EZ Rollers - Drum and Bass Producer Interview

October 2003

Interview with drum and bass producers EZ Rollers.

How many people are in the EZ Rollers crew and how did you meet up?

EZ Rollers consists of 4 people, Jay and Alex met at school and they then met Kelly and Jakes at two seperate clubs.

How old are you?

Jay: 34

Alex: 34

How did you get into the drum and bass scene?

Both me and Jay were always into music, going to soul weekenders and stuff. When the scene changed around '86/'87 with the Chicago house sound we started going to clubs and hearing all sorts of sounds mixed together. This evolved into Rave which in turn moved towards Jungle Techno - we just kept going to raves and clubs. Drum and bass was our preferred choice!

How long have you been producing music and what did you do before you started djing/producing music?

I've been making music for 20 years! We released our first tune in 1990 and have had over 80 released compositions since. We were always doing music, but before we made our living from music I worked in a plastic bottle factory for 9 years and Jay is a time served mechanical engineer.

What are your musical influences?

Everything! We listen to soul and hip-hop and house and pop and R&B and, and, and…

How long do you spend in the studio a week (on average) and what software / equipment do you use to produce your music?

When we're working on something then it's about 60 hours a week. We've got a Mac Dual G4 running Logic Audio Platinum with ProTools Mix Plus System. All this goes through a 48 channel Makie 8 Bus and out Dynaudio BM15A's. We've got loads of old FX Pedals like Watkiss Copycats and Lovetone Pedals.

Alex was part of the duo Hyper On Experience, was the success of the classic track "Lords Of The Null Lines" a complete surprise?

It was great news! That time was fantastic. All the players at the time were really tight and wherever you went half the scene was there. So that tune reminds me of good times.

On your album "Tales of the Unexpected" there is a track featuring Doug E Fresh, how did this connection come about and did you actually meet the man himself?

We met him through Sharon Brown, one of the other artists on the "Titles" album. She said she knew him, so we hooked up with him from there. The vocals were recorded in New York and sent over. So we never got to meet him.

You provided the theme tune ("Walk This Land") on the soundtrack to the movie "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", how did the track come get included in the film? Did Guy Richie contact you personally?

Rob Playford met Guy Richie in a bar in Soho, they got chatting and Rob gave him a copy of "Storm From The East" which contained the original version of "Walk This Land", he liked the tune and asked Moving Shadow if he could use it in his film. We get a lot of requests like this and thought nothing of it until years later, when Jay and I were driving through London, we started seeing posters for Lock Stock and the rest is history.

Rob Playford met Guy Richie in a bar in Soho, they got chatting and Rob gave him a copy of "Storm From The East" which contained the original version of "Walk this Land", he liked the tune and asked Moving Shadow if he could use it in his film.

EZ Rollers

A few of your tracks and albums have achieved dance chart success, do you see this as a good thing or a bad thing?

Good thing. Very encouraging.

How much work has it been to set up the Intercom and how long has it been running now?

Running a label is a lot of hard work. More than most people imagine. Intercom has one employee and takes up loads of our time as well. The biggest problems are suppliers, some of them haven't got a clue and we have to chase after them constantly. It's been 5 years of stress!

Can you tell us a bit about the current "Lickable Beats" E.P.'s and album?

We wanted to showcase the talent on the label. Lickable Beats was designed to promote the label into other areas, which has been achieved. We kept the cream of the crop for this project and I think this shows. It is also the first time we released an EZ Rollers track on Intercom "Crowd Rocker" which has stayed in the drum and bass chart for 3 weeks now.

Which other producers / artists out there would you most like to work with?

We will be working with Distorted Minds in November and DJ Marky and XRS soon after. Apart from that, me and Jay are easy, if someone wants to work with us we usually do it.

What tunes do you rate that are doing the rounds drum and bass circuit at the moment?

Where to start? Anything that gets the crowd jumping. We like party tunes and there are so many out there.

Do you have a favourite tune of all time?

Yes, Wheels Of Steel by Grand Master Flash

Is there any one tune you would really like to remix?

Yes, mostly our old stuff! I listen to our tunes and think, I could do that differently now! Apart from that, I'd like to have a go at some old soul classics of some UK hip-hop / R&B.

How often do you get out clubbing?

I live in clubs.

Do you have a favourite event or club night?

I used to, years ago I loved going to Cambridge Corn Exchange or Clacton. But I guess Fabric is cool and Manga in Edinburgh, to be honest, there are many good drum and bass clubs in the UK, the scene has been strong for years.

Is there a particular tune you always seem to take with you when you head out to do a set?

God yes! Bloody Dom and Roland remix of Terrorist! We take it everywhere and still play it! I've half a mind to burn it.

What was the last record / CD you bought?

Sean Paul - "Dutty Rock"… best British stuff for years… mad.

What are your views on the drum and bass scene at present and where do you see it heading in the near future?

Strong getting stronger. It's been very healthy for years now. The future will be better still - more people making more music, can only be good.

It's Sunday afternoon and you are chilling out at home, what is on the stereo?

If my wife is in then I'll have to listen to 70's disco! But on my own I'll listen to drum and bass or MTV bass, or old skool or mad shit.

Do you have any other interests or pastimes outside the music scene?

Yes, I ride a Moto X, a KTM 125 2003 and I fucking Love it! It scares the pants off me and that's half the buzz. Jay plays golf.

What plans do you have for your future for yourself and the Intercom label?

Try to keep breathing, you know. Make a few tunes, play some records. Stay out of trouble.

For further information about EZ Rollers and the Intercom Recordings visit:

www.intercomrecordings.com