sounding. That’s the kind of thing that interests me. I don’t want to hear stuff that sticks to a formula.”
Other non-formulaic music he’s been playing in his sets includes releases from Machine Drum and Broodlings, a juke/footwork outfit that release their stuff on Distal’s own Embassy Records. “They have themes to all their tracks,” says Distal. “They did this tune recently called ‘Rough Landing’ that’s a real rave-sounding track, that literally sounds like a plane landing dangerously. I like concept songs like that.”
STRIKING A NERVE Also on his label are an act called Clicks and Whistles,
from North Carolina in the US. Their tracky, Dirty South-themed style flits somewhere between juke and footwork too, just like Broodlings. Distal started his label a few years ago, initially as a means to release music. His defining moment came when he released ‘Angry Acid’, an 140bpm, tasty bass-laden, acid house romp that became the first tune he put out on British label Tectonic. Not only was ‘Angry Acid’ his gateway to the all-important European audience, but it was also recognition for something he felt was his finest creative moment to that point. “I still think that track is the biggest thing I’ve written, in terms of something that’s really come from the heart,” he says. “I remember recording it, at home in Atlanta. I went into the studio. I was pulling knobs, my fingers were flying across the keyboards. It was pure energy and I did it really quickly.”
When Tectonic label boss Rob Pinch heard it, he emailed Distal straight back, saying he loved it, not least because it reminded him of the kind of thing Aphex Twin could have had a hand in. “That was it for me, it really meant a lot to me because Aphex Twin is my musical idol,” Distal raves. “I love his diversity. He can do so many different things and make so many different sounds. My favourite album of his is ‘Selected Ambient Works 85-92’. It’s chilled, but then listen to other stuff he’s done and he totally flips it. He’s done completely opposite-sounding stuff that sounds amazing too. That strikes a nerve with me.” Talking about Aphex Twin in this way, Distal could almost be describing himself. And that’s before you reference his previous incarnation as hardcore and breakcore producer/DJ Proximal. He’d started DJing as Proximal aged just 15, playing happy hardcore, gabba and breakcore. “I just wanted to play anything with the word ‘core’ in it,” he says. “But that is all part of who I am now, of course. I’ve taken everything I learned during those times and put it into my music-making now. The opposite of Proximal (meaning ‘near’) is Distal (meaning ‘far’) so it’s like my transition from one place to another, from child to adult.”
OLD HOUSE It’s a metamorphosis that has, thus far, percolated into
his new, multi-genred album. With that under his belt, Distal’s onto the next thing. “I’m really inspired by old house at the moment,” he says. “Specifically this old group from New York called NY House Authority. They released something on Rush Hour recently, but they used to record back in 1988, as the Burrell Brothers, and they released acid house cuts under this name and others on labels like Nu Groove.” The big oldie from NY House Authority that Distal’s rocking in his sets at the moment is ‘Dyckman House’. “I played it at SXSW recently. The DJ before me was playing juke, footwork and hard bangers, then I came on and started DJing acid house. His last track was around 230bpm and I brought it right back down. I started with ‘Dyckman House’ and then played all this groove-based stuff. That’s what’s inspiring me lately.”
DISTAL’S 01. WHEEZ-IE
‘You Loose’ (EMBASSY RECORDINGS)
02. BOK BOK & TOM TRAGO
‘Lil Ma’ (SOUND PELLEGRINO)
03. N.Y. HOUSE AUTHORITY
‘Apt. 2a’ (RUSH HOUR)
04. SAMOYED
‘Klondike Rush’ (GLUM)
05. DISTAL
‘Preach On Hustle’ (TECTONIC)
06. NINA KRAVIZ ‘Ghetto Kraviz (Geto Neni’s Rework)’ (REKIDS)
07. MAK
‘About You’ (EMBASSY RECORDINGS)
08. DISTAL
‘House Party Five’ (TECTONIC)
09. CLICKS & WHISTLES
‘Adventure Tune’ (EMBASSY RECORDINGS)
10. APPLESCAL
‘El Diablo’ (RTFKT)
TOP TEN Read below for what he’s hot-dropping in clubs…
Whether you’re listening to his tracks, or hearing him DJ, it’s hard to keep up with Distal. Just when you think you’ve sussed out where he’s at, he’s moved onto the next thing. What underpins his style is an eclecticism that defies classification. Maybe that’s the
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key to his future as a producer: finding a way to attach a signature to his sound that can pull all his creative threads together? In the meantime, he’ll keep moving on. Flitting to the next thing as quick as the ping of an 808 cowbell.
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