Recently I got chance to fire some questions at someone not only very highly rated here at Motortechno Towers, but is fast becoming one of the most consistent and in-demand techno producers around. We are, of course, referring to Phase.

Taken from Phase's website -

'Since surfacing in 1999, Phase's productions have consistently gained the attention of high profile DJs and Techno legends such as Derrick May, Jeff Mills and Laurent Garnier. His various works for such prominent labels as London's Lost/Cosmic Records, Inceptive, Belgium's Token records and Ben Sims' Ingoma imprint have also featured in CD mixes by Robert Hood, François Kevorkian, Adam Beyer, Japan's Fumiya Tanaka and Dave Clarke amongst others....'

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Without wanting to use it as a guideline, your myspace page has you down as a minimalist/techno/electro artist - How would you personally describe your style of music?

To people who have no idea I would say Electronic Dance Music. To electronic music fans I suppose you could run into Minimal Techno or Groove Minimalism. In iTunes, I categorise my tracks as Techno.


However it is described, your discography is extremely diverse. Each release is unique and independent in its own right, yet simultaneously you maintain that unmistakable Phase 'feel' to your productions. Is this personal stamp intentional or something that comes across as a result of your influences and inspirations?

I don't believe in trying to contrive your own "Sound" deliberately - it should just happen naturally. You shouldn't have to create restrictions in order to sound unique because we're already individual by nature.
In the case of a Producer the way you learn might be one factor. I learnt most of what I know through personal experience so perhaps my approach to engineering and programming differs from someone who was educated formally.


If you had to pinpoint two or three pivotal experiences or influences of a non-musical nature what would they be and what effect did they have?

....Most of my 'pivotal experiences' as you put it are generally connected to music in some way... but outside music...? I would say my older sister was a big influence early on, in terms of what she was into and people I met through her. It helped open me up to culture beyond the mainstream.
I could also say my time spent in a print factory hammering repetitive industrial loops into my head inspired me to express it as minimal techno...but that would just be complete bollocks... (Or is that what people want to hear?!)


At such a relatively young age you already have an extensive back catalogue which has consistently been supported by Techno's big guns. Is techno where you started out at a production level, or more the end product of a winding path?

When I was a kid I was always drawn to synthesized music for some reason. When I discovered house and techno I was attracted to it straight away (though obsession came later). I started learning production because I wanted to make Techno.


Since its beginnings Techno has constantly developed and expanded, relentlessly seeking new boundaries. Have you noticed it change or develop in any particular way since you've been producing?

As you point out it's developed in all sorts of ways and directions. I try not to latch on to any one particular style thread within the genre in terms of what I like to listen to. Techno thrives (in part) on the expansion of technology and since we've seen so many huge developments in this area over the past 20 years (particularly in the way music is made and performed) it's meant that electronic music (indeed all music) has naturally expanded with it. In short the most obvious and continued development for me is quite simply the way the level of production quality and inventiveness just gets better and better and continues to amaze me.

Aside from being a consistent producer of boss techno, you're also a mastering engineer. Which came first? Did one influence the other in any way?

I ended up working in music because I was into music. The Production and Mastering happened in parallel with each other really. Early on, I could produce at home and listen back to what I'd done at work the next day, cut test dubs etc. I do less Mastering and more production nowadays.


For such a prolific and well-supported producer it would be easy and beneficial, both professionally and financially, to start DJing out a lot more, yet you have chosen not to. Is this due to other commitments, or is it something that hasn't really interested you?

It has been partly due to other commitments rather than a personal choice. It certainly interests me. I also haven't pursued professional representation. Having said that, changes in my circumstances mean I'm starting to perform more now.


On a similar note, would you ever consider working on a live producer act? I have to say that's something we'd love to see...

I would consider doing a live act but I generally prefer DJing - I find it more personally inspiring...


The advent of Ableton and Serrato, amongst others, are symbolic of the constant development of DJ and performance technology and equipment. With such a wide range of options at your disposal, what are your tools of choice when playing out and why?

I have used Ableton and Serrato and they're both great and very convenient. I mostly use vinyl and CD though, just because that's where my current set happens to reside (I also have a bit of a sentimental attachment to vinyl - but don't get me started on that debate!).


In the past year we've seen the meteoric ascent of Belgian label Token Records, already having asserted itself as an ever-reliable source of techno with a series of quality releases. Including the imminent release of 'Ryder's Return', three of those have come from yourself. Is there a connection between you and the guys that run Token or is it purely a professional association?

There was no connection originally. Kris approached me when he was setting up the label and invited me to contribute - I guess because he liked my previous work. I have to say he's very professional and a pleasure to work with.


Your website hints at other upcoming projects and releases. What can we look forward to seeing and hearing of from you over the coming months?

I have a number of things I'm working on right now but no definite release dates as yet. There's something upcoming planned on Surface Records fairly soon. We're also looking at some Morodem remixes after the summer.


Final question...If you could throw a party and have ANY three artists/Producers/DJs to perform, who would you choose and why

....There's lots of combinations I'd want to see but to pin one down, perhaps it would be interesting to have someone like Lee "Scratch" Perry Djing the warm up (because I'd want to start proceedings in a interesting and not too hasty manner), followed by a Live set from Drexciya (because it's something I never saw and is sadly no longer possible). I'd finish with Derrick May for 3 hours (just cos I love the guy!)....I'd also keep the venue capacity to around 1000 people..





Phase's latest release on Token Records, Ryder's Return/At First Light, is out now in all good record stores and online download sites.