Last week, I was having my weekly listen through the then newest episode of Noisia Radio and I came across a collaborative tune featuring DLR and Seattle’s very own Quadrant. Quadrant has been a part of the drum and bass community in Seattle since before I was heavily involved in nightlife. It’s truly an honor to be doing this track spotlight and artist shout out. The track is called “Ghostfish” and you can find it below.
Quadrant & DLR – “Ghostfish”
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This track features the OG neurofunk sound that got me into drum and bass as a kid. Naturally I had to give my boy a show out. You can also check out ‘Ghostfish’ in Season 3 Episode 40 of Noisia Radio here:
Noisia Radio – S03E40
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Definite had to get Quadrant down for an interview after this one.
Real Respect Real with Quadrant on the Future of Drum and Bass & His Latest Tune with DLR
RMR: What’s was the inspiration behind this track?
Quadrant: DLR and I have similar influences. We wanted to do something inspired by the the 1998-2000 Virus/Metro sound and just kind of went from there. I think we both feel that stuff (particularly what Matrix and Fierce were doing at the time) had such a great futuristic vibe, and it hasn’t really been explored too much since then. Time to bring it back!
RMR: What has kept you locked into the dnb community after all of these years?
Quadrant: First and foremost it’s the music– I just love it and I often tell people I don’t have any choice in the matter. It’s like the music chose me. A close second though would be the people that the music has connected me with all over the world. The scene is so far flung but no matter where you go it still feels very small and welcoming. You can go to a party in Seattle or a party in London and still connect with people over love of the same tunes. I guess that sounds a bit cliché but I really do feel that since DnB has existed on the fringes of mainstream electronic music to a certain extent, there’s more camaraderie when you meet someone else who’s in to it.
Now for a little insight for my readers that are new to drum and bass.
RMR: How do you think the dnb community can connect with new listeners?
Quadrant: First we need to be welcoming of new faces at our club nights and in our online social spaces. We have a bit of a reputation for being musical elitists– that’s something I’ve struggled with personally– and we have to realize that people move on, tastes change, and the music we loved when we were coming up isn’t going to stay the same forever. That’s a bit ironic I realize considering the fact that Ghostfish is something of a throwback, but I think that even if the music keeps evolving we can still make sure that it keeps a certain amount of artistic integrity while ceding control to the new generation of kids who are just starting out.
RMR: This track you put out really has an old school feel to it what makes that style stand the test of time?
Quadrant: I guess all good music is both of a time and timeless. Certain tropes just work, and a lot of stuff made in the late ‘90s sounds more like the future than anything made today. We’ll see if that style ultimately stands the test of time, it’s only been what, 18, 19 years? If people are still listening to it in 2117 then we’ll know for sure. Any upcoming releases we should know about? Well obviously “Ghostfish” features on the debut release of Sofa Sound, which is DLR’s new label. We have a new EP we’re putting together for Dispatch and Iris and I are working on more stuff as well, but release dates are still TBA. In the meantime, go buy “Ghostfish” and play it at your local party!
Be sure to check out Quadrant and DLR at the links below.
