Label Profile – Root 97 (UK)
Root 97 is a brand new London based label specialising in the late 90’s Techstep sound with a modern twist. Headed up by label owner BaSys, February 17th sees the release of Chapter 1, a 7 track colab EP between BaSys and 3 of the Root 97 crew. With hard hitting beats and a host of twisting synths throughout, this is going to be a must for all classic Techstep fans.
BaSys! Welcome to INSIDE DNB. For those that are unaware, tell us a bit about yourself and your history in DNB.
Thanks! Well I’ve been making music 25 years (Since I was 15), almost solidly with maybe a few gaps here and there. I started out with DNB and after a few years had releases on Renegade Recordings with another producer called Interactive (Who now goes under the name Max Cyrus). I was young, maybe 20, and didn’t understand a few things about the scene and ended up drifting out and making other styles of music.
All of my friendship group either DJ’d or produced, though I was one of the first producers from the group. We worked on some UK hip hop albums with English Frank, The Kraftmen etc. For a while I mainly produced in the Trip Hop genre and even made some orchestral type pieces. I also worked for a number of years as a live sound engineer. I had friends like Conscience, Taelimb and Sweetpea who were doing big things in the DNB scene.
I was spurred on by that and I felt like I was coming back to complete some unfinished business. Speaking of Renegade Hardware, they are coming back with a huge remix (which I’ll be a part of) with a remix of a classic track, and also an absolutely huge event, the Hardware Weekender, which I’ll also be playing at in June.
Your latest project is brand new label Root 97. What prompted you to start the label?
Hmm, well I felt there was a need for it, a gap in the market. Although some labels do put out releases that could be classed as golden era style Techstep/ Neuro, no one had a label that dealt with that exclusively and signposted it as such. Also given that my style is hugely influenced by artists such as Ed Rush & Optical, Dillinja (Valve stuff) , Bad Company, Usual Suspects, Konflict, and I believe they are the greats in the scene, when making darker stuff it naturally comes out in that style.
Is it your plan to continue with this style for future releases? Are you hoping to specialise in it?
Yeah, Root 97 will stick to that sound, but we are going for the golden era vibe, not a copy cat sound, so there is room for some variety. I believe the golden era music had more energy than a lot of today’s productions (due to a number of factors), but it also had soul and musicality which modern comparable stuff often lacks.
The choice of sound design was much more varied as producers didn’t worry about trying to fit into a super narrow sub genre or try to copy a ‘current’ sound. So some tracks may have, for example, glitch style elements say similar to the Noisia, IMANU etc, but the overall vibe will stay true to the roots. Personally I focus on two styles, the Root 97 style and my more melodic vocal stuff (Listen to BaSys & Section featuring Sofi Mari: Reciprocation for an idea on the vibe).
I’d describe it as Dillinja, Shy FX style drums, trip hop melodics and lush vocals. I’ll be starting a sister label Root Key (Or maybe Root Melodics, I haven’t decided yet!) to release stuff like that. I have a serious banger with rising star Sydney Bryce (Formerly Sydney Chapman) that is also close to complete.
You’ve collaborated with a few other producers for this initial release. What can you tell us about them?
Yeah we’ve got a real mix, some who have produced for years and others not so long, but are almost producing prodigies, in that you’d think they’d done it for many more years.
HighThere is a Berlin based producer/ DJ. He’s been making a name for himself with his incredible work rate and ability to make tracks that absolutely smash the dancefloor. I believe he will soon be one of the big names in European Neuro, he’s only been producing a few years and I almost fell off my chair when I heard that. He’s got releases on a few labels and interest from many others, he also won best newcomer at the German national DNB awards.
Tollgate Shindigs is a UK based producer, similar to me in age and influences. He is also influenced heavily by the golden era and has been involved in music from time. He started out putting on DNB events in his local area when he was much younger. Also similar to me, he is a very versatile producer who can make music in loads of different genres, so expect the unexpected. His next track could be a catchy ‘Hospital’ records type tune or a filthy ‘Renegade Hardware’ style beast.
Wik Sha is a young producer from Bratislava, Slovakia. His music draws influence from old school techstep as well as modern minimal style, focusing on dark basslines and deep atmospheres. Some of his other music is similar to releases on ‘Sofa Sound’ so DLR take note ha ha! I’m not sure his exact age but he is young. When speaking about music though, and composition and how an audience would react to certain elements, he can speak like a guy who has been doing it for 10-20 years. Definitely another one to watch closely.
Optical gave you a great review for the EP! You must have been very pleased with that?
Yeah 100%, Optical is my favourite DNB producer by far, he has top tier engineering skills and a musicality that could of made it big in any genre. So to get acknowledgment from him is a big thing for me. One thing crossed off the bucket list, playing at a Renegade Hardware event will be another!
This is a brand new label. How would you say the experience of establishing a label and getting the material release ready has been?
Generally it’s been great fun. Of course there is a fair amount of admin and stuff that’s a bit boring to take care of, but I love to do anything creative so most of it was fun. We went all out to create promo videos, commissioned two pieces of art and also paid for non-exclusive use for 8 more pieces of art. I along with a few other people created 4 videos for promo purposes. If I had the money I would have created a full graphic novel and film to go with it! Maybe in the future…….
So now you just have to sit tight and see what kind of damage it does! You must be pretty nervous?
Well yeah a bit, but with the scene so over saturated you can’t really guarantee any kind of impact, all I can do is promote as hard as I can. I believe we are pushing a better product than most new labels and hopefully that will speak for itself and people will pick up on it. I’ve got a hustlers mindset about this and going full force, but of course that means I’ll make mistakes now and again and I’ve allowed for that. There’s a few moving pieces floating around but if they all align as I hope we will create a big impact in the scene.
We wish you the best of luck with it! It’s a killer EP!!
Root 97: Chapter 1 | BaSys, HighThere, Tollgate Shindigs, Wik Sha | ROOT 97 (bandcamp.com)
