Today is Future Funk Squad day on thisisbreaks.com. Later on Johan Soh will be chatting to the breakbeat kingpin about his past and present, but first, Steve Clotho holds him down and gets him to squeal like a piggy about his exciting plans for en:vision recordings
There aren't many labels out there which have combined success and longevity like the UK's en:vision recordings. The imprint had its first release back in 2002, and its discography reads like a who's who of breaks, with releases from the likes of Chris Carter, D-Pimp, C83, PMT, and Kraymon, as well as newer artists like Loaded Fist, Analogeeks and Eshericks (coming soon!) who are already producing quality stuff on par with the veterans. Label head Glen Nicholls (above), aka breakbeat maestro Future Funk Squad, was nice enough to drop this Q&A (and throw in a free tune too) as we bring back our regular Label this! series.
What's the label all about, and who's involved?
en:vision was established in 2002. It was initially run from my Funk Vault studio in Wimbledon where I hand wrote all the promos, reaction sheets etc. I think this personal touch really helped people relate to the label. It quickly became a solid name in breakbeat circles and continues to go from strength to strength.
What's your take on the state of breaks these days?
I think at the moment it's a very exciting time. I never was a big fan of the house-infused breakbeat as I think it blurred the lines too much. I feel breakbeat should stay broken and generally have a more rolling feel rhythmically than a straight four to the floor thud. This to me isn't breaks.
Who are the artists on the label that are paying your bills?
My 30th release from Product.01 called Destrukt stayed in the Beatport top 10 for a few weeks and the top 40 for quite some time. This along with my Disorders of Skill album and the Reorders of Skill remix package are definitely the biggest selling releases in the last year or so. Luckily all the en:vision releases seem to do pretty well and tick over nicely over time. I have never been about releasing instant bangers for the sake of it as I want my label and its releases to have longevity and be something you will come back to in a few years' time to play.
Any promising up and comers on the label to look out for?
The debut release from duo Loaded Fist has just been released. I'm loving what these guys are sending me as its quite fresh - not in a technical ("look at what plugins I use!") kind of way but more melodically and simplicity wise. That's how breaks used to be and I feel it sometimes needs to go back to that. The French duo the Analogeeks have delivered a rather tasty two tracker which will turn a few heads! New signing Sketi is someone to look out for as he is fusing the classic 2000 sound with today's production techniques. I also have the massively tipped Eshericks' debut single dropping in the summer, plus new material from BWEI (Breaks Will Eat Itself) and C83.
In the label's eight-year existence, you've released music from a lot of different artists. Are there any from the past that you'd like to work with again?
Kraymon recently did a remix for me and I consider him one of the 'vintage' en:vision artists. Apart from C83 & my FFS material, it's all newer artists from here on in, with the odd remix and possibly the odd release from some of the previous artists.
As a label that's had quite a bit of success over the years, do you feel the need to innovate and "push the envelope", or do you try to stay the course and focus on the type of tunes that led to success in the past?
I don't really think about this, to be honest. To me if a tune is well produced, has something special about it and ultimately works on the dancefloor I will release it. I'm fully aware of the trends and new flavours going on around me but try not to get too involved in all that. Usually the 'envelope pushing' happens by accident anyway so there is no point in trying to be different for the sake of it.
If you could be one other breaks label, who would it be and why?
That's very tricky as I'm completely happy with en:vision! Haha, hmmm I don't think I can answer that one as I'm very anal about what I choose to release and that it remains in the breakbeat / broken beats arena. Most breaks labels out there are dabbling in the 4/4 thing which is perfectly fine if you're into that but I don't want to represent that sound on en:vision, so I will stick with my own.
What's your biggest pet hate, music-wise?
It would have to be bad production! I don't mind if I get sent a demo that isn't quite up to scratch sonically but the ideas and vibe are killer as I can usually offer some advise on the mixing or even sometimes offer to mix the track myself. This only helps the artist get ahead and my label release more quality music.
What are the label's plans for the future?
I've taken a little time off from my Future Funk Squad project to concentrate on en:vision this year, as I'm getting some great material and want to help get those artists out there and make people aware of them as much as I can. I'm even toying with the idea of doing a night to represent the artists on the label with a selection of DJs and the odd live act. But that is another load of work that I'm not sure I have the time to do!
Where can we find your music?
Currently en:vision releases start on
http://www.Beatport.com for a four-week exclusive spot and then go on
http://www.Addictech.com. From now on every release (and the back catalogue) will be made available on pretty much every digital site (about time eh!?)
http://www.thisisbreaks.com/profiles/bl ... recordings
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