Six Blade and A.M.C are no strangers to each other: over the years they’ve released six collaborative efforts together but their latest track, Strangers, is arguably one of their best to date.
“It definitely gets easier working with each other the more we do it” exclaims Jack, one half of Six Blade. “We know how Alex (A.M.C) likes to work now so we just let him get on with certain parts of the song while we get on with other parts.”
“Yeah I definitely agree” adds Alex. “I think I’ve found my sound in the last few years, which has made doing collaborations a lot easier than it used to be.”
We’re big fans of Strangers. It seems the boys are too…
“We’re really happy with the support it’s got so far” says Jack. “It’s got a nice summer vibe to it and fortunately it was sunny at the time it was first played on radio, maybe if it was pissing it down at the time it wouldn’t be doing so well!”
With such a slick flow between them, we got the Titan Records honcho and the Viper Recordings boys involved in our Insider Interviews series. Read on for their thoughts on the drum & bass scene, collaborations and loads more…
Six Blade – When we started working on a load of tunes together, what was it about Strangers that made you want to work on it?
A.M.C: I loved the vibe it had when I first heard it! We changed the drums and worked on the intro until it sounded the way we wanted, then one of our friends worked on some piano stuff for it and yeah, it just all came together quite nicely. It’s also got that melodic key change which I love, it’s not just the same repetitive notes going around and around. As soon as I heard it I knew we would be on to a winner.
Six Blade: It was really good that you helped out on this tune actually. We started it a few years ago but started another tune and completely forgot about it until you brought it to our attention again!
Even if we’re just working on a really minimal liquid tune you’ll try any put about 3,000 kick drums in the build-up to the drop!
Six Blade – How often do I have to tell you to stop using so many kick-drums in your tracks!?
A.M.C: Haha! To be honest, I’m actually trying really hard to cut down on the amount of kick drums I use in my tracks because a few friends of mine kept telling me off for it, but I’m a bit of a sucker for them, as you well know.
Six Blade: Even if we’re just working on a really minimal liquid tune you’ll try any put about 3,000 kick drums in the build-up to the drop!
A.M.C: What can I say? I just love a massive build-up! It is good that someone actually turns around and tells me to rein it in. I’ve got quite a few things I’m working on at the moment and I’ve tried to use the advice Ive been given, so we’ll see how it goes…
Six Blade – Do you prefer collaborating with someone or working on your own?
A.M.C: It depends really, I’ve tried collaborating with loads of people – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes I’ll try and collab with someone who has the same tastes in music as me but it won’t work, whereas other times I’ll collab with someone who has completely different tastes and it works, it’s weird how it happens.
Six Blade – What do you think is the main point of a collab?
A.M.C: When I get to that point when I’m making a tune and I can’t take it any further it’s great to have that other person there who’s ready with some new ideas, it stops me from hitting a brick wall. On Strangers, for example, you took the track to a certain stage then I came along, redid the drums and played about with the synths and we found that things started to get done a lot quicker.
Six Blade: Yeah, I’ve found on a few projects we get a few bars down then send it over to someone who can work on the intro a bit until it all comes together nicely, collabs are definitely helpful when it comes to that.
Six Blade – Who’s your favourite member of Six Blade; me or Mike!?
A.M.C: Ooh, that’s a tough one! I like making music with both of you, but Mike is definitely the better party guy. I’ve got a story that involves me and Mike getting slightly drunk in Brighton after a Marky gig, but I think that’s better left untold…
Six Blade: The moral of the story is Mike loves getting pissed up and I’m the sensible one…
A.M.C: Ha! Yeah, so to answer the question, I prefer Mike, unlucky mate haha.
A.M.C – Do you think it’s good that drum & bass is featuring in the charts more regularly these days?
Six Blade: Yeah I love it, I think it’s great. I don’t really think it matters how much mainstream stuff there is because it’s been around for so many years and it’s always at the forefront of electronic music, there’s always gonna be an underground side to it too no matter what. At the end of the day, it’s bringing more people to the clubs which is a great thing.
A.M.C: That’s the great thing about drum & bass; there’s a vibe for everybody. I know it’s a bit of a cliché but it’s true; if you don’t like the liquid side of stuff there’s the darker stuff and so on. That’s why drum & bass has always been around and that’s why it will always be around.
A.M.C – How long does it take you guys to finish a tune?
Six Blade: It depends on the tune really. Sometimes we’ll sit down and smash something out in a couple of days but some of the tunes we’re working on at the moment have taken us about two months and they’re still not finished. It’s really about the vibe of the tune and how much we love it.
A.M.C: Who’s your favourite producer?
Six Blade: It’s got to be Culture Shock. I know he’s gone a bit quiet lately but his tunes have always had a special place in my heart! I hope he’s got something lined up because I haven’t heard anything from him in ages. He’s hands down my favourite producer.
A.M.C: Good shout, but I’d have to go for Noisia. The way they create their basses and drums is just staggering. They’re just way above everybody in my opinion because they’re always mixing it up and improving all the time. From the Block Control EP on Moving Shadow to Facade on Ram, Split The Atom and even I Am Legion they’re always evolving and that’s why they’re my favourite producers.
