Exclusive Interview with Om Unit
PHATFUNK & DUBWAY join forces to bring one of the hottest artists in the bass music scene to Bangkok: OM UNIT! He has represented the UK in the DMC World DJ Championships and he has played on BBC Radio 1, for MixMag & FACT Magazine and at the prestigious Boiler Room & Red Bull Music Academy. His tracks were released on the respected record labels Exit Records (by DBridge) & Metalheadz (by Goldie). Expect quality Drum & Bass, Jungle, Footwork, Bass Music and beyond!
Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with OM UNIT, shortly before his performance at Glow on 3rd April.
You are a DJ & Producer from the UK. You have won the DMC UK Championship as part of the Truesicians and you have represented the UK in the DMC World DJ championships. How did you get in touch with electronic dance music in the first place and how did you get into DJing and music production?
Well I started out my musical life back in 1994, as a kid making tracks at home with really basic computer software. This was way before all of the DMC stuff, that came later. It was a natural progression for me to come from making music into DJ'ing and I fell in love with scratching and turntablism when i was about 19 and I was in a bad life situation, learning something technical and meditative like that really helped me to get myself together. eventually i began merging the art of turntablism with my production work and released some albums like that too, as "2tall". How it all began I don't really know, it grabbed me and I just followed my instincts and kept going.
How would you describe your own music in just a few words and what tracks, remixes or mix-sets would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music?
Slow but Fast, Sad but uplifting sometimes, Raw and Dirty sometimes, creative contradictions, styles mixed together.
I'd say check out my new mix for Bass Music China and definitely listen to stuff on Youtube, tracks like “Healing Rain" and my remix of Machinedrum's "Gunshotta", check out the videos for "Ulysses" and "The Road".
Your debut album “Threads” was released in 2013 . What have you been up to since then and what are you currently focusing and working on?
I put out a short LP on Metalheadz last year called "Inversion" which was my take on the classic headz sound with my own twist, I am a huge fan of early DnB and Jungle and have been dabbling in that world recently in my DJ sets and music production work. Other than that I have some new remixes coming and in 2015 I will be raising the stakes with my label "Cosmic Bridge" which has been a little dormant recently, so we're going to be really pushing that this year. I recently re-located to Bristol in the UK, and will be getting my head down and working on my next long-player out here, just keeping it moving!
What were the most memorable and the worst gigs you ever played and what was the funniest thing ever occurred during any of your performances?
Once i played a live set in a maximum-security prison in Belgium! it was part of an arts festival, it was the most surreal thing i've done artistically.. That was the weirdest. The best show I've done was probably playing Koko in London, felt like coming home playing to a large crowd in London. I've played so many shows in the last 2-3 years it's actually hard to say what is best or worst though, I try to enjoy it all and not get caught up in things outside of my control.
On 3rd April you will perform live here in Bangkok at Glow Nightclub, alongside the PHATFUNK & DUBWAY crew. Have you visited Thailand before? What can Bangkok expect of your upcoming performance?
I have never been to Thailand, and am sad to say I am only there for a couple of days, but I look forward to this immensely. Bangkok can expect good vibes, something a bit deeper and to move a little differently than perhaps they might be used to, come with an open ear and an open mind and heart :)