44
OUTSIDE
LOOKING IN
“ We’re standing outside a London boozer on a sunny April
evening. Macc and long-term collaborator dgoHn – pronounced
John – are tantalisingly close to finishing their first joint album,
‘Some Shit Saaink’. hat’s the point in music if it’s not personal?”
says Macc, emphatically.
Musically, the album is a very different proposition pissing them off. I try and make stuff in weird have thrown around the term ‘elitist’. This is
to the mainstream D&B that’s currently time signatures. Drum & bass to me is all about completely wrong, says Macc: “What bugs me is
smashing up dancefloors around the country. rhythms and there’s all kinds of rhythms. You not who’s getting more exposure and who’s not,
Sometimes known as ‘drum-funk’, the music is can have 4/4 things and then have 5/4 rhythms or who’s making more money and who’s not.
a kaleidoscope of off-kilter rhythms, crisp drum slotting in on top of that. Some of the most What gets on my nerves is that people don’t seem
sounds and sparing, mournful arrangements. famous jazz tunes are not in 4/4.” to accept that there are different styles of music.
It’s unmistakably jungle, but jungle that’s been On forums and stuff you get this us versus them
turned inside out and had its DNA twisted. For Macc the aim of music should be to express thing going on. In the past, people had this idea
a personal feeling. “It’s about getting something that because we were doing more drum stuff we
It’s clear that the music is outside the established out,” he explains. “Generally I’m quite a cheery must think we were more true to jungle but I never
drum & bass sound. I ask if Macc and dgoHn ever guy, but I get that other, darker side out through thought about that, I just made a tune! There’s
feel like they themselves are outsiders. music. That’s what it’s there for. If someone room in music for whatever anyone wants to do.
dances to it or says they like it then great, but I’m If you’re doing something you’re happy with, as
“I wasn’t a raver,” says Macc. “A lot of people are not doing it with that in mind, or because I’m a musician, then what have you got to complain
bang into the scene and I was never like that.” hoping I’ll get plaudits.” about? Music isn’t a competition.”
“I don’t even know what the scene is!” agrees Macc agrees with dgoHn that the demands of DJs Though Macc is surely right about music not
dgoHn, “but that’s alright, because I’m not should come second to the demands of the song: being a race, people do nevertheless talk of
making any tunes in order to please anyone. That “If it wants to start with an ambient pad without success or failure in the music industry. I ask
never enters my head. Most of the time I’m just any beats – if that’s how the song should start – dgoHn if it’s frustrating to think that his music
thinking about what I would like to listen to. I just then that’s how it should start. Don’t put a hi-hat may never achieve the same exposure as, for
make tunes for me.” on it because it’ll make it easier for someone else. instance, the latest release on Ram Records? “I’ve
The fiercely independent attitude is evident in the That’s not what music should be about.” not heard the latest release on Ram Records,”
creative decisions behind the album, with Macc says dgoHn. “I’m not saying that to diss them,
and dgoHn exploring territory most producers This defiant attitude has led some to brand Macc, I’ve just got no idea where things are supposed
wouldn’t touch. dgoHn gleefully explains: “A lot dgoHn and others of their ilk as the drum & bass to be in the grand scheme of things or some
of what happens in the scene is governed by what scene’s own awkward squad. Others – particularly big scene. I really don’t give a shit. I always
DJs like to mix,” he says. “So I take pleasure in in the anonymous world of online forums – knew that I’d never make a living out of this.
www.kmag.co.uk
K44-45_MaccAndDgohn.indd 44 29/4/09 13:03:09
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