Weekly > Interviews
Blockhead
This month we got the chance to talk to recent Ninja Tune signing, Blockhead, about how he feel about the DJ Shadow comparisons and more importantly, what lies ahead for him.
You can also read our review of Music By Cavlight.
Hi Blockhead. Can you first of all tell me where the name Blockhead comes from?
It comes from me literally having a square jaw. I got the name back when I used to rap and self depreciating names were all the rage…
What equipment/software did you use to make the album?
An ASR-10 (Advanced Sampling Recorder) and Pro Tools. Also a guitar, a bass and a violin but mostly just the ASR and Pro Tools.
How have you found life on a Ninja Tune?
Great. They are super professional and very open minded. I especially like that there are no ego’s on the label. Everyone is very down to earth.
What inspires you, be it music, film, or whatever?
Boredom and free time inspire me. ‘Cause that’s when I make music. I’m not really the type who, at least on the surface, find inspiration in tangible things. If I do, I’m unaware of it.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
T.I.-Trap Musik, Madvillian, the new Cee-Lo album and Twista’s new album.
You’ve received some great reviews for ‘Music By Cavelight’ but has anyone written anything that has surprised or angered you?
Not so much angered, just annoyed me. I realize that my music shares similarities with DJ Shadow but when reviews go on these longs tangents comparing us, it kind of annoys me. Shadow is dope and I have endless respect for him but I have heard Entroducing (DJ Shadow’s debut album) maybe 5 times in my life.
It’s dope. I just never owned it. But I can honestly say it’s not an album that I was influenced by. It just annoys me when writers/reviews assume things… and I tend to get alot more annoyed at what people write on messege boards, cause those people are even less informed.
Any plans to work with more emcees in the future?
Of course. I plan to do a bunch of tracks on Aesop’s next album. C-Rayz Walz, Despot, Chase Pheonix and whoever else is down. I love working with mc’s.
What’s next for Blockhead?
My next album is already in the works. All the stuff I’m doing with different mc’s. Music for video games and a project I’m going to do with two singers. It should be an interesting summer.
What advice would you offer for up coming producers out there?
Don’t settle for a loop and drums. Don’t try to sound like you idols. Just make beats with no boundaries.
Did you run into any problems with the laws surrounding sample clearance and did any tracks have to be cut from the album or alterations made as a result of this?
Not yet!
How do you feel about other producers remixing your work?
I’m pretty indifferent. Coming from a hip hop background, remix’s mean something different to me. The idea of taking an already made beats parts and remixing them is kinda pointless to me but, hey, whatever makes people happy. I’d do it if someone offered it to me. But overall, it’s not something I really understand the point of.
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