Hostage - Dubtch

Its pretty clear that Hostage gets alot of attention on this blog, but its usually because each track he produces is either really good or really different. Whether its a dubstep, electro or in this case a dubby/housey hybrid tune, there is always something new to get burnt onto your next batch of CDs.

I would definately recommend following Hostage on Twitter, just because he drops little electro nuggets to his followers here and there.. Pretty much always in 320kbps too. huzzaah

Hostage - Dubtch / YSI

New Hostage 'Sunburn' Mix

Oh yes.. check out the new Hostage mix over at The Fat Club!

Its a boomer.

Hostage drinks Special Brew

Got back from primavera festival in Barcelona, a wicked mix of all sorts of things (DEF NOT SPECIAL BREW). A post to follow soon on that.

To tide you over until then, some new heat from my main man Hostage, who is on a bass wobbling rampage yet again. Im trying to persuade him to do a mini mix for me at the moment, so may have to send his some mini cheddars or an equivalent tasty snack for the priviledge.

Hostage - Special Brew / ysi

Elephant Man

And for another regular installment of Hostage fun. This time round, things have gone a bit stranger, darker and dubbier. This isn't to say Hostage's trademark jump up wiggly basslines have been forgotten.

Instead, Hostage goes for grubby and it works like a charm. Bit concerned about the photoshop work though Alan.. your head must be a dark dark place.

Hostage - Elephant / YSI

Bringing Music to the States

Hostage has managed to take some time out from his tour round the US of A to drop me his latest jams. The self titled "daft calypso rhythms with some dirty bass and ravey horn stabs going on" ! Its good honest fun ;-)

Hostage - Bring the Music / (Y.S.I) - in a nice 320kbps no less...

More Hostage Fun

Seeing as Hostage and I are now bestest of friends, he sent through one of his latest tracks. Think splodgy(?) electro with a tinge of old school breakbeat. Nice.

Hostage - The New Gun / (Y.S.I)

Exclusive Hostage Interview and Beatport Mix

I was lucky enough to get an email from Alan Hostage an awesome house producer who is set up for a busy few months, starting with a US tour with the OH SNAP!! peeps. I mentioned Hostage in my top 8 artists for 08' and expect him to grow in popularity throughout 09', to kick things off we have an exclusive interview with the man himself and some shameless self-plugging of his recent Beatport top 10 mix.

Lets kick this shizzle off!

Hi Alan thanks for taking some take out for this interview, How are you?

I'm pretty damn good today, it's Friday afterall and there's partying to be done. A tad cold at the bodily extremities but nothing a bit of Friday won't sort out!


For those that dont know your music - how would you describe your sound?

If it was a recipe for a nice dancefloor-cake you'd do the following:
Ingredients:
500g of Electro and mixed with 250g of House music
125g of Techno
A dash of Old-Skool Hardcore
A tablespoon of Fidget (If you don't have any fidget a wee bit of Wonk will do)
A knob of Bassline
Blend them all together into a nice wobbly dough.
Bake at Gasmark 128bpm for 1 hour and 20 Minutes.
Sprinkle with UK Rave Stabs circa 1992


How did you get into the music scene? Any tips for readers interested in getting into the industry?

I've been releasing records for 10 years, starting by the usual route - sending tapes to record labels, DJing locally and slipping my own tracks into the mixes - I've just been doing this for many years and now the sound which I favour has a stanglehold on the dancefloors and the Blogosphere which has meant many releases, remixes and gigs all over Europe - Just work hard at it and do what you like.


So your based in sunny Edinburgh.... whats the music scene like there?

It's hmmm...ok...the clubs keep burning down in Edinburgh. All musical sub-genres are represented in the Athens of the North, just on a very small scale!

What sort of people do you think would go to your gigs?

Ravers, Sweaties, Goths, Ghosts, Hipsters, Fanboys and Fangirls, Hedonistis, Trainspotters, Those with an uncontrolable desire to wave their arms and legs about whilst intoxicated.


Are you involved in any sort of promoting or are you pureley a DJ / Producer?

I've dabbled a bit in the past but it's real hard work so I empathise when I meet promoters when they have their 1 hour of mega-stress 1 hour before the doors open - but now pure production and gigs.


Whats your favourite track so far this year?

Bird Peterson - The Essence


What do you think to Crookers potentially going 'mainstream'? Will this affect your production style at all?

It wont affect my production style at all but It's kinda nice that the sounds which I like are being accepted in a mainstream way.

I heard the Crookers remix of Kid Cudi's Day and Night on TMF at 9:15am on Monday morning this week - which made me think - AWWGAWWWD, but then I thought, no, wait, that's damn cool, I bloody love that bassline, Ok, i've heard it in every set in every club all year, but damn, that's good that it's so popular.

Who should we look out for in 09'?

Volatile.


You have your Shake it EP out now on Beatport, aswell as a Top Ten Chart. Any other big projects / remixes of yours to look out for?

I have forthcoming remixes coming out for Eskimo Twins and aUtOdiDakT. My Remix of Bill Cosby Sweater is out this month on the Australian 'Sweat it Out' Records.
I'm starting my US Tour on 23rd January in El Paso, TX and will bring the uk rave-house sound to NYC, DC and various other american backwaters ;)


Who would you most like to DJ alongside?

Jimmy Saville


Do you have any messages for our readers?

Have a most splendid weekend and an even more splendid 2009.


I think you'll agree that was awesome. Be sure to check our Hostage on Beatport, for now, sample his Beatport top ten mixed in wonk-tastic fashion:


(click the image)

And the You Send It Version: Hostage - January Beatport Mix

bonus:

Hostage - Stab Up / (Y.S.I)

Happy New Years Electro Lovers !

Happy NYE everyone! Hope you all had a good one – Tramp was pretty good, a bit minimal at times but good vibes overall, with plenty of new and old tracks put together well. I also heard good things about the Wax:On night in Newcastle from my friends. Claude Von Stroke and Fake Blood were the nuts supposedly.

I’ve actually been running a few days late on this one, I lack any form of internet at my house and my neighbours have passworded their wireless signal – how dare they. I am basically here to put together a short list of my favourite 8 producers for the year and give examples as to why they are so awesome. The music scene in 2008 has been ridiculously awesome and has seen a big shift in not just electronic music, but the clubbing scene in general.

Pretty much gone are the days of ‘avin’ it’ electro in clubs, tunes from the likes of Justice and every other impersonator typified by huge distorted synths, legions of sweaty neon ravers and general madness. Thats not to say that style is not popular, or indeed won't come back. But right now, things have got a bit more cheeky, grimey and dubbier along the way with producers reinventing our favourite genres to satisfy our thirst for something new.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of a distorted banger in a mix but you wont be seeing any Boys Noize, Justice or MSTRKRFT in my top 8, times are a changin’ folks.

In no particular order i have loved:

Fake Blood:
The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful (Fake Blood Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Crookers:
Azzido Da Bass - Dooms Night (Crookers Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Drop the Lime:
The Fugees - Ready or Not (Drop the Lime Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Jack Beats
AC Slater - Jack got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Boy 8-Bit:
DJ Touche - Girls a Freak (Boy 8-Bit Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Hostage:
Altern8 - Frequency (Hostage Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Proxy:
Autodidakt - Shit Your Rack (Proxy Remix) / (Y.S.I)

And last but not least: Foamo:
Mystery Jets - Half in Love With Elizabeth (Foamo Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Lets make '09 a good one!

x