45rpm! Yo! How are you? Couldn’t be better: knackered after a hard day’s work, I’ve got a cuppa and life is good. Has graffiti made you a better person? Hell yeah! I’ve found the thing in life that makes me happy. It’s something that has no ending, as it involves constantly pushing myself, so it’s made my life better. Some people go their whole lives without finding out what they really love to do—mine’s painting on things. Are you a product of your environment? I’m definitely a product of Kent, England. And now that I’m a Bristol boy, I’ve chilled out and grown a beard. Your surroundings totally shape your life, style, mates, music, etc. Bristol’s impossible to ignore: It’s too mad! How much of your work’s done on the fly? A lot. Every morning when I’m working at home, I drink coffee and just draw what’s in my head; this is how I come up with ideas for all aspects of my work. Also, almost all of my graffiti’s just working with the available space, so loads of it’s
just from my brain to the wall. But saying that, I do love having a sketch. Does photog provide the same satisfaction as graf for you? Nowadays, the photos are maybe more important than the actual graffiti. The before-mission shots and climbing pics mean loads to me. Capturing the lives that me and my mates lead is important. You only live once, so I want to smash this life and capture the madness that happens as I try to outrun death. How do you gamble with your life? I burn the candle at both ends—I run with scissors, I drink too much, I never sleep, I always have too much to do—I play with fire. Dangerous stuff’s fun: Sleep when your dead, or sleepy... Are you addicted to adrenaline? Yeah, definitely. 99% of people don’t get to
feel all that comes with a different lifestyle. Imagine how armed robbers feel after a job...if only you could bottle and sell that feeling. Where has graf taken that you never would’ve gone otherwise? This is the bit were I should list exotic countries that I might’ve visited had I been a normal... So, probably, the more relevant places would be sewers, mine shafts, storm drains, train tunnels, abandoned mental homes, etc., etc. What’s the greatest response you’ve received from your work so far? My nephew told his class that he wanted to be me when he grows up as he thinks my job’s to draw spiders all day long. Not too far off, to be honest... Where do you think graf’s going with all the cameras, Internet fame, technology and everything? Not fussed. If it was the end of the world and everyone was dead and there was no technology and I found some paint—I’d still go paint on something. So just enjoy it when it’s out there and popular and all over the place, but still keep enjoying it if it isn’t. When’d you catch your first tag? 1998. The only reason I know that’s
‘cause I wrote “‘98” at the end of my tag. I went back home a few years back, and it’s still there. Car paint lasts. Has it always been 45rpm? Nope. I went though a selection of shocking names (Saffron, Perplex, Tops, Sok, etc.) but stuck with 45rpm around 2002. I read in an interview where a writer said you should choose a name that says something about yourself—and I’m obsessed with vinyl and music, so 45rpm it was.
When’s your next No tos gonna drop? The photos you see just the tip of the iceberg. I’m always
Fuss, Just Phoa r e
I sketched 47 ideas journey
out on a 6-hour train last week—but that was just the
beers. Is it safe to say that you
squirrelling away photos for my next zine, but it’s hard to put an end to them a s there’s always a better photo to be taken. Just check my Tumblr if you can’t wait; it’s chock-full of nonsense. Is the camera with you just about everywhere? W h e n people leave the house and p a n ic about their phone; I do that with my camera. It’s on me 24-hours a day. There’s always something happening down alleyways. How’s Cockney slang influenced your work? I’m a sucker for slang; I always want to illustrate sayings. If I meet someone from another country, learning their slang’s always fascinating for my stupid brain. Say when my Nan said, “Get the dog and bone,” I’d instantly picture a dog on the phone and need to draw it. Are you still rocking a sketch a day? Sketch a day’s only when I’m working at home. Sketch on a train happens a lot, and sketch in a depressing hotel... I’m stockpiling them at the moment. In a good week how many sketches can you squeeze in?
wouldn’t change a thing now if you had the chance to? I wish I’d taken more photos as a teenager. If I have kids, I’m going to push them with photography. What’s next? I need to step it up with walls; it can’t always be just quick messabouts. Plus, travel the world. Any shout-outs? A massive shout to all the Bristol idiots—you know who you are—the good, the bad and the ugly. But, especially, the Gin For The Boys C r e w — and
the misses...she’s a gem.
Dawson! Hello. How are up? Up is but one direction—one I wish I was more familiar with. As someone who struggles with depression, this is often a loaded question. However, as of recent, I’m focusing more of my energy towards diet and exercise, and have lost about 20% of my body weight in the last 2 months. How has travel been an influence? Living in other countries has allowed me to see past the bubble of the largely suburban American (or Australian) experience. It’s helped me to measure the things that are truly important to me. In our search for a suburban utopia with perfect sidewalks, massive arterial highways and perfect, cookie-cutter homes, we’ve relegated our relationships to a nuclear family and relatively superficial friends. Having lived in less developed countries, I came to appreciate that the people there generally placed a larger emphasis on family relationships. Acknowledging that their governments are corrupt and that the streets will always be ugly, they focus their efforts on better cuisine, helping each other out and being closely-knit. Where does your life overlap your work? My work mostly reflects my
anguish and frustration with life, or the voids in my life that I need to have filled. How has isolation helped you to develop self? I’m not a person who does well being isolated. If I’m isolated without one meaningful discussion every 2 days or so, I start spiraling down my emotional drain. I haven’t been able to dominate isolation. How has lack of planning enabled outstanding results? My methodology thus far has been to appropriate existing scenes to form mise-en-scène photographs by means of dramatic lighting effects and creative direction. Because I’m appropriating existing scenes, I find it useful to not have too specific of a scene in mind—it would be inauthentic to force a square peg into a round hole (or vice versa). I take what’s presented to me and follow it through to a more visceral montage. Given that I’ve typically never been to the locations beforehand; I make do with what’s there. It’s very much like making an epic carafe of lemonade from the lemons that are dealt to me. What’s left to chance? Almost everything... Does photography contribute to your dating life? No, it does not. One would think that in having photographed 100s of female models in the nude that I’m a cavorting casanova and have a number of nymphs at my beck and call. For better or worse, this is not the case. I’m
just a means to an end. The people I work with are almost entirely interested in what’s produced from our collaborations. What’ve you done that you’re not proud of that you would like to announce to the world? I won’t announce anything specific except that, at times, I carry enormous amounts of shame. The shame I carry has been very detrimental to my life. A friend recently suggested that I should examine this shame as a gift and as opportunity for greater enlightenment. What was it before photography for you? Before photography, I was obsessed with shooting guns and scuba diving. A move to a colder/wetter location dissuaded me from those hobbies in the pursuit of another. It was out of sheer boredom that I bought a DSLR at a typical suburban mall. Shooting guns as an adult has helped me connect to my childhood. My mother bought me my first BB gun when I was 5 years old. I rediscovered the joy of shooting targets and honing my marksmanship skills. My involvement in firearms went beyond simple marksmanship. It gave me the impetus to study American constitutional law and history. I also became an instructor, which allowed me to teach other people the craft of using firearms safely. Scuba diving allowed me a
freedom that wasn’t available to me elsewhere. It also helped to keep me grounded. There’s something rejuvenating about being immersed in salt water for an extended period of time. It really helped to reset a number of intangible, emotional parameters inside myself. When’s your work not a projection of self? It’s always a projection of, at least, some part of myself. Admittedly, some of my more violent scenes are really just my attempt at B-rated horror movie humor. As these scenes are so stereotypical of the movies, it’s hard for me to take them seriously. Have you won? For me, winning isn’t a binary thing. I’ve made measured achievements in the general direction that I’d like my life to go. Have I achieved all the goals I’d like to achieve? Generally, I have not. I’d like my work to be displayed in museums, published by large publishing houses and to be represented by reputable dealer/galleries. How often do you lose? I lose all the time. The negative self-talk and derision can be deafening. Although, in theory, these things should be in my control; I find them hard to suppress. Most days are tough on my heart. I’m hoping that I change all that. Old habits die hard... When will you be satisfied?
I’ll be satisfied when I’ve achieved personal nirvana. A nirvana whose characteristics are alien and extremely elusive to me. I don’t really ever want to reach complete satisfaction, as it’ll eliminate motivations for change and propulsion in life. It’d be preferable to reach something closer to near-perfect satisfaction with room for advancement. I just hope I experience that near-nirvana satisfaction sooner rather than later. If the odds are against you, why play? Life’s not a football match with a scoreboard. There is only existence. To quit playing is to abandon life itself. As an existentialist, I believe that even a suffering existence is better than no existence at all. Once I cease to exist: my feelings, thoughts, knowledge and memory sublimate. All that’s left of me is what I’ve left behind to the world. I want to make an indelible impact (even if it’s just a small one) so that my brief existence isn’t forgotten. How many shots don’t make the cut? The number of shots that don’t make the cut are a function of the methodology that I’ve chosen for the particular series. For Nobody Claps Anymore, a lighting-intensive photographic series, I rely on anywhere from 50-100 test shots to assist me in calibrat-
ing the lighting. From there, I take 20 or so shots with all the parameters in place. I then select one photograph out of the lot to edit and include in my series. For Nocturna, given the available light, I may have only taken 2 or 3 photographs per scene and from which I select one. For Diplopia, I tend to shoot all sorts of random permutations and select the best, which usually represents about 30% of what I’ve taken that day. What’re you gonna do to step-up your appreciation of your own work? I don’t know if I can. The important thing for me is to produce. At the moment, I’m in a creative slump. I’m not producing. I feel tremendous pressure to devote my efforts to work that supersedes my previous. If the ideas are of lesser quality or too gimmicky: I don’t pursue them. As I gain a little distance from my previous work, I do tend to admire the tenacity I had to chase down the photos that I did, and I pray that the inspiration will return to me so that I can, once again, be obsessed and produce strong, new work. What reason do you create for yourself? In the past, I would start a new series without understanding what I was chasing and why I was chasing it. I do know that ½ the fun of making works of art is sharing them with the public. In that regard, I do hope my work continues to
be appreciated by an international audience. What emphasis is there on authenticity in your work? Much of what we perceive as being “beautiful” is actually the perception that what we’re seeing is authentic. The viewer needs to have sufficient room to suspend disbelief. This allows them to immerse themselves in another world that’s tragically visceral. Despite the grotesque and depressing nature of the photographs, the immersion in what appears to be authentic (metaphorical or not) is what carries a strong sense of conviction from the audience. What’s next? I’m concerned that if I tell you: I won’t do it. I do have one photograph in mind that follows the lineage of many other famous works of the same parable. I intend to take things in a more contemporary and acerbic direction. The question remains whether it’ll be a note in isolation or part of a symphony. Any shout-outs? To my wife and mother for putting up with all my eccentricities. To my friend Sarah Malone, who’s been relentless in supporting the work we’ve done together. To my cousin Katie and her family for being loving and supportive during this recent crisis. And to a new friend, Mark, who’s helping me to develop the skills I need to achieve higher self-awareness and enlightenment.
Jeepz! Hey! How are you? Excited! Tearing through a Friday here at the office, bumping some local radio, and waiting on the clock to head to the cottage and make some beats by the water. Do beatmakers get the respect they deserve? I don’t trip on what I’m owed; I’m trying to give with this. I’m blessed to work with many artists who go out of their way to give me shine. I guess that’s the benefit of building a movement, as opposed to just leasing beats out to whoever. What’s “Vintage Futuristic” mean to you? Vintage Futuristic means not losing touch with the sound I fell in love with, while redefining it. It’s trying to create a feeling that’s both 1996 and 2016. Vintage Futuristic is what I try and convey with every chop. So your 50th tape’s gonna drop. How long has it taken you to get to 50? Man... My first tape dropped in the spring of 2012. I still remember getting to 20 and bugging out. Fast-forward 3 ½ years—and getting to 50’s a real dope feeling. And you’re bringing everyone
together for the 50th? Word. Everybody and their mama... Making beats has connected me with so many talented/creative people that I wouldn’t have known or grown with otherwise. There’ll be rappers, visual artists, poets, singers, musicians, voices of our community—everybody. Tape 50’s about highlighting that journey and those connections. I grew from 0 to 50, but they all did too, so we’re all part of the same story. Collaboration makes the world go ‘round. I’m trying to add on a few surprise elements, too. Stay tuned... But first up is (re)disc.over/ture, right? Yep. I’m trying to be meticulous about it. I don’t wanna rush through it for the 50th. Each tape’s a trip, and I’m in a good spot for the 49th: rediscovering elements of the first 48, while preluding for the 50th. My 49th tape will be my best work to date...but not for long. Will your work ever be complete? Nah. I’m always going to have a passion for music. There might be a time I’ll be too old to be banging beats, but it’s whatever. I’ll just start playing the piano or something. But till
then, I have no plans on slowing down... Every milestone, achievement and project only makes the hunger all the more real. How do you make time for new music with all of the music you’re making? I’m pretty selective about the albums I purchase and get into. But I love getting put onto new gems. I go online for inspiration at work and tune into campus radio shows as much as I possibly can. I make an effort to expose myself to something new every week. Watching other minds at work fuels the fire. I wouldn’t be making music if I didn’t love it as a fan. But to me, real classics come from the heart. I’m talking the Pac, Cole, Blu, Common and Kendrick types. That’s what I always come back to. Outside of hip-hop, I’m even more scattered: from soul to folk, from 1930 to tomorrow... I just love music that hits you somewhere deep. How do you keep it fresh for yourself? By learning and applying, studying the works of the greats, absorbing the new and expanding my capabilities. I try to colour outside the lines as much as possible. Who’s had your back since day one? Well, the most day one I got is my mother. Without her, I wouldn’t have gotten my first set of drums, been pushed to paint and create, or told to follow my intellectual passions in university. All of these things meshed together to give me the tools for this music thing. She’s the epitome of hard work, intuition and determination. And she’s backed me up every step of the way. I owe everything I make to her.
Does the vibe of each beat reflect your environment and mental-state at the time of its creation? Definitely. Maybe even moreso the vibe of each project. Music’s both an escape and a way to channel energy. My beat tapes speak stories of successes, heartaches, top-of-the world moments and times of deep introspection. Every beat’s telling about the world around me at that point in time, though in a more subdued manner. Everything’s revealed if you’re attentive enough to read between the lines. Do you prefer to kick it in the cut with the work you do, or would you like more shine for all the work you’ve put in? I don’t want more shine, per say. I’m a reserved guy who just likes making music; I just want it to get heard by more and more people. I want the artists I work with to blow up, because I believe in their talents and appreciate that I can provide them with the means to chase their dreams. When are you at your best? When I’m rolling on extreme emotions. Whether I’m in some blissful, happy mindset, or feeling really melancholic: the music benefits. What have you yet to do that you’re dying to? Travel the world. In only having travelled throughout North America and a few countries in Europe, I still have tons to see. Lots of the artwork from my tapes has come from the trips I’ve taken. It’s inspiring to step into a whole new city; it’s something brand new for your senses. How many beats can you make on a good day? I have 2 beat tapes out, 8 tracks deep, that were both made in a day. Those were probably my most productive in terms of completing full, polished joints. But if I can walk away from a session with 3 bangers, then I’m happy with it, for sure. The samples and mood dictate the pace. How’s healthy competition and the Ottawa Beat League pushed you to be your best? I’m very inspired by the sounds of others; in just seeing the diversity, vibes and hunger across the board. OBL provides a great platform for emerging producers—those who don’t get to grace the stage all too often. I’m a real competitive dude, though. 2nd place is never an option. I came with as much heat as I could to take the crown for the last 2 battles. How many beats is it at this point in the game? Over a 1,000...under 1 million. Who has time
to count, though? What was it like rocking the crowd at Ottawa Bluesfest? Well, the work I had to do was mostly in preparation for the show, but I got to kickback in the shadows and watch my partners do what they do best, which was a great inspiration for me. It was an especially proud moment to see G.Grand in that light. We’ve been growing together since day one. And to see him go from empty basement bars to primetime at one of the most renowned festivals in North America was a trip. It was a “We made it!” and “Let’s get it!” moment rolled into one. What’s next? There’s lots in the vault rn, and it’s time for that shine to get out. Between G.Grand, Hyfidelik the Gypsy Sun, Tapas, Just Poets, Shaun Carlo, Kay Flow, Jvon “Bishop” Lawrence and Kanoe: I got stuff on deck, for real. I’m really going to push all this in the next year—and get that local to global movement going. One step at a time, but you gotta set your sights high, though. Any shout-outs? Shouts to everyone blessing my 50th project, everyone I’m building with and, most importantly, everyone who keeps tuning in and banging my beats. I do this ‘cause I know you’re out there listening. In the words of the great emcee, Jay Z: “You could’ve been anywhere in the world, but you’re here with me. I appreciate that.”
Faerber! Hey! How are you? Currently: sweating. I hate summer due to the humidity in NYC. Looking forward to fall... I know I’m in the minority. (As I’m typing this in 90° weather in September.) How’s your subconscious prevalent in your work? Oh, my subconscious is in my favorite pieces. Which means it doesn’t come around all that often. It makes a rare cameo appearance whenever it feels like it. A moody bastard it is. When’s it appropriate to offend an audience? Well, I don’t ever aim to do that. That’s up to the audience. However, ideally, I’d like to never hold myself back because of a fear of offending someone else. Why’s modern society so sexually repressed? Religion and the patriarchal, tribal belief that you might be raising a child your wife made with the
mailman. Do you see art as a means for control? Not at all. It’s a means of release and freedom. Oh, unless you mean when I can’t get it right and the painting’s controlling me... but I’m not into bondage/ submission. Is isolation involved in your process? Without a doubt. I’m an introvert and need to spend lots of time in my head to recharge my mental batteries. Do you desire acceptance from your work? Sure. Is that shallow of me? No. Not really… Maybe? Yes. Have you achieved what you’d like? Not even close... How much of your work remains unfinished and why? I have stacks of unfinished pieces. Sometimes they get stuck, or sometimes I do. I used to think that I’d get back to them all eventually, but I’m losing my faith.
At which point do you act on ideas you’ve been developing? Sometimes it can take years—and then I lose steam. I had a whole series based on torture I wanted to do while Bush was still in office, but that petered out 7 years into the Obama era. Other times, I wake up with an intent and go to bed satisfied with my progress. How important is showing your work for you? It used to be very important. Now it’s become less so. I’m heading in the direction of making work for the pure enjoyment of it. Is the game of Spaceship Cat just as it sounds: Awesome?? It’s incredibly awesome from my point of view... My cat, Coco, has an entirely different opinion on the matter. Have you managed to offend others with your work? I must have. But that’s all theoretical. I haven’t heard much to my face... What, regardless of knowing it’s untrue, do you allow yourself to believe? That someday I will maintain a level of sat-
isfaction from making art. Are you the same Faerber at a show as at home? The Faerber at home is often in his underwear; the Faerber at a show is usually more socially awkward. Maybe I need to try going to an opening in my underwear... How have your desires gotten the best of you? They have not thus far. I’m much too timid. Unless you mean in promising not to finish the pan of brownies—and then they’re suddenly gone with no explanation whatsoever. What’s wrong in your life and how are you going to fix it? Bible classes and nudity (in
that exact order). Where’s the love? There’s this great brothel in Chinatown hidden inside a barbershop. What’s next? By the time this comes out, there’ll be just a week or so left of a group show in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that I’m
in with a great group of people. It’s a bunch of artists’ take on the work of Henry Darger. Details here: http:// www.gristleartgallery.com/ realms-of-the-unreal.html. After that, I’m working on a piece for http://www.yaylamag.com/ who’s doing a horror movie, sketch-themed, online show for Halloween. And I’m doing a piece from the movie Aliens which I’m very excited about. Any shout-outs? Shouts to Samantha Levin (http://binnorie.tumblr.com/) who curated the Darger show. And to my cat. Edit: And to my wife. (Phew, that was a close call!)
Pybus! Hello. How are you? I’m very well, thank you. How much of your life have you dedicated to your work? A lot. I made a recent push into freelance illustration, but I’ve always drawn for fun. Has it been worth it? Absolutely. Getting paid to make something I feel passionate about pays off in many ways. It shows you that artistic pursuits are gestures for self and others, too. Every 1’s a winner! Are you ever at a lack of ideas? I tend to keep various creative projects happening at the same time. I find jumping between them is enough to keep the grey matter flashing different colours, thus spewing forth the foam of realisation. Also, exercise stimulates many ideas, too. What chances are you taking on the daily? Freelancing’s a chancy business, but it feels good when I’m making stuff I care about. I cycle around London, England, which is a little chancy. And I’m learning to skateboard at a later age, which is chancy-to-themax, dude. What’s popping with Bubble Riders? Bubble Riders is the new F-Zero. If I get the time, I’m making it into a GIF comic. People race
around a poorly designed Jacque Fresco-esque environment trying to win the big one. Lots of twists ‘n’ jumps. Did you get a lifetime supply of lemon and coriander shower gel? I only got the 1 bottle of lemon and coriander, which was fine, as it was like washing with food stuffs. Is a lifetime supply the same as an unlimited supply? I think unlimited takes the cake here, as you can go back for more anytime of day or night. What do you have an unlimited supply of? Moves, man... I can do heckloads of moves—all off the cuff, y’know. Why’s luck a lady? I think this is because the creator of that saying was a man, and that man appreciated the female gender as a sign of something to be celebrated, as I think most men do. There’s probably a Mr. Luck out there, too. When have you lucked out? I’ve lucked out in meeting many nice people who’ve inspired me. What new directions would you like to take your work with technology? Earlier this year, I worked on a project to make a virtual reality music video for Squarepusher, which was really great. I worked with some clever people and really learnt a lot. I’d like to do more experimental stuff like this. I’d also like to do some more animation here sometime soon. How’s community apparent
in your life? Where I live in London the people are pretty friendly. I try to see friends and family as much as possible. A lot of my close friends have a similar existence, so that helps keep things positive for me. Having peers around you to help keep you motivated is essential to producing great material. When, where and how do you push yourself to try new things? I try to keep an open mind and soak up as much as I can from people/culture. Stuff will sit awhile, then I’ll suddenly feel inspired and give something new a go. I recently got into doing stand-up comedy—which was just about throwing myself into it—with the encouragement of others. I’ve always wanted to surf, so I’ve recently felt drawn to that having only tried it a couple of times before, which has also led to my interest in skateboarding. What is it about color that drives you wild? Colour’s a stimulant: I like to try and stimulate myself and others as much as I can with it. Also, in a way similar to music, I think colour can open up memories; and maybe even past lives. Is your personal life visible in your hired design work? Some elements creep in from my personal life, but nothing too different from other people who draw and are from the Western world. My subconscious
occasionally creeps in and, hopefully, offers something unique. What challenges are you proudest to of overcome? Having come from a redundant 9-5 job and beginning to make a living doing freelance illustration feels like my biggest challenge bested to date. I’m so grateful that happened; I was so bored before... Are other peoples’ opinions important? Yes, they are. When it comes to making your own stuff, though, the only voice in your head should be your own. What’s next?
I’m releasing a split EP with my friend Bwux soon called Forever Woman. Keep your ears peeled: https://bwux1.bandcamp. com/. And more film, animation, stand-up comedy and music. Here’s some stand-up from last year: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8UxZ3Y5CaPM. Any shout-outs? More friends here: http://jamesnashlovesyou.com/, http://www.mmaattiillddaa.com/ and http://marshmallowlaserfeast.com/.
Beddard! Hey! How are you? Good, thanks. Currently decompressing after a few weeks of working in crunch mode on my latest project and enjoying the peace now that my 2 boys are back to school. Where have you found balance in your life between work and play? Since I started working for myself from home about 4 years ago, it’s been much easier to maintain my balance between work and play. Although, when your work feels like play much of the time, the difference can be a bit ambiguous. How’s your education changed your perception of stuffs around you? I started off doing a degree in physics to keep my options open ‘cause I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. Then, I did a PhD in laser physics at the University of St Andrews ‘cause I still didn’t know what I wanted to do in life—and an-
other 3 years at uni playing around with lasers sounded pretty cool… Other than some maths, most of what I learnt at uni hasn’t been used since. However, my time there gave me a set of skills and a certain confidence for tackling problems in a more methodical/ logical way, be it a technical programming thing or household issue. Do you ever get lost in design? Absolutely. Each day I spend a bit of time going through a bunch of blogs and websites I have setup in my feedly. The little drops of inspiration I pick up on from seeing amazing artwork/videos/sculptures/ clever ideas is quite addictive and a big motivation for my own work. When do you get lost in the process? I spend the majority of my time writing code, so there are many different processes to get lost in… But when the proof-of-concept feature I’m working on winds up working out and takes my coding to the next level, it’s very rewarding. What led to your taking up web development over physics? The last couple years of my
PhD was during the first dotcom boom, so there was a huge amount of interest in this new industry from all areas. I got interested in web development as it requires an interesting combination of design and programming skills. Then, I won a competition to redesign the university’s main website and, at that point, decided I was more interested in working online than in academia. After finishing my PhD, I built up a small freelance portfolio that got me my first job at an agency in Glasgow, Scotland. In making your decision to leave physics for design, was fear a factor? Not at all. The prospect of staying with physics was far more intimidating... Fractal Labs is killer, man! Any plans for a commercial release? Thanks. It’s been great fun seeing so much interest around it, including from some of the top VFX studios. Although in the video it looks pretty polished, there are still some big issues that I tiptoed around. The project has gone through a number of iterations in the last few years and has gotten to a complexity now that’s causing problems
in its own right. Ideally, I want to create another iteration avoiding some of the issues from the last—and this will be the one I’ll release. Originally, I had thought about making a commercial product out of it, but I have so many other things going on that it’ll probably just be open-sourced. No timescale as of yet, though. What doors did Fractal Labs open for you? The very big door it opened for me was Kai Krause’s: A name that might be familiar to graphics people who remember the MetaCreations’ days with apps like Bryce 3D, Kai’s Power Goo, Painter, Poser and the KPT Photoshop plugins. And how’s http://www.fractalforums.com/ contributed to your development? The Fractal Forums’ website is great. There’s a broad mix of people with mathematical, programming, graphics and artistic backgrounds, with a common interest in exploring fractals. There are many long topics in there documenting the efforts of different people on various algorithms; particularly with the new 3D fractals. There’s also a lot of discussion about rendering and optimisation techniques.
It’s been a great source of inspiration in just seeing what others are creating. Frax is gorgeous! Any further plans for the app? 4 years ago, after the very first Fractal Lab video, I started working with Kai and Ben Weiss on a real-time fractal explorer app for iOS called Frax. Since then, Kai and I have been working on a number of very different projects together outside the field of graphics but using many connected ideas. There are certainly many directions it would be nice to take with Frax (music visualisation, photo texturing, desktop versions, etc.) but, for the moment, prior business engagements have us working on other things. Who’s king of Aurullia? I’ll know when I meet him. Is music a definite part of your workflow? Very much so! I have music playing in the house almost constantly. Most of the music I listen to when working falls into the electronica, drum
& bass, deep house, techno, ambient and classical genres. When’s it only appropriate to crank it to 11? Often, when I’m working on a really tricky problem, I’ll crank up the music to help stay in the zone. Along with my studio monitors and subwoofer, I have a SubPac on my chair, so I can really feel the bass— highly recommended. By starting with an algorithm, how often are you amazed with the end result? Most of the time, actually. When exploring a new algorithm, I intentionally don’t limit the range of the input parameters, so I can explore as much space as possible. Especially with fractals, where the result’s the result of a sequence of repeated transformations in a feedback loop type-way. Meaning certain parameter combinations can give rise to resonance type-effects where, suddenly, everything changes, and you get completely unexpected results. That’s part of the fascination of the whole field: The search for serendipity. With 3D printing blowing-up, are you gonna be (or have you already been) printing 3D fractals? I’ve been exploring options
for generating polygon meshes from my fractals, but it’s a non-trivial task. And, even now, the best commercial 3D printers just aren’t up to the level of detail and jewelry-like finish I’d want to achieve. When and why do you take time off of work? I only take time off when my wife forces me to, but I do try and run and cycle a few times a week. Charging up hills out in the country’s a great way to clear my head and unwind. How many days a year do you spend without using technology? 0. What’s next? Kai and I are involved with a new start-up based out of Berlin that’ll really let us really drive home a few ideas we’ve been tinkering with for the past few years. It’s all hushhush at the moment, but it’s quite different from the stuff I’ve previously worked on. Any shout-outs? To all the guys and gals out there creating the amazing, inspiring work that ends up in all the design feeds I peruse regularly. There’s nothing like seeing something incredible and thinking, “Damn, I wish I’d done that,” to only motivate yourself further.
Cryptic! Hey! How are you? I’m great. No complaints...other than the fact it’s raining in Brooklyn, New York, rn. What allows you to do what you do? As far as music goes, I’d say the number one thing for me is discipline. If you’d asked me last year, I would’ve probably said that inspiration was my driving force. I used to need to get inspired by listening to music, watching movies, reading books, etc. And, as a result, my output was minimal. The daily nature of my Beat a Day series has conditioned me to avoid waiting for inspiration to fall from the sky and into my lap. It’s probably the best thing I’ve learned in all my years of making music: Discipline, discipline, discipline. You just kicked off Beat a Day 2. How pumped are you for the pressure you’re putting yourself under? It’s equal parts overwhelming excitement and utter dread. Every single day I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I start to doubt if today’s beat will be good enough. The pressure feeds me. It’s still a rush to see what beats/ videos resonate the most with people. Sometimes, I’ll put one together and just know that I hit my mark, and that it’s going to be well received. Other times, I’m filled with doubt, and I have to force myself to press the send button—and am surprised by its positive results. And yet other times, I’m very proud of something and it falls flat with the listeners. The great thing about it is that 2 years ago I would’ve just thrown out the beats I was unsure of before anyone else got to hear them. Now, I get instant feedback, and I can see that some of the beats that I’m not feeling actually vibe well with other people. How much prep work goes into it? The only prep work I do for Beat a Day’s the constant shooting of videos prior to starting the season. And how much fun are you having with each of the accompanying videos?
I love the video aspect of Beat a Day. Unlike the beats, I’m shooting video all the time. So when the point comes where I’ve made my beat for the day, I sit and flip through the videos in my phone to see which video matches the best. Other times, I have the perfect video and I start a new beat with that particular video in mind. I’ve always had a love for film/cinematography, and this daily routine has been a great way for me to practice and improve my video/editing chops. The videos really do give the beats a different life. I think some of these beats wouldn’t get nearly the same amount of attention without their accompanying videos. There’s just something great that happens when the video and beat work together perfectly. It’s that old, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” thing. Do you get hesitant before release? Yes. In every album, every verse, every beat and every video there’s a constant cycle of: doubt when I’m starting, excitement when I create something I like, anxiety after finishing, more anxiety after I press send, and relief when I see people like the results. Do you function well under pressure? Yes, absolutely. That’s why I came up with Beat a Day: I work better with a deadline. If I have an album concept, I can
work towards finishing it—but if I don’t give myself deadlines, it’ll be a work in progress for eternity. The problem I’ve had in the past was when people approached me for beats. I’ve never had a stockpile sitting around to say, “Here, see if you like something,” because I’d only make beats that already had a home in mind. Beat a Day forces me to create every day, so now I’ve got that stockpile. When’s the beat complete? Honestly? Never. I struggle with self-filtering, and I stop myself from adding too much and over producing things all the time. It’s something I’m working on: learning to pull back and let things breathe. The time constraints of Beat a Day have helped with that. Plus, it also depends on where the beat’s going to end up. Sometimes all it needs is the right rapper or vocalist to be the cherry on top. Why not Verse a Day, too? I considered it, and I’m not ruling it out for the future. I just don’t know how I would deliver it. I guess I could do strictly audio fairly easily. But things get complicated when creating the video. There’s a big difference between editing 15 seconds vs. 2 minutes. So, instead, it’s Verse of the Week, and I’m still having trouble in making the videos. Does it really matter what’s being said? Yes, and no. I’m pretty strange in that regard. I put a lot of time and thought into my lyrics. It matters to me what I say. But when listening to other artists, I don’t need what’s being said to be important. In fact, I actually like a lot of music that might be considered ignorant. To me, this is music, first and foremost. If it sounds good: I can vibe to it, regardless. What’s good with ATOMS? Everyone’s currently working on solo material. We do tracks together from time to time, and I’m sure we’ll get together for another project in the near future. Alaska of ATOMS just dropped a mixtape: https://wordshurt.bandcamp.com/ releases, and I just finished the mastering of Windnbreeze’s first solo album, G.O.Bliss, for release later this year. Long overdue solo material from Wind...I’m excited for people to
hear it. How long have you loved music? My earliest memory of music is my parents playing The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” in our apartment in Queens. I must have been about 3 years old. I’d have them play that and “Yellow Submarine” repeatedly. I had a little Sesame Street turntable as a kid, and I would steal my parents’ and my sister’s records because I only had kiddie records. Unfortunately, that turntable used to fuck everyone’s records up, so I always got caught. Why’d you stop writing graffiti? The laws in NYC got harsher, and I got arrested and quickly decided it wasn’t for me anymore. I continued to draw in blackbooks for a few years, but then music took over most of my time and creative energy. What led to your taking a hiatus? I could write a book about all the things that happened that caused me to take a break from music. First and foremost, I just realized that I wasn’t happy anymore. Basically, I burned out on the music biz, and I made the mistake of blaming the
actual music for my misery. It took me the better part of 5 years to figure out that it wasn’t the music making me unhappy. The hiatus turned out to be good for me musically. It was a miserable time in my life, but when I returned to making music, it just felt better. I was back to making music because I loved it. When does you work live up to your standards? Never. I know this sounds crazy, but it’s just the way I’m built. How’s the Peloverde project coming along? Its coming along, slowly. We work on music every week. We have the outline of the first release done. It’s going to be an EP titled If.=98. We have all the songs fleshed out; we’re just in the process of recording them all. And PIRATA’s dropping when again? We’re aiming for fall 2015. This one’s 95% recorded—just need to mix it and work out the details for release. I’m extremely proud of the writing I did for this album. It’s refreshing to rap over beats that I didn’t make. There’s something very liberating about just being a rapper on a project for a change. How much time off do you allow for yourself? I don’t know what time off is... If I’m not making beats, I’m writing; if I’m not writing, I’m recording; if I’m not recording, I’m shooting; if I’m not shooting, I’m mixing; if I’m not mixing, I’m thinking of the next concept. I can’t turn my brain off. Even when I’m watching TV, something a character says might spark a line that sparks a verse that sparks a song, or a scene from a movie might have music that makes me want to make a beat. It never stops. What’s next? The next beat, the next verse, the PIRATA album, FYSM 2, Peloverde, and my next instrumental project, Solace in Solitude. Once this batch of Beat a Day’s done, I’m going to put my head down and finish up Solace for a 2016 release. Any shout-outs? Shout-out to my dog, Arya. Shouts to Alaska and Wind. Shouts to my PIRATA brethren, Jestoneart. Shouts to Poozy, the other ½ of Peloverde. Shouts to all the people following Beat a Day on Instagram. And big shout-out to you, Jacob, for the support.