Talkin shit: Jeff Only
Jeff Only talks about Subforce, sub-genres and going from “computer-dumb” to computer-wiz.
Ah, the ups and downs or being “underground.” Austin’s techno scene is sometimes so typically off the radar that it seems non-existent. Following the closure of the Burleson Warehouse, the few techno promoters doing anything techno asked for their parties to NOT be publicized, NOT be blogged about, promoted or hyped. In a return to the clandestine party planning of the old days, locations for techno parties in this city are being disclosed just a day before scheduled parties, often to be visited by police anyway.
But techno is alive, and Austin has the producers here to prove it. Jeff A. Ferguson, known as Jeff Only, will play a live set as Subforce with long-time friend and new production partner Rex Bruton, or Steel Grooves, at Austin’s Official Movement Warm-Up Event during SXSW on March 20th. Describing his style as “funky techno,” Jeff has only been releasing music for a few years on labels like Guilhotina, Glowstam and Valvula, but has more in the works from his solo and collaboration project. In an e-interview he let us in on his longer involvement in techno as a raver, what it’s like to work with his idol Mike Humphries, and what we can expect from Subforce.
Check out a mix, and read the entire interview after the jump.
You’ve only been releasing music for the past two years. How and when did you get into production?
I started almost four years ago. It’s crazy and don’t laugh, but I honestly was computer-dumb. Completely. Didn’t even know how to turn one on. I just got really tired of feeling scared to do it because R.J. had already gotten pretty far in it and was already doing sound school. Then one day I woke up and said “I’m buying a laptop and I’m learning audio production.” It was a lot of trial and error. A lot of PC troubles as well, so I went full throttle to learning all and just about everything about both at the same time. I went from computer illiterate to building audio machines and providing tech services to those in need in just about every way possible. I dedicated all my time to learning. Books, videos, forums -you name it, I was involved. I’ve been a musician most of my life and ideas for sound have always come to me naturally, so once I got the hang of things with the software it was all down hill from there. Granted, I am still very young in all this and have so much to learn. I learn so much everyday . It just blows me away the things I obtain from others around the world doing the same thing.
Read more after the jump.
You’ve talked about your new sound on Soundcloud. How would you describe it and what has led you to that sound?
I worked on those tracks for almost a year, and it took a lot of creative thought to come up with it. I wanted to create something that was on that path of cutting edge along with artist like Advent, Virgil Enzinger without riding their sound, and when techno makes a turn in its sound the way it’s been doing over the past few years it’s hard to do. Real hard. I wanted to make something that would please the community of listeners digging the sound of those without leaving my own. It’s what I’ve come to label as hybrid techno. Simply because it’s just that. Cutting edge sounding but still keeping the influence of tribal elements as well as house, tech-house and so on. Did you know that over in Europe the tribal elements is like…. dead ??? I just dont understand that. But yeah, apparently whats going on with the sound over there isn’t at all like over here.
There are many boundaries in techno today. Everyone has a name for their specific style. (Minimal, tech house, tech trance, progressive, Detroit, schranz, hardgroove.) R.J. and I had a talk one day about how silly this is to us and it is just completely counter productive for everyone. We both got into this music because there was no rules or boundaries. It was all underground music.
How did you and Steel Grooves initially connect? When did you decide to start collabing?
R.J. and I have been best friends for about 16 years. I took R.J. to his first rave party about that long ago. It was an amazing party at the Music Hall with some talent that forever changed the way R.J. and I would involve our lives with music. We immediately purchaced some pawn shop turntables and some vinyl from the 99 cent basket at Alien Records and we were on our way to where we are currently. I always had a way with people as far as promoting for the two of us, so I did just that. A lot of it, and we did well with getting the exposure that we wanted. It was just a matter of time before we would be making music together. The great thing about it all is that we had goals and dreams and now we’re making something of them. Our ears for sound individually has ranged so wide throughout our lives, so our ability to cross barriers is always a new challenge and a lot of fun.
How do you feel about the scene here? Why isn’t techno stronger here?
I think it’s probably because there are not a lot of techno producers and DJs . When I look at the actual artists doing what R.J. and I are doing it’s such a small number. Especially in Texas.There’s just not enough techno promoters pushing techno parties. Promoters are bringing only the artists that will bring them money instead of something thats worth alot more than that. R.J., Jon Eric, Jeremy and I put everything to bringing techno talent to Austin without money being the first thing of importance. We just stay true.
Tell me about upcoming, or most recent, releases.
My release with Valvula has finally hit the digital stores. Its a 138 bpm tribal release that I had alot of fun with in the making. A lot of learning going on there in that point of my production but still quality. Quality is always the most important. R.J. and I aren’t really doing solo work anymore since we’ve decided to go all out with our Subforce collaboration. We have out our release with Disturbulence which dropped a month or so ago and it’s our first official Subforce release, so we’re proud of it. It’s unique. I like to be able say that about our work because we don’t sound like anyone else that’s releasing in the same area of techno that we are. Every new track we work on together has only been getting better, so it’s a good feeling, and it keeps us positive as well as motivated.
We have remixes releasing under our good friend Roman Zawodny’s Mad Hatter HRD label like Andy Kemp, Petrae Foy, Kyfu & Hotwire, CSystem, PJC-Project, Mindform -they’re all really quality remixes and were very happy to be involved with them. We can’t wait till they drop in the stores.
We also have some really cool stuff that’s releasing on another great label ran and owned by some eally good friends of ours, Inter Tech (CrazyTeck & Alen Milivojevic) which is already doing well and with a nice number of quality producers that are going to be releasing with them. It’s got us pretty excited.
Oops I almost forgot about my EP with Mad Hatter HRD coming soon, so stay tuned on that.
Just recently I was hit up by Mike Humphries and I’ve been spending a great deal of time getting to know him. Let me say this guy was a god to people like R.J. and I. We own all his vinyl releases and respect all he’s done in the techno community. For those of you who don’t know, he was the owner of Punish Records, Red Seal, and currently owns Mastertraxx . I just locked down two vinyl releases with him so were without words on that whole thing .
SubForce is doing a live set, so I’ve heard, at an upcoming UFunktion event. What can we expect?
LMFAO!! Well it was news to us when we heard about it, but yeah it’s gonna be pretty cool, I think. We’ll have an Ableton Live set with a couple of APC 40;s and the Korg Electribe drum machine. It’ll be fun. You’re just gonna have to show up and experience the fun with us. I won’t say too much about it, it would ruin the point.
What is the best thing about Austin?
I grew up in Austin, and I am very proud to say that. People that live here carry a very unique state of mind unlike any other city I’ve been to in the States. The city itself is amazing. Lake Travis, 6th street, and of course all the great restaurants here. To keep it short, the best thing about Austin for me is the diversity in the music. There are so may people in Austin that love music and there is something here for everyone.
Explore posts in the same categories: Interviews, SXSWTags: Austin, Jeff Only, Movement Detroit, Steel Grooves, techno, U Funktion
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