Feature: Predator [Interview]

Hi Predator, thanks for joining us, tell us a bit about yourself, where are you from, how did you discover electronic music and what led you down the path of wanting to be a DJ and producer?

Predator came to life recently because of some bad things I experienced. So I started this project to center my anger and pass the time while I wait, before hunting some people down. I do not aspire to be a dj in this day and age. A few weeks ago someone asked me when I would like to dj again. I told him when he does mind me trying to push the crown outside. I just wanna do my thing and not think about if people will like it.

How has living in the Netherlands affected the music you make?

I live near Breda where I met dj Zaxxon who took me down electro road. Great time back in the day when I saw DMX Krew and Anthony Rother play broken break electro. But people were more into 4*4. Broken beat electro has been my passion for a long time, it is not mainstream yet, which I like.

Name five tracks that were most important in your musical development.

Leftfield – Afrika shock

Zaxxon – Trainstations

Anticlub – F U C K

The Economist – Ctrl Alt Delete

Cybotron - Clear

You have some new music out, your ‘Return To Cybertron’ Part 09 is now available via Lessismore, tell us about the EP and how it showcases your individualities.

I think the Return To Cybertron series was designed to add my music to the label. I think I am the most out of the box artist on Lessismore with a very different style as to the progressive or techno guys and girl. I like it more rough and unpolished. Not to much thinking while kicking beat.

But I am also releasing Return To Cybertron’ Part 10 & Part 11, I think these Ep’s better reflect what I am about. Part 09 is a bit soft.

There are two remixes from Skylar Mills who brings more of dance floor minded approach to the tracks, how do you feel about your work being remixed in general?

It depends, if the remixer tries to stay with the original or the track is called a remix but does sound anything like the original. With the Skylar Mills remixes the goal is to get a 4*4 approach to my broken programmed electro beats. She did not fuck it up.

Your music has a bit of an old school electro feel with alot of great character in the sounds. Tell us what some of your go to tools are in the studio and please walk us through the production process on ‘Harmony Of Lighting’.

The phaser and some pitch shifts are key to this track. I think, that creates the harmony. But I like the lighting bolts the most! They are somewhere in the middle of the track. I will try to make something new with that sound as I think it is raw which I prefer.

Is that a typical process for you or is every track a different journey in terms of the creative process?

The creative process is easy. I just hit play and record and start dropping sounds to the sequencer. I try to avoid logic and just hit and run.

You have found a comfortable home on Lessismore it seems with a nice catalog of release so far, what makes the label such an attractive platform to release on?

I think Lessismore never did one style of music and is more about artistic freedom with in a no commercial setting to express yourself. Giving room to other thoughts and expressions.

When working on music is the dance floor always something that’s taken into consideration? Or does a certain vibe or flow sometimes transcend that?

Predator sound is about experimenting with broken electro beats mostly, but I also like soundscapes and weird stuff that sometimes seem unusable in dj set. I have a track that is being released called “New Time Metronoom” which is kind of a strange track without a beat. This is a track, I would like to play out, just to see people their reaction on the dancefloor.

Most artists go through periods of creative blocks, what do you do to help break through these moments?

Just record and put in on a hold. Than go back and sometime it is shit and sometime it works. I do not like to over think the music, it is just what it is.

There are a lot of factors which affect the perception of an artist other than his music these days, social media for one, how much emphasis do you put on stuff like this? and what are your thoughts on the current state of the industry?

I do not have any social media for my artist profile. I think if people like the music they will try to find me. I am not gonna change my dislike of social media. About the state of the industry, do not get me started, pfff.

Tell us what we can expect in 2020, anything you can share with us?

I did a track for a chase sequence for scene for a movie. Pretty out of the box track if I say so myself.

'Return To Cybertron (Part 09)' is out soon on Lessismore, you can purchase the release here: https://bit.ly/3cbRDfd