The latest installment of Eisandnose Exclusives is brought to you from bassweight, tearout, tearup and dancefloor destroyer boy, Figure. Trust me, this is hench..! We badger about him on a regular basis, so by now you should know roughly who, and what we’re dealing with here. Nonetheless, for those of you who don’t, Kentucky born Figure (Or Josh) started DJing and producing at the tender age of 16, and has since been on a trail of destruction both behind the decks and in the studio. He’s usually tossing out the odd top notch bootleg which are nothing short of epic, but just to tip the iceberg, we’ve managed to blag the man for a cheeky interview and a fiercely composed mixtape to help sort out those who have a particular appetite for bass. His most recent EP, ‘Monsters’ delivers a guns blazing array of Drumstep smashers which have hit the top ten in the beatport charts, and is easily classed as some of the most exciting bassface to date. Beatport it here. Mixtape & interview below, tracklist after the jump. Big.
Who’s Figure, where did you come from, what inspired you to start making music, and to start djing?
Figure is Marvel Comics obsessed , video game addicted , 24 year old basement hermit. I started making music when I was 16 , and it was more focused on angry instrumental work on my MPC 2000 and some other out board gear. I started djing around this same time , it was always a juggle between which one to put more time into, whilst being a 16 year old little misfit. The inspiration question is something I can never really find the right answer too , I just wanted to make music and have fun with it.
How was 2010? Been anywhere exciting recently?
2010 was amazing for me. I ended up playing out of state gigs about 3-4 times a month and met some great people. The best gig was the last gig of the year for New Years Eve. I played with B.Rich, Udachi, Flinch, Hot Mess, Zeds Dead, and J.Rabbit. That line up pretty much sums up most of the people’s music I enjoyed alot this year , so it was just a great way to start this year.
What’s your mindset when you get into the studio, how do you start writing a track?
I try not to have a mindset , I just try to let things flow and happen. Luckly Ive spent a lot of time learning all my vsts and my main Program I use, to the point that if I want to do it then I can do it right there and then. It’s very important to me to know all my programs and vsts inside and out , so there is nothing in my way of making things how I want , when I want.
What should electronic music do? Who’s it for and what should happen when people hear it?
Well I think everyone has a different answer for that , but mine is pretty simple. The music I make is for the raves and the kids that like going nuts. I have no mission statement behind all this , its basically just made for the people who need it. The music we are all doing is the new generations Nirvana, they need it to balance things out and attach themselves to it. This is the new punk rock in my mind. Just with way more pussys.
Bpm Breaker – Figure
How do you think your sounds progressed since you first started making music, and how would you describe it?
How is music today changing? For better or worse?
Well the better it gets the more the world is going to milk it for all its worth. Music in general is never better or worse , Id say its all just for different times, people, and places. Bass music is at a good heathly state right now because its ‘anything goes’, and thats how it should be. Pop music is getting more dumbed down and their pulling stuff from our world, which will soon effect how people outside of our work perceive what we do. Somethings going to change soon, I just cant put my finger on it.
Top Figure tips? Music production, Lifeskills and in the kitchen?
Just focus on doing you. Thats it. Don’t worry about what other people are making and what is selling. In the kitchen….use more coconut oil!
What can we expect to hear in a Figure DJ set, and what’s in the mixtape you’ve kindly put together for us?
Expect to hear mainly my own music in my sets , but I always make sure to play my friends new tunes. This mixtape is filled with brand new stuff from me , including my new Monsters of Drumstep Ep and so on.
Anything we should keep a look out for in the coming months? Big plans, releases or any cheeky collabs?
In the next couple months , I have alot of of music coming out. A entire ep with Will Bailey, another collab with Calvertron, and as always new originals and free bootlegs. I have some tricks up my sleeve that I have a little smirk about, thats for sure.
Thanks Figure, all the best for 2011. Be sure to follow him up on Facebook, Soundcloud & Twitter.
Figure – Eisandnose Exclusive Mixtape
1. Hirshee feat.TonyeAganaba – So Good 2. Figure and Will Bailey – Move (Drumstep Mix) 3. Hirshee feat Sue Cho – Always Tomorrow (Figure Drumstep Remix) 4. Kanye West – Blame Game (Calvertron Drumstep Bootleg) 5. Figure – Aliens (Original MIx) 6. Figure and Kanji Kinetic – Frankenstien (Original Mix) 7. Figure – Zombies (Original Mix) 8. Figure – Vampires (Original Mix) 9. Kanji Kinetic – Citizens Unite (Original Mix) 10. Will Bailey and Figure – Bass Powa (Original Mix)
