The Chimpo Interview

 

Email interview by Alex Cox - September 2011

OK firstly big up's for doing this interview, thanks for your time to speak to the peeps at www.skateparkpages.com

Let’s start the with basics – Name, Age and Home town?

Chimpo, 27 years young from Manchester

How long have you been in the music game? Was it something you always wanted to do from a young age?

 

Yeah, I started making tunes when I was about 12 on two tape decks and a little Casio keyboard. I always wanted to do music but when I was in school I thought I’d be happy just working in a record shop! My first step into the scene was in a hip hop group called Northern Monkeys with my bredrin Gudz and JSD, who’s now in Virus Syndicate. I got into dubstep a few years ago and made a tune called ‘Kryptonite’ which Mrk1 released on the Contagious label.

Can you describe your current sound? Have you always been into this genre or has it progressed from other roots / styles?

I’m known as a Dubstep producer but I like to think that all the genre’s I’m into play a part in my sound – Dancehall, Jungle, Soul, Garage, Hip Hop, Reggae etc. I started Djing at school, playing all these type’s of music. I’ve become a part of the dubstep scene and I love dubstep as I can work in all these influences. I currently working on an album with my good friends Fox and Dellano. It’s got traces of all these genres but it couldn’t be categorised into any of them. It’s mad.

Do you have a Facebook or website to keep people up to date with releases etc?

You can find me on Soundcloud at http://soundcloud.com/chimpo-mcr,

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chimpomcr and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/CHIMPOMCR .

For bookings you can contact strangelyrun@googlemail.com

Do you play any musical instrument or use them in creating your tracks?

I can play guitar a bit. I’m not that good but I’m a good producer so I can record it and make it sound good! Not got it on any dubstep tunes yet but I’ve got some musical stuff with Fox that I’m playing on.

PC or Mac or both? Any overriding factors for the selection?

PC. Because I’m poor! Hahahaa

What music do you like that doesn’t necessarily influence your current sound? What do you like to chill to for instance or what gets you hyped?

I listen to Soul musical to chill and  Reggae to get hyped. A lot of people don’t get that. They think reggae is just to chill and smoke weed to but I catch pure energy off it. When it’s good it’s really powerful music.

Any planned collabs for release in the near future and finally who is on the wish list?

There’s a few on the way…. But that would be telling…..

Moving on to DJing – what came first production or Djing? Which do you prefer?

I started both pretty much at the same time. I don’t think I could live without either.

What was your first and last venue you played out at and how did it go down?

First club I played was some grimey little club in town, can’t remember its name. I was 15 and I had to go home straight after my set!

Last was the outdoor stage at Outlook festival with Strategy. We killed it!

Finally any hero’s or villain’s who have inspired you throughout your life?

Rza, Todd Edwards, Dilla, Goldie, Sizzla, Dennis Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, D’angelo, Dave Chappelle, Doug Stanhope, Hugo Chavez, John Pilger, Fox, Gudz, Dub Phizix, Fallacy, Chunky, Rolla, Broke’n’English, Konny Kon, Inque, Banner, all my old mates and my family.

Nice 1 – cheers.

Check out the bio and some free Chimpo Chunage on our blog right here

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