rude_NHS is a solo electronic artist fusing together jazz, funk and post rock into visionary digital soundscapes. New single 'Mode Kinetica', which is available for free download on 6/4/15 via Soundcloud, is an introduction to the 'Mode I' album due for official download release on the 13/4/15 on UK independent Sotones Records.  

We were sent an advance copy of his new single 'Mode Kinetica', we took a listen and posted a review (you can read it HERE). We had a quick chat after it was posted and we asked him if he'd like to take part in our 'Introducing' section, naturally he said yes, (we don't get that many refusals) so I conjured up some deep and meaningful questions and posted them off to him with a self addressed envelope enclosed and awaited his reply, he got back to us immediately, here's how we got on....

 

 

Where did the name rude_NHS originate from? What was the inspiration behind it?

It's generated using random letters from my full name, except the 'e', I don't know how that got there. Too late now though.

 

Tell us something about yourself that Google doesn’t know (if that’s possible!)

I used to play in a covers band called Uncle Monty.

 

When did your relationship with electronic music begin ?

In terms of making it then at the end of the 90's. I'd seen some stuff people were doing with computers and heard all these breakbeats being sampled and thought I'd take a look. I had gotten bored of regular bands and guitar music by that point. Sequencing looked fun because I could program all the things that I couldn't play on the guitar to make them sound perfect, but sampling breakbeats was what made me take it more seriously. It wasn't so much my intention to set out making electronic music but rather using electronic tools to fill the gaps in music that I couldn't fill doing everything myself. It was only through trying that I discovered what a larger tapestry electronic music is compared to maybe rock or jazz. I wouldn't consider myself a straight up electronic musician, but it's a big part of my vocabulary now. 

 

Were there any factors that made you want to produce experimental electronic music?

Certainly having the freedom to experiment and have total control, the precision of sequencing, the more diverse range of tools available and various ways to use them. I grew up playing games on PCs and doing some desktop publishing and photoshop stuff, so when it came about that I could make music on computers it felt natural, plus I found something cute about performing with laptops. These days everyone does it so it's normal now. I was also a big guitar pedal enthusiast as a kid, always looking out for fun pedals that changed the guitar sound. We would have jams in bands that were very way out and all about sound rather than music, but I think not everyone wanted to pursue it as seriously as I did. Being into wacky guitar pedals means that synths and sound design is inevitably going to be the next step.

 

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you about the music industry?

None. No one has good advice about the music industry. Only experience and contacts. If there is one good piece of advice it's probably have lots of money or don't bother.

 

Which part of the production process do you most enjoy?

Tinkering and looking for things then finding them, the boring bit is always working to get things finished, so demoing or sketching is always best. And when it's finished, you can move on and do new things.

 

What’s your favourite musical genre?

Horror bass

 

Who, in your opinion has written the best album in the world ever?

Me, obviously

 

Which band or artist mostly influenced your taste in music and ultimately your own productions?

Jimi Hendrix, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Squarepusher, John Barry, to name a few

 

‘Mode Kinetica’ differs significantly from your previous work. What lead you to produce more melodic, “softer” tunes?

Well, it maybe different on the surface as it's got a more traditional acoustic sound set, but in terms of elements, it's the same, strong melodies and grooves are always there in my stuff, I might just present them differently, like taking the same photo at various times of the year. It's actually a track I wrote in 2003 and held back on it until I could find the right palette I liked. I've got loads of other versions where the music is the same, but I used synths instead.

 

Who designed the artwork for the new single? It’s kinda ‘out there...’!

Ruth Churchill

 

The videos are also part of your artwork? Could these also act as ‘standalone’ pieces in their own right?

I tried to embellish the tone of the album art by using it as a generator and running it through some 3D luminance filters and digital mirrors to create an animation, I've got more lined up. I'm getting more into making visuals in recent years as it can only add something. I guess they are standalone in their own right as ultimately the music comes first and how it works in people's imaginations. I guess the video helps people who don't have one!

 

What is your idea of hell?

I'm quite patient, but probably queuing to get into hell is worse than hell itself.

 

We have seen a previous video of yours, “My Viscus”, that draws upon the same lines as the newest one for “Mode Kinetica”. What is the intended message of these videos and what do you wish to reflect through them?

I've never made a video for that song I'm afraid. I think the video you're talking about was made by another person. If it's the one I'm thinking of then it's got some kaleidoscope thing going on so I guess it reflects itself. Eh?

 

What should we expect from the trilogy? From my point of view it sounds like a piece of work in 3 parts, is it?

Like all good trilogies, you start with episode 4. Yeah I'm gonna make two more using the same palette and process but slightly different styles, the second one will be more rock sounding, and the third I’m gonna use more of an orchestral sound set and go a bit more cinematic, maybe. In 2014 I made loads of tracks using a similar template and originally planned to release this massive album, two hours long, but I wanted to get it out fast so I chopped off some tracks that weren't ready and put them on the shelf. After doing that I decided that it would be fun to release a saga, and would encourage me to finish the other pieces. It's made sense in the end as I think all the tracks that are left would work well in a different context. Plus I have some older tracks that I made 15 years ago that are strong musically, but the production at the time wasn’t, so I might revisit some older stuff and reboot it for this new setup I'm exploring right now. Once I'm done, I'll probably go back to using really pure synthetics and electronics again. 

 

What do you have in your pockets RIGHT NOW?

The groove.

 

If you could relocate tomorrow where would you go?

Tough one. I like the seaside. Probably New York. It's got everything you need.

 

Which artist or band would you love to see live that you have not already (alive or dead!)

I'd like to see Lightning Bolt, Boards of Canada, Jimi Hendrix & John Williams.

 

Describe to me what your last dream was about?

I had a dream where I was on holiday with my fiancée, and we got gate crashed by a load of hipsters, I got cross and went out and bumped into a friend who tried to sell me this new drug called ‘sap’, so I bought some and took it back, gave some to my fiancé who said it was really good, so I went to the kitchen to make tea so I could spike the hipsters with the sap to make them all get scared and go away. Horrible really. I'd never ever do that in real life. Got knows why I'm dreaming about it. For the record I never made it passed the tea making part.

 

So, after a heavy night on the ale, what do you find is best to ward away a hangover?

Drink more and watch dogs on YouTube

 

If you had to evacuate and could only take one of your belongings with you, which would it be and why?

My fiancée because she's good in emergencies.

 

I wasn’t going to ask this but as we sort of started talking about it on Saturday, what’s your favourite cheese?

Hmmm. I like Stilton but only if I can wash it down with red wine. Edam I like, Red Leicester. Grilled halloumi is pretty special.

 

 

 

 

 

Like all other people who take part in our 'Introducing' feature, we always insist on them answering some quickfire questions, they know the rules, either one or the other, not both and never neither....

 

 

London or New York?

New York

 

Car or Bicycle?

Car, sorry...

 

Snowboarding or Sunbathing?

Snowbathing

 

Junk food or Healthy diet?

Healthy but that's not true

 

Laptop or Desktop computer?

Desktop

 

DJ set or live music act (not as a listener..)?

Dj’ing is fun

 

Theatre or Cinema

Cinema

 

Summer or Winter?

Winter

 

Apple or PC?

Apple

 

Ozzy or Lemmy?

Ozzy

 

Outdoor festivals or venue/music hall?

Venue

 

Free Spirit or in a relationship?

Relationship

 

God or Google?

I'll ask Jeeves!

 

We'd like to thank rude_NHS for taking time out of his day to answer our questions, we look forward to listening to his new album which is due for delivery in April.

Keep tabs on his whereabouts by clicking on the various social media channels below;

 

Social Media

Facebook

Twitter

Bandcamp

Mixcloud

 

Interview by Eirini Gialou