Renowned drummer of Jamiroquai and celebrated DJ/producer Derrick McKenzie brings his signature groove to a whole new frontier with his latest track, Bass & Heartbeat. Featured on the Soil Samples EP, the song is part of a groundbreaking project commissioned by Bowel Research UK and produced by GAS Music, which turns the hidden vibrations of living soil into immersive electronic soundscapes. Using contact microphones placed in the rich earth of Glebelands Farm, Manchester, a week’s worth of microbial movement and subterranean resonance was captured and transformed into sonic textures. McKenzie’s contribution pulses with deep funk energy, channeling the rhythm of life beneath our feet into a track that’s as soulful as it is innovative.
You’re known worldwide for your groove-driven drumming with Jamiroquai. How did the idea of turning soil into music first strike you creatively when you joined the ‘Soil Samples’ project?
The project to turn soil into was a small challenge i gave myself to see what i could come up. I love to write and produce, and this was learning curve for me. What struck me more than anything was the fact that someone had actually turned soil into music to put my beats and musicality to it was an amazing idea. And the project itself is something that i really wanted to be part of. With all the proceeds going to bowelcancer uk this was amazing and also that Soil is alive well and keeping us alive with the vibes that it gives us in food vitality and and more it was definitely something i wanted to part of.
“Bass and Heartbeat” blends organic textures with classic disco-funk. What was your process for turning raw soil sounds into something rhythmically engaging?
The process of making Beats and Heartbeat, was really enjoyable first off i heard the track and thought nature and connection to humans also, and growth, so the heartbeat at the beginning was my first idea, followed by a slow build of life emerging from the ground plant life insects running around life being created, in fact it was how God is actually the beginning of all things that are created so i wanted to express this in this way. Followed by the musical side which i had to find a note or chord that ran through the whole tracks against the movement of the sounds created by Greg and guys aamaaaazing piece by the way!!! I had to find chords for it, which i found something that worked but had to manipulate it slightly from what i found, Then i had to find the beat which had to have that Disco vibe but also quite dance oriented too, whilst in Mexico where i wrote the track i was inspired and managed to finish the track. The bass line would have to be a disco based vibe which is what what hear on the track.
You mentioned the concept of using soil as a sound source really intrigued you—what were the biggest creative or technical challenges you faced while working with these unconventional recordings?
The biggest challenge for me was finding those chords which you hear on the track. not being a keyboard player and wanting the challenge to find the chords which matched the vibe of the solid music you hear, was definitely a challenge indeed. Even thought you say its unconventional for me music is music so i wanted to make it easy on ear for the punters to listen too.
What does it feel like to literally have nature—living soil—embedded in your music? Did that influence the emotional or thematic direction of the track?
It feels that there is a connection between me and nature with soil being around us all over the planet we have to respect the fact that soil is what we need to survive and also the life in the soil from worms to microbes i feel that we have to respect this fact that it gives us so much.
You’ve had a long career in music, from playing with Jamiroquai to DJing and producing. How did this project compare to anything else you’ve worked on creatively?
With the sound of soil as the basis of the track i totally used my experience of being in Jamiroquai and my musical career of making music to create this it was a great influence and it made think in a different way to approach this project. It was a challenge but an enjoyable.
As both a drummer and a producer, how do you think your background in rhythm and groove helped shape “Bass and Heartbeat” into what it is now?
As a drummer and a producer my knowledge in rhythm and groove helped me to think in different way, like film piece to be honest and this made me think like there was actors who were going to be in this piece. It was so much fun.
Soil might seem like an unusual collaborator—did any particular sound or moment from the raw soil recordings inspire a key part of the track?
There is a section in the track which goes quite low in tuning and it really made me think that there was a dark side in the sound of soil and in the movement of the sound of soil. But with that in mind it helped me to develop the track to what you hear now.
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from hearing something as elemental as soil turned into music?
The message i want to send to people is that music is totally connected to all parts of our lives and soil is an important part of where we are and what we have around us.
With ‘Soil Samples’ aiming to raise awareness about gut and soil health, do you think music has a role to play in environmental or health education?
Absolutely Soil Samples is such a great way to connect people to with their health and for them to relax and learn how to relax accept health issues and then accept the fact that you can get a healthy calm attitude to dealing with issues, I do this at home with my parents and music has been massive part in dealing with health issues for us. and getting through so much.
What’s next for you musically? Has working on a project like this changed the way you think about sound and inspiration?
Next for me musically I am working with a DJ duo project called Lovebirds and also getting prepared for going on tour with Purple Disco Machine and Jamirqouai, but also i am working on my own projects also, and working with amazing songwriters and musicians, one now being Josephine Peppink, who completely is amazing and have done a track called “Hey Boo” which is out now on my label Boogie Bus Music.
The Soil Samples EP is available on all major streaming platforms: https://lnk.to/SoilSamples
