NRS/Serious Porn Collector (LastPossibleSolution Records)

Hey Paul, how are you?

I am good thanks, chilling out at the moment, thinking about taking a holiday somewhere quiet to shed of my insomnia.

Your involvement in the psytrance industry must be fairly big, considering you are involved with 3 different projects (Deviant Species, NRS and Serious Porn Collector). Is it a full time job for you these days?

Yes its a full time job for me now. I actually left Deviant Species 2 years ago to concentrate on NRS. Serious Porn Collector kind of evolved along the way as an output for my slower tracks. Also I have a nother project with "Scorb" called RAM which is more full on, its always good to hang out with Ady and drink beer.

So how did you start out in trance? Where has it taken you on your path to today? Which artists influenced you early?

I started out making electronic music around 10 years ago on an old hardware studio. I was inspired by the UK acid house scene, hardcore and bands like Joy Division, The Cure, The Clash, The Psy Furs, I still really like the vibe of these bands, the new wave scene was probably my biggest influence.

Your music has a very distinct flavour, innovative for sure. Definitely seem to look at the dark/night time sounds in a very different way to most. Tell me a bit about what sort of music you like to create when you are in your studio. How is each of your projects an outlet for this?

Well I try and make something a bit different for each project, if it works I am not so sure but its important for me to try and keep my sound evolving and to continue to improve my production. I have normally have no problems coming up with ideas but finishing the tracks though can still take a long time.

Serious Porn Collector album was just released in past couple of months. How is that project going? Definitely a bit more minimal in its sound this one isn’t it?

Yes definately more minimal than NRS, I was interested in seeing peoples response to this kind of sound and for me its nice to work on slower tunes somtimes, i get to listen to many less kick drums throughout the day!

What about your other projects (RAM and NRS)? What is on the horizon for them? Any compilations or future releases planned?

We are working on the second RAM album now, hopefully for Autumn release, its gonna be a little more full on than the first one and also finishing the next LPS comp "Denial And Error". Then I would like to start on the next NRS album.

Which artists do you collaborate with frequently? Do you have any plans for future projects with other artists?

Recently Tenzing, an new Swiss producer from Japan, Scorb and Damage. There is an "Icebreaker" album in the pipeline with Tenzing but I really dont know when we get started on it..

What artists in the world today do you think are making innovative or inspiring sounds? Who are your favourite artists of the moment (both in and out of trance)?

Hmm thats difficult, probably Scorb and Damage, I am not really impressed by many of the new English guitar bands, they all sound so retro, big lack of originality in the UK on all sides at present which saddens me a little I must say. Still I have to respect the Chillie Peppers and Neil Young for not selling out and still be able to rock like fuck.

What is your main platform to making music? Do you use a lot of hardware? If so what do you use? Or are you mainly VST-based like many artists today? What advice could you give someone starting out to produce psytrance music?

My main platform is still Cubase and I dont use hardware anymore, mainly I dont want to carry anything around. Hopefully I am going to move later in the year and set up a new studio then I can start collecting synths again. I think in a way its much easier to get started now because the technology can makes it easier then before. I still think psy trance is hard to make compared to some other genres though so t can take a long time to develop your skills.

Which countries have you visited touring this year? Are you playing any major festivals this season? Any other travel plans?

Well this year I really planned to take the whole year of as I to concentrate on studio work for LPS but its hard to stay put so I just played in Osaka, Japan which was wicked as always and just returned from the Fusion Festival in Germany, which was awesome underground festival. Respect.

Australia seems to be having many emerging full on and dark producers, with guys like Legohead, Hefty Output and Pondscum. Have you heard much Aussie trance? Who do you like?

I havn't heard Hefty Output and Pondscum but I know Al from Legohead and I really like what he is doing and I also think that soon the most interesting music will soon be coming out of Oz, Japan and Europe . I have heard good things about the new Australian producers from Psychoactive and Damage.

Any plans to travel down-under anytime soon?

I hope so maybe later in the year. I really enjoyed the time I spent there before and have some friends to catch up with.

Any last words, thank yous, or people who have helped you along the way?

Well I always end up forgetting someone so but big thanks to all my English mates, Japanese friends, Yod, Tenz, Damage, Santos, Cass, Takeomi, Yabai Records, Fusion Festival crew, all the people that have come to the gigs, bought any releases or helped me out, Ulrika, Charlie C, Les from Spindle Servo Failure, David Icke, Guf Purstaad, GOP and anyone else that believes in exposing the system for the bullshit that it really is. We must not let this continue.

Thanks mate, I appreciate it. Keep up the wicked music!

Thanks its much appreciated.

Interview by Jesse Kuch