Mindblowing
Mindcell’ a big new tune out now ‘on Broken Robot, talk us through the two mixes…
“Well I’ve been playing Mindcell out for quite a while now and it’s been getting a great reception. I wanted to put together something that started out quite progressive and built up to full-on psychedelic tech-funk, with lots of squidgy noises and psytrance inspiration in it. The sample in the main breakdown was found in a youtube video, and the name Mindcell came to me as I thought about how the influx of controlled media can create a kind of prison cell for your mind, limiting your perception of what is possible/impossible, right/wrong etc. The RMS & Peak remix is a much more full-on affair from the start, with a gnarly rework of the main bassline, and wicked dubby groove after the break.”
Two questions on influences. Who were your musical influences growing up that made you want to make dance music?
“Well, just as I received these questions, I had just finished watching the Michael Jackon “This is it” DVD, so I have to pay homage to him. I was obsessed with him in my formative years. More than anyone, he made me want to dance, sing, play, produce and perform. In my early teens I got into the rave scene, and then through the latter half of the 90s DJ’d liquid drum & bass – particularly guys like LTJ Bukem and the Good Looking Records crew. My interest in breaks came in about 2002/2003, and that’s when I started taking production much more seriously. Guys like Elite Force, Meat Katie, Plump DJs etc, motivated me to get better at producing and make a name for myself.”
And secondly, who today influences you?
“Probably the most inspirational producers to me today are: Headroom, Trentemoller and Bluetech. Their production and sound design fills me with ideas and motivation every time I listen to them.”
So you hail from Norwich. Tim Westwood went to school there, celebrity chef Delia Smith joint owns your fottball team, ‘Atonement’ author Ewan McEwan and comedian, actor and author Stephen Fry both studied at your university, Beth Orton went to school there, turkey trader Bernard Matthews is from there as is Cathy Dennis, Sir John Mills, chat show host Trisha Goddard and author Bill Bryson lives up the road. But isn’t it a bit er, dull?
“Hahaha! Well, I moved to Norwich about 5 years ago, to take up a job opportunity, I was not long out of uni and fancied a change of scenery. It’s a small city, sure, and doesn’t have the kind of cultural diversity, and range of stuff to do that you find in bigger cities, but i’ve met some of my best friends here, played at some amazing parties, and with it being less than two hours from London and Stansted airport, it’s no problem for gigs and nights out. They absolutely LOVE the breaks up here too.”
Last year saw you rock some great festivals such as ‘Glade’, ‘Waveform’ and NewFoundLand’ – which has been your favourite ever festival…?
“My favourite ever festival experience was ‘Boom’ 2008 in Portugal. It was a week long psychedelic festival on the shores of Lake Idanha-a-Nova. It was a truly magical experience and nothing else has ever come close.”
Best club you have ever played at?
“I played at Matter last month which was a great experience – the sound system is heavy, and everything is new and state-of-the-art, though obviously it does all feel a bit commercial. A few months ago I played at Medika in Zagreb to an absolutely packed room, for 3 hours, and that was probably my favourite gig in recent memory.”
What are the big 10 tunes you are spinning at the moment?
“In no particular order:
Neurodriver – Snake Charmer
Big Mistake – Fusion Control & A Law Against the Law
Mr Snook – Past the Noise
Orzels Machine – BC & Torque is Cheap
Gaudi & Neurodriver – No More Blood
Sharooz – Get Off (Miles Dyson Breakfest Mix)
SQL & Mol – Frogs and Toads (Miles Dyson Breakfest Mix)
Blazer – Toxic Girl (Beatman & Ludmilla remix)
Odissi – Dirty Secrets (Hedflux remix)
Mindcell + 3 new tracks of my own
Best record of the year so far?
“Well, I have to say that the Elite Force Revamped titles have been the best and most inspirational breaks I have heard in years. Not exactly my core style, but a hugely important and all-round high quality release. Hats off to him.”
How would you describe your production / DJing style?
“I like to call my style psychedelic tech-funk, since I draw heavily from psytrance in terms of synths and sound scapes, but apply it within the rhythmic framework of tech-funk . I like to make it progressive and trippy, as well deep and gnarly. I dont like too much ego in the tunes I play, so tend to avoid vocals and big screechy hook lines.”
What one album would you never sell?
“I always used to say my desert island disc would be Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, so i’ll go with that for now, but the thought of losing all my electronic albums makes me wanna puke! The Trentemoller Chronicles, and Shpongle – Nothing Lasts would be close favourites too.”
What are your cats called?
“Bebe (pronounced Bee-bee) and Morf.”
What do you think has been your best release to date?
“I have to say Mindcell really! A lot of people have said it s their favourite track of mine. “
What DJs out there do you enjoy playing alongside?
“Neurodriver, RMS & Peak, Far Too Loud…”
And finally, what’s coming next from Hedflux?
“A full 1 hour Hedflux live experience is my current goal, its going to take a fair bit of time, but i’m well motivated for it. I’m currently doing a remix for psytrance legends OOOD, and this has set me off in a new direction which I’m very excited about.”
My latest stuff can be found at:
soundcloud.com/hedflux
myspace.com/hedflux
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hedflux/42827540024?ref=ts
Thanks pal
“Thank you!”
What they’re sayin…
Meat Katie “Both soild tracks..rocking..”
Dylan Rhymes “Hedflux’s Original all the way for me! Big energy and tight production! Got that rolling techy edge to his music that steps him
away from other producers in the scene! SXSW in Texas is gonna get pelted with this next week.”
Hexadecimal “Great tracks Dom! Think I am going to play the Original out but both mixes are really strong.”
Henry D (Bombtraxx) “Oh man.. I’m fighting off a boner after listening to the Original! Good work!”
Kickflip “Top release once again! Hard to pick between the two, both equallygood but think the Original’s finely tuned drum groove and slick edits take the cake for me. Good stuff!”
Matt Equalizers “Amazing production on this release. Perfect for building up the energy levels of any breaks/psy set! Big up!”
Hedflux free DJ mix: http://www.hedflux.com/Feb2010.zip
Track list
1.Orzels Machine – BC (Trick Music)
2. Lee Coombs – Detox (Access Denied RMX) (Lot 49)
3. Mr Snook – Past The Noise (CDR)
4. Hedlfux – Mind Cell (Broken Robot)
5. Beatman & Ludmilla – Moldova (Ayra)
6. Big Mistake – Fusion Control (CDR)
7. RMS & Peak – New Realms (Hedlfux RMX) (Broken Robot)
8. Robosapiens – Monkey Drummer (Luqas RMX) (Dead Famous)
Hedflux ‘Mindcell’ + RMS & Peak RMX (Broken Robot)
Buy the release here:
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/catalog/?contextType=labels&contextName=Broken%20Robot%20Recordings&contextEntityId=12794
