Exclusive: Conducta Talks Production and Grime Going Mainstream

Hailing from London, meet Conducta, a 21 year old DJ/Producer who has been killing it in the UK right now. With being recognized by radio stations like BBC radio 1xtra and DJing on the regular, Conducta is just on the verge of breaking through. His style of production is very UK and goes in pocket with grime, garage and 2step, generes that are now being racognized by North America. Conducta is the one to watch for in 2015. He was able to spare a few minutes from his busy schedule to sit down with Respect Mag to speak on the current take on UK’s grime scene and his own plans for this year.

RESPECT: First of all Happy Birthday!
Conducta: Thanks! turning 21 has been eventful so far.

Let’s get straight into it. Where are you from?
I’m from Bristol in England and I’ve been residing in London the last couple of years. But for those who are thinking where are you really from I have Nigerian heritage and two real passports.

How long you have been making music for?
I’ve been making music for just under 4 years at age of 16. I started off in a group with two of my cousins as an MC and producer then I chose to pursue music a bit further.

Who are some of your music influences?
whatever I listen to I usually gain influence from and that list is ever growing. Mainly for inspiration at the moment I’m listening to lots of old school tapepacks from Sidewinder, Cookies & Cream and Sun City events. Having access to them is revisiting my childhood to when my God brother first introduced me to Grime and UK garage. It also helps mould my production as I can gauge what kind of tracks are guaranteed to do damage at a show. As for Artists, producers like Mike Millrain & Groove Chronicles shape elements of my sound.

How would you describe your style?
Whether it comes to me making speed garage or more 2step material, i always look to impart dark basslines with harmonic vocals.

How is the garage/grime scene in your area?
I think in London and UK as a whole it’s thriving due to weekly events and the tons of good music being released and pushed. With Grime it’s great to see the importance of a music producer heighten with many taking their own independent route rather than relying solely on MC’s. Within garage, again I believe the scene is thriving however I see a danger of saturation within the genre as it continues to evolve on a mainstream level and the ease at which anyone can pirate software, a sample pack and immediately become a “house/garage/ukbass/future dj producer”. I attended a masterclass talk from MJ Cole late last year and he spoke of how in the early 2000s garage became a “dirty word”. I’m hoping that producers can retain and develop their craft and that history doesn’t repeat itself rather than tracks bring made just to suit a labels blueprint.

If I was to turn on your iPod right now what would I find?
Oliver du Coque- Identity and the U2 I’ve yet to delete.

My personal favourite tracks of yours has to be “All Night” and “Belong”. I feel like your production on those tracks was superb. What was the process that went behind those songs?
Funnily enough those two tracks were the quickest ones to date that I’ve ever wrote. With those two tracks in particular I believe in was a turning point in my production as I finally felt I could replicate the 2step ideas in my head onto my workstation. Once I had introductory melodies sorted, it was then time for me to experiment with bass riffs then once that was done, I knew what I wanted to do in regards to drums and percussion and with the help of couple of sleepless nights the tracks were completed.

It’s 2015. What are your plans for this year?
I’ve just released my EP “Spend The Night” on Project Allout Records. I have a VIP release of my last project “Let Go” forthcoming very shortly on Digital Pirate Material & I’m just polishing off my next 3 releases for the year. I suffered a few setbacks towards end of 2014 but best way to bounce back is to let the music speak for itself and keeping putting quality music out.

What do you do in your spare time?
If I’m not digging for music or getting frustrated at Arsenal, I’m either studying or sampling chicken shops across North london.

How soon can we expect new music from you?
End of February/beginning of March

Do you have any other side projects going on?
Aside from my next solo releases including a vocalist, I have Joint releases lined up with fellow producers Moony & Deadbeat which i’m looking forward to releasing.

Stream Conducta’s latest joint “Let Go VIP” below which dropped on BBC Radio 1xtra and for all of his music check out his soundcloud.