Photo: Skurge with the Interstellar Fugitives @ DEAF 07

Dj Skurge interview from Famzine:

F: How long have you been with UR?
S: I’ve been with UR for 2 years.

F: Tell us about the tracks you have on IF2.
S: Two of the tracks I produced myself and the other two with The Aquanauts. Each track has its own flavor, some electro, techno, etc. But the track that was the most vicious and exciting to produce was Crackzilla. We’ve received some great feedback on that track and my goal is to keep it coming.

F: Which came first for you, DJ or working on tracks?
S: The DJ aspect came first. I learned how to mix back in 93 on some jacked up, but functioning Technics that my neighbor let me borrow. He had two records that he let me learn with that I still play today; “Future” by Model 500 and “Numbers” by Kraftwerk. Those two tracks were my first mix, haha. I left the turntables for the guitar in 94 and didn’t return until about 97.
I didn’t start doing my own tracks until about 2001. The new software releases gave me the beat making bug, especially after a friend introduced me to Reason, which let cats start making music with minimal funds.

F: How did your love for rock music come about?
S: The first time I heard “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin!, haha. I think I was about 12 and my best friend’s father at the time was a Zeppelin fanatic. I was hooked.

F: Who are some of your favorite rock artists? Any current radio/Internet favs?
S: Which decade? haha. Too many to name. Hmm. Hendrix, Zeppelin, Funkadelic, Floyd, Sabbath, Fishbone, Jane’s Addiction, Living Colour, Rush, AIC, Zappa, B-52’s, Clash, NIN, Primus, Tool.
Currently, I don’t listen to much new stuff, as I’m out of the loop. And when I say new stuff, I mean good bands that aren’t on the radio much, if at all. You have to be in that scene or know some people that are. The radio is too programmed, so I don’t listen much. I always keep some Tool in the ride though!

F: Do you have any gear on your Christmas list?
S: There’s always something on my wish list. That’s why its called a wishlist!

F: How do you mix gear and software?
S: Currently I’ve been moving more towards hardware, instrument wise. I really only use the computer as a harddisk recorder, editor and for archiving. Sometimes you need a break from the computer screen.

F: Give us some info about your new mix CD.
S: Well its a project that is being released care of Japan. It should be available within the next month or so. I wanted to lend my style to the UR catalog. The mix spans early UR to unreleased tracks, to some soon to be realeased tracks.

F: How was the IF show at the Hague?
S: Den Haag was a great show. We played the Today’s Art Festival. Lots of UR fans came out to support. The Fugitives and the DJ’s showed no mercy!

F: We hear the Aquanauts project is heating up….
S: Hot like fire!
We are doing a few adjustments to get the live act fully operational, but in the meantime we are working on new releases to satisfy our fans’ aquatic electrolust. I feel really good about what’s on the horizon for this squad. It is some wicked ish!!

F: What studio knowledge have you gotten from Mr. Banks?
S: A great deal. I would say that what stands out for me is the fact that a producer is more than someone who “makes beats”. There is studying involved, R & D, conceptualization, experimentation, etc. Its an entire package that takes dedication and hard work. At the end of the day, you get out of it what you put in.
Oh yeah…being funky can’t hurt either!!