Yesterday saw the release of Ken & Ryu’s Fantasy Ink EP on Rudimentary Records, a gloriously evocative jazz infused journey through deep space.
I managed to grab some time with the Belfast based producer to find out more and he was kind enough to send us a sweet mix to enrich your ears as you read.
N: How did you first get into making music?
K: I had been in various little rock bands since I was about 14, mostly playing drums. We could do mean Jimi Hendrix and Rage against the machine covers. Then as I got into more electronic music I eventually got a computer and some music making software to make music on my own.
N: What were your early influences and how did you first get into electronic sounds?
K: Since I was wee fella I was constantly exposed to blues and blues rock by my dad and even still I consider Jimi Hendrix as a massive influence. Growing up in the 1980’s meant that electronic sounds were everywhere and as a child I was captivated by Jean Michel Jarre ‘Oxygene’ and the processed voice of ‘Soundwave’ in the Transformers cartoon. Then I got into hip hop and its more experimental sub-genres when I was in my teens, Cypress Hill blew my mind!
N: Tell us about your live jazz trio and how much does that inform the ‘cosmic jazz’ of your productions? It seems like you’re increasingly exploring that experimental sound…
K: The jazz trio is Barry Lynn (aka Boxcutter) on bass, Aodan Farren on keys and myself on drums. Barry and I have been playing together in bands and even just the 2 of us for 15 plus years now, and we recruited Aodan around a year ago. We have played a number of shows and festivals around Northern Ireland and we’re currently finishing off a recording of our own compositions.
The cosmic, jazz-funk that we make is very much an influence on my own music since I’m a massive fan of Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Pharoah Sanders, Coltrane etc. I learn a great deal about all aspects of making music from playing with the lads, especially the more technical aspects and music theory. The track ‘Peep did ‘13’ is co-written with Aodan and he plays most of the synths on that.
N: How did you get involved with Rudimentary Records?
K: Rudimentary are a Belfast based record label who have released some great music by the likes of Danny Scrilla and Bass clef.
N: How did the new EP come about?
K: I had been in contact with Rudimentary for a while, sending tracks etc and then they suggested I do them an EP. The EP is mixture of new tracks and things I’ve been working on for a while.
N: What’s the music scene like in Belfast?
K: Much like anywhere, landfill indie and beer boy house music are the dominant forces but under that veneer there is a really healthy scene of more leftfield sounds. Jungle/drum and bass has always been popular as well as more experimental techno, hip hop and indie rock/guitar music. You just need to know where to look. Some of us are even trying to convert the masses to footwork as well.
N: Are there any local artists you’re feeling at the moment who should be getting more love?
K: ‘Def Con’ is making some great music. He just released a collaborative EP with ‘Boxcutter’ (his music always deserves attention) on Kinnego records called “New Yen” which everyone needs in their collection. He runs a label and club night called ‘Reset’ with ‘Kab Driver’ and Brian Greene, who are also Kinnego alumni and make sweet sounds. Then there is ‘MC Cull,’ a really talented beatboxer and ‘NYT Bloomer’ up in Derry/Donegal making some interesting music.
I also play drums in a psychedelic drone rock outfit called ‘Documenta’ and we have a record coming out on Touch sensitive records early 2014.
N: When astronauts went to the moon they were allowed to bring a cassette each to listen to tunes (truefacts) if you were being shot out to deep space what album or mix would you bring?
K: Phew, just one record? The temptation would be some ethereal cosmic music like Gustav Holst ‘The planets Suite’ or a Sun Ra record. But I imagine in deep space one would pine for the sounds of humanity rather quickly, so probably ‘Motor booty affair’ by Parliament. George and me gliding through space, sweet.
N: Ken or Ryu?
K: Always Ryu. He’s the more cerebral fighter. Ken is merely a brawler.
I’m not sure I entirely agree with your views on the finer points of Street Fighter II but perhaps that’s an argument discussion for another occasion. Thanks for taking the time!
You can (and should) buy Fantasy Ink here.
Neoterika 