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 Kuffdam took the time out recently to have a chat to the crew here at i:Vibes about his brand new album, what 2009 has in store for the scot and weather Kuffdam & Plant really are disbanded? You'll find what he had to say very encouraging...
You may know Kuffdam from the very successful 'Kuffdam & Plant' who for the past five years have been pounding out quality record after record. Tracks like 'Summer Dream' and 'Dream Makers' go down in my book and I'm sure millions others as Trance classics. It's that style and energy in the records that kuffdam now uses for his own solo productions, but as we probe deeper with some serious interrogation, you will be glad to know that Kuffdam Plant are just on the simmer and will come to boil again!
In the current timeline Kuffdam is about to release his debut artist album which including his new solo work does feature three of his records as Kuffdam & Plant. The latest single from Kuffdam 'Burning Up' is taken from the forthcoming album and the indication from that is the album is going to be essential audio for any dance music fan. We've had the opportunity to catch up with the Scottish producer we all know as Kuffdam to gather his thoughts on this year, the new album, the state of Kuffdam & Plant and just why the album has took so long to appear. The answers are here!
i:Vibes: Many thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions from the i:Vibes crew. As we are well into the New Year now how has the beginning of 2009 been for Kuffdam?
Kuffdam: Hey guys, nice to be back on the site… its been a while since we last chatted… Yeah 2009 is going really well.. The new single, Burning Up has just been released and I’m working on the promotion for the album which will be out on the 21st, so its all go that’s for sure.
i:Vibes: Last year I think Trance really got back onto top form with so many new records released and old faces producing more quality tracks than ever. What were your musical highlights from last year?
Kuffdam: I think the crossover over Psy and Trance has had a huge influence on me… I’m loving that sound so much and its just got hold of me just now. Artists like Earsugar, Symphonix and Ace Ventura are producing amazing tracks. I’m loving the blend between that kinda style then merging in to the trance style like Activa and Thomas Bronzwaer. It means when I’m playing in a club I can really develop the set rather than the standard 60 mins of banging tunes.
i:Vibes: Kuffdam is not only a producer but you also are quite handy with a mixer and had a few DJ gigs throughout 2008. What were your favourite nights from last year out and about Dj’in?
Kuffdam: One gig that stands out for me was down at the new Turnmills night in London. They have moved to Ministry Of Sound and they had me along to play after PVD in April. No mean feat to follow that man I can tell you but the place was rocking…. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to return in May this year for more of the same.
i:Vibes: We all got to know Kuffdam as one half of the Kuffdam & Plant project. I remember your statement about the decision to go solo last year as Yiannis (Plant) had other work commitments. How has the move from working together to working on your own been?
Kuffdam: We are still working together on ideas, just not as often as the years before. Yiannis has a young family and as anyone with kids knows, that takes up time so he decided the step back was the best option… But I have been over 3 or 4 times to Cyprus since and we have messed with some ideas… But in terms of going solo, I have always worked worked on music with the idea of taking it to a club to DJ and Yiannis never really got into the travel part so not much has changed there. I’m just happy to be working, keeping busy and getting out to DJ live… when Yiannis has time we will work together.
i:Vibes: Do you find you can be more creative when working solo and are able to put your ideas down in Audio form more easily?
Kuffdam: ? I do miss having Yiannis around as he was amazing at the technical side of the work. What I mean is that when I had an idea he was good at developing it on the software… Now I have had to work around that, it’s a learning curve but something I’ve really enjoyed and he is normally only a call away to help me work through a problem which is great. Another good thing about this industry is the people you meet on your travels, I made great friends and they have helped play a part in new productions, ironing out a technique or effect… That’s the thing with music, you never stop learning and you never master it all.
i:Vibes: Have we heard the last of Kuffdam & Plant or are there plans for any new collaboration’s in the future?
Kuffdam: Definitely not, we have several tracks with are well on the way to being finished but with the album ready to go its more a case of focusing on the promotion and touring of that. K&P has always been a fun project and we will be back to it soon…
i:Vibes: Looking back to last year, we started to see the solo sound of Kuffdam emerge and your new forthcoming artist album ‘Network’ is looking to be a very exciting release. How long did it take you to complete all the tracks on the album?
Kuffdam: Its been a project Yiannis and myself started about 18 months ago, we did work on many of the tracks as basic ideas but when the decision came for Yiannis to focus on other areas of his life, I pushed on what release and discussed the plans with Vandit. The main pulling together of the project has taken about a year and really, I just want to get it out now… Its been on my PC long enough, now I just want people to listen to it and hopefully enjoy the concept. I’m really proud of the work on it, the tracks, the sound, its what I think Kuffdam and of course Kuffdam & Plant sound like…
i:Vibes: What style of sound can we expect to hear with the new tracks?
Kuffdam: Well as I am sure you have seen from the tracklist.. there are 10 tracks on there, 7 new and 3 you all know well… but look… Out of those 3 tracks, only The Ones We Used To Love is unchanged. The other 9 are basically new tracks despite the names. Summer Dream has been completely re-written to an idea I had years ago… I just never got round to doing it until I started with the album, so I hope people like it. Ever since I first got into trance music, I have been obsessed with how a mix, album or track flows and Network is no different. Everything should have its place, a point for it being there… I think maybe I have OCD and that’s why this bothers me so much lol…. I guess what I’m talking about here is the way the album plays, its like a DJ set with a smooth intro building into some nice electro and tech before hammering you with the trance sounds. Network was always written to flow in that style despite being 10 individual un-mixed tracks…
i:Vibes: Where do you gather your inspiration from when creating a new track? Do you just start fiddling around with sounds or have a pre-set plan on the type of track you want to create?
Kuffdam: ? Actually I find ideas for all sorts of music, as some people know I’m a big metal fan.. I love that sound from guitars and bands like Metallica. I often listen to that style of music and hear something I like and it runs through my mind how I can get that kinda idea into a track.. The smallest thing like a lyric from a sound can just spark an idea or translate into a sound in my mind… its hard to explain but maybe someone reading this will think the same… I’ll give you an example… I just moved house recently and bought a new painting from an artist I really love in London… when it arrived the artist wrote a small note inside for me and she had titled the painting Lucid Dream, well between the painting and the name of it, its had my head racing for weeks with ideas of how I could work this into a track… Am I strange to think like that???
i:Vibes: Did you think about collaborating with any other artists for a track on the new album as it’s been something a lot of other producers have been doing?
Kuffdam: Well, we have 3 tracks on the album which feature some good friends… Terry Ferminal is of course on the The Ones but he also provided a nice vocal sample for the new track Burning Up… There’s also a great vocal from Lo –Fi Sugar on a track called The Last Time… Van Dyk has worked with Lo-Fi recently and I had the chance to feature her on a track so its worked out great… Its possibly going to be the follow up single release for the album.
i:Vibes: Are there any future plans to do any Kuffdam collaborations with any other electronic producers and if you could hand pick one to spend a day in the studio with who would it be?
Kuffdam: I’ve been working with a couple of people recently actually, Frase in the UK has been working with me on a PSY track, I think I have him hooked on the sound after blasting him with all sorts of tunes when we meet up.. so we have decided to start a little project to see what we can come up with.
i:Vibes: What would be your favourite track from the new album?
Kuffdam: I really dig them all, honestly… isn’t that what every artist says when releasing an album lol… Joking aside, there are a couple that make me happy for various reasons. Turn Your Hand To This is a little gem, it’s got a wicked electro feel to it, its short and sweet but makes me happy… Also No Way Out, I LOVE THAT TUNE… Its everything I love about trance… massive strings, huge breakdown and just the kinda thing you need to play in a club…. There’s a video of me playing it at Ministry on YouTube, check it out and you will see what I mean.
i:Vibes: The first track I heard from the new album is your brand new single ‘Burning Up’. That was pretty big in the Summer with Paul van Dyk putting it in his Cream Ibiza compilation. How come that one has taken so long to get a release?
Kuffdam: Well I can’t blame anyone but myself here… The album was due to be released in the late summer of 08… but I had an accident in March and managed to break my arm, fracture my elbow and fracture my spine. All I did was slip in the snow and down I went like an 80 year old pensioner in the street crushing bones left, right and centre… so no point in Vandit putting an album out when there artist is stuck at home in plaster and not able to tour. As for the single, we agreed to put it on hold till I was better but once you give PVD a track he likes, try telling him to stop playing it while the plastered up artist recovers lol….
i:Vibes: The new album will be released in February on the legendary Vandit label which you have had a lot of releases on in recent years. Are there any plans to follow up the release with an album tour?
Kuffdam: Simply… Yes… Tour dates are being pulled together now and my website will have info as soon as all is confirmed… check www.kuffdam.com for info… I’ll defo be back at Ministry in May and plenty more to come…
i:Vibes: I regard Vandit as being one of the most prestigious labels you can have your music release on. Has being part of the label’s music plans been a motivating factor when it comes to production your music and what will be the next single release after ‘Burning Up’ for Kuffdam be? Will you pick a track of the new album or set about a new production?
Kuffdam: Vandit are simply amazing to work with, they have a superb team of staff that help with everything and I’m proud to work with everyone at the label… Its good to know that your music is in good hands when its signed up, that’s a massive motivator when you have work you have spent so much time on… As for the next single, I’m talking with them now and it’s a possible release for The Last Time as part of the album release up next. I also have more material which has been signed for release later in the year, a track called Break My Fall… no clues as to where that title came from…. That will be out soon also…
i:Vibes: Looking into 2009, what are you looking forward to the most this year?
Kuffdam: TOURING, PLAYING LIVE… bring on the travel.. I love it… There is nothing better than seeing new places, partying and getting out to the clubs to meet new people, if you come to see me this year… come say hello…
And just a few quick ones to round it off that we like to call the 'Quick Five':
i:Vibes: Do you have Paul van Dyk on Speed dial?
Kuffdam: Hahahaha maybe
i:Vibes: What have been your favourite records so far this year?
Kuffdam: Paul Trainer - Totality
i:Vibes: Beer or Cider?
Kuffdam: Jack Daniels for me please…. If you twist my arm… Lager
i:Vibes: The last CD you had on in you car?
Kuffdam: I don’t drive…. Too lazy to learn…
i:Vibes: Your most treasured musical possession?
Kuffdam: Metallica collection…
Many thanks again for taking the time to speak to us over here at i:Vibes. We look forward to your new album in a few weeks time and hopefully see you out and about in the UK sometime for a buzzing club night!
Kuffdam's debut artist album will be released on Vandit Records on the 20th February!
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