, Daft Punk…
Who are your favourite acts of the moment?
A few are Porter Robinson, Madeon, Skrillex, Knife Party and Nero.
You’ve worked with some amazing MCs – what’s been your most ‘pinch yourself’ moment when in the studio with an international rapper?
When L.L Cool J asked me to write some lyrics for the track we were working on and then asked me to get in the vocal booth to record some vocals with him. There are loads of pinch myself moments with Redman but that would take a whole separate interview…
Where do you make most of your music?
Simply in the studio works best for me, not a big laptop producer in regards to finalising a tune but they are always good if you are on the road to get a new idea started or test something out at a gig.
You’ve been responsible for some big tracks. If Hollywood director Michael Bay made a biopic of your life, how long would it be in to the film before the first set of OTT explosions?
Knowing Michael and myself it wouldn’t be long before there were scenes of OTT explosions, and with massive sounding BreakbeatKaos being my theme be sure it would be epic. I would have to sit down with Mr Bay and cast the film… I’ll send him an email and hit you back when we get the cast together and let you stream a clip of the biopic ahead of release.
For more Adam F, visit www.facebook.com/adamfbreakbeatkaos and or follow @adamfmusic on Twitter
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Richard Smith
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