Betting on Breakspoll pt 2: NAPT offer their punts

Betting on Breakspoll pt 2: NAPT offer their punts

20 February, 2009 | 1.50PM

• Written by: Caleb Rakes
• Filed under: Music News: breakbeat, breakspoll, funkatech

With the 2009 Breakspoll just around the corner, Beatportal has undertaken some strenuous investigative work to try and determine who will walk away with breaks’ most coveted accolades this year.

In the past, Finger Lickin Records have scooped most of the awards, and Krafty Kuts and the Plump DJs have won many times too. However, with the emphasis on change and emerging talent this year, Funkatech’s NAPT have now become odds-on favourite to clean-up, so who better to give us the low-down, than NAPT themselves.

2008 was an outstanding year for NAPT as ‘Gotta Have More Cowbell’, their adept take on the infamous Saturday Night Live sketch became the hit breaks record of the summer, whilst their remix of Slyde’s ‘Frequency’ became one of the biggest selling breaks records of the year. They have also received nominations for Best Breaks Artist and Best Breaks Track in the 2009 Beatport Music Awards.

Since last year’s event what do you think has changed within the breaks scene?

There has been a large positive shift with a whole batch of new producers coming through, each with their own take on the breaks sound and willing to contribute something new and relevant to spice things up a bit. After all the moaning, the scene is finally getting back to the business of good quality and interesting dance music. 2009 certainly looks like being the year of the return of breakbeat!

Who do you think will scoop the best producer award?

We hope we have a good chance as 2008 was our biggest year yet: we had the highest selling tracks of the year in ‘Gotta Have More Cowbell’ and our remix of ‘Frequency’ for Slyde and also released a batch of lip smackingly original singles and remixes that found their way into a multitude of DJ boxes.

False modesty aside, we’ve really enjoyed the work of Far Too Loud, Specimen A, Beat Assassins and Plaza De Funk recently.

For you, what was the standout record of the past year?

There have been a few, here’s a selection! Far Too Loud - ‘Play It Loud (Broken Robot Mix)’, Plaza De Funk ‘Drop The Bomb’, and NAPT ‘Gotta Have More Cowbell’.

Who would get your vote for best DJ?

Elite Force is the one of the best. His style is pretty radically different to a lot of stuff we usually like but he is a consummate DJ performer. He takes time to take his show to the next level in terms of pre-planning and skillful performance and his passion comes across very naturally. Plaza De Funk and the Beat Assassins are also stormers.

Best Newcomer?

Specimen A and Pyramid from Funkatech Records will be very successful in the coming year and have broken through into the harder, party end of breakbeat.

Who do you think should get best label?

Well again, pretty biased on this one but we’re voting for Funkatech as they consistently put out fresh and high quality artists, sell the most units of any label in the scene and reach across the most boundaries! Mofo Recordings have also been fine purveyors of funky and bashy breaks.

Standout album?

Stanton Warriors ‘Stantons Session 3’.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at the awards?

Looking forward to some of the live acts which are really exciting: Specimen A featuring Incyte and Miss Trouble, Stereo Type and Far Too Loud. Plaza De Funk too as he is an excellent DJ.

And finally, with the recent heavy influence of dubstep and electro on the breaks scene, where do you think the sound will be heading in 2009?

The good thing and bad thing about breaks is its ability to absorb qualities from other genres. Sounds from other fields will always influence a style but it is important to find your own stomping ground so to speak and not just jump onto fidget house, dubstep or whatever else the ‘in’ thing is at the moment. These styles have lots of great stuff going for them and that is why essentially there is no point just copying them in breakbeat. The key for breaks in the future is always being stylish as opposed to being fashionable. Quality always lasts whereas fads don’t.

With the new branding of Breakspoll and the succession of the fresh batch of exciting young artists, we’re already seeing the scene move into a more fulfilling and exciting position.

Click here for Part 1 of Beatportal’s Betting on Breakspoll.

Breakspoll Awards Ceremony

February 26th will see all eyes and ears within the breakbeat community descend on London’s Fabric club which is holding the 8th annual Breakspoll awards ceremony.

Hosted by Janette Slack, the line up includes Stereo Type, Bassbin Twins, NAPT and others.

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