Next up in our Best Of 2015 interview series are Drumsound & Bassline Smith. Just what did the label bosses enjoy in this vintage year for Technique?
How was 2015 for you and what have been your highlights of the year?
It’s been another good year for us. Highlights being World Of Drum & Bass/ 15 Years Of Technique USA Tour in March, Shambhala Music Festival in Canada was huge & some cracking club shows across Europe & Russia. Also rolling out the 15 Years of Technique series of albums plus ending the year with a couple of No.1’s in our VIP of Demo & Cease’s Ladies Night and, more recently, The Truth.
What did you release on Technique in 2015 and how was the response?
The response for The Truth / Outlaw Renegade & our Demo & Cease Ladies Nights VIP have been phenomenal, we’re really pleased with the overall reaction from DJs & fellow artists, fans & dance floors across the globe.
It’s always a nice feeling to know we’ve hit the spot with our musicians people are feeling what we do. Can’t wait for you to hear what we have in store for next year.
Favourite other Technique artist/s of 2015?
There’s been so much good music on the label this year, it’s difficult to say. Tantrum Desire’s brilliant ‘Diversified’ album has featured heavily in our sets over the course of the year so deserves a mention.
I think Document One have been a huge success story this year though, not just on Technique, but across Drum & Bass, topping the charts, receiving critical acclaim from artists and reviewers alike, as well as their remix duty for MTA.
Kronology delivered some real dance floor bangers this year as one of our newest recruits and the future looks bright form them and L Plus has really come into his own with his sound maturing into something we can call his own. Jailbreak, Snitch & Red Planet smashed it this past year.
Best gigs of 2015?
World Of Drum & Bass Moscow and Technique Takeover Vienna
Best singles / EPs of 2015?
Document One – Follow Me, Dimension – Whip Slap, DRS – The View ft. LSB & Tyler Daley and Noisia & The Upbeats – Dead Limit.
Best albums of 2015?
Drum & Bass: Tantrum Desire – Diversified, 15 Years Of Technique, Rene LaVice – Play With Fire and Break – Simpler Times.
Other: The Chemical Brothers – Born In The Echoes, Dr Dre – Compton and Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly.
Best labels of 2015?
Technique of course! Ram, Viper, Hospital and Critical have had great years too.
Best films of 2015?
Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Best TV shows of 2015?
Narcos.
What have you been doing recently?
Busy in the studio, plotting 2016.
Where are you spending Christmas?
At home with family and friends.
Which up-and-coming artists should we look out for in 2016?
Kronology, Gradual and Infrasonik
What’s your new year’s resolution?
Why wait for NYE?!
