JPLS on his new ‘Combination EP’ for Minus

JPLS on his new ‘Combination EP’ for Minus

9 October, 2008 | 2.44PM

• Written by: Amanda Connon-Unda
• Filed under: Music News: jpls

JPLS made his first Minus appearance on 2006’s ‘min2MAX’ compilation.

He also performed live that year in Detroit for the ‘min2MAX’ launch showcase.

JPLS’ sound is cerebral and heady dub-infused techno that is strictly experimental but dancefloor oriented.

His latest release in September this year is the ‘Combination EP’, which follows his ‘Twilite’ release on Minus (check the EP in the player below).

We like JPLS’ style a lot, so we grabbed him for a few questions.

‘Combination 01’ features a subtle start to an otherwise understated minimal track with a eerie vocal asking “Are you stiiiilllll….. there” with drawn out distorted effects.

While working with the limitations of machines and delays, JPLS has managed to wrestle lifelike qualities from the machine manipulations he employs.

The sounds he creates in this EP emulate a spectrum of heady thought processes and emotions that most of us can relate to.

The very dreamlike ‘Combination 01’ is an art piece that can be listened to at home, but could also be imagined in an artscape space, where abstract art is pondered to a background of his experimental symphony.

Like an open painting, the listener curiously takes in the sounds and makes his or her own interpretation about what the artist is trying to say.

‘Combination 02’ is a faster-paced techno track that takes the listener to the dark spaces of a party venue.

Acid tweaks at different pitches play with perception, as the ears adjust and then get jostled around by the sensory play that ensues.

Heavier bass comes in to fill the track making it danceable.

The rest of the ‘Combinations’ on this EP are equally as thought-provoking.

Interview with JPLS

What’s a day in the studio like for you? How do you work best?

Everything usually begins with a concept.

Whether it is something abstract stuck in my head or inspiration, I try to maintain a cohesive feel within my work.

Normally I like to see each record have a general feeling between all of the tracks.

As I work through a concept any experiment or test that I do is numbered and saved.

Once I have worked out every side that I can imagine, I go back and fully finish and sequence things.

This isn’t to say that I never do one-off tracks.

‘Fuckshuffle’ was made over an 18-month period of working out more dancefloor-friendly tracks.

Lately I have been more interested in working with gear to create things I normally would not create via my usual production methods.

The ‘Combination’ EP was the beginning of these ideas.

Instead of working with layering different versions of one sound, I would use very long delays and reverb to get things mixing together.

In the creative process do you ever get stuck?

If I have a block when working on a track, I will usually move to another side of the concept I am trying to explore.

This way I can maintain my general idea but not allow myself to waste time messing with one sound until I wished I was deaf.

The liner notes to your ‘Combination’ EP state that “Dark, messed-up acid prevails as the release moves from vinyl into cyberspace”. How does cyberspace as a touring DJ consume your time?

This record is based on the idea of being confined.

There is something amorphous about digital space that I am very interested in.

But when I am on the road, I would completely lose my mind without the internet.

Since most of this record was made over a time when I was rarely at home, it was inevitable that it provided a small influence.

Who are your favourite producers right now?

Lately I have been really getting into Damon Wild’s tracks.

I’m always a sucker for anything made by Richie Hawtin and Speedy J. 

Now I’m waiting to hear the finished album from Troy Pierce for his Louderbach project.

From what I have heard so far, his are some of the most interesting tracks I have come across in a while.

Excluding techno, I’m always a freak for anything by Autechre or Aphex Twin.

Besides that, I usually stick to Massive Attack and NIN for some sort of inspiration that I won’t normally find within my own genre.

What gear do you use regularly?

I cannot live with Ableton, of course!

Lately I have been really into their native synth ‘Analog’.

Besides that I always stick with the D16 plugins that emulate the old 303 / 909 / 808.

I use the Lexicon pcm80/81 racks like crazy… and usually an old Eventide somewhere in the mix.

Once the track is ready to go out, I run it through Pro Tools for a full mix/master.

What have been your favourite gigs in the last few years? Why were they memorable?

Every time I make it to either Los Angeles or Barcelona I have the best shows.

Paco Osuna has booked me for shows with him at his Club4 night in Barcelona before and there is always an insane amount of energy waiting for us. 

Everyone there is completely ready to party but also they have very open minds.

This is great for someone like myself...I’m always looking to do something a bit stranger than normal.

L.A. was a completely unexpected surprise.

The Droid Records guys throw some nasty warehouse parties that are pretty far removed from the polished clubs I am used to in Europe.

So driving into a dirty industrial district to play in a dark warehouse takes me back to when I first started getting into techno.

Their crowd knows the quality level of the parties they throw and seem to show up ready to go insane.

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