Ears to the future… Clarity
Posted on April 5, 2011 by Andy
For the first in a series of interviews, showcasing new artists with releases forthcoming on the label, we chat to up and coming drum & bass producer, Owen Brown, AKA Clarity.
At the modest age of 16 years, Owen Brown is making a brand of drum & bass that many would consider above his years, garnering support from SpectraSoul, Grooverider and Bailey in the process. Unlike many ten-a-penny producers out there throwing together the same old soul-less ‘rollers’, the maturity, depth and atmosphere of his music would lead you to believe he’s been producing longer than just 3 years to create his distinctive sound. We caught up with the south-west’s rising star of drum & bass to talk influences, living in the sticks and moving into the future.
When did you first discover drum & bass and what made you want to start producing, was there a specific track / album / event?
I first discovered drum and bass when I was around 13 years old. I was really into electro, and progressive house and then I got introduced to drum and bass, listening to artists like Logistics, Alix Perez, and London Elektricity. I thought it was something really different to what I was hearing on the radio and over the years I gradually got into the more minimal, experimental outputs of drum and bass.
Who / what would you say were your biggest influences?
My biggest influences in drum and bass have to be artists like SpecraSoul, Alix Perez, Data, Bop & Rockwell who really push the deeper sounds. In other music genres, artists like Bonobo and Darkstar help to inspire me too.
What is the drum & bass scene like in the south west, are there many parties around there?
For such a small area in east Cornwall and Plymouth there is a surprisingly big following for drum and bass and all underground music. People are always trying to put on field party’s and there are loads of local DJs and producers who are trying to make their way. There are drum and bass nights in Plymouth but obviously being underage I can’t really go to them! Of course there isn’t as much going on as in places like London and Bristol, but the people down here who are passionate about drum and bass and want to make things happen put on events and always get a decent following.
For a producer so young you produce music with a very mature sound. What would you attribute this to?
I’ve been exposed to drum and bass music for about 3 years which is a significant chunk of my life and I suppose listening to a wide variety of drum and bass over these years has helped me distinguish what I like best and what kind of sound I want to produce. I’ve put a lot of time into practicing and constantly developing and letting my sound evolve as well.
What do you hope to achieve with your music career?
Well it’s still early days for me and I have more producing years left ahead of me to look forward to. I think its too soon to decide what I want to do for definite but I know that I will keep on producing music! I definitely want to start playing more gigs as well because it’s something I love doing. I just want to keep moving onwards and upwards and keep progressing as an artist.
How are you finding it breaking through into a scene with so much up and coming talent?
I find it great that there is so many other like minded people who are all enthusiastic about the music they love, and it’s something I can be a part of as well. I guess being on the same boat as other producers creates a little bit of a competitive edge which spurs me and others on too, but the main thing is that it’s something that I enjoy and I feel the amount of up and coming producers is a testament to the music.
Is there a specific release / tracks that you are particularly proud of?
My debut release on Med School’s ‘New Blood 011′ has definitely been my highlight so far. It’s great to think that my tunes are getting recognized and it’s something I would of never thought would happen when starting out production. Being on a label like Med School is good for exposure too, which is always a great thing for any new artist.
What do you have lined up for the future?
A whole lot of releases to look forward to on labels such as Nu Directions, Phunkfiction and Influenza. And some more gigs to come!
Clarity’s top ten, April 2011
1. Spherique – Snowflakes Catcher – Med School
2. Seba – Nightrider – Nu Directions
3. War – Rafale – ???
4. Icicle – Nausea – Shogun Audio
5. Triad – Fiasco VIP – DSM
6. Enei, EastColors & Noel – Cracker (Jubei Remix) – Critical
7. eleven8 – Alone – ???
8. Clarity – Dreams Within Dreams – Nu Directions
9. Dub Phizix – Out There – Ingredients
10. Nuage & THRN – Don’t Exist – Translation
Check out some of Clarity’s forthcoming music
Forthcoming by Clarity
