Hailing from Bratislava in Slovakia, L Plus has already forged an enviable career as a DJ and producer. Since signing exclusively to Technique Recordings in 2011, he’s been honing his unique sound, with releases like his Time Travel EP, Catastrophe, and remixes for scene luminaries like Crissy Criss and Tantrum Desire. With his latest release, the One Tonne Of Bass EP, out now we caught up with him for a quick chat.
What kind of stuff did you listen to while you were growing up?
My first contact with music was a vinyl LP of Boney M, which I played on a wicked belt drive turntable, which I still have now. I listened to many styles. While playing flute I was listening to classical music, then I played solo guitar with a school band, tunes from Elvis Presley and The Shadows. Then I had my own punk group where I also played guitar and, finally, at university I met people addicted to D&B.
What is the drum & bass scene like in Slovakia just now?
The scene is heavy influenced by LET IT ROLL festival. Part of the crew is based in Slovakia, where we have also smaller gigs called LET IT ROLL, or warm-ups etc. Of course we still have some other nights and clubs, and maybe thanks to this big festival people starting to party more to D&B. I like that in my hometown my name can sell out a club for 400 people.
What producer or artist were you trying to sound like when you first started producing?
It was the Norwegian influence of D&B – Future Prophecies and TeeBee. It was my cup of tea, definitely. I played many times with those guys. Later I did a tune with Tony Anthem of Future Prophecies, which meant a lot to me.
What was your ‘eureka moment’ as a producer?
When I get an AIM message from someone from Moving Shadow, that they want to sign my tune! That was the moment I know I want to stay here.
How would you describe your approach to making music?
While listening to different genres I’m inspired to write my own D&B music. I’m always trying to put something original and interesting into the tune.
How important is the balance between technical ability and creative ideas / vibes?
It’s very important to have technical skills for that finest sound you need to deliver to the scene. And the creative ideas are the engine. Without creative ideas you can take peoples attention.
Take us through your new EP track by track…
Jailbreak – That bassline is really addictive, that’s why I put first drop without snares, only with kicks and bassline.
Snitch – This style of tunes I really like in the past few months, the beats are not so pumped as rest of my tunes but the flow works really good on the floor, especially when you put this tune after bunch of speedy heavy tunes.
Arcade – Intro takes me back to my childhood, when I was playing games on Commodore 64. I always wanted to hear 8-bit sound on a big sound system. I start my live sets with this tune more than half year.
One Tonne Of Bass – is the classic drum & bass tune with heavy anthemic intro followed by the pumped beats and heavy basslines.
What do you enjoy most about working with Technique?
I really enjoy how Simon manages the label. He gained my respect from the beginning of our relationship. He wants me to focus on music and not to deal with other things, and this is really helpful.
Would you ever consider moving from Bratislava?
Yes, this is possible one day. I would like to move to a city with more producers of electronic music than here. So possibly London?
How has your approach to making music changed over the years?
I’m not sure something’s changed. I was always experimenting with live instruments, with booster guitars connected directly into computer, etc. Now I’m playing at the same playground but with more expensive toys.
What’s key to creating your own sound?
I think it’s opening your mind while playing with plugins and filtering samples. You should listen to your inner voice, not just copying other sounds you hear on main stage.
Whose productions do you love right now?
I love Tantrum Desire, Prototypes, Mind Vortex and many neuro producers at the moment. I’ve started to listen to neuro basslines more than before.
Done any interesting collaborations recently?
I started something with Tantrum Desire, MC Coppa and we talked about some new tune with Erb N Dub. So it seems it all stays in the Technique family.
What are you currently working on in the studio?
I always have lots of open projects in the studio. So currently I have five projects, and one of them is really close to finishing, so in my next sets I’ll be testing it out on humans.
Any plans for an album?
I was thinking about an album and I like that idea. So if I have a phone call from Simon one day about an album, I’ll be ready to go for it! But I know it has to be the right time to release an album. So I’ll deffo wait for the right time.
What’s the next challenge for you?
I would like to go on tour to Australia and NZ! Never been there.
What have been your highlights of 2015?
One of the biggest highlights was the first Technique Takeover show I did together with Drumsound & Bassline Smith, Tantrum Desire and Youngman. We sold out the Mainframe in Arena, Vienna. Another highlight was our show with MC Coppa at Grape festival in Slovakia where we had more than 8,000 people.
What’s the best record you’ve made so far?
Maybe Middle East Sun released on Viper 2008, which was picked by Andy C for Nightlife 4, or Amazing released on Technique 2012 with 415,000 views on UKF’s YouTube channel.
Who’s your all-time hero and why?
Drumsound & Bassline Smith, TeeBee & Calyx, Matrix, Ed Rush, John B – all of these people were there when I started my D&B journey and they’re still there in full strength! No weakness.
Who or what makes you laugh?
I’m laughing most of the day, so I think pretty much everything makes me laugh. Last time when I played with Tantrum Desire he tried dancing to drum & bass and I filmed it. That makes me laugh every time I see it. I think I should upload it on Instagram.
What’s the best piece of equipment you’ve ever used?
It’s my PC. Yes, I have few pieces around the table that I use as well like electric guitars and other instruments, but the best of the best is that PC machine which I really like.
What was the best set you’ve ever heard?
It was Pendulum’s Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 a few years ago. That mix opened my eyes in a field of mixing music. It was a brilliant mixture of different styles, they were changing bpm all the time but the whole mix was really consistent and sounded perfect.
What’s the most memorable crowd you’ve played to?
It was in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was very long ago, but I still remember it. I played from 4am till 6am, as it was the prime time there. But at the end of my set everybody was still there and people were yelling, clapping hands, they were so crazy that I played two more hours. Crazy!
What was the last non-drum & bass single or album you bought?
Nero – Between 2 Worlds
Who would be playing at your ideal night out?
Hype, Andy C, Drumsound & Bassline Smith, Prototypes.
What track would you love to have the stems of for a remix?
Something from the Skrillex hits would be really interesting to have in my studio.
What’s your favourite video game at the moment?
Assassins Creed and Splinter Cell whole releases. I play all of them from the first release. I love stealth games, and both of them were really something that I needed. I love to play at night on a big flat TV with headphones. Scary.
Buy the One Tonne Of Bass EP in the Technique store, iTunes and Beatport.
