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DIZZ1 INTERVIEW


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“In Sickness & In Health” is the debut full-length from Dizz1 out now on Tru Thoughts. The deep and intrepid Hip Hop of the album has been previewed on two heavy EPs: 2014’s “Everyday Grind”, a red vinyl release featuring Aloe Blacc, Warrior Queen, Om’Mas K and “Get ‘Em Up”, which dropped on blue wax which featured renowned rapper Frank Nitt (Frank N Dank, Yancey Boys, J Dilla) as well as a bonus Danny Breaks remix, that recently gained the ultimate endorsement in forward-thinking Hip Hop when it was leaked upfront by Flying Lotus on his BBC Radio 1 Residency.

In the album creation, Dizz1 – AKA Melbourne based Dave Norris – had a mission to explore progressive, long-building, deep dance music arrangements in a Hip Hop context and tempo, with the idea of getting his favourite MC’s to spit over beats that are far from the conventional looped bars. Reflecting the esteem in which he is held, his dream team of vocalists materialised; a host of collaborators lined up to help transmute Dizz1’s vision via their charisma and lyrical chops.

Known for his “feel” – whether it’s scratching, drumming or programming those sideways beats – turntablist, producer and drummer Dizz1 has been in the music industry for over a decade, including two years in Japan. In the early ‘00s he played major festivals, appeared on Channel V and toured across Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand, rising quickly to perform alongside the likes of Grand Master Flash, Roni Size, Jam Master Jay (RIP) and JRocc.

Testament to his strength and philosophical nature, he managed to keep rising despite breaking his neck in 2004 and becoming temporarily paralysed with a titanium plate in place. During his rehabilitation he buried himself in the studio, and once recovered he hit the road, playing across the globe and teaching Ableton Live and Logic, everywhere from Indigenous communities to prisons, creating his own unique curriculum focused on promoting positive vibes through music. More recently, he has been blowing up all over the place, from playing at Sonar to attending the Red Bull Music Academy to gaining airplay from Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs and Benji B. He has performed alongside a who’s-who of quality music, from De La Soul and Mos Def to Gaslamp Killer and Loefah. His studio collaborations include Mark Pritchard, Steve Spacek (Africa Hitech), DJ Vadim and Roots Manuva, who featured his production “Here We Go Again” as a single on his ‘4everevolution’ LP.

What are your earliest memories of music?
My Dad cranking up his home built sound system blaring Rock and Roll well late into the night and my Mum singing away when she thought no one was listening (she has a beautiful singing voice)

You originally got well known as a turntablist rocking with some of the world’s best what were some of the memorable jam sessions?
Yeah so many great memories! I used to have a crew in Japan with my homie Yuksta called the Def Cut Delegatz. Those jams were always fun, just cutting to scratch breaks. Yuki and I went to San Fran back in 2000 to Scratchcon and then around that time back in Sydney we had a Sunday night at Blue Room with Josh Feit. Pretty much whoever came through the city came and chilled there. Blazing with Jazzy Jay on the VIP couch and geeking out was well memorable, he’s a really funny dude! Q Bert hit me up to have a scratch in his hotel room too! That was one of those pinch me I’m dreaming moments! He had a mini disc with all the breaks on it and we just traded back and forth for hours. Didn’t really say much until right at the end when I was doing this finger popping technique I had started messing around with which from studying all his videos, I thought he did too. It gives the record hand a little extra beat so you can do double time without moving your hand that fast. He tripped and asked me what the fuck I was doing. That kinda blew me away cause I thought he had been doing that all along but supposedly that was just the way his hand moved! Finally he asked me a pretty profound question “What do you think you could improve in your scratching”?

At the time I was all about hand fader “rudiments” but hadn’t really strung them all together confidently so I answered “flow”. He basically said, just imagine a jazz nursery rhyme like Ma-ry had.. a lit..tle Laaaaamb. Swing that nursery rhyme and keep it basic. Then when it sounds too repetitive add some extra notes here and there and then when that sounds too busy go back to your nursery rhyme. That really stuck with me to this day!

What led you into production?
I was playing drums with a breaks, electro, dnb crew called dBChills (Mike ended up becoming my brother in law) and I was fascinated by him using cubase and how big you could see the waveform’s up on the screen (also at the sick sounds he was making with synths both software and hardware)! I had mucked around on MPC’s before then and scratched over basic beats but he, Rephrase and Ian Jones (badman drummer) sat through my incessant questions on how to do this and that. It wasn’t until I started playing with Ableton live that I really felt I was actually starting to get anywhere with it though. There definitely wasn’t any youtube how to vids back then so I gotta thank those guys and later Mark Pritchard and J Shoix for relaying that deeper understanding that otherwise takes years of trial and error.

You were invited to the 2008 Red Bull Music Academy in Barcelona? What was it like attending and what did you take away from the experience?
Oh that was by far the most amazing musical experience of my life! It was as though every possibility had been preempted! One minute I was on a couch listening to Goldie pour his heart out and the next I’m upstairs listening to Om’Mas play Gary Bartz tracks from his unreleased album in surround for the first time (was only him, his manager, Om’Mas and I). Was a spin out watching Gary trip when Mas panned his horn around his head 360 and he was like “Its like we’re up there on stage!” Next level

When did you realise you could make music as a career?
I remember my Dad saying “Its very rare that musicians make good money so be prepared if thats what you want to do”. That was in about year 9…

What does your studio set up look like now compared to when you first started out?
I got used to using a laptop from the get go as I liked the idea of being able to work on the road so not much different. I went through stages where I thought I needed this or that to get a certain sound but to be honest, plugs have come so far over the years that Im in the box unless its live instrumentation which I’ll use certain pre’s and mics depending on the source. I have a UAD Apollo sound card with their plugins which is bloody amazing! Also use the Native Instruments stuff and of course Ableton Live as my main DAW.

You first started as a drummer do you think this has helped with your production skills?
I think it shaped the way I write and think yes. As a drummer I gravitate towards percussive elements naturally so my music is usually full of drums! Also Im really into the timing being pocket, if something is even a few ms too early or late it really doesn’t sit right with me so Ill go in on individual hits, syllables of vocals etc and just nudge them around until it all sounds like its grooving. Can take forever and sometimes I find myself chasing my tail when I move something then something else goes out but thats all part of the Tetris nonsense I call making music…

How would you describe the Dizz1 sound?
Tetris nonsense

What/Who inspires you to make music?
These days Im really in a good routine, I’ll meditate, ride to the studio and Im pretty much singing something in my head or out loud by the time I get there. I use that voice recorder app loads to catch a vibe cause once I lose it its gone and I’m suddenly humming Kylie Minogue

What is your process for making a beat?
I’ll have a few mugs of Cacao and either open one of those hummed audio files onto a new track in Ableton and play around it or Ill just jam on a break until something comes. I’ll sometimes practice keys and as I’m figuring out a run, an interesting riff may come out so I make sure I’ve got the comp fired up whenever I’m practicing these days for that reason. Inspiration comes at the strangest times

How did the deal with Tru Thoughts come about and what’s the pros and cons of being signed to an overseas label?
I was booking a tour for UK and hit up a promoter I knew in Brighton. He asked what I was working on these days and I sent him my almost complete album. As it turned out he was A&Ring for Tru Thoughts and asked if he could pass it on to them.

TBH I didn’t think they would be feeling it but the label boss Rob is a huge Hip Hop fan and long story short signed it the next day! The pros are definitely being exposed to an audience who otherwise might not hear it and the cons would be the time difference so having to wait a whole day (or maybe longer) for an email response that could be answered in 2 seconds.

What’s the meaning behind the album title “In Sickness & In Health”?
Yin Yang, marriage to music, love, hate, addictions, afflictions, relationships, opposites attracting. All that good stuff that makes the mind question itself

What did each featured guest bring to your album?
It was such a blessing to have so many guests contribute their energy to this project! I really wanted to do my version of a Hip Hop album with vocalists that inspired me from the past and present. Having the OG Sadat X pour his heart out on Reach Out or Not blew my mind. I got in touch with him and sent him a few beats to vibe to and when he chose this one, I gave him the back story to what I was going through at the time I wrote it. Basically a close friend was dealing with some drug issues and whenever I reached out it felt as though it either got thrown back in my face or I was told not to worry and everything was fine. I relayed this to Sadat and he came back with this deep story. I really couldn’t have imagined such honesty but the whole album seemed to have that theme. Everyone involved really gave it their all and for that I am so honoured!

Which track was your favourite to make and why?
I’d have to say “Wherewithal” which features the amazing Ali Fern. Ali is a close friend of my daughters Mum and she knew first hand what had gone on so her lyrics really sang true. I was also experimenting with different length progressions (as far as bars and especially basslines go) and was pretty stoked how this one turned out.

What one artist do you wish made the album?
Ladi 6! She actually wrote the lyrics that Candice Monique sang on the track called “Love” but got a throat infection and wasn’t able to record the final version. The demo she sent is incredible and I think Candice did a brilliant job of recreating the vibe here although having Ladi’s voice on that record would have been something else. Next time!

Who are your musical influences?
My first music teacher Mr Evans from primary school. I really owe it all to him. He encouraged so many kids to pursue their passion for music and performing arts and it was because of him that I realised music was what I wanted to live! RIP Mr Evans!

What new artists/producers are you currently listening to?
I just produced a track (We Drink) for a young cat called James Chatburn out of Newcastle, NSW. Kid is so good! We were in the studio and he had his guitar and I took a break to use the bathroom and as Im walking up the hall, I hear this incredible flamenco guitar. I came running back in like “We are using that in the track! I don’t care what you say, we are doing a flamenco guitar break down!” He’s sick!

What’s the best piece of advice ever given to you?
My Dad once said, you can either be like the Titanic in all its glory ploughing through the high seas and all it takes is a little bit of ice to sink you or as simple as a piece of cork floating with the tide…

What does the future hold for Dizz1?
Ive been producing for a bunch of artists so lots of new music! Been working on a new live project with Galambo (CL), him on bass and looping all sorts of stuff and me on drums and samples. We go through all tempos and keep it bumping on a live tip so keep an eye out for that. I’m also studying Shiatsu so Ill be moving that chi in a city near you soon!

What’s your definition of Grindin’?
Frontside crooked get em up get em up

Interview by Duggs

TOUR DATES:
Fri 26th June – Rumpus Room, Brisbane
Sat 27th June – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
Thu 2nd July – Play Bar, Sydney
Fri 3rd July – Ponsonby Social Club, Auckland
Sat 4th July – Havana, Wellington
Fri 10th July – Mojo’s, Perth
Sat 11th July – Transit Bar, Canberra
Fri 21st August – Boney, Melbourne