KGBkid Interview (posted on 03/04/05)

Vinyl releases on JungleXpeditions, Celestial Conspiracy,
hang on, he co-runs Celestial Conspiracy!

Upcoming releases on Clash Records, Banana's and a bevy of
yet to be announced labels!

Who the f*ck are we talking about?
Oh yeah, that's right! KGBkid!

A real Canadian Junglist hero, the man with "dubplates that make people dance"
and one of the most refreshing, humble and honest attitudes I have ever
encountered in the worldwide jungle / drum and bass community.

Ottawa Represent! If you don't know you will, check the science.

How did you get into Jungle Music?

I got into jungle D&B music through community radio in my hometown
of Ottawa. Ottawa has two large universities and a handful of smaller
colleges, and most of these establishments have community radio
stations being run by volunteers.

In early high school I started hearing about these new styles of music people
simply kept referring to as "rave music". You couldn't find any on Much Music
(it's like MTV in Canada except it actually has music videos), you couldn't find
any in CD stores at the mall, you couldn't listen to it on the mainstream radio
stations, but it was out there, somewhere.

After doing a little bit of research by questioning the only few "ravers" I knew
at the time it was clear that short of going to a "rave" or buying a mix tape my
only option was to tune in to community radio.

I found a handful of "rave" shows on community radio stations that I would
religiously tune into week after week. I took a particular liking to anything urban
or hip hop influenced,and so I found myself tuning into the jungle D&B shows
and house shows more often than anything else.

Eventually I started getting pretty familiar with the music and decided it was time
to get more involved, so visiting underground record stores and attending parties
was a must.

After a while of observing DJs at parties (and hip hop DJs on Much Music) and
listening to countless hours of community radio, I was convinced that I wanted
to try DJing, even if it was just to make cassettes for myself and the few people
I knew who had any idea what kind of music I was into (most of my friends were
into punk, metal, grunge, hip hop, indy, etc).

A friend convinced me that it was actually a lot simpler than I assumed it was and
so I had my heart set on getting some turntables to learn how to "spin" (that was
the popular term at the time - ha!).

I scraped up whatever money I could make doing chores and odd jobs and combined
it with whatever allowance my parents could give me and scoured second-hand stores
like the Salvation Army and pawn shops to find affordable record players.

Oddly enough, on the same street two blocks away from my home, at two completely
different shops I found two identical record players! I was really happy because I thought
it would be less wack to at least have matching turntables. I bought both; one for 10$,
the other for 15$. The 10$ one didn't have a needle, so that meant going to Radio Shack
to go through their bins of discontinued stock to hopefully find a suitable needle.

Luckily, I soon found out, my Dad had tried his hand at DJing discos and weddings
during the 70s and therefore already had a little mixer, amp and speakers from the 70s
in our basement and he let me use them as I see fit! Needless to say he was pretty
supportive of what was to become my new hobby despite not really understanding
what I'd be doing different than he did during the 70s. One thing to note though:
I knew I wanted to try DJing (mixing and scratching) but I had no idea how to do it
and I didn't know any DJs.

I bought two little belt-driven plastic record players, pretty much as impulsively as
saving up a few dollars here and there let's you be, assuming they'd do the job...
I had no idea you needed to be able to adjust the tempo (pitch) of the records
when playing them! But by some wonderful flukey coincidence the two record
players I bought both had pitch control dials on them!

Once I set everything up in my basement I realized that I didn't have enough money
to buy records, so I started playing stuff from my dad's old collection until I could save
up for some records. I started buying hip hop, jungle D&B and house fairly regularly
whenever I could afford it and pretty much taught myself to beatmatch, cue, mix and
scratch entirely by listening to mixes on community radio and by watching DJs on the
hip hop and dance shows on Much Music! That's also how I'd learn which records to
buy (by listening and hearing tunes I liked) since I didn't know any DJs or of any
publications at the time.

Eventually, over the years, I got more involved and more knowledgeable about the
music and I keptupgrading my equipment. I also started limiting my record buying to
jungle D&B only (with the occasionaly hip hop or reggae purchase) and almost
completely nixed out buying house records because I didn't feel like I belonged
in the house scene. I had a hard time relating to the house heads. I liked the
music but I didn't feel at home in house environments.

I felt at home with jungle D&B. I found myself listening to and playing jungle D&B
more often than anything else because I could relate to it. It wasn't glamourous.
It wasn't blingy. It wasn't putting out an image that wasn't "me". It felt more genuine
and it felt like it came from a place that more closely resembled my home and my
lifestyle than where house was coming from. I'm not trying to bash house. It's good
music, it's multi-cultural, it's got soulful roots and it's very powerful. It's just that jungle
D&B was more of a proper fit for me. I felt more comfortable and more like myself singing
along to something like a Roni or X-Project tune than singing along to
"The House The Jack Built..." (or whatever that tune is! - ha!).

So long story short, thanks to a friend egging me on to try DJing and thanks to community
radio I got exposed to jungle D&B, fell in love with it, learned all about it and learned to DJ
in my parents' basement on about 40$ worth of equipment. Thanks to community radio and
the Internet I got hooked up with all the local jungle D&B hot-spots, met other jungle D&B DJs
and the rest, I suppose, is what's happening right now in my life.

Who and what are your Current Affiliations?

My primary affiliation is with Celestial Conspiracy Records, which is a joint project of the Archangel
and myself. We wanted to release tunes on vinyl and do it on our own terms, so we pooled our
resources together to make it happen via Celestial Conspiracy. We've got 2 releases out on that
label already and the third one will be coming out shortly. Celestial Conspiracy is based in the
Archangel's hometown in the USA and in my own hometown in Canada. I'm very proud of
Celestial Conspiracy because it's pretty much what got me started in the whole record pressing
game and because I get to work with an amazing artist and like-minded human being: the Archangel.

I'm also affiliated with Clash Records, which is Bong-Ra's (self-described) hardcore ragga jungle
label based out of the Netherlands. They'll be putting out a KGBkid 7" pretty much any day now
with two tunes of mine, which will be my first all-KGBkid vinyl release. I'm proud to be part of
Clash Records considering that it's my first international project, because of the impressive roster
and because Bong-Ra's portfolio of releases and collaborations is very impressive.

I'm affiliated with New York City's Banana's Records as one of my tunes has been scheduled to
be released on this versatile and eclectic label for a while now, but scheduling delays have pushed
back the release date on a few occasions. Banana's also has an equally impressive roster and so
I hope the release soon sees light.

I'm also very proud to be part of the JungleX family, RCola's major side-project, in more
than one way. One my tunes was released on JungleXpeditions Records' premier record
and so I can proudly say that I'm affiliated with the JungleXpeditions label. I can also say
that I'm part of the extended JungleX family in that JungleX (the distributor) does a LOT of
business for Celestial Conspiracy.

JungleX arranges for the mastering, pressing, distribution and much of the sales and
advertising of Celestial Conspiracy releases. I've also had the honor of mixing the premier
JungleXpeditions Volume One mix CD. I love working and doing business with RCola
because he's very direct and honest and has proven to be an unquestionable business
partner and friend in the short while we've known one another.

I've got another affiliation that I'm not sure if I can publicly mention yet . . . it's 100% locked
down but the release hasn't been advertised yet. To give you a bit of a hint, the release is
going to feature 100% original vocals and will be "pressed up" on 7" on a very talented,
prominent Canadian producer's newest label. I'm honestly trying to be as vague as possible. ;)
I'm very happy to be affiliated with this label that will remain nameless for the time being
because I've admired the owner's work since his first release and because he has proven
to be a positive contributor to ragga jungle since he stepped onto the scene.

I'd like to be able to say that officially affiliated with Zion's Gate Records -- HINT, Stephen!
-- since they've done a LOT of good for myself and Celestial Conspiracy and because their
gear is slick, but alas . . . ;) I usually mention them whenever I can since they've done a lot of
positive things for myself and for ragga jungle in general. I also often state Ragga-Jungle.com
as an affiliation, even though I'm not formally associated with the site. I just feel like it's a
huge part of our scene plus I'm friends with, have met, or regularly communicate with so
many of the producers, DJs and fans of ragga jungle that regularly visit that site that I can't
help but feel like I'm a part of it and that it deserves mention even though I'm not formally
required nor encouraged to drop the name.

Apart from that, I don't roll with a crew, I don't have a residency and no local shops from my
home town sponsor me. I'm more or less incognito in my own town, but that's a-ok by me.

What are you working on at the moment?

I'm always working on something! I've always got 20 - 30 tunes in progress at any given time.
Any spare time outside of work that I don't spend with my girlfriend or family is spent at my
computer and turntables making tunes. It's a compulsive obsession I just can't shake.
It actually takes me more discipline to NOT make music than it does to sit down and
concentrate on making music for several hours in a row! It's sometimes actually very
had for me to go to work, go out to party, go take a shower and brush my teeth (okay,
I'm exagerating) knowing that I could be making music instead!

Anyway, to be more specific, I'm working on a tune with original vocals for that nameless
affiliation I previously mentioned. I'm also working on a Kousi (amazing French vocalist)
remix for Tapenade's posse in France. It's taking me longer than expected to complete
that one, but that's because I want to make sure it's a quality tune. I'm also waiting for a
certain European label that will remain nameless for now (until things get formally
announced) to send me original vocals for 2 12" releases with them.

Apart from these projects, I have all of my own projects. I have countless tunes and
projects of my own that are near completion. All I need are a few steady hours at my
PC and I should be able to finish and post up a hand full of tunes that have been dying
to see light for a while now!

The only real challenge, as I previously hinted towards, is that I don't always have
enough time to get really productive at my computer. I need several hours in a row to
REALLY get productive. I can accomplish so much more in 4 consecutive hours at my
computer than in 4 1-hour sessions. I don't know if I'm the only producer who feels this
way, but my productivity and quality goes through the roof when I can take my time
and work for several hours in a row.

I work a regular 8-hour day during the week and spend time with my girlfriend, dog
and family during the weekends, so finding time to really get productive is sometimes
difficult when there are other priorities, but I can at least say this: there's a LOT of
KGBkid material just waiting to be released! It's just a matter of time before it all gets
unleashed! Also, just for the record, if labels want to approach me to work with them
but they don't have a specific tune of mine in mind for release, I really like a challenge.

I'd love for labels to approach me with a handful of samples or an acapella or an existing
tune of theirs and said "Here! We'd like you to make a remix of / with this!".
Y'know . . . the Van Helden approach to remixing!
"Here's what we have, not put your own spin on it!". Noice!!

What have been your favorite experiences in Jungle Drum and Bass Music?

I'd have to say that any time I've played to a REALLY enthusiastic crowd has been a
real treat for me. While I had played a lot of gigs prior to Summer Breeze In Da Jungle
(in Montreal), it's only at Summer Breeze In Da Jungle that I really learned what is was
to play for a great crowd; people were actually into the music I was playing (not always
the case at other gigs), everyone was dancing, people were singing along with the tunes,
etc. The same can be said for Asphalt Jungle (also in Montreal); awesome positive vibe
and people actually out to dance and have a good time.

Other favorite experiences of mine are somewhat self-centered. Hearing my own tunes
being played in public for the first time, hearing my own tunes being played by other DJs,
seeing my releases in record stores, etc. These are all experiences that I love because I
never thought I would live to see such things. I also particularly love the fact that jungle
D&B has allowed me to make a lot of international contacts and friends. Jungle D&B has
gotten me in touch with a lot of people that would have otherwise remained strangers in
my life, and I can say that I've made a lot of good friends through this music.

What are your plans for the future?

The future is always vague for me. As far as jungle D&B goes, I plan to keep doing what
I'm doing. I want to keep making music for as long as I can. More specifically, I'd like to start
playing international gigs. I haven't traveled much during my years, and if jungle D&B can
make it happen then I'll pursue it as best I can. I'd also love to hop onto a few dates of the Chopstick / JungleX Euro Tours (HINT, Chris!) if the future will permit it.

I'll probably start posting up more of my productions that people are less familiar with,
like down tempo, hip hop tunes and ambient jungle D&B tunes. These are styles I love
to produce yet I seldom share with others. I plan on posting up more of this type of
material in the future.

Who and what are your influences and inspirations?

I'm going to try to keep the list fairly brief so don't read too deeply into it:

The entire V / Dope Dragon / Full Cycle / Philly Blunt family.
The entire Congo Natty and Knowledge & Wisdom families.
The entire Urban Shakedown / Urban Takeover foundation family.
The True Playaz / Ganja Kru / Frontline / Ganja / etc family.
Armand Van Helden, countless hip hop producers of yore, etc.

Who do you think is the hot up and coming talent out there?

Again, briefly, and without posting up the usual names that are already well-established
and pressing records: I get the feeling that Jahba and Sumone are going to be huge and
ChongX is going to get picked up by a label or two. 16armedjack's secret army of apprentices
and proteges is going to take over the world. MC Stada is going to make a huge impact any
second now, there's no stopping him! .Com aka Chaos in Motion and Dialekt. The Irie Way
squad are going to get huge in Europe. Triggs aka MC Trigger is going to appear on more
releases than you can shake a stick at and Twinhooker is going to fight Loqtus in a celebrity
all-star boxing match before then end of 2K5.

So says I. I'm Miss Cleo!

Is there anything else you want to tell the people out there,
and anyone you want to throw some shouts and respect to?

Shouts and resect out to: The Archangel, DJ K, RCola, Jackie Murda,
Debaser, Rhygin, Krinjah, 16AJ, Bong-Ra, Mayday, Sumone, Jahba,
The Humdrumma family, Haze, Fiver, Mz. Revolution, Nemo, Bellyfull
Soundsystem, Dylan D, Martyn, the IDJ family, .Com, Dialekt, the Irie Way
family, the Trinity Don family, Trilogy Sound, ChongX, the JungleX family,
Tapenade, Eskimo, Norml Clothing & Records, Play De Record, Zion's Gate,
Twinhooker and Paulie Walnuts, Bizzy B, Bong Selecta, Axel Madden, Audio1,
Preecha, Siv Tech, Arson, Mayday, Accomplice, Big Triggs aka MC Trigger and,
of course, my family and Melicious and Baileys who I all love very much!

I'm sorry if I've forgotten anyone! If you think you're supposed to be in this list,
you're probably right and I was probably just being absent-minded when I typed this up!
No disrespect was intended by the omission!

And all I really want to say to the people out there is this:
Do what makes you happy and ignore everyone who hates on you or tries to bring you down.
It doesn't matter what anyone says as long as you're doing what makes you happy.
Peace and respect!

Interview by Martyn "Souljah Sensi" Pepperell


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