D. Ramirez - “The Wired EP” Interview

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D. Ramirez - “The Wired EP” Interview

5 May, 2009 | 2.32AM

Written by: darkvision
Filed under: Music News : d.ramirez, robert babicz, slaverecordings

Q: You’re known as one of the hottest producers of underground floor fillers and your newest release, ‘The Wired EP’, is already getting major play by such DJs as Pete Tong (Essentials Selection) and Carl Cox. How do you feel this track best represents your style or future direction?

DR: I’ve always been into more underground music and I’ve had a lot of success with that but I’ve also had a lot of things which have crossed over into the mainstream - this is when I don’t feel comfortable and I have to take a step back. The Wired E.P is a representation of that and it’s my way of getting back into the murky depths of the underground and to make music which I love.

Q: Could you describe the 2 mixes of ‘Wired’ and the differences between them?

DR: My mix, the original mix, is a full on techno affair which goes straight for the jugular, whereas the Robert Babicz version is a lot deeper and more stripped down. I’ve been playing both mixes in my sets recently - I start with the Robert Babicz mix and end the set with my mix.

Q: The other featured track, ‘ The Road of Excess’, was originally featured on Azuli’s Headliners series mix. What kind of changes did you make for this release?

DR: When I was commissioned to do the Azuli ‘Headliners’ compilation they wanted at least four original productions of mine and I knew it was a tall order along with doing the compilation itself - consequently I ended up being in a bit of a rush to get my tracks ready. ‘The Road Of Excess’ was one of the tracks on the comp which I felt could have been better given a bit more time - it sounded OK on the album but I knew that it needed more work. What I’ve done is mixed it down again, made it a lot fatter and warmer, I’ve added some extra production elements and I’ve given it a lot more drama especially for the dance-floors.

Q: ‘The Road of Excess’, is noted to be inspired by William Blake. Could you give us some insight on his influence?

DR: I originally thought the quote was Timothy Leary’s, but later on found out it belonged to William Blake. It’s based on the idea that to truly experience something you must throw yourself into it entirely - you cannot dabble, you must be excessive - only when you let go will you know its true meaning. It’s the whole idea of the man living without a mask - being true to yourself.

Q: You have a new unknown vocalist, LDV, featured on the EP. How did you meet? What made you choose LDV for this project?

DR: I’m from Sheffield in the UK and there is a huge music scene here - bands like ABC, The Human League, Heaven 17, Cabaret Voltaire (I’m showing my age now-) are all from Sheffield and I’m friends with a few of them - in fact back in the day when I used to be a hairdresser I would cut the lead singer from Heaven 17’s hair. One of the stars from Sheffield wanted to make some dark dance music but they didn’t want anybody to know about it so we got together and did the two tracks - ‘Wired’ is actually inspired by Sheffield’s industrial, steel past.

Q:When you’re remixing your own tracks are you looking for a totally different sound or are you looking to compliment the original?

DR: The beauty of remixing is that can create something totally different from the original and appeal to a whole new audience. I like to mess with the original and see how far I can push it to make something new. Sometimes I will do another arrangement of a track if I feel the original could be different but most of the time I’ll completely rip it apart and start again. That’s the beauty of what we as producers do now, technology has advanced so far that everything is possible.

Q: Speaking of remixes, the EP features a remix from Robert Babicz. How did you come to choose him for the release?

DR: Robert Babicz is a producer whom I’ve admired for a long time now - he consistently produces music which is always of a certain quality and he’s known for his meticulous attention to detail. Also i wanted something different to my original and i knew he’d be able to pull it out of the bag so to speak. His style, although similar to mine is also quite contrasting which is what was needed here, without straying too far from the original.

Q: Where can we get our hands on this EP?

DR: At the moment it’s available exclusively on Beatport - http://www.beatport.com - It will be available on the Slave Recordings website http://www.slaverecordings.com in a couple of weeks along with two extra, exclusive remixes of both ‘Wired’ and ‘The Road of Excess’. The general release will be on the 26th of May where it will be available on most download sites.

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Q: You're known as one of the hottest producers of underground floor fillers and your newest release, 'The Wired EP', is already getting major play by such DJs as Pete Tong (Essentials Selection) and Carl Cox.  How do you feel this track best represents your style or future direction?

DR: I've always been into more underground music and I’ve had a lot of success with that but I’ve also had a lot of things which have crossed over into the mainstream - this is when I don't feel comfortable and I have to take a step back. The Wired E.P is a representation of that and it's my way of getting back into the murky depths of the underground and to make music which I love.

Q: Could you describe the 2 mixes of 'Wired' and the differences between them?

DR: My mix, the original mix, is a full on techno affair which goes straight for the jugular, whereas the Robert Babicz version is a lot deeper and more stripped down. I've been playing both mixes in my sets recently - I start with the Robert Babicz mix and end the set with my mix. 

Q: The other featured track, ' The Road of Excess', was originally featured on Azuli's Headliners series mix.  What kind of changes did you make for this release?

DR: When I was commissioned to do the Azuli 'Headliners' compilation they wanted at least four original productions of mine and I knew it was a tall order along with doing the compilation itself - consequently I ended up being in a bit of a rush to get my tracks ready. 'The Road Of Excess' was one of the tracks on the comp which I felt could have been better given a bit more time - it sounded OK on the album but I knew that it needed more work. What I’ve done is mixed it down again, made it a lot fatter and warmer, I’ve added some extra production elements and I’ve given it a lot more drama especially for the dance-floors.

Q: 'The Road of Excess', is noted to be inspired by William Blake. Could you give us some insight on his influence?

DR: I originally thought the quote was Timothy Leary's, but later on found out it belonged to William Blake. It’s based on the idea that to truly experience something you must throw yourself into it entirely - you cannot dabble, you must be excessive - only when you let go will you know its true meaning. It’s the whole idea of the man living without a mask - being true to yourself.

Q: You have a new unknown vocalist, LDV, featured on the EP.  How did you meet?  What made you choose LDV for this project?

DR: I'm from Sheffield in the UK and there is a huge music scene here - bands like ABC, The Human League, Heaven 17, Cabaret Voltaire (I’m showing my age now-) are all from Sheffield and I’m friends with a few of them - in fact back in the day when I used to be a hairdresser I would cut the lead singer from Heaven 17's hair. One of the stars from Sheffield wanted to make some dark dance music but they didn't want anybody to know about it so we got together and did the two tracks - 'Wired' is actually inspired by Sheffield's industrial, steel past.

Q:When you're remixing your own tracks are you looking for a totally different sound or are you looking to compliment the original?

DR: The beauty of remixing is that can create something totally different from the original and appeal to a whole new audience. I like to mess with the original and see how far I can push it to make something new. Sometimes I will do another arrangement of a track if I feel the original could be different but most of the time I’ll completely rip it apart and start again. That's the beauty of what we as producers do now, technology has advanced so far that everything is possible.

Q: Speaking of remixes, the EP features a remix from Robert Babicz.  How did you come to choose him for the release?

DR: Robert Babicz is a producer whom I’ve admired for a long time now - he consistently produces music which is always of a certain quality and he's known for his meticulous attention to detail. Also i wanted something different to my original and i knew he'd be able to pull it out of the bag so to speak. His style, although similar to mine is also quite contrasting which is what was needed here, without straying too far from the original. 

Q: Where can we get our hands on this EP?

DR: At the moment it's available exclusively on Beatport - www.beatport.com - It will be available on the Slave Recordings website www.slaverecordings.com in a couple of weeks along with two extra, exclusive remixes of both 'Wired' and 'The Road of Excess’. The general release will be on the 26th of May where it will be available on most download sites.Q: You're known as one of the hottest producers of underground floor fillers and your newest release, 'The Wired EP', is already getting major play by such DJs as Pete Tong (Essentials Selection) and Carl Cox.  How do you feel this track best represents your style or future direction?

DR: I've always been into more underground music and I’ve had a lot of success with that but I’ve also had a lot of things which have crossed over into the mainstream - this is when I don't feel comfortable and I have to take a step back. The Wired E.P is a representation of that and it's my way of getting back into the murky depths of the underground and to make music which I love.

Q: Could you describe the 2 mixes of 'Wired' and the differences between them?

DR: My mix, the original mix, is a full on techno affair which goes straight for the jugular, whereas the Robert Babicz version is a lot deeper and more stripped down. I've been playing both mixes in my sets recently - I start with the Robert Babicz mix and end the set with my mix. 

Q: The other featured track, ' The Road of Excess', was originally featured on Azuli's Headliners series mix.  What kind of changes did you make for this release?

DR: When I was commissioned to do the Azuli 'Headliners' compilation they wanted at least four original productions of mine and I knew it was a tall order along with doing the compilation itself - consequently I ended up being in a bit of a rush to get my tracks ready. 'The Road Of Excess' was one of the tracks on the comp which I felt could have been better given a bit more time - it sounded OK on the album but I knew that it needed more work. What I’ve done is mixed it down again, made it a lot fatter and warmer, I’ve added some extra production elements and I’ve given it a lot more drama especially for the dance-floors.

Q: 'The Road of Excess', is noted to be inspired by William Blake. Could you give us some insight on his influence?

DR: I originally thought the quote was Timothy Leary's, but later on found out it belonged to William Blake. It’s based on the idea that to truly experience something you must throw yourself into it entirely - you cannot dabble, you must be excessive - only when you let go will you know its true meaning. It’s the whole idea of the man living without a mask - being true to yourself.

Q: You have a new unknown vocalist, LDV, featured on the EP.  How did you meet?  What made you choose LDV for this project?

DR: I'm from Sheffield in the UK and there is a huge music scene here - bands like ABC, The Human League, Heaven 17, Cabaret Voltaire (I’m showing my age now-) are all from Sheffield and I’m friends with a few of them - in fact back in the day when I used to be a hairdresser I would cut the lead singer from Heaven 17's hair. One of the stars from Sheffield wanted to make some dark dance music but they didn't want anybody to know about it so we got together and did the two tracks - 'Wired' is actually inspired by Sheffield's industrial, steel past.

Q:When you're remixing your own tracks are you looking for a totally different sound or are you looking to compliment the original?

DR: The beauty of remixing is that can create something totally different from the original and appeal to a whole new audience. I like to mess with the original and see how far I can push it to make something new. Sometimes I will do another arrangement of a track if I feel the original could be different but most of the time I’ll completely rip it apart and start again. That's the beauty of what we as producers do now, technology has advanced so far that everything is possible.

Q: Speaking of remixes, the EP features a remix from Robert Babicz.  How did you come to choose him for the release?

DR: Robert Babicz is a producer whom I’ve admired for a long time now - he consistently produces music which is always of a certain quality and he's known for his meticulous attention to detail. Also i wanted something different to my original and i knew he'd be able to pull it out of the bag so to speak. His style, although similar to mine is also quite contrasting which is what was needed here, without straying too far from the original. 

Q: Where can we get our hands on this EP?

DR: At the moment it's available exclusively on Beatport - www.beatport.com - It will be available on the Slave Recordings website www.slaverecordings.com in a couple of weeks along with two extra, exclusive remixes of both 'Wired' and 'The Road of Excess’. The general release will be on the 26th of May where it will be available on most download sites.
Read more at: http://www.beatportal.com/feed/item/d-ramirez-the-wired-ep-interview/

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