Interview with Alex Smoke

Interview with Alex Smoke

27 August, 2008 | 1.32AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: alex smoke, fool, hum+haw, soma, vakant

Alex Smoke is finally releasing a new EP on the Berlin label Vakant Records in September, but it might not be what you’re expecting.

Known for his knack for producing minimal beats with inventive and melodic arrangements that hover on the darker sides of emotion, this Glasgow-based producer answered a few of our questions about the nature of this new release. 

Your latest EP is entitled Drama. Any reason for that?

OK, I have to be very clear here......the new EP and album are totally not “Alex Smoke”.

They are my hip hop side-project under the name of “Fool”.

The name was a result of the lyrics I was sent by Non......Wow - what an insight!

It’s the first extract from your forthcoming third album. What would you say is the evolution compared with the first ones? Technically or musically...

It is electronic hip-hop....me doing the beats and an MC from LA called Non.

My next Alex Smoke album will be out towards the end of the year.....

What is the process when you decide that a certain track will go to a certain label (Vakant, Soma)? On what criteria do you make your choice?

For Vakant it is quite a strict sound, relatively speaking, as the label has a strong aural identity.

Alex cuts me some slack, but I basically have to stay focused on the dancefloor.

The reason I started my own label (Hum+Haw) was so that I could experiment more and put out the other kinds of music, so the remit for that is much more loose.

You’re coming to play to a Vakant party. How long have you been working with them?

Since the very beginning. I actually signed to Vakant first in 2005 I think.....before Soma.

It’s like a family situation and we’ve grown up together.....

What are your projects with them?

About five EPs I think, from the first release till now.

I’m just finishing the latest EP at the moment. My G5 just died so am stressing to get it ready!

We don’t see much of you on Vakant, whereas you are quite prolific on Hum+Haw or Soma. Any reason for that?

It’s all to do with styles.....I’ve been very focused on the Fool hip hop project and with Soma I was contracted to release a certain amount of EPs so that meant I had less time for other releases.

Now that I’ve left Soma I’m going to try to keep it more even between Hum+Haw and Vakant.

What are your projects (not with Vakant)?

After the hip hop album I’ll have an Alex Smoke album out - it’s in progress at the moment.

It’s looking like it might be a bit more experimental and very melodic. I’ve also got another semi-classical project in the works.

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Thanks, Alex!

You can find Alex Smoke on his MySpace page here

[Thanks also to Noura for the interview!]

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