Alex Metric Interview
Breaks star Alex Metric fills us in on all his latest work, plus the mysterious tipple 'Energon'...
Chew The Fat! favourite Alex Metric has been gathering quite a name for himself over the last few years. With high profile remixes flying out of his studio, co-production duties on Adam Freeland’s new album, and his own album nearly complete, Metric has the midas touch right now. Chew The Fat! tracked him down for a catch up…
Chew The Fat!: So Alex, what’s been going on since last we spoke?
Alex Metric: I’ve been running around busy as hell. Trying to juggle remixes, my album and a busy DJ schedule has been tricky, but I’ve managed to fit it all in. Since last time I played The End I’ve done some great album tracks, lots of remixes, finished the Freeland record and played the gig of my life at Exit festival in Serbia.
Chew The Fat!: You’ve been hard at work doing a lot of high profile remixes recently, which are you most happy with?
Alex Metric: I’m really happy with this whole batch of mixes actually. Sometimes you love some more than others, but with this run I’ve tried to do something different with every remix. It would be very easy to fall into a trap of going through the motions and having a bog standard remix sound and templat, as some people are very guilty of, but I like to have a distinct vibe with every one, so I guess the Alphabeat mix is a personal favourite. It’s only 112bpm but rocks hard when played out. I’m not sure whether people will have the balls to drop it…we’ll see! The Infadels mix turned out really well too - epic as hell! The Treasure Fingers mix is fun too but I like them all for different reasons.
Chew The Fat!: What’s the best gig you’ve played this year and why?
Alex Metric: Exit festival. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I played to a packed arena of 15,000 people before Tiga and Soulwax. It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played to, and they were so receptive, they lapped up every record. I tried out some new album tracks and they went down a storm. There was such an amazing vibe there, it’s a great setting and a great crowd; the perfect gig. There are some videos on my Myspace, you can see my view over the crowd.
Chew The Fat!: Other than the usual software and hardware, what do you consider to be a 'studio essential'?
Alex Metric: Bad 80s records.
Chew The Fat!: The falling cost of production software and cheap machines means that more and more people are turning to producing. Is this a good thing, or is the scene in danger of becoming overly diluted?
Alex Metric: I think there’s already a huge amount of crap music out there, such is the way in the digital age. Where before there were a certain number of checkpoints an artist had to get through to get a release - A&R men, label bosses, distributors, mastering houses - now people can bounce a track out of Logic and have it on Beatport the next week. This means there is a lot more shit out there but at the same time there’s a lot of amazing music being made too. And I firmly believe the good stuff always rises to the surface.
Chew The Fat!: Are you any closer to your Keytar dream for your live show?
Alex Metric: Well, the album is nearer being finished. And that’s got to be done before I take the live show out. The album’s taken on a new vibe in this second half of writing for it. The first sessions I did ended up quite poppy and 80s, now it’s going epic and emotional; there’s going to be a great mix of songs to choose from. I’m finding my feet vocally with every track I do too, really enjoying exploring that. I’ve even gone full falsetto on one tune! Choir boy stylee haha.
Chew The Fat!: Do you feel the much hyped ‘credit crunch’ has had any impact on the world of dance music as a whole?
Alex Metric: I haven’t noticed it much; gigs still seem to be busy. Long may I not feel it!
Chew The Fat!: And finally, can you recommend us a cocktail, and describe how best to make it?
Alex Metric: No shit, this is our Glastonbury cocktail. Beware; if you drink this it will turn you into a twat. A bad version of yourself. And don’t drink it in a car while your friend is driving - bad things happen!
Energon:
Get an empty litre bottle and fill it with:
1/3 cheap vodka
1/3 Blue WKD
1/3 Red Bull
Drink it and get ready for the sugar caffeine booze rush of your life. Also worth noting: Mega Energon can be made by replacing Red Bull with Red Square.
Published: 1/09/2008
