Interview : Authist & Dub One!
1 + 1 = 1″, that’s the equation that Authist & Dub One! are ready to prove.
Recently introducing themselves to the Funkdub fraternity we find out first hand why Berlin is not the capital of Germany but a synonym of Jamaica. Berlin is not about crime, violence and stress but about friendliness, relaxation and spirit. Oh, and some “NattyNeo Digi-Dub” the title of their latest, freely available release.
All releases available free on Germany’s iD.EOLOGY web label :
iD.026 “Natty Neo Digi-Dub EP” DOWNLOAD HERE
The formula:
1 + 1 = 1″, that’s the equation that Authist & Dub One! are ready to prove. The musically widely travelled dubheads with their base-camp in Berlin/Germany could not be more different from one another, and yet they’re something like the two sides of one and the same tape. While Authist, following his roots in hip-hop, electro, trance and techno, likes to give us a good neck-massage with fat sofabass-beats, Dub One! as per his passion for reggae and jazz, makes the sun rise in our heads with velvet harmonies and melodies.
You can feel this diversity in every detail of their joint tracks, you step back a little and nonplussed you notice how all the individual parts add up to an inspiring and electriflying whole. And while the groove thrusts your engine and you start floating off on a hammond-riff, you realise: there’s more of Jamaica in each one of these tracks than in any philly-blunt.
Q.E.D. - “I & I” is nothing more than “we”, “1 + 1″ nothing more than “1″.
The Funkdub Interview
What was the first record you bought, do you still own it, and would you still play it?
D: that must have been “Miles Davis – Tutu”, still a great album for funky folks who are into early jazz-rock with electro elements. Since I got into dub and triphop I listen to it less often.
A: KLF - “Last Train to Trancentral”, i don’t have the record anymore but i would always play it (KLF roxx)!
The raging debate continues - Tea or Coffee? Or your favourite drink?
D: I know that tea’s supposed to work better if u need to wake up for sum silly reason, but I still stick to coffee in the morning….
A: Coke light! (Yes, I am disgusting! *g*)
Berlin has never been renowned as a hotbed of Dub, how have the German population taken to your sound? Do you play out live?
D: Well, there’s reggae, dancehall and dub all over the city. The most popular dub-act from Berlin should be “Seeed”. The early albums have been a great inspiration. Our online audience seems to like our stuff, something that makes us very happy. Unfortunately we haven’t quite found our way to realize life performances…(sigh!)
A: I agree with Dub One! ! (Double-sigh!)
What is your opinion on downloading as a way of accessing music? In particular how does free/illegal-downloading impact upon an artist such as you?
D: Music should be free even though it would be nice to earn sum $ with.
A: KEEP MUSIC FREE! But give da Authist a Dubby $ for food! 
Natty Neo Digi-Dub EP was released in November - how come decided to release it under the creative commons license?
D: It’s a good way to make our music accessible to many people. We achieved tons of downloads that way. Don’t think we’d have as many CD sells.
A: Agree with Peter (Dub One!), the C.C.L. is a good way for an Artist to publish his Music online without losing the control of his copyrights!!!!
How is the search for a record label coming?
D: Right now we did send a demo to tantyrecords in the UK who are in search for new dubs (roots of dub funk 6). This time they try to push dub beyond borders. We thought: Whew! That’s our call!
Maybe they like our stuff, we’ll see.
A: Maybe the holy Mad Professor is with us, wish us luck!
What were your musical influences when you were growing up? Was there a particular track or artist that changed your perception of music?
D: My dad listened to Dixieland jazz. I guess that is why I’ll NEVER do stuff like that. Actually the Kruder & Dormeister sessions impressed me a lot. That is when I changed from funky stuff to dub. Jah Warrior is also very cool, if it comes to rootsy dub as well as - of course, masters – King Tubby and Mad Professor.
A: I’m coming from a way different scene than Dub One!, I made music by myself, I was in the Club-Scene (House, Techno, Ambient, Electro)…I always loved the sound from Moby, Prodigy, Aphex Twin, etc.! As is started to produce Music, I was making more Hip-Hop beatz and Trip-Hop/Electro (you will hear some influences in our Traxx), then i met Peter and he was the reason why I cannot live without Dub now! Right now I enjoy the music from Mad Professor, Shpongle (you have to listen to this, awesome!!!!!), Natty (Open Source Musician), Dr.Dub (also Open Source Musician), etc.! I think that our different styles are one of the reasons why many people like our stuff!
What has been your favourite live musical experience (either that you have watched or have been involved with)?
D: Back in school I was involved in a concert played by 100 metronomes with different speeds (no kidding). My Part was to put my metronome on stage. The developing rhythms almost drove me crazy LOL. Also back in school, I thought I was a great jazz-pianist and attended an open stage jam in the “Quasimodo” (#1 spot for serious jazz in town). I wanted to play “tune up” by Miles Davis, which I remembered to be quite down tempo. Then the black trumpet player counted in and they finished the song before I found the first chord. So I found my way back to the ground or was it a little bit beneath the ground? – I still feel kinda odd, whenever I’m around that place as a listener
A: I was working as a sound-engineer on a punk (!!!) concert….now…I am glad that am still among the living I was standing with a €20.000 wporth of Equipment in the middle of 200 pogo-dancing and drunken’n'agressive young Punk-Fans *gulp*! Trust me…the Beer-Bottles were flying around me like little satellites around a Planet! Also it is nearly impossible to mix up a Punk-Band live…you will not hear the difference between a clipping and the music itself when the guitar-player starts his part! It was funny but I was glad as I arrived at home… in one piece!
What equipment do you use to produce your tracks?
D: Yamaha motif ES, Roland JV-1010, SC-88, EMU Vintage keys, Fatar Keyboards, Cubase SX2, Wavelab, (cheap) Samson mics, terratec Phase 88 MT
A: Propellerheads Reason 3.0.4, Steinberg Cubase SX2, Steinberg Wavelab 5.01, Ohmforce Ohmboyz Delay, Ohmforce Frohmage Filter, Propellerheads Recycle 2.01 (Sample-Slicing), Creative Soundblaster Live 24 for 24bit Recording, a lot of different VST Plugins (mostly Mastering-FX) and Dub One!’s sounds!
Whom would you most like to remix your work?
D: Stefan Obermeier, an Austrian dubhead from the Vienna Scientists (great compilations!!!!!)
A: Shpongle!!!!
Which artist would you most like to remix?
D: Almost anybody, who gives away his material ..no borders!
A: Agree with Dub One! ! Any remix-contest is ours!
How will you see in the New Year?
D: Hard to tell, when u are governed by Angela Merkel J. I hope people will still react curiously whenever we release a piece of music. And if money comes in – heck- I would take it!!
A: …again I agree….
!
Who is your tip for 2006?
D: no idea, I’m not that much into popular music, ask Authist …
A
..and Dr. Authist says: BANGGURU ( www.bangguru.com ), awesome Pop-Electro-Act with trippy and dubby Elements and a beautiful Voice (we did a Remix for them)!
Please could you list your favourite of the following:
Song:
D: Seeed - Papa Noah
A: Shpongle - Beija Flor
Album:
D: - Vienna Scientists V
A: Shpongle - Nothing lasts, but nothing is lost!
Film:
D: LOTR
A: Star Wars and LOTR (all Parts)
Book:
D: can’t tell, there are too many
A: LOTR
Website:
D: www.ideology.de
A: www.funkdub.info
Simian:
D: Maki
A: Schimpanse
Pie:
D: New York Cheesecake
A: Chocolate