30
More twisted
than ever
It’s more than ten years since a certain Lee Greenaway aka Twisted Individual
announced himself on the scene with the release with his classic track ‘Wales’. Having
experienced the highs and lows of celebrity lifestyle via London and California,
Twisted tells Knowledge he is ready for another decade of dominance.
The first thing to say about interviewing Twisted Elements and Mutated Forms all making waves for “People aren’t going to believe some of the
is he’s a bit of a character. Take his plans for the the imprint. But while fans have been inundated stories,” he admits. “How many people do
cover photograph for his ‘Greatest Hits’ album with tracks from his stable-mates, things have you know that travelled the world, their house
that is scheduled for release in July. been a bit more quiet from the man himself – burnt down and married a porn star? Every bad
until now that is. experience that I’ve had has put me on the right
“I’m gonna get some sort of Tom Jones thing course so you just have to take what happens to
done for it,” he reveals. “You know, standing “I’ve been building a profile for the label,” he you and move on. I really want to get the chance to
in front of an open fire or sitting in a rocking explains. “When I first started out I used to travel again and see more places – I’ve seen some
chair or something like that! The idea behind the speak to SS on the phone and he’d be telling me crazy countries people have never even heard of.
‘Greatest Hits’ is that a lot of my back catalogue about coming back from America or Australia I want to be the Uncle Albert of drum & bass so
has been lying dormant since I left Formation and while I was working on a building site. I used to when I’m 70 I can bore people with my stories!”
since then the whole digital thing has taken off so daydream about it and all of that worked out so
there’s a lot of new listeners to drum & bass. The when I won Best Producer I wanted to do the next After more than a year away, Twisted returned
age-range of people who are into the music always thing and for me that was to build up a label and to the UK over Christmas in order to take stock
stays the same so it’s a chance for them to hear that’s what I’ve been doing. Now I think we’re of his situation. He is planning to return to the
some of my old tunes. some big competition for the big labels – for the States in the next few months but is determined
sound that we do Ganja is the leader but Hype that he can continue to produce and run the label
“There were a lot that I wanted to put on there better watch his back! as he moves around.
that were left off because I wanted to show some
of the other stuff I’ve done that might have been “I’ve had enough of being on other people’s “It has meant that I’ve built up a big catalogue of
forgotten,” he adds. “It was important to keep it labels,” he continues, “I’m looking out for me tunes that need to be finished and I’ve got the
as a double CD so some of them didn’t make it and my crew now. The label is doing really well hunger back for it,” he says. “I’m just going to
and I could put on the more experimental ones. and we’ve got some wicked artists signed to it. take each day as it comes and go with the wind - I
People tend to be quite close-minded when they Gareth’s my business partner and he keeps it all don’t want to say what I’m aiming at because in six
think of me but I wanted to shut a few of them up running smoothly and does the invoices while months time I might change my mind. I’m a pretty
and show there’s more to me than just jump-up.” I’m looking after the music. It’s a good group of impulsive person so there’s no point planning
people to work with and we’re a good team.” really. My house burnt down for a reason and the
Having risen to prominence as a teenager under reason is I wanted to travel – I was always on at my
the guidance of SS and the Formation stable, As for his own productions, they have taken mates to come with me but a lot of them were too
Twisted released his ‘Lighter’ remix in 2001 a back seat in the last couple of years after an materialistic. I’m not like that because I’ve always
before going on to record his debut LP ‘Tooled unexpected interruption to his plans – his house wanted to move around and now I want to try and
Up’ a year later. Featuring interesting track burnt down. make tunes all over the world like I have been
names such as ‘Gimp Mask’, ‘Bitch Muzzle’ and doing. The good thing about modern technology
‘Colostomy Bag’, the album propelled the south “I did it on purpose!” Twisted laughs. “I’m only is that it allows you to do that.”
Londoner to the forefront of the scene and he joking but it seriously threw a spanner in the
was named Best Producer at the 2003 Accelerated works for a while. Basically I had to live my life For now, though, he is ready to step back into
Culture Awards, as well as receiving the gong for out of a suitcase travelling around. I was pretty the limelight with a number of new releases also
Best Track for ‘Bandwagon Blues’. bored of being in London anyway so it was good planned. First up will be a Zombie Records album
for me at the time - I was still making tunes but called ‘Zombie Bass Eaters’ that features Zen,
“It’s what I dreamed about when I was growing I was just enjoying life really. I’d given up my Vital Elements and other Grid peeps, while he
up in school and all my dreams came true,” most my social life to do the whole drum & bass also has solo projects ‘Donkey Punch’ and ‘The
remembers Twisted. “Since then, I’ve been thing and I spent most of that time in the studio. Wrath of Fibre’ currently doing the rounds. For
wondering where all the time has gone – I still feel I wanted to take some time out and not worry his many fans, it’s a welcome return to form.
like I’m only 20! I’ve not had a proper job at all about music – I just got a bit bored with what was
in that time and I’ve been flying everywhere I ever happening. The sound was changing and I wasn’t “In a way I forgot what I was doing – I got quite
wanted to go but it’s starting to sink in now with really that into it.” lazy with it all but now it’s all fitting into place,”
the wrinkles. Saying that, I’ve still got plenty of reveals Twisted. “Every day I write a tune that
time left in me.” After leaving the UK, Twisted headed for sounds different to the last one but just recently I
Tennessee in America’s Deep South before worked out where I was going wrong so I’m pretty
After leaving Formation in 2005 to set up Grid decamping to California for six months where he confident I can roll out again now.
Recordings with his business partner Gareth, lived a fairytale life he could never have dreamed
things have gone from strength to strength for of back home in Croydon, an experience that Always one to mix it up a bit, that could even
the Twisted empire with the likes of Zen, Vital even included marrying a porn star. mean Twisted appearing as you’ve never seen him
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K30-32_Twisted Individual.indd 30 29/4/09 12:02:44
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