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He’s been rated by DJ Mag as the no.15 DJ in South Africa and there is little doubt that he is king of the decks when it comes to drum & bass. Niskerone performed some epic sets at this year’s RAMFEST and later this year he will once again embark on yet another European tour. But perhaps the most exciting news for local fans is that tonight he relaunches his legendary Thursday nights, It Came From The Jungle at Fiction in Cape Town. We couldn’t think of a better time than now to catch up with him and chat about his career and where to from here…
Artist: Niskerone
Record Label: It Came From The Jungle
Genre: Drum & bass
Years performing: 9 years
Sounds like… fun!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klIJA5ykCjA
Did you ever think growing up in the Cape Flats that you’d one day be performing to thousands of crazy fans on a dance floor?
Never. I had dreams, like everyone else, but it never occurred to me that it would become a reality. I still can’t believe it!
What was it about drum & bass that drew you in?
Initially, it was the bass. I was fascinated by any piece of music with serious low end. When I discovered drum & bass, I couldn’t believe there was a genre of music centred entirely on bass. I also fell in love with the variety and unpredictability of it, I started discovering all of kinds of drum & bass which drew influence from nearly every corner of the music spectrum.
How does your sound differ from other DJs and artists?
I like to keep my sets very musical and energetic. In recent times I’ve heard drum & bass sets that are only about big banging top 10 hits (I’ve been guilty of that too at times) and I’ve always tried to fuse in the different aspects of the music. I’m not afraid to change up and challenge the audience with something they did not expect.
What’s the craziest you’ve ever seen someone go during one of your sets?
There’s too many instances to mention, but I’ve seen girls pulling their hair out and even undress. I’ve seen some mosh pits, although I do hate them.
How does the drum & bass scene compare in Europe to here? What can we learn?
One of the first things I noticed when comparing the two scenes, is that Europe offers more variety within the genre for example, you could go to a night called Mute in Switzerland and it’s liquid and deep drum & bass all night long and people love it. We were nearly at a similar point a few years back, but we regressed. I would like for us to get there.
Who is the biggest name you met and spent time with whilst performing overseas? What were they like?
I’ve met a number of really big and famous names in the last few years, most of those meetings were little more than introductions and a quick drink. It might not be as big as the others, but the one meeting I would say meant the most to me, was hanging out with Andy C last year. He’s been voted the no.1 drum & bass DJ every year for over a decade and those that know the music and me will understand why I valued that encounter so much.
Whose career do you admire and want to emulate?
I admire anyone who keeps doing what they do and manage to be successful at it.
Which local festival crowd are you most fond of in SA and why?
This is a tough one, I would say the general Cape Town festival crowd (they pretty much go to all the festivals here) are my favourite. They are crazy and I always have an amazing time performing to them.
What can crowds expect from It Came From the Jungle in 2012?
A return to the different varieties of drum & bass music, it has been lacking for the last few months and we are beyond excited to bring back good times and great memories with drum & bass as the sound track. We’ve also got a few international artists on the line up throughout 2012, and the first one is here soon…
What is it about Fiction in CT and Origin in Durbs that makes you return year after year?
Fiction I consider to be my Cheers, my local spot where you walk in and you know everyone and everyone knows you. We’re all friends in there, even if it’s your first time. The intimacy and intensity of that dance floor in unrivalled. When I’m in the booth, it’s like I’m on the dance floor with everyone else. Origin’s Engine Room has the best sound system of any club that I’ve played in in South Africa, it’s as simple as that. And Durban people know how to make you feel welcome!
Are there any plans for an album in the future?
We’re working on a lot of music at the moment, but we have not set a date for an album release as yet. We wanna do it, when we are completely ready.
