Domscot

Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Domscott is a hugely diverse DJ/Producer. Based in Valenica, Spain these days his discography spans great names such as King Street Sounds, Loudeast Records, Open Bar, Conya, Good For You Records, Nite Grooves and no my own UM Records. His sounds varied from tech and afro to deep and straight up house making him a rare breed these days - but his story was one I seriously enjoyed finding out more about ahead of his guest mix which is also well worth the listen!

Good to catch up Dom - I always kick off with this one - how did you first get into deeper house?

I started mixing and playing music at the age of 14 inspired by my older brother and his connections in the electronic music scene. I had the likes of Ltj Bukem, Digital, Photek and some major players in the Drum & Bass scene in my house, leaving me dub-plates and promos that got me deeply involved in learning to mix and understand what producing music was all about. When I started going clubbing I got into breakbeats and deep house. Every weekend I was in Fabrics London, Bagleys, The Egg etc and had the pleasure of enjoying the best of the best to inspire my music production and my love of the Deeper sounds of the scene.

Who would you class as your biggest house influences so far - DJs or labels?

Uuuf so many to choose from as I am inspired from so many different areas. I like to try and include a variation of sounds in my productions from Funk, to Drum & Bass elements to make my own original sound I will very rarely stick to a solid genre of sound I just like the ideas to flow. Some of my most inspiring artists are definitely LTJ Bukem, Photek, Goldie, Jamie Jones, Nacho Marco, Dennis Ferrer for example but there are so many new artists delivering great sounds lately. If I really like a track I will use it as a reference to make my own idea and it could be from a big name of something new that inspires me to create. I don’t really feel i´m inspired by labels as the artists represent the labels not the other way around.

Tell us a little about your journey so far with production - how did you begin trying out ideas?

First I got the decks, 2 belt drive KAMS and a mixer, then came the PC with an old school Cubase slaved with Reason. Then came the AKAI sampler and a few pieces of external kit that I bought off a friend that was cleaning his studio out and I then routed it all through a Yamaha O3D Mixer, which was my prized possession at the time. I used to sample loads off old records and anything I could find that inspired me and starting making my personal sample libraries. After loads of problems with the PC I finally converted to MAC and started producing in Logic for a few years and then finally I found Ableton that I absolutely love. I really love the workflow and the ideas just seem to flow in Ableton. Since then its been a none stop progression and I am constantly looking to improve my sound quality as for me mixing and mastering is the key to that great overall sound. Ideas are really important but it has to sound great too.

What’s your production set up consist of?

I got rid of loads of external gear a few years back as the plugins today are just mind blowing. There are 3 main elements in a good setup (COMPUTER; SOUNDCARD; MONITORS) I have a IMAC that is super turbo charged and It’s the key to my good solid set up and all my projects, libraries of sounds and programs are on 3 independent SSD drives. My soundcard is a Universal Audio twin duet that I just love, the UAD plugins are crisp and of real high quality. My monitors are Genelec 8040´s, they just rock and with the GLM software my room is calibrated with my monitors to ensure my room is not influencing my decisions. I then have a Roland HP Piano and an old Yahama CS2X keyboard, Mashine and LOOOOOADS of plugins. I have spent a fortune on plugins but they give me so much pleasure.

Do you plan time to work on tracks or wait for inspiration to strike?

I am in the studio everyday even if it’s just an hour or 2. Its my space and my moment to relax and unwind. I usually dedicate Friday afternoons and Saturday morning to longer sessions in the studio, I have so many ideas I just can´t stop and I enjoy my own space and time working on music.

As a producer - how do you find inspiration for new music?

Maybe a track will inspire me or I just play with instruments until something jumps out at me. I usually have several projects on the go at once as I love starting new projects to see what I come up with. You can notice instantly if something is going to work or not, I send many projects to the graveyard!

What’s your favourite part of the process?

New ideas and mixing and mastering. I love having an idea and hear it come to life with a good mix and master ☺. A mix can kill a track or bring it into 2020 !

You’ve collaborated with a variety of people over the years, what’s that experience like creatively and what do you look for in a collaboration partner?

Music is about collaborating, you always learn from others as we all have our own workflows, experience and inspirations.

Tell us about the process/idea behind your EP on UM ‘The Shit’s Real’?

As you know it’s a 2 track EP, I started the old school mix as I had all the old vocals snips that I just started playing with and that maddy Rhodes sample. I then started piecing everything around those elements. I wanted to up the groove on it but the Rhodes was quite sluggish but I didn’t want to loose it because I loved it, so I did another mix. That’s when the other mix just popped out, I lost the Rhodes and worked on another bassline and the groove changed instantly. I like the EP as the 2 tracks have their own identity but are clearly partnered.

What’s your favourite tune of your own of all time - the one that never grows old?

Uuf I have a couple I just never get bored of listening too. “Acid Is the Rain” I released on Nacho Marco´s Loudeast records is lush. “Go” Feast Kenny McNeil released on King street and my “Sticks & Stones” Remix I made on Perception Music many years ago, It was one of my first releases and I still love it to bits.

What other producers are killing it for you right now for you - tracks you’re playing and loving?

Tough question, there is so much good music, too much. I don´t tend to a follow a set artist, I receive loads of promo material and I listen to so much music for a wide range of artists and genres. I do love Saison, Nathan G, Hyenah, Atjazz if I have to name a few but I don’t buy all their records only the ones I really like. There are many talented producers out there, some are just better known than others.

What can UM listeners look forward to from your Guest Mix?

I am really happy with this set and it wanted it deep, Domscott in my true essence.

Where can people follow you?

Linktree

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Domscot

Interview & Exclusive Guest Mix

Domscott is a hugely diverse DJ/Producer. Based in Valenica, Spain these days his discography spans great names such as King Street Sounds, Loudeast Records, Open Bar, Conya, Good For You Records, Nite Grooves and no my own UM Records. His sounds varied from tech and afro to deep and straight up house making him a rare breed these days - but his story was one I seriously enjoyed finding out more about ahead of his guest mix which is also well worth the listen!

Good to catch up Dom - I always kick off with this one - how did you first get into deeper house?

I started mixing and playing music at the age of 14 inspired by my older brother and his connections in the electronic music scene. I had the likes of Ltj Bukem, Digital, Photek and some major players in the Drum & Bass scene in my house, leaving me dub-plates and promos that got me deeply involved in learning to mix and understand what producing music was all about. When I started going clubbing I got into breakbeats and deep house. Every weekend I was in Fabrics London, Bagleys, The Egg etc and had the pleasure of enjoying the best of the best to inspire my music production and my love of the Deeper sounds of the scene.

Who would you class as your biggest house influences so far - DJs or labels?

Uuuf so many to choose from as I am inspired from so many different areas. I like to try and include a variation of sounds in my productions from Funk, to Drum & Bass elements to make my own original sound I will very rarely stick to a solid genre of sound I just like the ideas to flow. Some of my most inspiring artists are definitely LTJ Bukem, Photek, Goldie, Jamie Jones, Nacho Marco, Dennis Ferrer for example but there are so many new artists delivering great sounds lately. If I really like a track I will use it as a reference to make my own idea and it could be from a big name of something new that inspires me to create. I don’t really feel i´m inspired by labels as the artists represent the labels not the other way around.

Tell us a little about your journey so far with production - how did you begin trying out ideas?

First I got the decks, 2 belt drive KAMS and a mixer, then came the PC with an old school Cubase slaved with Reason. Then came the AKAI sampler and a few pieces of external kit that I bought off a friend that was cleaning his studio out and I then routed it all through a Yamaha O3D Mixer, which was my prized possession at the time. I used to sample loads off old records and anything I could find that inspired me and starting making my personal sample libraries. After loads of problems with the PC I finally converted to MAC and started producing in Logic for a few years and then finally I found Ableton that I absolutely love. I really love the workflow and the ideas just seem to flow in Ableton. Since then its been a none stop progression and I am constantly looking to improve my sound quality as for me mixing and mastering is the key to that great overall sound. Ideas are really important but it has to sound great too.

What’s your production set up consist of?

I got rid of loads of external gear a few years back as the plugins today are just mind blowing. There are 3 main elements in a good setup (COMPUTER; SOUNDCARD; MONITORS) I have a IMAC that is super turbo charged and It’s the key to my good solid set up and all my projects, libraries of sounds and programs are on 3 independent SSD drives. My soundcard is a Universal Audio twin duet that I just love, the UAD plugins are crisp and of real high quality. My monitors are Genelec 8040´s, they just rock and with the GLM software my room is calibrated with my monitors to ensure my room is not influencing my decisions. I then have a Roland HP Piano and an old Yahama CS2X keyboard, Mashine and LOOOOOADS of plugins. I have spent a fortune on plugins but they give me so much pleasure.

Do you plan time to work on tracks or wait for inspiration to strike?

I am in the studio everyday even if it’s just an hour or 2. Its my space and my moment to relax and unwind. I usually dedicate Friday afternoons and Saturday morning to longer sessions in the studio, I have so many ideas I just can´t stop and I enjoy my own space and time working on music.

As a producer - how do you find inspiration for new music?

Maybe a track will inspire me or I just play with instruments until something jumps out at me. I usually have several projects on the go at once as I love starting new projects to see what I come up with. You can notice instantly if something is going to work or not, I send many projects to the graveyard!

What’s your favourite part of the process?

New ideas and mixing and mastering. I love having an idea and hear it come to life with a good mix and master ☺. A mix can kill a track or bring it into 2020 !

You’ve collaborated with a variety of people over the years, what’s that experience like creatively and what do you look for in a collaboration partner?

Music is about collaborating, you always learn from others as we all have our own workflows, experience and inspirations.

Tell us about the process/idea behind your EP on UM ‘The Shit’s Real’?

As you know it’s a 2 track EP, I started the old school mix as I had all the old vocals snips that I just started playing with and that maddy Rhodes sample. I then started piecing everything around those elements. I wanted to up the groove on it but the Rhodes was quite sluggish but I didn’t want to loose it because I loved it, so I did another mix. That’s when the other mix just popped out, I lost the Rhodes and worked on another bassline and the groove changed instantly. I like the EP as the 2 tracks have their own identity but are clearly partnered.

What’s your favourite tune of your own of all time - the one that never grows old?

Uuf I have a couple I just never get bored of listening too. “Acid Is the Rain” I released on Nacho Marco´s Loudeast records is lush. “Go” Feast Kenny McNeil released on King street and my “Sticks & Stones” Remix I made on Perception Music many years ago, It was one of my first releases and I still love it to bits.

What other producers are killing it for you right now for you - tracks you’re playing and loving?

Tough question, there is so much good music, too much. I don´t tend to a follow a set artist, I receive loads of promo material and I listen to so much music for a wide range of artists and genres. I do love Saison, Nathan G, Hyenah, Atjazz if I have to name a few but I don’t buy all their records only the ones I really like. There are many talented producers out there, some are just better known than others.

What can UM listeners look forward to from your Guest Mix?

I am really happy with this set and it wanted it deep, Domscott in my true essence.

Where can people follow you?

Linktree