BNJMN
Exclusive Mix
URB loves all the mysterious producer vibes that are strewn upon the UK. You can talk to us about anyone being weird, mysterious, evasive and just downright dark and we will totally eat it up; which is why it shouldn’t be any surprise as to why the shadowy UK producer BNJMN is delivering this week’s contribution to URB’s podcast series.
Currently with only a handful of releases out on Svetlana Industries and Rush Hour (including his newest LP, Black Square), BNJMN is still fairly fresh in his output but already cementing a reputation for his atmospherics and illusionary production style. Bordering between abstract and ambiguous, the mix he has provided for URB represents the world around his sonics perfectly. We chatted with the producer briefly about his origins, the differences between his first Rush Hour release and his current LP, as well as what’s in line for the future. Check out the interview and tracklist after the jump.
URB Presents: BNJMN Q/A
URB: What are the origins of BNJMN?
BNJMN: I started the BNJMN project around 2008, at the same time I was getting bored with the more down-tempo hiphop stuff I was making at the time (under the name Jackhigh), and felt like I needed something new to broaden my horizons. I started getting really into a lot of the more experimental Techno stuff, like Theo Parrish, Efdemin, etc. It all stemmed from there.
URB: Your sound is impressively individualistic, not pigeon-holed in any sort of genre or sub-genre? What are the main influences of your constantly evolving sound?
B: I’m influenced by everything really. The music I make is very personal to me; I feel like it reflects whatever I’m going through in my life. Musically, I’m influenced by all sorts, at the moment I’m listening to a Karen Dalton live album which is amazing, proper stripped-down folk music. I’ll switch between stuff like that; electronic stuff, soundtrack music, etc.
URB: What’s your studio set-up like?
B: Very simple; It’s literally just a laptop, a pair of speakers, and a MIDI keyboard.
URB: This is your second extended release on Rush Hour. What brings you back to the label and has do you feel your sound has changed since Plastic World?
B: I feel like my sound has changed a lot. Plastic World was made in 2008, at the time when I’d just started to create 4/4 house/techno-based music. It was very naive, but at the same time so is my new LP. I try and stay as open as possible when I’m creating music and really don’t think in terms of genres, It’s a very natural process; I feel like the new record is a lot better produced but I would say that! *laughs* Plastic World is quite raw, it wasn’t even properly mastered because I’d compressed it so much. I feel like this new one is much warmer.
URB: What does the future for hold for BNJMN? Any live/DJ gigs upcoming?
B: I have a few gigs coming up, I’m playing in London next week at a Svetlana Industries night, and then I’m playing at Panorama Bar in December which is really exciting yet daunting. For now, I’m just playing my music live but I’m also planning to do some DJ gigs, if you like what you hear in this mix then get in touch with my booking agent (david@airlondonmusic.com)
TRACKLIST
01. BNJMN – Love of Your Light
02. Radiohead – Give Up The Ghost (Thriller Houseghost Remix)
03. Joshua Leary – Evian Christ
04. Best Available Technology – Waits and Measures
05. Samoyed – Klondike Rush
06. Actress – Yeyoyoyoyhyehyeh
07. Ben Klock – In A While
08. Efdemin – Time
09. Gas – Königsforst
[...] in Berlin. So here’s a selection of mixtapes to get you through the weekend.-BNJMN mix for URB Magazine -Vakula did this Mix from Daze Gone By -Dam-Funk‘s guestmix for Beats in Space [...]
[...] Check out BNJMN’s Exclusive mix for URB.com @ http://www.urb.com/2011/10/25/bnjmn-exclusive-mix/ [...]
Sonics Proper…
In good company.
http://soundcloud.com/b-a-t