Subtext

This is a way for me to express my need to write. I wanted to interview people involved in the dubstep scene and let them share their views on things. This is a way for me to give something back to the culture which is giving me so much right now. So much dedication.

2008 Late

Late is a young upcoming producer from Finland. His first release was on Tes La Rok 's label Noppa Recordings and he's got loads of bits coming out. A unique touch in electonic music with dreamy melodies and deep vibes in dubstep. Here's what he had to say about his music and everything when I interviewed him 12th April 2008.


Tell about your musical background and what got you into music in general. You've told that you've been into hip hop at some point but was there anything before that?

Hip hop was basically the first kind of music that hit me back then, I wasn't really that active as a listener before but yeah, basically it was hip hop that opened a door deeper into music.

What was it about hip hop?

Guess it was easy to approach back then and definately different. I think nobody really listened to it in Jokela anyway. Artists like Outkast and DJ Shadow have influenced me a lot even to this day, soon it went more underground: Def Jux, Anticon, Project Blowed and so on. But back then I was always looking into new things so to be honest nothing really stuck in that well, haven't followed hip hop for a few years. At times I go back with a few bits but that's about it, some really filthy crunk / dirtysouth can be really good in small amounts though. From hip hop artists I have to mention Stones Throw and related, they had a huge impact at one point.

So how did you hook up with dubstep in the first place?

It happened a little by little during 2006. First I heard a tune from the Vex'D album, can't remember which one, and after that names like Skream, Digital Mystikz and Loefah started getting into my head. I 've been a regular listener of ALAS by the Katusea crew for a few years already and the monthly Dead Boys Massive -shows got me to know the sound but I think it had to be Dubstep Allstars Vol. 4 that really finally defined it to me.

Do you remember how you felt first time hearing a Vex'D tune?

It got me interested but at that point I thought that dubstep was only about rumbling and all that, didn't care for the agressiveness that much. But in a way it sparked something and sort of introduced me to this world that had been pretty unknown to me before.

What would you say are the elements that got you into dubstep?

The atmosphere. Combination of both old and new elements. The rhythmics. Basically the music being fresh and all the possibilities you have and of course because of the extrovert community, which might have been the reason why I started making dubstep myself.

You've said that the Step Ahead forum was one of the main reasons you started making tunes. How would you describe the forum's role and it's influence?

It has brought loads of people together and surely helped many who are getting to know the sound. From a Finnish point of view I think it's probably the easiest way too.

You've been talking about sense of community and finding ones audience. How do you feel about the community vibes within dubstep?

Dubstep is interesting because it's in a way really extrovert and open minded. New things are accepted, or at least a year ago they were. Sure now when the sounds are getting bigger it's a bit different but it's nice to be working as an artist in an environment and community where new and different ideas aren't seen exceptional or quirky. You get to do your thing the way you want to do it and if the tunes are playing out they are, and not because they're about some style or genre. Besides, here in Finland the dubstep heads are so few and far between that you can make a lot with a small group supporting each other and pushing things forward. Music is still the most important thing and that's the most important thing.

And when talking about community we have to talk about DMZ. What was your trip to Mass like and how would you describe the vibes there?

DMZ just felt like the right place for dubstep, the vibes were really outright and the music was perfect. Gave lots of cd's to artists direct and face to face which I feel is the best way, haven't really got used to all this Internet. In many ways DMZ reminded me why I want to make tunes in the first place. It also widened my own perspectives and I got to know what's it like in the UK. One night was definately too little but of course you could feel it afterwards. And of course Care playing there was huge: hearing your own tune felt unrealistic at that place in that sea of crowd if you compared it to the previous time in Herttoniemi for about twenty people. It kind of felt satisfying seeing the tunes whole cycle so vivid, and when it played out in Mass it kind of broke out to the world making me even more convinced that it had to be the same thing with every tune I make. And the feedback afterwards has really lifted the work morale. It's just a tune amongst tunes but no other tune has taught me as much as it has.

It was also interesting to witness Dead-O and Tes playing out at DMZ. Was listening to the set different than usual and also feeling excited for them, it was the same micro / macro cosmos thing with Care too and a big step for the Finnish scene just like the past year was in general. It started to feel like you could actually accomplish something with dubstep in Finland. Tes and Dead-O playing there was only a matter of time but it still was good to be witnessing it.

In the future, which direction you see dubstep taking and evolving? Though it's constantly redefining itself could you think there are barriers somewhere?

I can't predict the future, anything can happen really and I'm eagerly waiting for what's turning out. You can see some certain lines but when you think about how much has happened by only looking this one year, I believe there aren't any borders. Music will always find a way to renew itself through old ideas. I'm pretty open minded to all kinds of stuff but the likes of Mala, Quest, Pinch, Peverelist, Breakage, Distance and Skream are doing something which I really like.

Comparing your early sounds and present, do you find you've developed as a producer and how? Have you set any goals?

During this year, I've developed really much. I 've pretty much found my own kind of sound that I want to maintain and follow. I've tried to learn away from some technicals, stop staring numbers and such. There aren't that many things I'd want to do but I couldn't. The challenging thing is to keep ideas fresh and interesting.

You're first release was on Noppa Recordings, and youre also gonna be on Noppa004. Apparently everything is cool?

Tes has pretty strong views about things, I've learned a lot. Noppa is a little by little becoming a home label for me and it's nice to work for it. It's definately opened doors for me too.



For music and future releases, check out Myspace: www.myspace.com/llate