Interview & Editiorial by GL0WKiD
We couldn't sleep on what this very talented act has been doing over the last months. INNERCORE is not that fresh though, because its core is well known and all around for long time. And this must be the most appropriate time to set up a more mature music project, the right time to unleash their first 12" vinyl EP during the 25th anniversary of Dark Jungle/Jungle Techno as well as getting signed to Kniteforce Records & KFA.
Matt from InnerCore is here to express himself and reveal his essential news and plans on a very interesting exclusive interview.
- Matt can you share the story so far of InnerCore?
Have you quited from your Teksteppa project or not?
The InnerCore Project is something I have wanted to do since way back in the day, probably 1991, when I started listening to Hardcore. But back then I was only 11 years old, didn't have a clue about music production, and no where near enough money for all the expensive music equipment!
Around year 2000, I started dabbling with music production, by this time I was making Drum and Bass, and in 2006 I got my first digital release. So since then I've been releasing music, mainly Drum & Bass, but only digitally, until now!
Marc 'Onyx' (other producer/DJ from InnerCore) and myself, have always been keen old skool Hardcore/Jungle/Jungle Techno vinyl collectors and with the resurgence of vinyl we thought we would start producing a few 'older' sounding tracks. It all started as a bit of a mess about really, and the first track was a 175 bpm hardcore/dnb fusion track that has ended up being signed the Kniteforce Records (Kniteforce Again to be precise).
After that track, a Jungle Techno vibe track was produced called 'Pinnacle'. One day after a long hard day at work I added a small video clip of 'Pinnacle' to MPS's facebook group (Music Preservation Society).
Totally unaware to us it blew up! The amount of positive comments and people wanting that track to get released was kind of overwhelming, and after a short conversation with the owner of MPS (Robin) it was a done deal and signed!
So that's where the InnerCore Project "Volume 1" 4track Vinyl began.
In terms of quitting the Teksteppa project, this will never really happen, it will simply evolve. Lots of people know me as Teksteppa, so what ever I do musically or DJing etc that name will always be associated with me.
- All started late of the year with your deal with KFA and later on coming a tune on a Kniteforce Records compilation as well.
How are you feeling about this new start while getting yourself instantly to Kniteforce?
We have always been fans of Kniteforce, from way back in the day and to actually be working with them on releasing music is a great honor!
Big up to Chris Luna-C for taking us on board and making things happen. It's kind of a day dream moment, and some days I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming!
- How was your first gig ever @ Bristol alongside Jerome Hill, Deathmachine, Hitori Tori and all the others?
This was actually our second gig as InnerCore (we played a Jungle Techno set for Static Hi-Fi in Birmingham, but as our D&B name for some reason?!) but yet, it went really well.
We have both been DJ's for many years; I started around 1997 and I think Marc started maybe a bit before me. But we both still love DJing as much as we did when we started out. And its important as a DJ to have that passion, otherwise it turns into just another 'job'.
We played a mixture of Vinyl and USB's, due to only one Vinyl turntable being set up and working, but it still went well and was nice to see the crowd raving to some of our own productions!
We are in the process of sorting out some other InnerCore gigs, including Vibealite - We Love Notts Festival. So keep an eye out for that: https://www.facebook.com/events/475122236159017/
- Can you give us few info and how was the whole progress of your upcoming 'Volume 1' 12" EP on MPSVinyl?
Like I mentioned before, it all came about from a video clip on MPS facebook group page and evolved from there really. Didn't plan on it happening and it just came about really!!
I didn't want to let that opportunity slip, so I spent some late nights in the studio listening to older tunes, Rave, Jungle Techno, Hardcore etc. getting some inspiration and then digging through my sample collection and picking out the best breaks, stab sounds and samples I could find.
I did also use some VST emulations of older equipment used back in the day, such as Korg Wavestation and Korg M1 piano, to get that authentic sound (or as close as possible in a digital realm)! We also used a bit of hardware which I will mention in question 6 lol.
I would say the whole EP took something like a month or so to finish, bit that was working on the tunes a bit at a time.
I prefer to do short sessions on music, say 2 to 3 hours instead of 8 hours straight listening to the same thing,then your get ear fatigue and lose the vibe!
- How you came up with a deal with MPSVinyl then?
Robin the owner of MPS Vinyl has took us on board, and he likes our music (which helps!). Without him none of that EP would be happening really, so we owe alot to him for that! Big ups Robin!
We also have some releases dropping on Peace On Wax , so big up to DJ Abo for this!
- What's the equipment used on this EP?
Studio PC running FLStudio 10 / Soundforge / Various VST's / Novation Nio 2:4 soundcard / M-Audio Oxygen 25 USB Midi Controller / Roland Alpha Juno-1 / Roland System-one.
The Roland System-one is part of Onyx's set up and we've getting some interesting low end sub basses out of that piece of equipment!
- People can notice quite a lot of various elements inside this EP, sticking mainly to the Jungle Techno spirit although there's an extra gem over there and that is called 'The Break'. My special mention on that because I love it a lot!
How can you describe the sound offering on your first ever Vinyl release?
The first EP is basically the tunes I would of tried to make back in the day if I had the 'know how'.
It covers most styles from 1991-1993, there's 2 Jungle techno vibe tracks and 2 more on the Oldskool Hardcore tip.
We didn't want to make new music with an old skool element, we actually wanted to make music that sounds like it was made back in the day, and that is what we plan to do more of.
The old styles had it down to a T, and a lot of new music coming through nowadays sounds way too 'electronic and plastic'; the old breakbeats that are slightly off beat and not in time, that's what gives the tunes the groove, and the groove is what its all about for us!
- What can we expect in the near future from InnerCore? A 'Volume 2' 12" maybe soon?
We're going to see how well "Volume 1" does first, but already have a few things made in prep for "Volume 2". And there may be some collab work on the cards.
If things go to plan we will be remixing some tracks for DJ Demo's Corrosive Recordings in the near future.
- Shouts out to anyone or any message to close this interview to all Nuskool & Oldskool Hardcore readers of this Blog?
Shouts to The NuSkool / Old Skool Blog crew, Glowkid for this interview, all the ravers, DJ's supporting us, Chris, Shane and all the Kniteforce crew, Robin and all the MPS crew, Ron Wells aka Jack Smooth for the musical inspiration, DJ Demo for the support, promoters that are booking us, our nearest and dearest (for putting up with us and the noise!?!) and a massive shout to one of our biggest influences who has sadly passed, but never forgotten R.I.P DJ Tango!
You can order now the first 12" Vinyl EP by INNERCORE
INNERCORE
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