Def Loop
Def Loop has been messing around, creating tracks on his computer, for the past twelve years. His musical background goes back to the late seventies, when he played drums in a multi racial reggae band. He took his first steps into dj'ing twenty-six years ago, playing at parties & was the original resident dj at the rave at the cave in South London in 1988, (& was later joined by Ellis Dee). Def Loop is one of several alias' used by the artist for his music. The music is a hobby &, as he has built up a large collection of tunes, Def Loop has decided to start mastering & uploading them to the internet.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Well, Def Loop's history is not that extensive to say the least. It was originally two people who spent their spare time creating tunes on a computer around ten years ago. The only claim to fame is demo of the week in Future Music around seven years ago under the guise of The Soundept. Def Loop is now reduced to just myself, & I use several guises for different projects. This is my first venture on a commercial website, so I am somewhat apprehensive about what kind of response I'll get.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I have never played live on my own. I did however, play live when I was a drummer in a band for around two years. The highlight being a Rock Against Racism gig on the day that Prince Charles married Lady Di. The event was called Funk The Wedding & there were around six thousand people there.
Your musical influences
I guess my biggest influence would be The Clash, but not all guitars & stuff. It was their attitude, their diversity. They got me listening to reggae & dub in the seventies. Then of course, there's the man himself, James Brown. He is responsible for so many genres of music & has been sampled like no other, & I have to mention U2's The Joshua Tree, so much atmosphere, & the textures & moods created, you can definately hear Brian Eno's influence on that album. My musical tastes vary, depending on my mood, but I like the old skool house from the late eighties & nineties, but that's not to say that I don't like the classic dance tracks, like Ain't Nobody by Chaka Khan, or Don't Look Any Further by Dennis Edwards. The dance artists that get my biggest respect are Way Out West, (they just gotta be the kings of the breakdown), & Rollo, (an amazing producer of epic proportions).
What equipment do you use?
The equipment I use is all computer based. I have outboard equipment, such as a Supernova, Drum Station Korg Prophecy, but I never use them now. It's all VST soft synths & effects. The sequencer I use is Sonar 8. I have a Yamaha SW100 & an EMU 1820 soundcard, (with Emulator X). All the VSTi's & effects are freebies apart from Wusikstation, which is excellent for big pad sounds.
