Skream + Benga: Alright, What’s Happening?

By Miranda Yeoh  •  in Interview
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FWD>> seemed like this place where music grew organically.
S It was before dubstep was called dubstep. It was like a camp where producers would go to get their music played and everyone will be dancing and they will be like “Ah, this are his records!” We’d be listening and we’d say “Yes, this is wicked!” and the first thing in the morning when we got home, we would make a new song. That’s how we got inspired. We start making this next thing. We would ring each other to ask “What are you doin’?” and then we’ll play each other’s songs. Then we will go over to the record shop – the same evening – and we will play our records. We’ll *snaps fingers*, go home and make even more songs. It was an exciting time as a young producer.
B I still miss that…
S Me too!

Is FWD>> still open though?
B FWD>> moved to Plastic People now.
S FWD>> is still there but we struggle to play there now because we’ve become so used to playing to big rooms and festivals that when we go to FWD>>, the crowd changes because it would be these crowds from festivals that will come to watch us. It’s hard for us to experiment.
B Like we used to.
S Before it used to be the same crowd and just the same crowd every time. They were critics – but good critics, though.

What inspires your production process.
S Everyone else around me. Just having to keep up with the game –
B – That’s another thing! That’s an inspiration to me. There are countless times I’ve made a song, tried it out and it didn’t sound the way I wanted it to sound. These are the 2 things: my ambition and my goals make me want to go back to those unfinished songs. Most people will just forget it and move on to the next. I’ve just done my whole album and I took about 8 months of continuously play because something didn’t sound right and I constantly reworking it. That is what inspires me, that is my ambition.
S For me it’s crazy as well. For a long time we were having friendly competitions with each other, but we used to only concentrate on what both of us were doing. So much so when we found this whole world was wrapped around us we started to hear new sounds and we were blown away. For the longest time I only listened to what Benga was listening to and vice versa so it was like coming into this new world with sunglasses on and going “Wow.”

So tells us your studio set up or is that a secret?
B At the moment a Virus TI – I’m only going to tell you some other stuff *laughs* and I use the 6 I/O which is my interface.
S Same ones as his, I also use a Prism Orpheus sound card. I’ve got some hardware that I don’t really use anymore cuz I sampled it all. I’ve got a Dave Smith Prophet 08 and Fruityloops.

Fruityloops is fun and such a powerful tool too! A lot of people think Fruityloops isn’t as good as other software like Logic and Ableton.
S It’s made some good records, lately – not by me! Laidback Luke uses Fruityloops. Spor and Feed Me too [Ed’s note: Spor and Feed Me was illustrated by Skream as 2 separate acts under John Gooch and is not a factual mistake]. It’s a tool, it’s what you know not what you use. Some people use Logic and make it sound amazing, and I know some people who use it and it sounds like sh!t. I can make my sound good – not as big, but correct with any other program.
B I’ve made some of my biggest choons with Fruityloops!

Nice! Lastly boys, who do you listen to outside the EDM scene?
B At the moment I am listening to a lot of old songs. I’m listening to Nirvana and listening to Snow – I can’t believe I’m saying that! And a couple of other bands too.
S Prince, some disco – I love disco, Rusty, and Artic Monkeys. New or old, I love all their albums. Suck It And See is amazing.
B I only love their old stuff!
S But have you checked Miles Kane? He’s great.

He does sound a lot like Alex Turner
S It’s because they’re best friends and they do The Last Shadow Puppets. The Last Shadow Puppets is the best James Bond music! Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim *Hums and dances*

Now how are we going to put that little dance of yours in print?
S Just say “Skream does the shimmy, shimmy yay!”
B Hahaha!

NSFW Tracksuit Party ft. Skream & Benga was held @ Vertigo on 11 January 2012. Skream for Benga here.