Soundtracksforthem

photo credit: Amanda-Ruth

Ebola supports Ad Noiseam’s Mad EP down at a Kaboogie shindig in Andrew’s Lane theatre this Thursday, it’s part of the DEAF festival.

Download Load Ebola Formaldehyde Blunts Vol.1.mp3

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Who is Ebola?

I am.

What were the first records that really made you go, “WOW” ?

The first 2 tapes I ever bought were MC Hammer’s “Please Hammer don’t Hurt ‘Em”, and Aerosmith, “Pump”. I think they blew my mind at the time.

Describe the sound of an Ebola Set.

It’s usually a mixed bag of grime, noise, booty-techno and breakcore punctuated by various technical hitches and drunken shouting.

I don’t like sticking to any one style for too long. A whole set of breakcore means that only some folks will be into dancing to it, and eventually the brutality of that style just softens as you get used to it. And lets be honest, a whole set of 140 bpm dubstep is booooring, so I try and operate somewhere in the middle by changing the pace constantly and giving people something they can bug out to, as well as hopefully chucking in some new sounds.
I really want to do some shows with some MCs, but good ones are hard to come by. I’m working with some parisian girls called Face a Face, so I’m hoping we’ll be able to do some gigs when they come over to the UK.

The rest continues after the jump…

Where are you from originally ? Where are you based now ?

I’m from Brighton originally, but I was brought up in South Devon. I’ve been between the two places ever since.
Right now I’m back in Devon again. I have a lot of room to think and get on with projects down here coz there’s not really much going on. I also live above a funeral parlour and we have no neighbours other than the stiffs downstairs, and they’ve never complained about the noise.

How/when did you first begin playing music ?

My mum is a music teacher so there were always tons of instruments lying around the house. I started playing piano, guitar and double bass pretty early doing a lot of orchestral stuff, and then at school I was playing in a lot of punk/metal bands.

I first started writing ebola stuff when my friend Joe (Metronomy) begrudgingly showed me how to use Logic haha. I must have been pretty annoying coz I’m a bit of a luddite really, and it takes me ages to figure out anything technological. I hassled him loads and as soon as I got the general idea I was off, and I’ve been happily lost in my computer ever since.

I started doing shows in Brighton soon after I met Scotch Egg, and formed the Wrong Music crew There’s always been a great buzz around the music scene in Brighton, so I got a lot of ideas and inspiration from being there.

Going to see Shitmat play for the first time was a real eye-opener. I remember Henry had a balaclava on, and was running his “Kestrel Super-strength Karaoke Soundsystem” Of course the crowd were too terrified to go up and sing so Henry did it all himself. I think at one point he was playing the Kaoss Pad with his dick and squirting toothpaste in his ear simultaneously.

Which current artists/records do you really love ?

I’ve been going through a lot of old stuff lately. “Diesel Truckers” by Kool Keith and Kutmaster Kurt has been on my stereo alot. That “Kenworth’s with Wings” track is soooo good! I nearly got my willy out when I heard they were doing a second Dr Dooom album. Should be getting that through the post any day now! Newer stuff… I’ve been listening to Starkey, Joker, Neil Landstrumm, Current Value, all sorts. I love that recent Eero Johannes album on Planet Mu.

I really respect DJ C for his sets/mixes. He manages to keep things raw and edgy but with that infectious bounce that gets the dance floor so hyped.

I listen to a lot of Doom metal and Chop and Screw when lazing about the house. I find that a tea-induced euphoria is almost as good as drinking the sizzurp.

What, for you, is the most important thing about music ?

I like people that aren’t taking themselves too seriously, and aren’t afraid to experiment. Genres can so quickly become stale as they over-saturate clubs and the radio, so anyone bringing new ideas and sounds to the table and disregarding any bullshit prerequisites that seem to come with these genres are helping push things forward.

I’m also really into themes. I like it when music is more than just a bunch of tracks. I think that’s why I’ve always been such a massive Kool Keith fan. He has this ability to invent a persona, a bunch of characters and a whole world for each record he puts out. Otto von Schirach records are like that for me also. They have a whole aesthetic as well as a sound which makes them a lot more exciting and fun to listen to.

What’s the most memorable DJ set you’ve ever played ?

The first DJ set I ever did was when I was still at school and I couldn’t mix for shit (still can’t actually) I had one turntable and 4 tape machines with pitch controls playing Dreamscape tapes at varying speeds. I think I got turned off after a minute and a half, which is still a personal record to this day.

I’ve had some good ones in Dublin. It’s still my favorite place to play. I did this show with the Wrong Music crew on a tour of Ireland and the fire alarm went off before my set, so there was this 5 minute build up where all you could hear was the alarm and the sound of people smashing glasses on the floor in anticipation. The crowd were so hyper. That kind of buzz really makes it for me.

What’s the best night in your home town right now?

Hahaha you’re kidding? I live in the shire. They used to have a monthly jungle event in the leisure centre, and occasionally the local methodist church pumps out Christian drum and bass (I’m not joking). Other than that we just have jazz and folk gigs really.

The best night is probably our gaff on a friday. That’s where the B-more and the krumping battles happen.