Kicking us into the new year, after an unfortunate 6 month delay, comes the now ‘timeless’ classic from Seba ‘Nightrider’. Backed with the awesome ‘Sharkskin’ this 12″ finally sees the light of day this february via ST Holdings. Originally scheduled for release at the end of 2011, trust us ‘Nightrider’ will be worth the wait.

The 12″ will be released in mid feb with the digital release featuring 2x exclusive remixes of ‘Nightrider’. Survival and Komatic and Technicolour mixes will be available, alongside the original via all your usual digital outlets, while a very special remix will be available shortly after right here on this website.

For those champing at the bit for a slab of the waxy stuff and can’t possibly wait a second longer, we have 5x TP’s available at the princely sum of £7 (+£2 P&P). Be one of the lucky ones as these are strictly on a first come first served basis. (email music@nudirections.info for more details)

We have a whole bunch of very exciting releases in store for 2012, coming both in single and album format so keep your eyes here for the latest info.

So, Alex, Describe the DFRNT sound in 5 words…”
“Deep sounds for discerning listeners”

When did you first start producing and do you feel your outlook on production in regards to the music you make has changed at all?
“I started producing mashups around 2003 and then developed towards using more and more of my own sounds within each track, till it was unofficial remixes, and then ultimately my own entire productions. I used to look at it as a bit of a joke – trying to create nonsense that would make people laugh. Christina Aguilera mixed with One Note Samba and all sorts, but now I’m taking things a bit more seriously. Producing stuff that I feel works emotionally, and also just expressing myself. I take the sound, mix-down and mastering far more seriously now, whereas it was previously just a case of throwing a few things together and seeing what happened.”

The name is a fairly bold statement for those looking for music beyond the norm. What would you say was DFRNT about your productions?
“Man, I’m not even really that sure. I never intended the name to be a statement of any sort really. I just wanted something that wasn’t “Alex C” since I was forever being mistaken for a German trance music producer, so I wanted something different. I liked what MSTRKRFT had done with the name, so decided on DFRNT. Little did I know that when I got in to my production they would end up being somewhat different to other stuff. I’m forever being told by people “oh, I like your stuff it *is* actually *different*” – to which there are usually some awkward chuckles, followed by a sigh on my behalf. If I could go back to when I came up with the name, and choose another, I would but I feel like it’s a bit late for that now.”

You are known for making predominantly ‘deep’ & ‘atmospheric’ bass music. What influences you to create this and do you feel that ‘deep’ music can work on the dance floor?
“Firstly, I do feel very strongly that deep can work on a dancefloor – I do however worry that most people don’t “get it” and so really I think clubbers need to be more open to deepness, as opposed to just wondering why their ears aren’t bursting with mid-range crap. Lots of people don’t take the time to really listen to tunes when they’re out – they just want a 4-4 thud to mong-out to, and I think it’s a nightmare. I don’t mind getting my rave on now and again, but I really wish I had audiences who were more up for hearing deep tracks, where they can dance to something without needing a stupid bassline, or where they really like to get in to a groove, as opposed to a noise – almost where deep house works on a dancefloor. That sort of groove based enjoyment as opposed to something like electro or drum & bass where most nights just taylor for the tearout crowd.”

“As for my own influences – I’m a huge fan of 90s house, and from there developed a love for progressive house and dub-techno as well as downtemp and chill out stuff – in fact anything with some nice chords and pads. So I guess those influences fused with what I’m hearing from dub, and a new stack of producers in the dubstep and garage game and welded together with a bit of my own feeling and emotion is pretty much where I am right now in terms of a sound. Going forward though – I’ve no idea where it will go. I’m going in a number of directions right now, and after thinking I had my direction and sound nailed, I’m now evolving again and working on a huge vareity of stuff.”

You’re a pretty multi-faceted guy, you produce, DJ, write and run & manage a label (Echodub & Cut). What do you enjoy doing the most?
“I think at the root of my label stuff, DJing, podcasting and blogging lies this deep-rooted desire to show people music that they’ve not heard before but that they will love. It’s what I used to do growing up – I’d find out what bands or producers people were in to, and I’d put together a mixtape of tracks that I knew they’d like based on their existing tastes, in an attempt to help them widen their musical horizons. I love discovering new music, and so if I can help other people do that – then that’s perfect. I get a great feeling from it. The best feedback I get is when people email or message me to say I’ve helped them find new music that they enjoy.”

“As for my own productions – that’s more of a release. A reaction to what I hear and my own attempt to make music that people might enjoy – but really it’s a personal thing, whereas the labels, blog, DJing and podcasting are selfless – they’re my way of letting others hear what I enjoy, and more importantly what I think they’ll enjoy (presuming they’re in to it because they rate my stuff or whatever).”

What is the ‘bass-music’ scene like in Edinburgh / Scotland as a whole compared to those you have seen on your travels as a DJ?
“Grim. Very grim. I don’t think a “scene” exists – and to be honest it’s a shame. Edinburgh’s a beautiful city, but we lack good venues. We have one or two that are worth running a night at, but there’s really only a handful of people trying to push deeper stuff. Most of the parties involving dubstep (either coupled with drum & bass for some stupid reason, or alongside electro – which is arguably worse!) are just putting out lowest-common-denominator wobbly mid-range bullshit designed to make people go mental. Scotland as a whole isn’t much better – but Glasgow has a few nights that are promoting proper more traditional or deeper dubstep – although I don’t think they’re doing particularly well either.”

“That said, I think we have production on our side. With a few great producers coming from Scotland, we’re definitely upping our game in that department, but it seems like most producers and good DJs up here are spending more time DJing outside of the country than inside.”

“I don’t expect many places to be much different to be honest – it’s not like Edinburgh’s the only place with floppy-haired ugg-wearing “daddy-says” Jack Wills ponce-abouts who can only enjoy tearout.”

“Some of the best gigs I’ve played have been in Manchester – there seems to be more people willing to go out to a deeper night. Either the promo is better, or the community surrounding that type of stuff is better. Outside of the UK I’ve played a few great gigs in the USA – specifically in the smaller areas, where people tend to go to a night regardless of DJ or affiliation – then they’re at the mercy of the promoter, but if the promoter is in to the deeper stuff – people are always seemingly really up for it. There’s more of a community aspect in the areas outwith the big cities. I like that in a way, provided there is enough people to fuel a night or two. Edinburgh lacks even that – if we have more than one dubstep night on in an evening – the same crowd just gets spilt between the two, or they all favour one over the other. It’s not like more people go out.”

“It’s a shame really, because I’d love to improve the scene in Edinburgh and Scotland – but it’s not as easy as that unless you’ve got shedloads of cash you don’t mind throwing down the drain for a while, in order to build up a night with a bit of a reputation, in a venue that’s not terrible.”

Your logo is a stag. It’s quite an iconic image and is replicated on the cover of the EP, but what does it mean?
“I wanted something that was Scottish, but not strictly scottish like the flag, or a haggis, or a fucking kilt or something. I wanted something that hinted at the Scottish roots (hence the oft-used tones of blue too) but wasn’t overkill or tacky. The stag works for me in varying formats. I also like the almost high-class brand look and feel, and people seem to recognise the marque now, so I’ve got no real plans to change it. Perhaps develop it a bit, but yeah it’s working for me, thankfully.”

Nu Directions are a drum & bass label by nature. Why did you feel that it would be the right home for your music?
“I love the design of the label and the look and feel Nu Directions has on the go – After the Unquote remix working out so nicely, the EP seemed to fall in to place, and I’m pretty confident that it always helps a label to branch out – and it’s an honour in a sense to be a label’s first artist that changes the direction. I’m just hoping the D&B heads will be able to enjoy it.”

The EP covers quite a broad spectrum of ‘Bass-music’, but which is your favorite track and why?
“That’s a tough call, since I really enjoy them all – I’m a big fan of Faster Daddy though – I was in such a good mood when I produced it and it came out exactly as I had hoped it would. It’s something I’m always happy to play out to a crowd and it’s just got that great balance of weight with the chords and melody on the top.”

At the Nu Directions HQ we were first aware of you through your debut album ‘Metafiction’ released a couple of years ago. Since then you have released quite a few singles and EP’s across quite a broad selection of labels. What, in your eyes, would you say is your greatest musical achievement to date?
“Well my biggest achievement was previously the label. Following that, my 15 minutes of fame on the Mary Anne Hobbs show when she asked me to do a mix was a big achievement for me personally. I guess there have been a couple of points after that – last year I was booked to play New York, and did a 2 hour set at Club Love in SoHo, which was a big deal for me, and then shortly before that – getting to travel to Puerto Rico with Rob Sparx and play a few sets with him was quite humbling too.”

What’s next for DFRNT? Do you have another ‘Metafiction’ up your sleeve?
“I keep thinking about working on another album – and I have a number of tracks that might work, but I just need to keep ploughing through and getting them done to a point where I’m happy with them. I have a number of ideas for things like ambient albums, or more dubby stuff, and even going a bit orchestral – but whether any of these will prevail is another question. I have a couple of other aliases building steam at the moment, and I’m also looking at doing some special stuff with Echodub and Cut – but yeah, from a DFRNT point of view I’m just taking it as it comes really. I have a few digital releases this year on a few different labels, plus working on 3 brand new techno-ey tracks for a new vinyl, which will likely drop in 2012.”

‘Emotional Response’ is out 25th July on limited edition CD & Digital download. Check below for audio.

Nu Directions is proud to present its first ‘outer drum & bass experiment’- ‘Emotional Response’, an extended player that ticks all the boxes. Stealthy musical outings ‘True’ and ‘Slumber’ sit perfectly alongside dancefloor jaunts ‘Faster Daddy’ and ‘Relentless’ while the euphoric ‘Short Bus’ typifies everything that’s great about bass-music at the moment. Throw the emotional ‘So Far Away’ and the heavily dub influenced ‘Rampant Behaviour’ into the mix and you have an eclectic collection of tracks that define Alex’s DFRNT sound.

The package also contains bonus remixes from some of the scene’s most respected producers. Fresh from his recent LP on NonPlus+, ASC provides a stunning rework of ‘Slumber’, while Jus Wan and Jack Dixon stamp ‘Short Bus’ and ‘True’ respectively with their own trademark styles.

‘Emotional Response’ is released June 27th on Deluxe CD and download. The vinyl sampler featuring ‘Short Bus’ b/w the Jus Wan remix is out a week before on the 20th.

Check below for a taster of this excellent extended player.

ND:GITAL005

The Insiders

A. ‘Heatwave’
AA. ‘Mutant’

Released 15th August 2011

Digital Download

Subterra

A. ‘Gutter Mouth’
AA. ‘Cold Shoulder’ Feat. Bazil

Released June 20th
12″ Vinyl / Digital Download

As we build up a head of stream moving into the summer months, we turn our
attentions firmly to the dance-floor with two bass-heavy hitters from Subterra.

Those of you familiar with the Guildford residing DJ / Producer / promoter will already be well aware of his drum & bass pedigree. Clocking up releases on Ram’s subsidary label Frequency as well as Dispatch and Sudden Def Subterra has a staunch following that regularly attend his Rotation events across the south east of England.

‘Gutter Mouth’ is as dirty as the title suggests. Swirling pads and percussion build the suspense before an explosion of contorted bass sounds and snappy high end beats.

‘Cold Shoulder’ is a collaboration with long term DJ / production partner Bazil. With it’s warm atmospheric opening it creates a sinister mood before tearing into a stepping bass-heavy workout.

DJ Support from Goldie, Jubei, Lenzman, SpectraSoul, London Elektricity & DLR & Octane.

NU12.051

Seba

A. ‘Nightrider’
AA. ‘Sharkskin’

Out August 2011 – 12″ Vinyl & Digital Download

As we move into the summer months, we have a lot going on to keep you informed of with plenty of releases and events to keep your head nodding well into the autumn.

Releases, out today (June 6th) on our exclusive digital label ND:GITAL is the debut label release from finland’s finest Physics, with 2 excellent dancefloor tracks. Check the audio in the First Listen section and then immediately grab the release at www.beatport.com.

The next full blooded physical release comes in the form of the excellent ‘Gutter Mouth’ & ‘Cold Shoulder’ by Subterra. Battered by who’s who for the last 12 months, check the first listen page for the upfront audio ahead of its full release on June 20th.

You can own this release before anyone else by purchasing it directly from this website right now! Secure your promo copy now at a price of £4.99 (plus £2 p&p) https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6N244ZGASMTTA

July 18th sees the release of the debut extended player from DFRNT. If you like your electronic music deep with a touch of soul then this dubstep / techno infused outing will surely satisfy. Check back in the next few weeks for all the upfront audio and an exclusive website competition. The full release features excellent remixes from Jus Wan, ASC and Jack Dixon.

Back on the drum & bass, we enter the autumn with music from Seba, ASC and Clarity. Keep checking back over the next few weeks for the upfront audio.

On June 15th at 7pm GMT, Nu Directions took over the Drum & Bass Arena studios for one of their acclaimed D&BTV Live sessions. Subterra & Bazil, Sam KDC, Hydro & Instant, Andy Mystic and Clarity were in control with MC’s Mantmast and Burley on hosting duties. Click the link for the full live ND experience  www.breakbeat.co.uk/dnbtv/

Hot on the heels of the excellent Triad podcast for 002, Head honcho Andy Mystic steps up to the controls with a selection of brand new unreleased Drum & Bass.

Tracklist:

Mr. Smith – ‘Unavailable’ (Dub)
Mzine – ‘Riddance’ (Dub)
Oliver Yorke – ‘Dreamer’ (Dub)
Clarity – ‘Terminology’ (Nu Directions)
ASC – ‘Automaton’ (Nu Directions)
Quartz  – ‘Snap’ (Dub)
Mode – ‘Around The Edges’ (Nu Directions)
Heavy1 & Makoto – ‘Water Line’ (Dub)
Nuage & Eastcolours – ‘Life in Lie’ (Dub)
Fade & Twisted Facts – ‘Reflected’ (Dub)
Kessla – ‘Cyborg’ (Dub)
Atmospherix – ‘The Damned’ (Ingredients)
Tokyo Prose – ‘Saving Grace’ (Samurai)
Sam KDC – ‘Hung’ (Dub)

Physics

A. ‘Urban Assault’
AA. ‘Song For J’

Released 6th June 2011
Digital Download

After many years of submitting quality music to the Nu Directions HQ, Physics finally graces the label with this superb ‘double A’ side. With a shed load of quality releases across some of the scene’s stellar imprints including Metalheadz and Fokuz to name a few, Finland’s Glenn Grip released his debut album ‘Life In Cycles’ in 2010 to critical acclaim on his Midnight Sun imprint.

With a rich musical heritage that spans over a decade, Glenn has become known for the smoother more musical drum & bass, however here he showcases his versatility with two straight-up dancefloor cuts. ‘Urban Assault‘ is a strong favorite in the Nu Directions camp while ‘Song For J‘ completes a release that will have DJ’s ‘uploading’ it into their sets for years to come.

With a brand new release hitting the stores in the form of their debut 12″ on Nu Directions, we caught up with german producers Henree and Bass Tikal, AKA Triad, to get the low down on the past, present and future of this forward-thinking drum & bass outfit.

There are two people in these photos! what happened to the Triad?! Do you have plans to rename to, maybe, duiad?
Triad started out as a trio with Bass Tikal, Henree & LF Flow. Since Flo moved to Sweden he’s been a bit out of the loop lately but it’s just a matter of time until he’ll participate again. We wouldn’t consider renaming anyway because Triad has many meanings, like trinity for example, but it can be also seen as a reference to the tritone – the so called diabolus in musica (the devil in music).

You have both been part of production teams and solo artists before before forming Triad (Henree / Madmen & Poets). Do you feel settled now under this current alias, or can you see the formula changing in the near future?
Indeed we really feel settled under this alias. The reason is because we decided not to compromise on anything and we’re free to do write the music we love without thinking of any trends or restrictions. Under the Triad alias we release what ever like, be it Drum & Bass, House / Techno or something else.

Interestingly one of the first releases that drew my attention to you was your remix of ‘Lay It Down’ By Omar and Estelle. How did that come about?
We’re really proud of this remix because we really respect Omar. Basti was in touch with the Label where Omar’s last LP came out (which is located in Hannover, where Basti lives). The loved our remix but they didn’t have any clue about the dnb market so luckily we had the chance to released a licensed 12″ on Basti’s Phunkfiction label. We also made another remix of one of his tracks called Stylin’. But this time it was a house remix. It got released on Peppermint Jam with other remixes (including the mighty famous Henrik Schwarz Remix).

Unlike many drum & bass artists you are one act that seems to have a strong international following despite not actually having released much music. Is it a conscious thing not to saturate the marketplace with Triad releases or do you like to take your time with your music?
It’s not really a conscious thing. There’s many reasons but one of them is that we pursue the pleasure principle. We do not really have some sort of business plan. Nevertheless we had a little break due to many different reasons, most of them workwise as we both have our regular jobs to be done. The last six months we were busy working on another music project which had nothing to do with Triad. But that is finished now and we’re really happy to be back on track and to fully concentrate on Triad again and write lots of new music.

Who would you earmark as your biggest inspiration to make music?
That’s a tough question because it differs all time. You can gain inspiration either from a good movie or book or from just having a good day in the studio or somewhere else. Musicwise our inspiration comes from way too many sources to mention them all.

A lot of people band around the term ‘minimal’ drum & bass. Your music is a lot more spacious than your average drum & bass track, making room for more sounds and atmosphere. Do you ever sit down in the studio and think “right, we’re gonna step out the Triad box here and try and make a dance-floor smasher”?
That’s not our goal, we don’t wanna be the next stadium DNB act. The Triad sound can be quite diverse. It can be very stripped down on one hand but on the other hand can also have a more driving beat (like Fiasco for example). We prefer originality, wherever this leads us to.

Your music, quite specifically ‘Crooked’, has a very strong techno influence. Do you find listening to other genre’s of music help you create your unique sound?
We do love various styles of music but techno and house over the last few years have been a very strong influence for us. We produced quite a lot of 4×4 tracks recently so it’s pretty obvious that you also hear that in our d&b tracks. Of course listening to much different music as possible is helpful to create something unique. In almost every genre there’s something great you can learn from or at least be inspired from.

Artists like Instra:mental  and Commix have seemingly made drum & bass more accessible in the last few years by their ability to cross-over to different bass-music markets, do you have any plans to dip your toes into any other genres? Either as DJ’s or producers?
Like mentioned before we already do produce other styles besides Drum & Bass. We have a few House releases & remixes out and also play straight House/Techno sets. Productionwise we also have some different bits in the making (Downbeat Electronica, Dubstep etc). But we aren’t following any trends we just write music that we feel no matter what’s coming out in the end and how you wanna call it. It just needs to have that certain Triad sound in the end.

What would you say was the highlight of your career so far and where do you see Triad in 2 years time?
One of the highlights definitely was playing at the Sun & Bass for a few years in a row now. In two years time we hopefully have a more constant release output and kept exploring some more sound territories.

Triad’s debut 12″ on Nu Directions ‘Crooked’ b/w ‘The Puzzle’ is out now.

www.facebook.com/triadaudio
www.residentadvisor.net/dj/triad
www.myspace.com/triadaudio

Check out this months Nu Directions podcast by Triad.