drumandbass.de spotlight

Q&A profile for german d&b board, done by the lovely Biene. Read on!

http://dnbszene.de/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4090

ICR is the latest of the young hungarian producers. He has been the originator - and now co-editor - of the country's only urban music Internet magazine, Impulsecreator (drumandbass.hu). After numerous mp3 releases on the self-established Internet label he immediately found himself as an upcoming producer.

ICR's debut 12" release came out in march 2003 on Breakbeat Science. Shortly after the Orgone debut single he also contributed a track (Wide Awake) on Germany's Basswerk. In 2004 Nerve Recordings featured him in his exclusive Beatport release with two tracks ("Tough, dancefloor dnb with a slightly deeper edge"), then remixed by atmospheric master ASC for leftfield specialist Offshore and also appeared on LTJ Bukem's prestigious Progression Sessions 10.

The year 2005 brought more chance to emerge his talents with a self-released concept album that consist of his favourite tracks specially edited or remixed (not only d&b, but with downtempo and leftfield bits), all slightly passed as a whole story (released as a free downloadable album) and another LP (Daytrip) released on Covert Operations both on CD and on two vinyls (plus new digital downloads at Nerve, Nookie's Strictly Digital, Exegene, Red Mist and Taciturn).

His versatile style has been captured not only on the follow up to The Public Diary - Empty Pages, but also on releases such on Nerve featuring the industrial-esque, dark Fill The Sky backed with the dubby Skanner; on Fokuz he has delivered liquid tunes collaborating with fellow hungarians Soulproof (My Love, It Could Have Been Me) and US outfit Autumn (Yesterday). Forthcoming bits in 2006 include tunes on forward-thinking dutch label Counter Intelligence (alongside Macc), new technoid label Flatline Audio, not to mention Thermal, Vibez, Synaptic Plastic, Exegene and Offshore.

- where & when did you answer this questions ?
At home, southeast of Hungary, Oroshaza on the 10th May '06.

- what's your age ?
I will be 24 years old in July.

- your real name ?
Zoltan Gal

- why "icr" ?
When I started producing I was only using a tracker hence I took the name 'The Impulsecreator'. Meanwhile in 1999 I launched the first jungle/drum & bass website myself with the same name, but as more people joined the work at the magazine (http://www.impulsecreator.hu) I felt I can't run it under my production name so I just cut it to ICR.

- what was the reason for you start Producing?
First I think it was just experimenting, to try it if I can make something out of nothing. Then as I dug deeper in drum & bass I wanted to show myself on different levels, simultaneously with the magazine it was like a natural and continuous self-education. For now I think I've managed to reach the level where I can produce to express myself, to give a little from my soul into my tunes. So the main reason is emotional.

- your first vinyl ever purchased ?
I have never bought a record and I don't even have a proper deck. I think the first vinyl I got is my own 12" came out on Orgone (Rock The Sky / Stolen Symmetry) in 2003. So normally I only have records with my name on it

- records, that influenced you ?
That's a hard one and I can't really give you a list or records. In drum & bass mostly the tunes that gave me something plus emotionally. I've never really been to the music which is only about to make you dance or to amaze you technically, it has to be a touching element to get me.
Anyway some artist from the top of my head: Calibre, Klute, Polar, TGM, Paradox, Goldie, Sonic, Dom & Roland, Photek, Source Direct... but a lot of hip hop, electronica stuff, and jazz, blues aswell, not to mention film scores which I quite like.

- most intense live gig ?
If it's referred to a gig I played at, there's no such. I'm not DJing, only producing.

- most intense club event ?
Since I haven't been to a party, the most intense club event would be definitely the one I attend. I would shock even the DJs haha.

- what kind of sound should be banned ?
It only depends on how you use the sounds But seriously - in drum & bass? In my opinion every subgenre is part of this music which makes up what d&b is about - diversity. No one of these should be banned but every one should be represented at least with the same scale. If there's something disturbing for me I ignore it rather than dissing it.

- favorite venue ?
Haven't been to any.

- favorite drink ?
I don't drink alcohol so maybe it's Late Night Squeeze

- what do you take with you to a lonesome island ?
In fact I am on a lonesome island.

- timeless for you ?
Yes, from Goldie.
Again I can't be specific. Timeless is what you can recall anytime wherever you are and you feel good about it and brings memories. Music is the same. I feel tracks timeless I can relate to a certain moment. I think I captured it well on my free Public Diary album.

- favorite junk food / fast food place ?
My mom cooks for me, so I don't eat junk/fast food.

- what do you do between club & sleep ?
I keep trying to give up on producing but with no success (irony), doing some 'work' for drumandbass.hu, watching movies, sometimes reading and being online all day. Pretty boring after a while if you don't have a job.

- personal heroes ?
Marty McFly , Spike Lee, Kevin Smith, David Lynch, Jim Jarmusch, Kitano Takeshi, M. Night Shyamalan, the Coen bros, Charlton Heston and the Planet Of The Apes, Nicholas Cage, Jim Carrey, Douglas Adams, Isaac
Asimov, Stan Lee, Guru, DJ Premiere, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, Metalheadz,...

- personal vision / projects ?
I can't see what the future holds so I just keep pushing things, maybe focusing more on the style I have concentrated on lately. But besides this kind of deep, atmospheric drum oriented dnb I know there would be demand for getting back to some techy and liquid stuff, so who knows. I have forthcoming singles on dutch label Counter Intelligence (So Unloved b/w a Macc tune), on a new US techy label Flatline Audio (Back 2 Front/Razor Blade Runner) and on Thermal Recordings (Feels Like Spring / Tingle Tangle). I will be also featured on the Offshore, Vibez, Fokuz and Exegene label compilations, but there's something I got for Synaptic Plastic and Telluric too. There's a lot of things lined up - all for this year hopefully.

- describe yourself in 3 words !
Impulsive, creative, and therefore liar. No, maybe I would say mannered, reliable and sheepish.

- your favorite drugs ?
I don't take any.

- current top10
Alaska - Arctic Foundations LP - 13 Music
Macc - Be Like Water - Outsider
Bungle - Memories From Mars - Timeless
Mist:I:Cal - Same Old
Breakage - The 9th Hand - Planet Mu
Pieter K - Dangergirl (remix)/Temerity - Counter Intelligence
Young Ax - In The Groove - Vibez
Polska - Burning Sun - Subtle Audio
Snaper - Supernatural Spirit - unreleased
ICR - The Nonbeliever - unreleased

- alltime favourites
Journey Into Drum & Bass Vol 2
Goldie - Mother
Klute - Lie, Cheat & Steal
Pieter K - Everything All The Time
Adam F feat. Tracy Horn - The Tree Knows Everything
Sci-Clone - Everywhere I Go (remix)
4 Hero - Two Pages
Ed Rush & Optical - Wormhole
Dom & Roland (featuring Shanie) - Chained On Two Sides
Polar - Inside The Plot
Polska - Swept

drumandbass.hu/icr
myspace.com/icrdrumandbasshu
myspace.com/ipcprofiles