Blame appeared in 1990 straight into the British top 40 with his first production. ‘Music Takes You’ wrote history as one of the real rave songs and a turning point in the history of what was going to be drum and bass. Since then he mixed for the Good Lookin series of LTJ Bukem and released songs on Goldie’s Metalheadz label and Mampi Swift’s Charge Recordings. Nowadays he’s passing regularly on BBC radio with his songs full of beautiful melodies and compelling strings.
BLAME: Nowadays drum and bass appears again on radio in the UK and that’s amazing. Drum and bass exists already fur such a long time but never really got a chance on radio. Now, that seems to have changed. It’s a nice opportunity to show the world dat drum and bass is still strong and by this way we are building a whole new fan base.
Are you know also being asked to play dj sets on events where not only drum and bass gets played?
BLAME: Mainly I’m getting booked on drum and bass events, but once and a while a gig turns up where a house of a hip hop dj gets booked. I’m noticing that a lot of people that don’t listen to drum and bass seem to like my music.
I get regularly bookings on parties where otherwise they would never play drum and bass, and each time the promotor seems to be surprised on how well the crowd reacts.
BLAME: Drum and bass dj’s mostly have a lot of experience and are hard workers. We are used to playing at raves where you have to show your a-game to get the people to dance and to show of to the dj before or after you.
Drum and bass dj’s are also specialized in moving a dance floor. That works in our advantage.
The last two years you have been receiving good comments on songs like ‘Stay Forever’ and ‘Because of You’ where it’s all about minimal breakbeats, striking synths and strong vocals. A new trademark of yours?
BLAME: I’m making music since 1990 and people tell me that the songs I’m making right now remind them of stuff from my early period. Maybe I’ve gone trough a long journey to end up again with my first love. For a long time now I’ve been wanting to experiment with different sounds and structures but I just prefer to make good, catchy music that people want to keep listening to.
A strong melody always helps of course to get played on radio.
BLAME: Both on radio and in clubs it’s important to give your songs a catchy hook, it is often the case that the sound isn’t what it should be and if you cannot hear all the details the song doesn’t come trough the way it should. A powerful melody that gets stuck into your brain helps to please your crowd. You know, on radio there is no difference between the different sub genres of drum and bass. United we are strong.
Since you are releasing your own songs on the 720 Degrees label you are your own boss. Are you enjoying that?
BLAME: The music business is completely changed. You don’t need to be signed anymore by a big label to send your music into the world. You don’t even need a desk anymore. If you have your computer and a couple of good people at the right places, you are already far. Now that I’m my own boss, I’m sure the royalties come to me, something that has been different in the past.
What are your plans for the nearby future?
BLAME: I’m working on a new album, but first there will be a successor for ‘Because of You’. Apart from that I have some really cool remix projects. I just reworked ‘Show me Love’ of Robin S, a true club classic and one of my favorite songs at the time I just discovered dance music. The next artists will be Alisha Dixon and David Guetta.
Blame will be playing on RADAR the 8th of May at Silo (Leuven).
http://www.myspace.com/blame720
MURDOCK - Radar 2 - Mixtape
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