Page 60 - DemoZone Magazine Issue 003

DRUM 'N' BASS IN IRELAND
ZONE TALKS TO ANDREW JOSEPH BYRNE
Andrew Joseph Byrne has been an active member of the Drum and Bass Community in Ireland for over 10 years. DJ-ing under the aliases of both Adrenalin and A/X, Byrne has a wide selection that can switch between styles. Regarded as a promoter both with Spectrum and through his own initiative, Initial Radio. Byrne has brought over world renowned talented acts to the hottest venues in Ireland. The next being Japanese Sensation MAKOTO on April 4th in The Twisted Pepper. Initial Radio will be back in the next couple of weeks on Power FM, broadcasting from a new studio.
Zone wanted to ask Andy what his thoughts on the Irish Drum and Bass scene where, so we hung out in Dublin town to chew the phat.
What role has Drum n Bass had on the Irish / Dublin scene?
Cheers Mike, when I talk about drum and bass within Ireland I mainly talk about the scene in Dublin as this where I live, where I come from. Drum and bass in this city has what I feel, added an extra positive element, a different vibe to the culture of this city. It has left an imprint of its genre upon the people who hold it most dear. The music is theirs as it holds reverence within, although each separate track comes down to an individual’s preference. Drum and Bass has grown into more than just a genre of music. It has become something more, a fabric of life where people from all walks of life are welcome, to immerse within the sound that is Drum and Bass. This goes for most genres of music but one where it is brought under the drum and bass umbrella. Drum and Bass within Ireland has grown over the years and is open to those who want to be active in it and all are welcome.
In Dublin there are numerous promoters such as Absys, Renegade Noize, Bassdrum, Hertz-U, and Spectrum to name but a few. The latter of which just had Total Science over at Hangar. There are numerous radio shows which go out regularly and which keep the D n B fire burning. Quality Mark and Executive Steve have their separate shows at Radio Na Life transmitting out every Wednesday along with Solid Sound. Spectrum have their show banging out every Sunday and while us at Initial we should be back soon on Power FM along with Don Rosco and Stacks. We at Initial are currently doing odd shows via U-stream which is a great medium for people to get involved, along with posting mixes on different cloud sites. Dan Degree just recently released his back catalogue which can be picked up over at bandcamp. That being said the scene is not just Dublin alone, Galway have the likes of Welfare doing his Get Boogie thing and Cork have Mike Fate and Jet-Li running events down there. Limerick has a strong relationship within the Drum and Bass community. Code Subtle Audio and the Macronite lads have kept it going there for quite a while. Up north you have Drumology and Nephilim
pushing things there. In retrospect Drum and bass within Ireland has been a positive influence which has helped shape the country’s music diversity
How do you feel about the current scene and or lack of and who are the ones to watch?
Drum and Bass in Ireland has a loyal following and we do it for the love not the money. It is never going to match the likes of Bristol or London for that matter. The people who have been immersed within the community for years know what each other brings to the scene. I have heard over the year’s people and promoter’s alike saying ‘well why everyone in the scene doesn’t just join together?’ I can see the merit of it being a good idea but the major flaw is that no one type of drum and bass is the same thus no one promoter is either. The doubter in me just can’t see all the promoters in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Belfast working together or just all the Dublin ones for that matter, it’s so big it is going to fail will be detrimental to scene. Promoters want over different acts to play on a given night and when you can’t agree on an act together than you ask yourself what the point is. Eventually it will come that you are at a deadlock with each other then everything suffers. I feel the best way to support the scene is going out on your own, and just doing your own thing. It will make you grow as a person and grow within the fabric of the scene. Once you keep everyone posted on developments at irishdrumandbass.com people will give you respect and notice what you are doing.
The scene I feel at present has become a bit barren of late. You do have the likes of Jula and Lukas Springfield Crew Massive do their regular free Thursday night at The Turks head. I think that’s a good way to get new people involved and also a good way to measure the scene. Executive Steve has his Drank night in Pacino’s but it’s not predominantly drum and bass. It maybe just one act who is playing either that or Jungle, with other acts playing footwork and grime. You also have The Northside Jungle Collective who have events running out of fibbers all the time, usually with a local line up. Dublin itself has always had a certain romanticism with Jungle so this initiative taps into the cyclical nature of it all. I don’t know where the scene is going to go tomorrow but I am sure it will be here for years to come. I remember going to Bassbin and Reach nights with my brother Nick Fury (Spectrum) for us Drum and bass was the future. This for me is still the case.
What can be done if anything to reignite the glory days?
On this I would say those who are in it now to stick with it and bring in new people who want to promote the scene with you. Not one person can do it alone so it becomes generational. There are unheard of bedroom DJ’s somewhere out there who are dying for a chance to play at a night and everyone deserves more than just one chance at it. It works both ways the newcomers have to go out to nights continuously to build a rapport with the promoter in the hope he or she can get a slot to
play. If you are starting a night keep it local at the start let it build gradually over time. If people like the vibe and the music of the night they will return and the word of mouth will spread within the DNB community. One tricky thing for promoters is sorting nights in clubs with rent, equipment and sound being the top priority. I’d personally like to see more nights of drum and bass at different clubs and more continued support of local artist’s in the scene. This first one is a bit hard at the minute as the scene is not healthiest at present but that will change over time. In keeping the DNB fire lit I go back to my original point stick with it. There will be new promoters, new nights, new people and new artists, local and international popping up all over the world. Just get out there make connections with a club, pitch them your idea for your night and see if it works for all involved. At least you can say you gave it your best shot at it.
From the ground-breaking days of Goldie's 'Inner city' to the creators of today's scene, who’s the next big thing?
For me I was aware of Roni Size when Brown paper bag came out back in 97 watching it on MTV. Then I remember hearing that Source Direct tune in Blade around the same time. When it comes to Goldie I don’t think anyone can come close in regards to what the man represents for Drum and Bass. I have always been a big fan of D-Bridge I think he is one of them true artists who likes different styles of drum and bass and is never really afraid to experiment and try his hand on a new project. Seba and Calibre are the two dons for me. Calibre has a lovely downtempo style of which his track ‘Steptoe’ is the epitome of this. Seba has more a euphoric feel that takes you on more of a journey almost as if you are in a symbiotic relationship with the music as taps something deep within. His track ‘Painted Skies’ has always been a personal highlight of mine. Ireland as a country has great number of artists within the style of Drum and Bass such as Calibre, Zero T, Beta 2, Naphta, Genetix and Ricky Force. Hopefully tomorrow we will see alot more.
For me the guy who has been on the pulse for the last while is Stray. He has yet to make the journey to the Emerald Isle but hopefully we will see him soon. He is not going to be Goldie or D-Bridge no one is. He is his own man but his tunes ‘Ginseng Smash’ ‘Award tour’ and ‘LA Zoom’ are just three club smashers. Also Kid Drama is another guy to watch both himself and D-Bridge work together under the guise of Heart Drive. He seems to moving Drum and Bass into a more downtempo feel similar to Calibre but making it feel unique. Check out his tracks ‘In mind’ or ‘what do you see’. His music type by some wouldn’t even be called Drum and Bass but I feel it is. It does have roots imbedded in an almost retro electronica feel but it’s what I like about it. A DJ could play his tracks when warming up or you could play them at home as part of a mix. When it comes to music, the choice is inherently yours.
Words by Mike Moggi Mannix
Pic By Dean Ryan McDaid https://www.facebook.com/InitialRadio