Maztek

Purchase all things Maztek here

We’re loyal followers and huge fans of the whole Renegade Hardware team here at Perspective UK. So it is with great pleasure we can bring you exclusive words with the technically brilliant, Maztek.

He’s been in the scene for quite some time now and we’ve seen his sound develop hugely and he now seems to have found his ideal home with the Renegade roster. He’s given us some great inside information on life at Renegade as well as some exclusive information on upcoming projects. Pay attention people, this guys a master in the scene.

P: Firstly, thanks so much for agreeing to appear on Perspective UK – we’re huge fans! You’ve recently had the Multiverse release on Renegade. How did you find it working with Cern? What do you think you both brought to the table?

M: Thank you Guys,

It was really nice working with Cern, he got the funk and brought to the table a really good idea which I developed by focusing on the drums and on the bassline. The atmosphereand melodywere already there so I worked on the structure and on the buildup.

It has defininitely been a good experience working with him and maybe I’ll make another tune with Cern  for my album – who knows.

P: How do you find life on Renegade? How often do you see the other artists?

M: I find it really nice, Scott, A.K.A Cold Fusion, is a really a nice guy and a brilliant label manager and Clayton promotes great events. All the DJs are really friendly and the parties are amazing.

I meet the other artists almost once every 2 months at the Hardware in London but I see them often around Europe for other parties as well.

P: You have a tour of North America coming up. Do you find the scene very different over there? What shows are you most looking forward to?

M: I think the scene is different but they still have big festivals and good DJs and basically I think a Junglist is a Junglist everywhere, this is the best thing about the people who listen to Drum ‘n’ Bass.

I’m really looking forward to play all the shows over there, especially the gigs in Hollywood, Washington and New York, because I’ve never been there before.

P: You have your own label ‘Subculture Music’. What made you want to set up a label? What sounds do you aim to put out on Subculture?

M: At first I wanted a place to release my own stuff but once I started to find new houses for my tunes I turned it into a label for new talents, especially for the Italian talents who do not have much space to show off.

About the sounds, basically I like any kind of Drum ‘n’ Bass but I usually like to release the tunes which make me turn my head at first listen.

P: Common Ground EP is out now on Beatport. Can you tell us a little about that?

M: The Common Ground EP, as the title says, is an EP made by Italian producers who have the same “ground” or musical background. Most of them had already been released on Subculture and they decided with the new signing Future Roots to make this collaboration EP which I really love.

P: You have an album in the pipeline. Can we have any details on that? What sounds can we expect?

M: Yes I do, it will be released in October on Renegade Hardware and there will be some nice collaborations featuring the likes of Dope D.O.D., Insideinfo, BTK, Memtrix and Virus Syndicate to name a few.

You can expect something very “musical ”, of course there will be some dancefloor killers inside, but I also worked on the musical part in some tunes, to have something sounding like “a proper album song” and not just club music.

I really enjoyed working on it, it is my first album and I put the soul in it so expect something great!

P: What would you say are the cornerstones for any Drum ‘n’ Bass track? What does a track have to include?

M: I think a Drum ‘n’ Bass track has to include a kind of “spark”. This spark makes the difference between any EDM track and a Drum ‘n’ Bass track, if it isn’t there I wouldn’t like it.

As I said before about my album, I’m rediscovering the pleasure of putting a piece of soul in music which is essential to sound unique.

P: Are there any other projects coming in the near future?

M: I’m finishing some other EPs for C4C, Eatbrain, Icarus Audio and a couple of Hip Hop beats for Virus Syndicate and Dope D.O.D..

In January I’m going to sign on BSE’s Blackout imprint, busy busy at the moment.

P: Any other shows you’re particularly looking forward to this summer?

M: I’m really looking forward to Let It Roll. I’m going to play b2b Mefjus on the Forbidden Society Stage alongside Prolix, Counterstrike, Donny and many more.

I’m also looking forward to play Major League in Amsterdam which is my new town in August.

P: 5 DnB tunes every DJ needs in their set right now

Noisia – Running Blind

Maztek&Cern – Multiverse

Chris.Su & State of Mind – After Earth

Audio – Heads Up

Maztek’s forthcoming LP 🙂

Purchase all things Maztek here