Taste Test: Noisia

Taste Test: Noisia

24 November, 2011 | 6.13AM

• Written by: Sean Lewis
• Filed under: Music News: drum & bass, dubstep, noisia, taste test

Noisia have been pushing the envelope and breaking barriers in drum ‘n’ bass for nearly 10 years. Over a year ago, the Dutch trio debuted their full-length album Split The Atom, flexing their creative muscles with a number of tracks well beneath the 170BPM mark. Since then the group has made equally comfortable homes inside DnB and dubstep with what seems to be a limitless amount of successful releases. Their contributions are regular fixtures in our genre top 10s and place them among the highest tiers of our most searched artists.

Recently we had the pleasure of corresponding with Thijs de Vlieger of Noisia. In light of their latest, coming from Mau5trap, as well the popular works emanating from Phace and Misanthrop’s Neosignal Recordings, it couldn’t be a better time to find out what makes Noisia tick.

What was your first musical obsessions as a child?

I used to tape stuff off the radio when I got my first stereo set. The only track I remember from that is Lipps Inc’s “Funkytown”! I think my first real obsessive experiences with music, though, must have been gabber, Dutch hardcore rave music. Thunderdome etc. Little did I know it was about massive raves and taking drugs. The music was new to me, and so were the funny looking clothes my parents would never buy me. (I am so grateful for that now!)

Is there a differential in musical taste between the three of you?

Yes. I have been obsessing over finding the best recording of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” on harpsichord; I’m definitely in a Bach period right now. Before this I had a psychedelic rock period, triggered by hearing The Birds’ “Eight Miles High” on an old-school jukebox. Martijn loves techno (only good techno of course), and he’s also quite good at playing classical piano pieces (Chopin, Liszt etc.), so naturally he likes that music. I actually don’t know what Nik is listening to at the moment!

What was the first electronic-music event that you ever attended, and what did you think at the time?

When we started with drum & bass, we didn’t know it was dancefloor music, intended for DJs to play for people to dance to. For us it was music to download and listen on headphones. So it was weird for us to go to a DnB night and look at this other way of listening to music. It was Subsonic in Simplon, the venue where we now throw our own nights. I think the guest DJ was DJ Kalm. It didn’t change an awful lot; we were probably disappointed the DJ didn’t play any of the tunes we were into, that was more or less normal at that time—and it still is, to be honest.

How many tracks or records do you typically acquire every week—both in promos & purchases?

We used to go check out the new records at the record shop. We’d buy a couple a month if there was anything good out. Not any more. We get sent a lot of promos and demos, and we have sessions where one of us will skip through all of them quickly to see if anything worthwhile is in there.

What’s the last DJ set that really impressed you?

Not really a DJ set, but Amon Tobin’s live show (yes, projection mapping, he’s the first to really do it, but it almost feels old now after a few people immediately followed) was an amazing experience. I’m usually not impressed by live performances, but this was overwhelming. No time to get annoyed by the people standing around you, too busy drinking in the visuals and the music. Awesome.

What’s the last gig/party you attended where you weren’t also performing?

Last Friday we all drove up to Amsterdam to see Skrillex and hang out backstage. Cool party, didn’t see much of the show though!

Name your three favorite tracks at the moment:

JS Bach – “Goldberg Variations - Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.” I get ecstatic hearing this.

SebastiAn – “X Hollow.” I haven’t heard the full track yet, just noticed it in a commercial. Vintage hard Sebastian! I’ve been in love with Ross Ross Ross since the first time I heard it.

Phace & Misanthrop – “Energie” [Neosignal]. That vocal is so awesome.

Which track (by another musician) do you wish that you had made?

To name a few:

Daft Punk - almost everything they’ve done.

The Prodigy - the whole Fat of the Land album.

Teebee - the whole Black Science Labs album.

Justice – “Genesis” [Ed Banger]

Mr. Oizo – “Flat Beat” [F-Communications]

SebastiAn – “Ross Ross Ross” Ed Banger]

Wolfgang Gartner – “Fire Power” [Ultra]

Gridlok – “Tricks” [Violence Recordings]

16bit – “Dinosaurs” [MTA Records]

What’s the most current record that you collective agree upon that isn’t electronic dance music?

Adele? Lol. 

Favorite VST / audio plug in?

Izotope Trash.

Favorite smartphone app:

Chess.com app. I play chess online a lot.

Favorite magazine:

Sound on Sound.

Favorite piece of gear:

Cubase, good plugins, good speakers.

Preferred headphones:

AKG studio phones.

Favorite clothing designer:

The Sami of Northern Sweden and the Inuit.

Favorite city/country/club to perform in?

Groningen. Nothing beats walking home drunk after the afterparty, hangover already kicking in.

Strangest thing you’ve ever eaten while on tour:

Steak and fries.

Strangest thing a fan has ever given you:

Space.

Weirdest rumor you’ve ever heard about Noisia:

Lies!

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