5W/ Kepler
Our 5 questions with series welcomes some of our close friends across the industry as we find out more about artists close to us. First up we welcome Kepler who shares with us all things about production, his future releases and what’s going on in the city of Leeds.
1) You've had some amazing releases out already! What are your plans for 2020.. Anything you can talk about?
Thank you! I'm really excited about the releases I have locked for the year already as the Kepler sound has progressed into something completely different. I've been working on a more old school sound with a lot more energy.
An EP is due to drop very soon on an amazing label that I've loved for years. I can't say anything more about this one yet. I have a track coming on a compilation for EYA Records on their Lonewolf sub-label and this one is Detroit inspired off the back of an obsession I have for Drexciya. There's a couple more releases penned in on some really cool labels and I'm excited to start putting this music out.
On top of this, as 0113, I have 3 releases due to drop on INSTINCT including a collaboration EP with Instinct (Burnski), a remix and an original.
I've been really productive in the studio since I've been at home a lot recently. I have lots of finished bits and at feels nice to be able to grow a bank of tracks I'm happy with.
2) If you're thinking of getting into producing how would you recommend getting started and any top tips?
Focus and hard work is crucial. Spend as much time as you can making music. Finishing tunes is important, the more you do this the better, as this is how you develop your sound. I think it's also important to stay inspired by actively listening to lots of different music, old and new and across different genres.
Buying a new piece of hardware can also be inspiring as it brings you out of your DAW. I think it's best to have a few machines that you know inside out though, rather than a huge amount of machines that you don't know well enough to use them to their full potential.
Above all - enjoy the experience of making music rather than the end goal!
3) Aside from what you play out, what are your influences?
Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada are a massive influence, I've listened to these artists for most of my life and still find them inspiring. More recently, I picked up Shed and Barker’s albums on Ostgut Ton and they’re proper good. I’ve been listening to John Coltrane’s Giant Steps album a lot recently, some St Germain and also a band called Khruangbin.
I have an obsession with the Detroit sound too. I love Drexciya and one of my favourite albums is James Stinson's Lifestyles of The Laptop Café. I also recently picked up a record by Kenny Larkin under his POD alias from 1992 and this is amazing!
I’m into hip-hop, like the Odd Future stuff from Tyler and Earl but also UK artists like Kano and Slowthai. Also a really big MF Doom fan.
4) Leeds where your from is arguably the clubbing capital of the North, what parties and venues really stand out to you up there?
It's what pulled me in to stay here when I moved about 7 years ago. Wire, Distrikt and Mint Warehouse are all special venues in the city that offer some incredible programming consistently. There are also some smaller gems in the city such as Doghouse and 212 that I love.
We're lucky up here to have such a healthy scene of promoters, DJs and venues. I've been part of the MASS crew for a few years with some good friends and the crew have put on some great parties bringing artists like Praslea, TC80, Alex Picone, 100Hz, Spacetravel, Cristi Cons and more. Also Butter Side Up, System, Albion, Kaizen and GAS are all great parties in Leeds.
5) What's the 5th record in your collection on the top row.
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
