Optiv (C4C) interviewed by EveryDayJunglist.org

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Words By: Bryan "B-1" Robinson

That every cause has an effect is common knowledge. For Optiv, Stuart and Mark, the cause is drum & bass, and their effect is both indelible and undeniable, collectively known as Cause 4 Concern. Aside from being an integral part of Cause4Concern, Optiv had also built up a large selection of solo releases and in 2003 started his own imprint label ‘Redlight Records’ . The label was very well received from the start and has included collaborations and remixes from the likes of Black Sun Empire, Concord Dawn, The Upbeats, Bulletproof, Mayhem, Psidream, Chris Su, Dose , & Rymetyme. The label continues to grow strong with the latest offering from German producer Proktah.

Last year Cause4Concern returned to wreak havoc with their first full length album. Spread over five separate 12”s and followed by a double CD, Pandemic picked up right where the lads left off – the leading edge of electronic music. Now in 2010 Cause4Concern continue to release plenty of new material on their label C4C Recordings as well as securing tracks on Horizons, Cyclon & Renegade Hardware.

You can catch a copy of a mix that he did for CyberGroove Productions here: http://cybergrooveprod.blogspot.com/2010/12/optiv-c4c-exclusive-cyber-groove-mix.html

We got a chance to ask him a few questions inbetween his busy schedule and here's what he had to say:

EverydayJunglist:You currently reside in Switzerland, What is the drum and bass scene like in Bern, and Switzerland in general?

Optiv: Switzerland is a small country but i think the scene here is quite strong. There are some
great nights here in Bern at Dachstock Darkside, the parties are monthly with great international DJ’s and they are almost always sold out.

EverydayJunglist:How is the weather there?

Optiv: At the moment its cold and there is lots of snow around, i like that as i ski quite often.

EverydayJunglist:The art for Red Light is quite twisted, Who does the art?

Optiv: The art is by an artist called John Hicklenton who worked as an illustrator for the comic 2000AD (Judge Dredd, ABC Warriors etc). Sadly he passed away this year in Dignitas in Switzerland after fighting multiple sclerosis for 10 years.

EverydayJunglist:Do you jump in the studio with your collaborators or do you send tracks back and forth via the web?

Optiv: I try and get in the studio with people i work with as i prefer to work face to face. I don’t mind sending tracks back and forth via the web but it’s not quite the same vibe. I recently did some creative cabling and managed to have a real-time online studio session with Mark from Cause4Concern, we used a combination of Skype and TeamViewer and as well as seeing and hearing each other we were both able to see, hear and manipulate the same project in Cubase in real-time; it worked far better than i thought it would so perhaps that is the future of online collaborations.

EverydayJunglist:Your a part of prestigious Cause4Concen, how did you guys decide to start producing together?

Optiv: We were friends all working in the industry in one way or the other, whether it was in the local record store or distributing vinyl. We would come back from parties and start making beats and it all came together quite naturally.

EverydayJunglist:What is your home production set up like?

Optiv: Its quite smaller than it used to be but it all centres around my quad core pc. Apart from running Cubase and some other software i have a Mackie Big Nob, Mackie Onyx mixing desk, Powercore Firewire, Steinberg MR816x sound card, NI Audio Kontrol 1 Soundcard, NI Kore controller, Mackie HR824 speakers, Novation Remote 32sl keyboard, Novation Supernova Rack and a Korg Prophecy.

EverydayJunglist:Have any vices that help get you into "the zone," when producing or mixing?

Optiv: I don’t really need any, a beer or two doesn’t go a miss.

EverydayJunglist:What do you prefer to DJ with, still throwin' down wax?

Optiv: These days i just DJ with Cd’s. I do sometimes miss playing with vinyl but i don’t miss having to carry them around. I did try Stanton’s Vinyl Scratch for a while until a couple of laptops died. I have come to the decision that playing from CD’s is the most practical solution.

EverydayJunglist:Coming from an era where digital stores were non existent, is it difficult to see vinyl fade away?

Optiv: It was at first but now i just except it. Its great to own music in a tangible form like vinyl but that technology is over 100 years old so it’s understandable that the digital format has superseded it.

EverydayJunglist:Have any plans to make it out to the states any time soon?

Optiv: I think a tour is being planned for April / May next year through my agent Cyber Groove ( http://www.cybergrooveprod.com/) so if there are any promoters out there please get in touch.

EverydayJunglist:What can we expect from Optiv/C4C in the 2011?

Optiv: Plenty of new music, as well as music on Red Light and C4C Recordings there are tracks planned on Subtitles, Virus, Renegade Hardware, Bad Taste to name a few.

EverydayJunglist:Have any words of advice for the up and coming producers out there?

Optiv: Explore, Create and have fun. Persistence is the key.

http://www.everydayjunglist.com/optiv
http://www.myspace.com/optiv
http://www.facebook.com/djoptiv
http://www.myspace.com/cause4concerndnb
http://www.facebook.com/Cause4Concern