BOTCHIT
&
SCARPER
WORDS
:
STU
C
PICTURE
:
COURTNEY
HAMILTON
))BOTCHIT &
SCARPER
IT HASN’T BEEN AN EASY YEAR FOR BOTCHIT & SCARPER.
DEPARTURES FROM THE FAMILY HAVE FORCED CHANGE AND NOW THE CREW
ARE
))
PREPARING THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT PHASE…
…maintaining an ever-fresh supply of mutant funk, Looking back, Botchit & Scarper’s first compilation, independent label to earn a living for an artist and after
served up by beat mashers from all corners. And with ‘Militant Science’, contained downtempo trips, vocal years of struggling if they get the opportunity to put
those basslines is it really a surprise that the label has excursions and jungle as well as heavily featuring Asian a deposit on their house or pay off the bills, live a little
even been spotted in the record boxes of some Dub Foundation. As breakbeats moved into the clubs financially, then they gotta do it. There’s no disrespect to
heavyweight UK garage DJs. Times have changed in more, the demands of the public changed. “Unfortunately anybody that decides they gotta move on.”
their world and now, more than ever, it’s about the art that sort of music is really hard to promote without major
of moving butts. Summing up the motivation behind resources and we are governed by DJs being able to It’s undeniable that the label’s momentum was affected,
their latest offering, ‘Botchit Breaks 4’, label man play the stuff. We have slipped into that trap a bit.” Other but independent labels have traditionally played this role
Martin Love outlines the simple, and supremely albums like ‘Organic Tecnoloji’ and ‘Breakspeech’ have in the record industry. “I’d love to be an A&R man at a
executed, plan: “Our only ethos with that is to keep continued the tradition, and Martin assures us that major, it’s gotta be so easy. All you’ve gotta do is check
it dirty, keep it funky.” there’s more to follow on that tip. the press, see who’s doing it, who’s working it... they
don’t have to go out and find talent, we find it for them.”
Originally set up to flex skills at tempos outside of the Having recorded for each of the labels, the first After breaking the artist, putting out a debut album,
drum & bass restrictions of the older labels under the graduates of the stable were always gonna be the building up a 5 to 10,000 fan base, the time will come
same personnel, SOUR and Emotif, Botchit became, hardest to see leave. Freq Nasty has always been when the majors come knocking. “It’s easy for a major to
according to Martin, “Vini’s vision of mixing it up more; around and Martin remembers that BLIM even, “lived in come in and exploit that with their big money cheques
taking in all forms for music from around the world Vini’s front room when he first moved to London.” Tighter that aren’t really big money at the end of the day. All I’d
based around breakbeat, doing something different.” purse strings will always mean that some have to go. say to any artist out there is don’t sell yourself cheap.”
“Losing them is about more than losing them as artists. Despite some of the cash figures that roll around the
Although he admits, “a fair amount of blame,” for the The sad thing for Botchit at the time was that it broke up music industry, everyone’s got their laments about
label must be apportioned to partners in crime from the camp. We had a strong family at that time, everyone their first deal. “It doesn’t go that far by the time you’ve
those days, Dave Stone and Norton Blue. The diversity pulling together with no money around. I don’t feel any paid your manager 20%, your tax 40%, you buy your
apparent on the first releases is often forgotten but it’s a bad blood towards Freq, he’s a true friend and equipment, and it takes two years to get your album out.”
fact that is mischievously appreciated by those involved. supporter. But me and Vini were gutted when we lost
“I think actually we’ve got a reputation for our B sides him, gutted when we lost BLIM as well.” While still London based, an ever-growing network of
being better than our A sides a lot of the time. I love it friends and associates has resulted in a roster that
when that happens,” Martin admits. “In the beginning Pressures of trying to pay them bills had to take continues to look outside the capital. Manchester, Wigan,
we ignored the dancefloor really then nu skool breaks precedent eventually, as always, and people moved on Stockport, Bournemouth, Newcastle are all represented,
came about and sort of pigeonholed us.” to further reaching companies. “It’s really hard for an “people that maybe aren’t so saturated with it. In London
24 KNOWLEDGE
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51