Kissy Sell Out has become a force to be reckoned with! Since his days as a designer learning his trade at Central Saint Martians art college, he’s now gone on to a staring role as one of BBC Radio One’s DJ line up championing new music and producers. A vital part of any self respecting electro lover’s line up, I sat down and asked the man a few questions...
You’ve just released your debut solo album – how did you find working on the project as a whole?Exhausting haha! It'll be a while before I take another magical mystery tour like that again!
How difficult did you find it maintaining an element of cohesion running through it?My debut album has a very strong theme running through it, as the title "Youth" suggests, so I found it quite easy to slip into my own little universe while writing the tracks as many of the tracks cover such personal subjects and fond memories.
How do you feel your production philosophy has changed since you first started?I don't think my production methods have changed that much to be honest but I've become a lot more experienced in dealing with other people in the studio.
Are there major differences between your studio setup now and what you began learning on?Haha, I like how you say learning! I've never really learnt how to do anything, I just sit down and try and make it sound like it does in my head! While working on my album I tried out many different types of equipment, mainly because I constantly had people telling me I do things the wrong way, but I still use the same stuff I always had these days. I guess the best thing about trying new studio setups for me is that you find out why you like your own so much!
What’s a basic rundown of your preferred tools nowadays?Alas it is a secret still! Isn't not knowing how someone makes their music part of the magic?
You’re well known for your remix work – is the approach to remixing a track different from a fresh composition of your own?Unfortunately writing your own song is a completely different beast from doing a remix. The best thing about a remix is that the original parts create musical boundaries for you to work around such as the key or the acapella whereas you have far more freedom when creating your own track which can be an overwhelming feeling.
Give us a production tip or trick for a new producer?Make something unique to you - don't copy anyone!
What do you especially look for when selecting remix projects?Tracks that sound like a good Christmas dinner with all the trimmings to play around with.
Have you ever turned down a chance to work with a well known artist, and if so why?Many times haha! Mainly because of time constraints however - I'll never consider myself too cool to work with anyone really. I had to turn down remixing Hot Chip's big hit Ready For The Floor a few years ago which seems a bit crazy in retrospect but I got offered to remix The Human League the same week which was literally a childhood dream and the chance of a lifetime for me so I opted for The League.
How has your Radio1 show evolved during your tenure with the station?I guess the biggest thing that has grown has been the community of listeners. I'm very proud to say that the listenership doubled within the first three months of the weekly show starting which was a huge confidence boost and made me work twice as hard on the weekly mixes.
I really enjoy making the Kissy Klub Versions specially for the show and keeping a constant dialogue running with the listeners via the texts and emails I get. Sometimes I have to let other presenters stand in for me because my live schedule gets too hectic and I literally walk around with a huge scrooge-like scowl on my face for about a day!
You’re well known for breaking new talent on the show – from a personal point of view, which artist are you most proud of being associated with in this way?It's nice to be recognised for the effort I put in on that front - but it's really not hard to talk passionately about the new music I love - it often speaks for itself! Sadly, the top 40 chart is beginning to smell like old socks again as it gets dominated by mega-bucks press campaigns and auto-tune-heavy novelty electro songs but about half the records I play in my DJ sets are still unsigned tracks and remixes I find on myspace!
It seems criminal to me that the fresh ideas of so many talented young people get over-looked - if you want to hear something really fresh and exciting check out
16Bit,
Art Vs Science or
Jack Beats and you'll see what I mean.
Finally….is music powerful enough to change the world, and if so what one song would be most apt?Once I'd finished pumping out 137bpm electro/speed garage bootlegs in the main room at Space in Ibiza last week the Ed Banger DJs continued to destroy years of dance music heritage by closing their set with the Beastie Boys - "You gotta fight, for your right to paaaarrrttttay!!" - hopefully that answers your question!
Kissy Sell Out MySpace
