
CULT RADIO # 2
Give us a bit background, how did you get involved with drum & bass and what has the last 12 months been like for you?
I’ve been making tunes for a while now. I must have started when I was about 16/17, just gradually getting into production and sending off demos to a few different labels, working my way up like everyone else. The last year or so has been pretty mad with the album coming out on V recordings over the summer.
That was a big achievement for me, A – getting the album out and B – get on a label like V. So I’ve just been touring since then, doing a lot of DJing, done a few remixes for a couple of major labels
So how did you get involved with V Recordings?
Starting out, I did some stuff with Alex Reece. The funny thing is that I mention his name these days and some people don’t really remember him but he was such a massive name in drum & bass. Almost like the Pendulum of his day, a big, major label artist. He was showing me the ropes and the tracks I did with him when were from when I was still at school. I was sending them out, people like Bryan G were playing a couple of them.
I didn’t know Bryan at all and then about 5 or 6 years ago I sent out a demo with a few tunes on, he picked up on them and I started working with him. Some people think that you get in by some kind of back door entrance but it’s not really like that. It was the same with Hospital really, I knew the guys who ran the label, I was just sending out demos like any other bedroom producer and took it from there.
Was there any particular tune that you think helped get your foot in the door?
The one Bryan picked up on and the first track I had out on Liquid V was called Harlem, after that I did Done and Dusted but I suppose the biggest one that really got noticed and that I was 100% happy with was Runaway which loads of people played. I think with the album coming out on CD and download and not just vinyl it’s almost been like a second wind for me, Runaway’s on there - that tune must about four years old now and people are only just hearing it now.
Would you say you’ve got a style or developed a personal sound that you feel you need to maintain?
I’d say it was generally sample based, pretty funky and definitely towards the liquid side of things. I’ve created a niche for myself production wise but still like to try different stuff when I can. There’s a tune on the album called Riddim Track that’s a bit more reggae and I’ll be playing a remix of a Tricky/Kylie tune tonight as well which is a lot harder than my normal stuff. When I’m playing out I love all sorts of different styles. I like the harder stuff and love playing a lot of the older tunes. I look at people like Zinc, Andy C or Marky - they’ll play stuff from 10 years ago alongside the upfront stuff and they’re my idols in terms of DJing because they’ll play so many different styles in one set.
WORDS: Lee Heneghen
PICS: Joe Ryder
For more information visit: www.wearethecult.co.uk
or Mail: wearethecult@hotmail.com
One of the most underrated DJ / Producers in the scene, Lee Ching has been there and done it – several times over.
Original resident at pioneering nights such as Speed & Metalheadz Sunday Sessions, Lee is famed for his diversity, upfront dubs plus his recent killer output of tracks with Austrian super-producer D.Kay.
Once cited as Goldie’s favourite DJ, CULT welcomes DJ Lee…. don’t say we didn’t warn you…
Saturday 4th October 2008
DJ LEE (Metalheadz / 31 / Atlas)
Dj Priceless
Mouse & Houghmeister (Cult)
MC Anger
Visuals by “minimus”
Muse 9 Broad St,
Hockley,
Nottingham
NG1 3AL
10pm – 3am
£4 Entry before 11pm £6 After
No Dress Code.
For more information visit www.wearethecult.blogspot.com or mail wearethecult@hotmail.com