Fabreeka [Interview]

Fabreeka is DJ and producer Tom Whitcombe from Cambridge, UK who began his love for electronic music in 1989 after his first ever visit to a rave in Jenkins Lane, London under the guise of the Raindance party franchise. Frequent attendance to The Barn, Essex enabled him to rub shoulders with the then forming Prodigy. Inspired by their rise to fame and original sound Fabreeka began to DJ and play sets out at the local warehouse raves from Cambridge to London. His DJ career went from strength to strength when he moved to London after playing sets at Bagleys, MOS to name but a few. Appearing late in the production game he had his first release on Mistique Music in 2019 and then went on to release on ICONYC, Massive Harmony, Mango Alley, INU and the renowned label of GMJ & Matter, Meanwhile Horizons. This week finds Fabreeka returning to Mark MacLeod's Deep Down Music for his first single for the label 'Logan', alongside a remix from Mystic Mind.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Fabreeka to learn more about the release of 'Logan', his background, electronic music in the UK, DJing, and much more. Enjoy

Hi Tom, thanks for talking to us today. How has the first three quarters of the year been for you so far?

Thanks for having me! This year has flown by both personally and professionally.

Let’s look back on the year up to now, what gig of yours has stood out the most and why?

I’d say my most favourite gig this year has been a local one in an underground cocktail bar called 2648 in Cambridge. It’s only a small venue and you get real close to the clubbers, it’s sweaty, it’s dark and it’s intimate. The promoters who run the night have become friends and super cool.

Now let’s look at tracks, what is a track or tracks which have come out this year that has impressed you the most and why?

I’d have to say there are two that I can’t get out of my head – Covsky – Zero Sum Game, I first heard GMJ & Matter play this live at Skyline, Glasgow in Oct last year. I asked the lads immediately what the track was and it’s been in my playlist ever since I got my hands on it. Secondly, This Guy Ben – Neptune (Gai Barone Extended Mix) – it just pulls me in, pure progressive logic.

Could you take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your work? What does a day in your life look like?

Typically I’m up before everyone in the house and try to get my coffee, meditation and workout in before switching on the phones and computers. Then it’s a work from home day job, finish that then family time and back out into the studio once everyone is down for the night.

For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you?

Yeah I fell into that trap of trying to sound like my favourite producers. I tried to stay clear of the YouTube ‘how to sound like’ tutorials. It’s taken me a very long time to find my sound. Right now I have two very distinct sounds with the more mellow, vibey melodic and then the more in your face stompers. I’ve made hundreds of tracks that will never get played out, but they have all been a learning experience.

How did growing up in the UK affect your music taste and direction into becoming a DJ and producer?

I grew up in the famous era of UK illegal raves, and immediately fell in love with the electronic sound. Before that I was a soul boy as my Father brought me up on Otis, Sam & Dave, Marvin Gaye and all those guys from that era. I actually started DJing playing Eric B. & Rakim, Bobby Brown, Stetsasonic, Kool Moe Dee to name but a few.

What are some of your best memories from first going to clubs? Were there specific nights or sets that really made you feel you wanted to pursue electronic music?

One of the best nights I ever had was back in the 90’s when Matthew B (Bushwacka) played a set at the old Braintree Barn in Essex, UK. He just took us on a 4 hour journey of pure imagination. I still have that set on a tape!

You have a new single ‘Logan’ which is out now via Deep Down Music. Tell us a bit about the track and what sort of vibe you were going for on it.

I always wanted to create a track for each of my children. Logan is my Son and the track really captures his energy, playfulness and his curiosity. He loves the sun and sunsets and I imagine sitting with him on the beach watching the sun set into the ocean whilst we hang out and connect. The track has a cool Balearic vibe that’s hits the spot.

Is there a meaning behind the track title?

Yes, it’s for my Son, Logan. Something for him to remember me by.

How much play has it gotten in your sets and to what reaction?

I’ve been playing this out for some time now and had quite a few head nods and questions about it.

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on ‘Logan’?

Nothing too exciting honestly. I’m using Live and all in the box. I’ve managed to build my drum samples over the years and only use about 2-3 different kick drums.

You first appeared on Deep Down earlier this year with a remix of ‘Foggy Days’ by Felipe Garcia and now you’ve returned for your first original, please tell us how you discovered the label and why it was a good home for you to release ‘Logan’.

Mark reached out to me on a previous track called Dream Path on Meanwhile Horizons. I then started to follow both Mark and the label. One of the biggest pulls was Mark’s personable messages on release day and how it showed his connection to the artists and their music. He’s a super awesome Human by the way!

There is also a nostalgic sounding remix from Mystic Mind, how involved in the remixer selection process were you? And why was Mystic Mind a good choice to re-interpret this track?

Mark connected with Mystic Mind and then told me he’d agreed to remix. I’m a big fan of his Proton Radio show so it made sense.

Shifting to DJing for a moment, what were some of the main challenges and goals when starting out as a DJ and how have they changed over time?

Beat matching on belt drive turntables was kind of tough haha. I didn’t get Technics until I’d been DJing for about 3 years. These days it’s really more about the vibe and the journey. It’s pretty easy to digitally beat match. I miss the vinyl day if I’m honest. Going to the record shop and listening to white labels not knowing who the hell made the track, that was awesome.

What is it about DJing, compared to producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you?

Blending other producers tracks and making a story. I love to get lost in a mix and forget the world around me.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as a DJ has influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

Honestly these days I’m more of a producer than a Dj. I get the gigs when I can but it’s not like I’m really well known so it’s hard to get those gigs you know?

How much prep do you put into the sets you play, or are they spontaneous for the most part?

Quite a bit. It takes me hours of listening and searching for tracks. But once I download, I run them through Rekordbox, make a couple of markers and then export. I like mix to in key so I’ll shift up and down 3rds, 5ths, etc.

Current Top five tracks in your sets?

Hard to call this one, so many good tracks out there at the moment!

If you are not DJing, producing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

In nature, with my family mostly.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists? 

Has to be GMJ, Matter, Alex O’Rion, Sebastien Leger & DJ Ruby. I’d let them argue it out who plays when haha!

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something not music related)

Travelling, like for a living! Seeing this beautiful planet with my loved ones.

What’s something people do not know about you?

I used to be a scuba diving instructor in the Caribbean.

What TV series have you been enjoying recently and what are some of your all time favourites?

No time for TV, I have a young family!

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

Being alive and having the most amazing and supportive Wife, my best friend.

What can we look forward to from you for the rest of 2024? Any releases or gigs you are looking forward to?

I have an EP nearly finished for Meanwhile Horizons, so this will be my first full solo EP with Matty and Gavin. Also, I’ve got a really nice remix coming out soon for Sound Fusion, look out for that!

'Logan' is available now via Deep Down Music: https://tinyurl.com/yeytpd43