Feature: Shimon’s obsession with Audioporn

Feature: Shimon’s obsession with Audioporn

23 March, 2009 | 2.39PM

• Written by: Caleb Rakes
• Filed under: Music News: audioporn, dirtyphonics, shimon

Undoubtedly Shimon has been part of the backbone of drum & bass, contributing a mass repertoire of hits to the UK dance music scene for over 15 years, either under his own guise or as part of RAM Trilogy.

Over the years he’s been responsible for such classics as ‘Hush Hush’, ‘Quest’ and the UK chart topping collaboration with Andy C, ‘Body Rock’.

Shimon has now delved into the world of label management and at five releases in, there’s already a lot of hype behind his label Audioporn having picked up French wonderkids Dirtyphonics.

We caught up with Shimon in between his busy DJing, production and management schedule and asked him to give us the low down on everything going on in his world currently.

How do you get round working with Ant and Andy for the RAM Trilogy? I’m assuming you guys don’t find the time anymore to hang out in the studio together?

Yeah, we struggle to find a time when we’re in the same spot these days! It is a fairly rare thing for us to get together in the studio but when we do, it all comes really naturally.

We’re lucky that the dynamic still works out for us and we’re really grateful for the response we’ve received from Asylum. It’s nice to know people still dig our sound! 

How’s your foray into breakbeat coming along? Is it true there’s an album coming soon?

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if me entering a completely different scene would be successful but it’s all gone really well. 

At the moment, I’ve put the breaks stuff on hold while I concentrate on Audioporn.

Establishing the label and supporting the artists is really important to me and it takes up a lot of time.

I regularly play breaks and electro sets though, which is great - always nice to switch it up a bit!

I can see myself doing more breaks/electro tunes in the future. As for an album, that’s a massive commitment and I can’t make any promises at the moment. Watch this space though, you never know.

Now that you have your own imprint, do you think you’ll ever release on RAM again?

I’m definitely not ruling that one out. I love RAM; it gave me so many opportunities and I’ll always want to be a part of it.

Over the past year and a bit, my life has been AudioPorn but, when things settle down a bit I’d be up for another RAM project. 

RAM seem to have had a nice turn around with some fresh up and coming talent now leading the reigns of contemporary drum & bass. What’s your thoughts on the likes of Chase & Status, Sub Focus et al?

RAM always ‘brings it’ with quality tunes and Chase & Status and Sub Focus are no exception. I play tunes by these guys in my sets all the time and really respect their work. 

How is everything running now at Audioporn? Is it as rewarding as you’d hoped, is there more work than you’d expected, or is everything smooth sailing?

Everything is going off now! It’s hard to keep up with all of it, especially with the release of ‘The Quarks’ EP.

It is rewarding, particularly with artists like DirtyPhonics on board - they’re having a mad one and have just come back from Australia.

It’s nice because I see them going through the same stage I went through a few years back now and it’s just mad. New experiences, new places and plenty of opportunities. I’m really excited that people are picking up the tunes and liking what they hear. 

Now that you have your own label have you gained a new found admiration for those who also do the same thing?

Definitely! I held off from starting anything on my own for a long time because, well, I was just too irresponsible!

I’m glad I waited as it is a LOT of work and it does take some studio time away from me which makes me a little sad sometimes.

In the end though, it’s nice to have control over what I put out and when it comes out. It’s not for the faint-hearted though. Any new business owner will agree, it’s tough going to start with! 

How did you first discover Dirtyphonics?

MC Tali sent me a tune and it blew me away. I’ve got Tali to thank really! These guys were Paris’ best kept secret. They’re all very talented and to top it off, they’re all really nice blokes. 

Do you think there’s an extra challenge in breaking a French d&b act into a predominately UK based scene?

I don’t think it’s so relevant these days.

We’ve been blessed with modern technology - the internet and the Eurostar! I think people are more concerned by the quality of music they hear and that’s definitely not lacking where DirtyPhonics are concerned. 

Any plans for a Shimon album on Audioporn?

Absolutely! I’d want to develop AudioPorn further first and when the label is at a point where I’m comfortable to take the time, then I’ll be concentrating on that.

It’s definitely on my mind a lot these days and to release something on my own imprint would be a massive goal kicked for me. 

Going back a bit, it’s been over 8 years now since the highly prolific ‘Body Rock’, perhaps one the most commercial and important drum & bass releases this century. Do you look back now and think how immensely huge it was, or do you try and forget about it?

I don’t really think about it too much, except for when someone makes a point of telling me that they either a) fucking love it or b) fucking hate it.

I’m glad I made it and I’m proud of it and humbled by the attention it received and I suppose, continues to receive.

To be honest though, I don’t look back so much as I’m too busy looking forward. It’s one of those tunes that brings back some pretty awesome memories for me and when it was released, I was having so much fun, it should have been illegal and, uh.. I’m pretty sure some of it was. 

Do you even still play it?

From time to time I’ll slip it in if I feel the mood is right. 

What music outside of the spectrum of drum & bass do you listen to?

Everything except for country and western. I really like electro house and breaks. I’m a massive fan of Justice and DeadMau5.

And finally, any jokes?

Why has Edward Woodwood got D’s in his name?

Because he didn’t want to be called Ewar Woowoo.

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