Danny Wheeler//This is Drum & Bass Interview (Posted By Rico)
Danny Wheeler interview//This is Drum & Bass.
Danny Wheeler ‘Universal Language’
(W10 Records)
Out Now.
Danny Wheeler has been ridiculously busy, as would anyone who is hotly tipped future producer by DJ Mag. His album ‘Universal Language’ released in December last year, has been described as ‘a soulful drum & bass, hip-hop and house record, featuring collaborations with The Suitboys aka Taku Takahashi, US house diva Kathy Brown and Blue James from Basement Jaxx’ and after just having a launch party in Tokyo, there seems to be no stopping him any time soon. Great news for us, cause we can’t get enough of it.
This is Drum & Bass Interviews Danny Wheeler
Posted by Lady V
“2011 ended on a mighty high with a wealth of quality releases being unleashed in the last quarter. A highlight amongst the longplayers was Danny Wheeler’s debut ‘Universal Language’ – a ray of musical sunshine in the dark winter months, with its fusion of funky flavours and latino rhythms teamed with liquid drum and bass. With a rich history within the D&B scene, as a respected producer, DJ, promoter and label head of W10 Records, and now after completing his album, Danny recently moved from the UK’s grey capital to the bustling and vibrant city of Tokyo. We spoke with him to find out more about ‘Universal Language’, his relocation and plans for the coming months…
TiD&B: Tell us more about ‘Universal Language’ – did the finished version end up sounding as you originally planned?
Danny: The album’s really personal and I have been working on it for a long time and put a lot of energy into – it took about 2 years to write. I’d always planned to make one that would be mainly drum and bass, as D&B is my passion, but I also wanted to incorporate other genres that I love too, like hip hop and nu jazz. Krust once told me that jungle is not only about the tempo, but just a state of mind, so I think that even though there are tracks that are not D&B on the album, it was still produced with that D&B mindset. I had some great people around when I was making the album, who helped shape it with their ideas, and I was lucky to collaborate with some awesome artists.
TiD&B: Regardless of genres on the LP, there is definitely a feeling of warmth that runs throughout it, a real soulful vibe and funk which you can’t help move to – would you say those elements are trademarks of your sound?
Danny: Thanks, yeah I guess they are my trademark sound, I love funk, 70s and vintage soul and always wanted to incorporate that vibe into modern day production. I wanted to use vintage keyboards mixed with modern drums and make a fusion between D&B and soul, creating music that will hopefully be received as feel-good and uplifting.
TiD&B: What were you listening to whilst writing ‘Universal Language’ – was it the kind of music which naturally translated into your own tunes, or very different? Are you inspired by the music around you, or draw inspiration from other things?
Danny Wheeler: I was listening to loads of stuff like The Neptunes, Quincy Jones, V Recordings, Kaidi Tatham, Adam F & J Majik, and I was sharing a studio with Beni G from Jack Beats, Bugz In The Attic & Plan B, IG Culture and MC GQ at the time so all those people had an influence on what I was writing.
I am inspired by the people and places around me and also by film and different cultures. For one of the tracks, ‘Salsa Tequila’, I’d just been on the road in South America with Jenna G and had been really inspired by the South American culture.
TiD&B: Do you have a particular favourite tune on the album?
Danny: I think ‘Let It Flow’ is probably my favourite, it is the most dancefloor D&B tune on there and was written just a day before the big earthquake in Japan last year. I was in Tokyo working with my friend Taku Takahashi in his studio, we made the tune and everything was positive but the following day the earthquake happened and it kind of changed my perspective about things, so I think when I listen back, it has some memories of that time and also of being in Tokyo during that experience.
(To read the full article please click here.)
To listen to more please visit W10 Record’s SoundCloud.
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