Mix & Interview: Ikkaku

It's been too long since the last interview! I'm getting slack... OK this time we have a very special guest, Ikkaku a very good friend and wicked dj/producer/promoter/etc. Ikkaku started dealing with music in Belgium in the beginning of the decade, running small DIY parties with partners in crime D-Gelo and Ezio. Then came the move to Bristol and the creation of what was probably the best night ever to happen in the Southwest of England: Cuisine. Here Ikkaku, together with a bunch of other super-creative-french-speaking-people, managed to book incredible artists and create a true audiovisual experience. He now lives in Barcelona, where he runs his label Micropunto Schallplatten - which will be seeing some new releases soon! -, participates in the Venn Festival, the Bloc Weekend and some other wicked festivals, and has recently released his first dubstep/dub techno tunes together with Alien Pimp, on DubKraft records.

So, given his techno background and his recent love for dubstep, he recorded a wicked hybrid set, exclusively for mrgasparov.com. Grazie mile Luca!

Ikkaku

Interview

When did you start making beats, what were your influences then?

I started out being interested in electronic music through hip hop in 1996 or so, then bought some decks and around 2000-2001 started being interested in production.

When was the first time you listened to dubstep and what was your reaction?

I listened dubstep for the first time around 2004 in the Cosies in Bristol, a venue ideal for that kind of music.

Give your definition of dubstep. where do you see it going in the near future?

For me Dubstep has always been a mix of different musical styles and influences. Where do I see it going? In Thailand.

How is the scene in barcelona?

Well, Barcelona seems very dynamic with dubstep and it's probably the main city in Spain for this. The scene here is made of very friendly and creative people coming from all around the globe so definitely a very interesting one.

Next releases and future plans?

Next releases will be techno releases on my own label Micropunto Schallplatten which will be relaunched hopefully next month, otherwise at the beginnings of 2010.

Listen/Download

ikkaku__november_2009_mix__mrgasparov.com.mp3
.

Tracklist

1. Robert Hood - Wandering Endlessly (M-Plant)
2. Ramadanman - Humber (Apple Pips)
3. Shortstuff - Progression (Formant)
4. Ikkaku - Neutro (DubKraft)
5. Pacheko - Figure 8 (Murder Channel)
6. Untold - Don't Know, Don't Care (Hemlock)
7. Volatil - Anhelo (DubKraft)
8. Ikkaku - Belleville (future Micropunto Schallplatten)
9. Ikkaku & D-Gelo - La Capra Crepa (Micropunto Schallplatten)
10. Derrick May - Strings of Life Remastered (R&S)