August we came across one of the most exciting producers of the year. For those of you that haven't heard of him. LUNG is a guy a who we are hotly tipping at example to be a big name in the coming years. Aged only 18, based in Cardiff, He is the latest discovery of Alley Cat's newly formed label KOKESHI which aims to capture the deep and minimal sound in drum and bass and dubstep in its signings. LUNG's work is very atmospheric and emotional often featuring epic soundscapes designed to fill a room. His forthcoming release on KOKESHI entitled Afterlife is no exception - check it here. We caught up with him online to find out what got him started, how he hooked up with KOKESHI and what influences his work.
Example: so Lung how long have you been producing and what got you started?
LUNG: I've been producing my own music, varying styles really since i was about 15... (4 years ago) i used to play in bands and we'd record our demos ourselves... but i've only been producing dubstep since january this year,... i dabbled in dnb before that, but it's only since january that my production has got more serious
Example: For the producer heads what do you like to work on?
LUNG: well im an apple mac lover... I started using garageband, almost accidentally when i got an apple a few years back... stumbled across it and just started messing around with a few loops and things... then i started to get more into production, i upgraded to logic pro last year and havnt looked back!
Example: Its all about the mac
LUNG: haha definitely!
Example: On your soundcloud page and on dubstep forum people have really been praising your recent deep tunes. Is it a surprise when you log on to see such good reception to your tunes ? How does it make you feel?
LUNG: yeah, definitely, like i said i've only been producing dubstep since january and the reaction has been great so far! pretty overwhelming infact! i remember logging into dubstep forums and seeing a 'lung appreciation' thread! that was really weird for me!
i make tunes for my own enjoyment really, its my hobby, but i've always wanted to make a living through music if possible... its great that people are hearing my stuff... the feedback has been amazing! in particular the dj support from a few sub.fm dj's... Myrkur from Amsterdam who runs the Radical Radio show every friday, I have alot to thank him for, he has played out my tunes from the start and got me a fair few listeners! his support has been amazing! also getting airplay on Mary Anne Hobbs Radio 1 show... that was so surreal, once again thanks to DJ R0byn from dsf for that one, once again much appreciated support!
Example: How would you describe your tunes?
LUNG: well, i do -try- to keep some variation within my tracks a couple of the tunes i wouldn't really say are dancefloor material - or at least were never created for that purpose... e.g. Afterlife... but it seems to have had a good reaction when i have played it out... the tunes of mine i tend to play out more are the darker, techy ones... like Fractal and The Abyss, they work pretty well on the floor... but yeah recently i've been really getting back into all the euphoric trance tunes i used to listen to when i was a bit younger... i've been creating dubstep and dnb tunes in that vain over the last few weeks... i'm very comfortable working in that kind of field... i like huge euphoric pads, tracks with massive atmosphere! i like to fill the room so yeah... things seem to be going more down that route... there's a dnb track called Clockwork i've recently uploaded on myspace... its in that sort of vain
Example: so definitely ATMOSPHERIC
LUNG: haha yeah man! its all about epic soundscaping!!!
Example: i think thats what people are really liking about your tunes they really do take you away?
LUNG: ah thank you well yeah, i never really set out to do that... like i said the tunes are more for my own enjoyment... but i'm just heavily, naturally influenced by that big euphoric sound you get in trance music
Example : definitely those huge breakdowns are sort of missing from some dnb and dubstep. Some people online are saying they can hear burialesque sort of vibes to your tunes. Would you say hes someone thats influenced you?
LUNG: yeah definately... i mean when you think of burial... in my opinion there's 3 names people instantly think of... Burial, Skream and Benga... but yeah i'm definately more of a Burial fan than of the other two! i think he's definately sort of created his 'own sound' i know thats a bit of a cliche... but i think its hard to argue with... i dont think he sounds like anyone else...but yeah, Archangel... i definately hold that up there as one of the most important dubstep tracks... its certainly a track that got me into dubstep anyway
Example: Alleycats signed you to her new label KOKESHI how did that come about?
LUNG: well,... i put it down to luck more than anything! i'd had some interest from a few digi labels...one as far as australia...afterlife seemed to be the track that people wanted ... but i waited for a while... i was very excited about the attention the music was getting... but i wanted to wait until i found a 'home' for my music... i knew of alley cat through ESP Agency and the Feline nights, i happened to have her as a contact on facebook and one day just sent her a link to my soundcloud page... luckily enough she listened and shortly got in contact with me regarding the label and possible signings! and here we are now... afterlife hits stores in december im ridiculously excited!
Example: sick so i guess you didnt imagine in January that you'd have a tune on wax by next year?
LUNG: i think the main thing for me though was to wait and find a 'home' like i said... but also, alley cats' experience within AnR, and co-director of ESP, to me that is invaluable, Alicia really understand this industry and to me that was important, its been overwhelming (and very surreal) to have support from the co-director of ESP! And yeah, definitely, i never anticipated any of this, i've always wanted to make a living from music if possible... everything has happened very quickly... im very grateful for the amazing support! We've got a launch party here in Cardiff for 'Afterlife' with the local night Aperture of which i'm now a resident DJ (that happened overwhelmingly quickly too! haha!) the details will be up on facebook within the coming weeks, but it's looking good! im very excited
Example: You mentioned you wanted a "Home" for your tunes. Does that mean we can expect more LUNG tunes on KOKESHI or might you be releasing on some other labels?
LUNG: right now we're keeping things very tight and exclusive to kokeshi... im more than happy about this, like i said Alicia's experience within the industry is invaluable, its been great to have the opportunity to be a part of kokeshi... and yes you can expect more releases through the label
Example: So after the release of afterlife whats next?
LUNG: well... hopefully sales!! haha! but yes, a few more releases on kokeshi planned... although i cant give you many details as of yet! other than that... i'll be starting uni here in cardiff... studying music technology, it'll be great to have an excuse to do music full time!! But yeah just more DJing with Aperture (dnb) and Neuropol (dubstep) here in cardiff!
Example: I can imagine u might start getting booked up once your releases start to get hype around them.
LUNG: haha! i certainly hope so!! i've always loved the idea of travelling around playing music! to become a touring dj would be awesome!
we'll see what happens!
Example:: So Finally mr LUNG the question we ask everyone what tunes can you not live without at the moment?
LUNG: aaaah! i've been listening to alot of break recently... there's a sort of dubstep/halfstep tune off his album Symmetry called Thin Ice... that is an absolutely wicked tune... but yeah its been all about the deep lately for me... a track by Scuba called Klinik... Also really feeling DJ Madd's stuff right now... having said that i've been listening to alot of dnb lately at thats certainly had an influence on me... tracks like Storm Chaser (alix perez & survival) also been going through a massive commix phase! tracks like Be True and Emily's smile... i know they're not recent as such... but to me i think commix's productions are just timeless! also really been feeling the autonomic stuff... d:Bridge - wonder where, and Instra:mental - No Future... yeah definately feeling that minimal sound
Example: Thanks a lot fellah and best of luck with afterlife
We'll keep you posted on lungs release and other kokeshi news in the future :)
Photo by Jonas Photography
Original Link: http://www.examplemag.co.uk/?p=1032
09 Highlights - October 