Saturday 10 March 2012

Interview(專訪):J Courage (Trenchant Recordings/Trenchant Dubs)


今天的形式和以往相當不同。以往都只有我一個人的聲音在這裡向大家介紹音樂…
但今天就不同了,因為我請來了一位特別嘉賓
來自美國芝加哥(Chicago,US)的製作人/DJ
同時亦是音樂廠牌Trenchant的掌舵人J Courage(Jason Currie)
進行一次專訪暢談,與大家分享他和Trenchant廠牌的音樂故事。


1. Thanks for taking some time to answer these questions. Firstly, how did you start producing music and DJing?


感謝你抽時間回答這些問題 :)
首先可以分享一下你是怎樣開始製作音樂和成為DJ嗎?


Music has been at the center of my life since I was a child. I always had music playing no matter what I was doing. As I got older I started collecting records from all of my favorite artists. I guess I began djing as a youth at various house parties. I always felt a desire to control the music and expose my friends to whatever sounds I was discovering at the time. It's always been something that I've enjoyed and continue to enjoy.
 As far as production goes, I first started producing music using a variety of vintage synthesizers, drum machines and samplers. Regrettably, I eventually sold all the hardware in favor of a very basic software based studio setup. I began writing and arranging music for a few different bands as an adolescent, but gravitated toward working solo around 2000. I started producing drum n bass and for about 3 years that's all that I worked on. Eventually I started transitioning to UK Garage, and around 2005 switched all my attention to Grime. Since then, my productions have been revolving around Grime and Bass Music. My "sound" is always changing, but I feel like it's all still cohesive. That's most likely because of my limited and stripped down studio equipment.


從孩童開始,音樂已經是我生活的中心。不論我做甚麼的時候總會聽著音樂。而當我長大後,我開始收集所有我喜歡的音樂人的唱片。我想我開始成為DJ是在一些House音樂的派對內,我經常有一種去"操控"音樂的欲望,以及想讓朋友知道我最近發現了甚麼好的音樂。事實上由當時到現在,這都是我十分享受的事。製作音樂方面,起初我是用多種不同型號的舊式Synthesizers,鼓機和Samplers開始製作。其實有些遺憾我最後也賣掉了這些器材,目的就是為買入一些基本的錄音室軟件設備。之後我開始為某幾隊樂隊嘗試作曲和編曲,然後在2000年左右展開個人發展。最初的三年內,我全情投入製作Drum n Bass音樂,其後我開始轉入UK Garage的音樂世界內。直到2005年左右,我鐘情於Grime音樂,然後至今我就一直圍繞住Grmie和Bass Music路線發展。當然我的作品都經常吸納不同元素而有所變化,但整體來說也是圍繞住一個大方向去發展。當然器材設備方面的因素亦會有一定影響。


 2.Which artists influence your music mostly?


哪些音樂人影響你的音樂最深遠呢?


That has always been a tough question for me to answer. There is so much music over the course of so many years that has influenced me. I would say that the artists that are currently having the most influence over my own production would be Warrior One, Shy FX, Nguzunguzu, and all the early Metalheadz camp (Digital, Lemon D, Ed Rush, Rufige Kru, Dillinja, etc.). I definitely always look back to early Metalheadz releases for inspiration. That music is timeless to me.


這個往往都是一個很難答的問題。這些年來有太多不同的音樂對我產生影響。或者應這樣說吧,現階段對我作品影響最深的,應該是Warrior One, Shy FX, Nguzunguzu以及所有早期Metalheadz廠牌陣營內的音樂人(Digital, Lemon D, Ed Rush, Rufige Kru, Dilinja等)。毋庸置疑我經常重溫早期 Metalheadz廠牌的出品從中獲得啟發,對我來說這些音樂都是(Timeless)永恆的。


J Courage feat. Shizzle - "Too Deep"

3. What's the story about the beginning of Trenchant?


哪麼Trenchant廠牌誕生的背後是怎樣的一個故事呢?


Trenchant Recordings was initially started as the avenue to release my own productions. The first release, J Courage feat. Shizzle - "Too Deep" was a Grime track that had done well on dubplate and digital promo, so I felt it was the right time and the right track to launch the label. Running a label was something that I had always wanted to do. I don't think it's necessarily something I thought I'd follow through or carry on with, but either way, here I am about 4 and a half years and 22 releases later and I'm still doing it.


起初Trenchant Recordings的出現是作為一個平台發表我自己製作的作品。最初的發行作品是 J Courage feat. Shizzle - "Too Deep" 。這首Grime風格的作品當初作為白板碟(dubplate)和電子格式版本(digital promo)作宣傳時有很好的迴響,所以我當時覺得這是適當的作品和時機去開創一個音樂廠牌。其實經營一個廠牌也是我一直以來想做的事。而順著這個方向發展下來,到今天4年半的時間廠牌已累積有22張出品,當然仍會陸續有來。

DanCa feat. Cherie Harris - "Because Of You"

 4. Although we can check the website(http://www.trenchantrecordings.com)and the Soundcloud, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter pages of Trenchant, would you mind to tell us more about Trenchant Recordings and Trenchant Dubs?


雖然我們可以從網頁http://www.trenchantrecordings.com ,以及Trenchant在Soundcloud, Facebook,Myspace,Twitter的專頁內了解Trenchant廠牌,不過除此之外可否再談談多些Trenchant Recordings和Trenchant Dubs的事呢?


Trenchant Recordings is the sub-label that focuses more on the vocal side of our music. It is home to the more commercial side of our catalog. Our next single on this label will be DanCa feat. Cherie Harris - "Because Of You". This is a track that has an emotional vocal performed by the massively talented Cherie Harris. It's a track that's a bit difficult to categorize, but I would say that it falls somewhere between dubstep, pop music, and electro. We are extremely thrilled and privileged to be putting this amazing single out. The release is going to include an incredible 140 BPM Juke remix from Chicago based producer/dj and member of the esteemed Ghetto Division, DJ Rampage (Nightshifters, Brick Bandits, T&A Records). Release details will be available soon.


Trenchant Recordings可說是我們其中一個廠牌分支,集中出版一些注重人聲方面的作品,亦可以說較商業化的作品都會在這裡出版。下一張單曲將會是DanCa feat. Cherie Harris - "Because Of You"。當中牽動情緒的主唱部份是來自相當有實力的歌手Cherie Harris。這是一首有點難以歸類的作品,不過也可說成是混合Dubstep,流行音樂和Electro的風格吧。我們感到興奮和幸運可以出版這首精采的單曲。而唱片內亦會收錄一個出色的140 BPM Juke音樂風格Remix版本,由芝加哥製作人及DJ,同時亦是備受敬重的Ghetto Division廠牌成員之一:DJ Rampage (Nightshifters, Brick Bandits, T&A Records)製作 。有關出版方面的詳情很快會向大家公佈。

Aquadrop - "Deeper"

Trenchant Dubs, on the other hand, is home to our most cutting edge experimental Bass Music. This division of the label is focused on a variety of both up-and-coming and established producers. From early Dubstep releases from Chas10 to the more atmospheric and deep sounds of TKR and Radian, to the current Global Bass sounds of Iamseife, Trenchant Dubs remains committed to exposing music of a more eclectic nature. Many people are now familiar with the incredibly unique sounds of Milan, Italy's, Aquadrop. Aquadrop has been our longest standing artist. He has consistently delivered some of the most innovative music we have released. His most recent release "Deeper" is an epic track, not to be missed. Our next forthcoming single comes from Milan, Italy and features a loved-up groove from Iamseife, appropriately titled "Power Of Soul." It is about to go out on promo, and will feature a heavy remix from forward thinking American Bass/Juke producer, Wheez-ie (Well Rounded, Embassy, Grizzly). Release details also forthcoming on this single. Watch out!


相對來說Trenchant Dubs就是我們廠牌的另一個分支,會集中出版一些跨界別偏向實驗性的Bass Music音樂類型。當中包括有新晉的和已成名的製作人參與其中。包括Chas10的早期Dubsep風格出品,TKR和Radian的深邃氛圍聲音,Iamseife近期的Global Bass風格作品。Trenchant Dubs堅定地保持一種折衷的音樂路線。而最近有很多人開始留意來自意大利米蘭的Aquadrop,他的作品有相當獨特的個人風格,而且亦是與我們合作時間最長的藝人。在我們的發行中,很多擁有創新風格的作品都是由他製作。最近期的"Deeper"絕對是一首壯麗的作品,絕不可錯過。我們下一張出版,是同樣來自意大利米蘭的Iamseife製作的一首迷人作品"Power Of Soul"。工作進度方面即將會進入宣傳階段,而當中亦會收錄一個重量級的Remix版本,來自美國的前衛Bass/Juke音樂製作人Wheez-ie(Well Rounded, Embassy, Grizzly),進一步的資料很快會公佈,值得大家留意!


 5. What's your top 5 tunes of all time?


那5首音樂作品是你一直以來最喜歡的?


This is a question that is also nearly impossible for me to answer. Here are 5 tunes that have had a major impact on me throughout the years.
1. Nasty Habits - "Shadow Boxing"
2. Bad Company - "The Nine"
3. Jammer - "Destruction V.I.P."
4. Various Production - "Hater"
5. Burial - "Ghost Hardware"


對我來說這個都是相當難以回答的問題。有5首作品多年來一直對我有很大的衝擊:
1. Nasty Habits - "Shadow Boxing"
2. Bad Company - "The Nine"
3. Jammer - "Destruction V.I.P."
4. Various Production - "Hater"
5. Burial - "Ghost Hardware"


 6. In many cities of Asia, the music scenes of Grime, Bass, Garage and Dubstep are still developing, do you have any suggestions for the musicians to push things forward?


在亞洲很多地方,Grmie,Bass,Garage和Dubstep的音樂圈仍然處於發展中的水平,你有甚麼建議給音樂人去推動這些音樂呢?

Great question. In my opinion, the most important thing for the musicians involved in the scene would be to understand where the music came from, and how it has evolved. There has been such an incredible amount of groundbreaking music being created by innovative producers in the last 15-20 years. This is where you'll find the roots of how the music was shaped into what it is today. I feel that in order to truly understand UK based music such as Garage or Grime you can't just listen to the current trends. You really have to dig into the past to the birth of these genres to understand where they evolved from and why they were necessary in the progression of UK music.


相當好的問題。在我認為,對於參與這些音樂圈的音樂人來說,最重要的一件事就是明白這些音樂的起源,以及它們一路下來的發展過程。在過去的15至20年來,有太多太多風格出眾的音樂人製作出具代表性的作品,所以應該要做的事就是尋找根源,為甚麼整個音樂風格會演變成今天的模樣。我覺得要真正了解像Garage和Grime這些源自英國的音樂,你不能只聽現在流行的是那些作品,你真正要發掘這些音樂類型的過去以至如何誕生,要明白它們從何而來以及它們在英國音樂發展中的重要性。


7. Do you and Trenchant have any exciting plans in 2012?


那麼你和Trenchant在2012年會有甚麼重大計劃呢?

Actually, there is a lot of things that will be happening this year. First of all, I'm currently working on new project with Italian vocalist and Aquadrop collaborator, Vanelitne. She is responsible for the vocals on some of my favorite tracks we've released. I'm really looking forward to finally working with her on some of my own productions. I'm confident that this will be some of my best material yet. Also, we will soon be revealing the final sub-label under the Trenchant banner. Trenchant Noir will be the third and final division of the label. It will be home to some of the deepest and darkest electronic music available. There are a lot of things happening and all of them point to the forward progression of the label. We're very excited to follow through with our biggest and best music to date. 2012 is looking to be a great year for the label.


事實上,今年內會有很多事情發生。首先,我正與來自意大利的女歌手Vanelitne進行一個合作計劃,她與Aquadrop一直有合作,而且亦在一些我們出版的作品中負責主唱部份。我非常期待在我製作的作品中與她合作,我有信心這些都會是出色的作品。此外,我們即將會成立Trenchant的第三個亦是最後一個分支廠牌Trenchant Noir,主力出版一些深邃黑暗的電子音樂。對於廠牌來說,有太多影響日後發展的事情會發生。我們對接下來的重大出版感到十分興奮,2012年對廠牌來說會是很棒的一年。


Soundcloud
http://soundcloud.com/trenchant
Twitter
https://twitter.com/Trenchant
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/trenchantdubs?ref=ts
Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/user/TrenchantUS

若果大家對Trenchant的音樂感興趣的話
可以瀏覽他們的Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube上的專頁
想購買他們的作品亦可在Juno, Beatport, Amazon, iTunes等網站上買到
今天的專訪到此結束,謝謝大家
明天再見: )

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