Touching Bass: DJ Q

Remember bassline? Yeah, that shortlived genre that ran riot during the mid-2000s up north. DJ Q was one of the main faces promoting that 4x4 variant while the south stuck to their grime. He was also the producing brain behind the anthem "U Wot" featuring fellow Huddersfield native, MC Bonez. Even though bassline isn't holding too much weight these days, that hasn't stopped Q from making riddims. His style still incorporates that signature low-end wobble from time to time, but there's now smidgens of garage and house in his track-making DNA. So, while he sorted out bills at the bank, I asked him about Nandos and the good MTV days. Then, there's an hour special mix to accompany you into the weekend.

YNTHT: How’s it going man?

DJ Q: Yeah, not bad. Just heading out to the bank.

Checking the balance are we?

Got to pay the bills.

Have to talk about bassline first. It's part of the legacy but what ever happened to it?

The club scene went downhill because the police were shutting down all the venues. It was hard to put DJ nights on. There were things still happening but there wasn’t enough to keep the whole scene vibrant.

Why were the police shutting things down though?

It’s just like with the garage and grime scene, as more people follow trends, more people are going to same clubs.

It’s a shame though. “U Wot” is probably your most well known track, but do you still talk to MC Bonez when you get the chance?

He’s on holiday at the moment but I still chat to him when I can, innit.

Finding that bassline template must have been quite an exciting discovery…

To be honest with you, I came into the bassline scene because I was making 4x4 garage and the tracks that I was making were getting played in those clubs as well. Then as things progressed more, I started going to the clubs more to see the vibe.

You still get the bassline sound in there on your new stuff though, which is good. Never straying too far from the roots.

That sound is me, it’s the blueprint.

The track “Big” is actually big. But what kind of process do you go through to choose track names?

I’m the worst with track names. I can never choose good ones.

What’s the weirdest name you’ve gone for?

Probably “Tea Bag”.

Ha! So Q likes a bit of PG Tips?

I don’t really drink traditional tea you know. I’m more of a ginger tea drinker.

“Brandy & Coke” was a good name too.

That comes from the Brandy sample.

Smart. Actually, the Brandy era was great for R&B and MTV actually.

That era of R&B can’t be topped for me.

Have you got a favourite R&B jam at the moment?

At the moment, I’m feeling this track called “Brand New” by this singer called K Rider from Birmingham.

Great track. Having come through from a different angle with the music, have you started to enjoy making tunes again?

Yeah, definitely. There was a point when I was making tunes for the sake of making tracks. I just went back to the drawing board and started making tracks that I enjoy making.

There’s quite a bit of garage and house in there as well but who would you say is the biggest influence?

DJ EZ definitely. He’s been sick for years man. We’re looking at over 20 years. The last vinyl I bought was a remix of Indo’s “R U Sleeping” by Todd Edwards, so he’s a big influence too. He’s like, the king of sampling and I was lucky to interview him when I was on Radio 1Xtra. That was a big thing for me.

And how are things with the Ministry Of Sound show?

Yeah, I’m there once a month hosting the Essential Garage show and it’s going well with good feedback from the listeners and stuff.

And also, the album is on its way, amirite?

Yeah, that’s done. It was supposed to be a November release but it’s being held back for a little bit. I just started making tracks and then Tom Lea [FACT editor and Local Action Records founder] wanted to put an album together. It’s definitely garage influenced but there’s bassline, R&B and hip-hop too.

Is that via digital alone or is there going to be some wax?

Yeah, it’s gonna be on vinyl too and possibly CD as well.

Anyway, away from the music how do you like to chill out?

Chilling with family and friends. I love food! My favourite at the moment is this Brazilian steak place around the corner from me. That’s got a lot of ratings but you can’t beat Nandos as well. I try extra hot but to be honest it’s not that hot because I grew up eating West Indian food.

Them scotch bonnet peppers, innit.

LOL, yeah man.

Everybody needs to learn the way of Encona Hot Pepper Sauce.

TRACKLIST

New York Transit Authority - 95

DJ Q - Big

Eats Everything - Cause Of You

Linden Jay ft Ruby Wood - Break The Hold (Cause & Affect Remix)

Deckstar - Be With You

PVC - She Can Get It

Francois ft Louis Benton & Mr Limey - Manajetois

Killjoy - Don't Wanna

DJ Q - & AC Slater - Oh Yeah

Stanton Warriors - Cut Me Up (Cause & Affect Remix)

DJ Q - Wreck It

Paranoid Resistance - Smoke Machine

Mella Dee - Things Don't Change (James Welsh Remix)

Ac Slater ft Dell Harris - Go Harder

Champion - Iced Tea

PVC - You Know My Man

DJ Q ft Robbie Rue - Sound Boy Connection

DJ Zinc - King Kong

Todd Edwards - Forgiven

Drake - From Time (DJ Q Edit)

Follow Errol on Twitter @errol_and

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