Phuse
Phuse are a concept band where the musicians effortlessly blend a myriad of styles - Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk, Electronica, Ambience, Cinematic Backdrops and Breakbeats into a deep and intense soundscape defying description. This sonic assault is created by the band’s willingness to integrate acoustic instruments such as Double Bass, Drums, Sax and Piano with electronic ones such as Guitars, Samplers and a Host of other electronic gadgets.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
The band anchored by the powerful funk inflected hip-hop grooves and breakbeats of Eric Courtney on drums started out as an experiment on how to blend electronics and samples along with the live interplay of the musicians. The samples and electronics supplied with perfect accuracy by Kevin Dwan created dark atmospheres for the soloists to weave in and out of, almost as if they were locked in some other worldly dialogue with one another. Fattening up the rhythm and egging on the front line is Gavin Lockhart on Double Bass directing the music with his growling double bass and frantic walking bass lines pushing the soloist up and into the stratosphere. Erik Lea provides a more Blues based Rock backbone whilst adding sparks of color and harmonic structure as he delves into his extensive experience as an accompanist to complete an already thundering back line.
After a few months of playing regular local “sold out” shows and receiving warm critical praise the core band decided it was time to try out some of their ideas on record.
Utilizing Kev’s Sound Engineering training the recording process was as experimental as one of their live shows, the band still insisting that improvisation was the key to who and what the music was about.
Initially Kevin and Gavin would play various loops and samples to Eric and record the Drums with some quite remarkable results, particularly considering the equipment the guys had at their disposable, always encouraging Eric to improvise and try different styles and techniques. Once the drums were laid down, the lads would then edit them creating a backbeat map, which they would then begin the building block process of adding all the other instruments, including free sax, effects and samples on top. Again encouraging improvisation and then editing the recordings to what worked best.
After 6 months of hard work the record was complete and the band had a real “jones” for returning to the stage but this time with a mission in mind. With a very accomplished recording under their belt and also the addition of the classically trained and sublime Korean piano player So Yung, and Erik’s brother Brian Lea navigating a slurred, warbled and experimental blues guitar by their side, the band at last felt it was time to realize their ambition to take this music they lived and breathed to Europe whilst looking to find a suitable record label to market and distribute the music they had created thus far.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes at the moment we are working out logistics for a tour of Europe.
Your musical influences
Very eclectic influences from Cinematic Scores from the likes of Ennio Morricone, to Hip/Hop, Drum and Bass, Aphex Twin, Amon Tobin, cinematic Orchestra, Jazz acts like Charles Mingus,Miles Davies, John Coltrane, Brad Meldhau, to more rock/funk based acts like Jimi Hendrix, Parliament Funkadelic, Led Zeppelin and a bit if blues.
What equipment do you use?
Laptops with Kontakt, Absynth, Cubase.
