Katalyst Interview

Alle guten Dinge sind Drei und so gibt es hier nochmal das Interview zwischen Katalyst und der Beat nachzulesen.

Ashley Anderson hat in den letzten Jahren ein paar der heißesten Act unter Vertrag genommen, darunter Fdel und Flow Dynamics und zu unserem Glück ein Vertrag mit dem englischen label Freestyle geschlossen, die wiederum die Invada Alben hier in Europa veröffentlichen… danke Mister Anderson.

 

BEAT Interview with Katalyst

How did you secure the Motown remix – what do you have to go through to get permission?

A few producers were approached within Australia to remix the Motown tracks. It was a Universal project (Universal probably own the back catalog of Motown) they chose a few artists who they though would be good people to have remix the music within Australia, they organised the clearance and everything & had the parts – so i was very little hassle on the admin side of things. The 3 Australian producers were myself, Danielsan & Suffa.

When did you and Geoff first meet and start working together?

I met Geoff in 1998 through a mutual friend when he came out to Australia on a holiday. The first time we worked together was when Geoff bought me over to Bristol UK to work on the McKay album in 1999. The start of our working relationship was when we formed the record label in end of 2001

Your bio says that you both ’saw a gap in the recording industry“ and that’s why you teamed up to start Invada – what was this gap – can you elaborate?

We felt a lot of good music was being overlooked by the majors. Lots of talented artists were not getting deals with major labels as they didn’t have a lot of pop potential, which is really where the focus is with a lot of majors at the moment, concentrating on bands who are going to sell platinum amount of records. A lot of artists who could develop into to platinum selling artists really don’t get the chance to develop because they don’t have the immediate potential. We just thought there were talented people out there that we could sign that should be releasing music and we’ve gone about signing them up. I was coming across a lot of good music through being an artist. Back in 2001/02 when we started Invada, there seemed to be a lack of indie labels at the time.

What made you want to sign Koolism and how and when did that all come about? – where they the first artists you signed to Invada?

Koolism’s album Part 3 – Random Thoughts was our 4^th release on Invada, which came out in early 2004. Ive known the boys since the days of the Loungeroom record shop. I knew Dan through the scene. With the success of Manipulating Agent the boys approached me and asked some advice on their record…& I asked them if they’d be interested in us putting it out. They sent me a copy, i liked it, I helped with the mastering & we released it. It went on to win an Aria which was an exciting moment.

What’s the style of your first album Moonrock – is it a hip hop album – what do you classify it as?
It doesn’t fit comfortably in any particular genre, i guess if had to classify it you’d probably call it more of a trip hop album as it was mainly instrumental, while there are a couple of vocal tracks on there, definitely Hip Hop influences and many of the influences i still have to day, I just wasn’t as refined as a producer, it was my first work, i was still learning the ropes.

 

When did you do the café del mar compilation

The track „Illstreet Blues“ was one of the first tracks I made with Illpickl. That track was signed to Cafe Del Mar in 1998, it was released on Cafe Del Mar vol 8 in 1999. The track was subsequently included on the Best Of Cafe Del Mar in 2003

How did you become involved with the café del mar compilations – just cause that seems?

Illpickl & I (as Moonrock) made a track for a local compilation called „Homebrews 2″ and our track was chosen to be on the vinyl release of that record. Joe 90 was Djing over in the actual Cafe Del Mar in Ibiza, Jose Padilla was there and Joe 90 had bought that record over & played our track in his DJ set, Jose Padilla came over and asked him what that track was, and subsequently wanted to license it for Cafe Del Mar Volume 6. So it was very lucky for us in that sense

Who remixed your Agent Manipulated album?

I enlisted a host of talented producers from Australia and abroad. People that I have worked with and whose work I have admired & respected. Aussie artists such as TOR, Danielsan , Crackpot, Rhibosome, DJ Soup, Blunted Stylus, Idiot Proof and 2 Dogs. And international producers such as Purple Penguin, Easton Rocks and Dynamo Productions.

Who do you think is Australia’s most impressive producer right now?

Danielsan. A couple of Australa’s most impressive producers never seem to release any material! – Peakhour (Syd), Sandro (made some beats for Good Buddha, now in UK) and Nathan J (WA).

How is the new album coming along? – can you tell me a bit about it

• is it in a similar style to your last album or are you trying to do something different?

The new album is coming along well. There will be lots of guest vocalist on the album from Australia and OS. Still keeping the Katalyst sound it will hopefully be a progression from the last album. I’m still influenced by the same type of sounds so I don’t think it will be a shock for anyone who has the the last record, but it will definitely be different.

• Who do you have enlisted for vocals so far?

Keeping it all pretty close to my chest at this stage, obviously RuC.L is going to be on there, good chance you’ll see Hau from Koolism on there, other talented local & international artists.

When did you sign FDel? -Is Audio Fidelity (2004) an album or a single? – are you working on an album with them now?

‘Audio Fdelity’ is Fdel’s debut full length album which was released in 2005. The album received great reviews – Fdel is curently working on his next record. Im not actually working on it with him, Fdel does his own thing, i give advise based on the rough he sends me…. and he can take or leave that advise. Fdel’s live show is one to check out – he’ll be bringing the funk live to the dance floor with his 4 piece band – drums, guitar, DJ Armee (Downsyde) on the decks, Fdel on MPC.

I read that you are doing a DVD of the tour – can you fill us in on that – how, who, when?

A good friend of mine Clare Mackey runs a production company called Red Rug with Andrew Whollsey, they do music videos & and have done some impressive projects. She suggested we put together a DVD of the tour an in particular shoot the Gaelic Club show & edit it all up into a DVD which will include interviews with the artists, funny moments from on the road, behind the scenes on tour… should be good fun

Is this the first time the Invada crew will be all together or do your artists already know each other well?

A lot of the artists already know each other. This the biggest bill of Invada artists we’ve done on the one show. We did an Invada Tour back in 2003 – that was a double bill: Katalyst and Dynamo Productions, that was a great tour – all those shows sold out nation wide & we got a great repsonse. We are really looking forward to some great shows with this coming tour. That tour was 2 Invada artists whereas this one is 4 !! So its guaranted to be a top night of quality all-Australian talent – ya gotta love that

What’s you favourite track or album that you have produced and why?

The McKay track „Tell Him“– it was exciting to work with 2 people from different countries – Geoff in Bristol and Stephanie McKay in New York.

Ru C.L’s track „Just One Shot“ I really enjoyed working on – cause it came together so quickly, it was such a spontaneous track – and its been received so well. Z-trip heard it while he’s been out & wanted doubles of it to take back to the US. Another favourite was „Showtime“ – it was well received and it was a really fun track to make for me because I used a bunch of particular samples on the one tune, its like a 4 minute excursion.

What are you listening to when you’re not making music?

Weird Polish Jazz records!?

What’s it like being on the Good Vibes tour?

Its been lots of fun, lots of good people. Ive got to meet everyone on the bill – Talib, Supernatural, Jean Gray etc… To be able to have the chance to chat to these guys about whatever, life, music etc..

Do you think the Aus hip hop scene is one that is more supportive or competitive?

I think it depends on where you sit in the Australian hip hop scene but I think its generally encouraging. and its developing, which is a positive thing.

 

~ von unifairfly am Montag, 20. August 2007.