A whole calibre of wicked and wild things can happen in 6 years. For Objectiv, it’s brought an abundance of change. Marriage, a baby on the way, a move away from Bristol and – perhaps most importantly – a completely new approach to how he makes music.
The result? A relaxed Objectiv with a super refined sound, and some amazing new music that sounds totally in sync with his chapter of growth.
His new two-part LP Walk The Talk sees him leaning further into the sample-heavy, hip-hop-influenced world of Sofa Sound, whilst learning to trust his own ears, exploring the sounds and textures that he adores.
With ten years of Objectiv on the horizon and Walk The Talk Vol. 1 ready and waiting for all to consume, we caught up with him to talk big changes, creativity and why sometimes, it really doesn’t have to be that deep.
We last caught up 6 years ago! How would you summarise those 6 years?
One word would be: change. A lot of my life has changed. Six years ago, I was 25. I’d left uni within a couple of years of that and I was living in a shared house. Now I’m married, I’ve got a kid on the way and I don’t live in Bristol anymore. I guess maturing a little bit has changed my music too. You’re a different person from your mid-20s to now, and I think that can be reflected in your music.
Nowadays, I treat music a little bit differently to how I did back then. I’m a bit more picky with making stuff, whereas at that time it was just: do it all the time, all the time, all the time. Chase, chase, chase, chase. Whereas now, I’m much more comfortable. I can go a month without making a tune. I don’t, but I can! And it doesn’t matter because I don’t treat it like a job, or like I’m trying to get to a job. I’m just enjoying it. I treat it like a hobby and then I’ve got no stress. I spend a bit more time doing stuff now, and hopefully that’s reflected in the music.
How do you feel these changes have been reflected in your music, sonically?
My music has completely changed in its sound. I came up doing the more minimal sound, and that production style is a little bit different. Minimal is all a bit robotic. It’s numbers and everything’s got to be precise, whereas I find that Sofa Sound thing lends itself to a lot more hip-hop and ’90s jump-up. It’s very sample-based, and I think that’s just a much more relaxed way of making music for myself. I think along the way, as my life has changed into a more relaxed mode, so has the music. It feels more natural.
You’ve called your new LP Walk The Talk. What does ‘walking the talk’ mean to you?
Well, the name itself comes from nothing, basically! I found a sample – I couldn’t tell you where it’s from – from an old soundclash thing. It was called something else before, and then Bassi from Sofa Sound was like, ‘I think that could work better because you can have more of a theme there.’ He’s so good at seeing an outside perspective. He can be like, ‘That’s a good idea to go down,’ and then you can branch off and think of stuff. The whole idea of that sort of thing is all him, really. I’m a mere vessel! The thing is, it doesn’t have to be deep all the time. I prefer nonsensical stuff. I feel like there are more people who feel like they have to make something deep, rather than just making it like that. It feels forced. For me, if I was to do that, it would be forced.
Gotcha. Sometimes you’re just happy banging out a tune or two. Makes sense. What can we expect from Vol 2?
Volume 2 is going to be a little bit more varied. The first part is all steppier bits, and the second bit is going down the more traditional drum pattern route. The idea – I’ve not finished it yet, I’m still writing stuff – is to showcase that other side. I’m going to do more dancefloor-y stuff and then a bit more of my liquid-y things, but with the Sofa Sound hip-hop aspect to it, basically. I’m aiming to get a couple of MCs on there too, but non-drum & bass MCs. I think there are amazing MCs in drum & bass, but it’s all been done quite a lot. I like it when you hear a drum & bass track – or any track actually – and there’s somebody on there where you’re just like, ‘Oh, that’s super random!’ I like that vibe of, ‘Wow, that works.’ So I want to try and explore that.
Sounds like an exciting element to Vol 2. We look forward to listening! Did you trial anything new in terms of production on this project?
I actually have. Normally I’m pretty rinse-and-repeat. I have the same way of working, but when I spoke to James DLR about this, he and Bassi originally wanted me to stop sending ideas. They wanted me to know myself more – being able to be like, ‘Nah, I don’t really feel that.’ or, ‘That does fit.’ rather than just making stuff and sending it to get somebody else’s opinion. I’m so used to making something, sending it and being like, ‘What do you think?’ Then I can sort of move from that. But this time it’s been: make stuff, sit on it, play it, keep playing it, listen to it, see what could fit and what doesn’t fit. So in terms of going about it in a different way, definitely.
Do you think that way of working has worked in your favour? Did you enjoy this new way of doing things?
Yes and no. I found it a little bit hard to stay motivated because of who I am. I’m definitely a person that thrives on words of affirmation and being validated. I need to be validated! Give me praise. I’m a simple man. Tell me stuff’s good. Tell me I’m good! So I’m still trying to work through that, but I think in the long run it should help me trust myself more.
Next year marks ten years of Objectiv. When you started the project, what were your ambitions? And how have they changed over the years?
I’m very much a chill person. I didn’t really have any goals. I just sort of make stuff, really. But the major ones for me were Sofa Sound and Flexout. Flexout was my absolute pinnacle. I never thought I’d get there, but I got there, which is amazing. And then Sofa Sound a little later. Playaz was definitely a goal of mine too. I’ve got something coming out on Playaz at the end of the year as well, which is pretty mad. But personal stuff? No. It’s always been more like, ‘I would like to,’ rather than being like, ‘I need to get on that.’ It’s just, “I would love that!’
Going with the flow releasing on some of your favourite labels – a good way to help creativity thrive! It’s also 10 years of Sofa Sound next year: What’s it been like working with them on the Walk The Talk release?
Really good, to be fair. Chris (from Sofa Sound) has been unbelievable, really, really helpful. Even just before this, I was panicking and needed talking points just to get stuff out of my head. He’s been really supportive. James (DLR) has been really helpful too. We’ve had a couple of calls and stuff, and Bassi was there at the start putting it all together. He’s the one who helped me get on Sofa Sound and has had my back quite a lot over the years. So yeah, nice vibes from that camp. Big time.
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