Mistabishi Interview | Drum and Bass
He’s been signed to Hospital for over a year and now it is time for the “Drop“, his debut album. The album is described as being “Brave, inventive and arguably the most challenging long player ever on Hospital Records”. We spent some time with the former city trader to see how he works now.
Mistabishi, we’d like to first ask how this alias came about?
It’s a nickname I was given during the last summer of the 20th century for my sterling services to the rave.
…well put.
Now let’s see if you know what is going on here. When we try and find you on myspace at /mistabishi we find a profile for an Aaron Jay (which isn’t Aaron Jay from Swerve either), any ideas what that is all about?
Haven’t the foggiest sir. But by god I’m gonna find out…
How did you get noticed by Hospital and how did things progress from there?
I’d built various tracks that various DJ’s thought they could use to aid their position on the circuit and was happily knocking them together for something to do of a night… and of a day actually, since towards the end of my last job I had Cubase installed on my HD at work. I think Tony had heard how I had made very different tracks for various DJ’s, but how they all seemed to have a common feel from one record to the next.
You gained support quickly from DJ’s and saw major radio play, what did it feel like hearing your creativity being broadcasted on national radio?
Well I didn’t hear it. And I still don’t. It’s all a bit odd to be honest. I’m not a public person as such, although I’m not remotely shy. Being recognised by people I don’t know is very jarring. I just kind of ignore it all.
Your debut album is Dropping next month on Hospital. It has been around a year since you were Hospitalised (enough wordplay). Describe the album for us in your own words, what did you draw inspiration from?
The inspiration came from losing my job, and rediscovering London rave culture. I dropped out of conventional life, conventional relationships, and just tried to take stock of what was going on around me. I was suddenly very free. Music became a big part of that freedom. I could suddenly spend all day noodling away on a drum machine and not feel bad about it. It was a very free time in my life.
Have you started on album number two yet? Will the second album see a different direction?
I don’t think I have a direction! I’m just here spazzing out with a load of high-end audio technology. I have made all sorts of music these past few years. Anyone who is commercially interested in what I make is welcome to pick through it all and decide if there’s a feature length project in there somewhere. I’m thinking of going fully analogue at some point. Guitars drums synths vocals, and mixing to ¼” tape and seeing how that comes out.
Which artists in the realms of D&B would you really like to collaborate in the studio with?
I always wanted to make something with Dom (& Roland). He is clearly a very powerful person. His music is intensely strong yet almost effortless. I think I would bring a different weight to what he does… which makes sense to me. No point working with someone that does something too similar to me… coz I can do it by myself and have no one else to blame if it sounds rubbish.
We were impressed by your mini mix on Annie Mac’s show last year, I guess it once again proves your openness and knowledge of music. Tell us which artists have inspired you outside of D&B?
I’m a very big Kate Bush fan. Most people can’t be bothered to listen through the wackiness and the dramatics but she communicates some very strong ideas in a way that you will never forget. Any artist that isn’t afraid to really explore themselves and their music I just adore. Aphex, Tricky, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, Captain Beefhart, Mark E Smith, Frank Black of The Pixies. Anything exploratory in some way I get obsessed with.
In Swame B’s Café, Shepherds Bush, you recorded an “ancient rasta” singing “gyal let me wipe your tears, you’ve been with me for years, and with my Stripe Red can, me wash away your fears.”. You put this on your track entitled, “Wipe Your Tears”. Did you ever find this guy ever again? If you managed to find the rasta named Daniel again what would you do?
I never found him again. If I do meet him again I’d buy him a mobile phone, dinner, and make sure we never lose touch.
Your new website, mistabishi.co.uk was recently uncovered, what should we expect? Can we look forward to informative and comedic witty blogs from Mistabishi?
Not really. Just an insight into someone with a very high threshold for online embarrassment (might have to post some home moves at some point).
What plans do you have for the coming year?
Make more music. Try to find really good unknown bands to remix, and really hot unknown vocalists to work with. Everyone seems to want to work with someone really celebrity-ish these days. Not into that. What’s the point? They don’t need our fire.
Leave us with something to think about.
http://www.mistabishi.co.uk/
Leave a comment and let us know what you think about Mistabishi and the album Drop.
By LivInMindz, February 13, 2009 @ 6:15 PM
Good read!
Can’t wait for the DRRRRRRRROP!
By FlowDappa, February 24, 2009 @ 1:29 PM
Printer Jam was a sick one!
Big up Bishi!
By Makka, April 7, 2010 @ 5:17 PM
All I’ve got to say is all the haters who slated Mistabishi over that DJ incident, you all knew him through his music first and that is what he has made his name through. Never forget that! IMO, one of the best producers in DnB, technically and creatively. I’m not interested if you’re the best DJ in the world or not, you’re tunes speak for themselves, that’s enough for me, anything else is a bonus!