002 || Frazi.er

Scotland’s place in the history books of Techno has been assured for a long time now, but with all legacies an injection of new blood is always required in order to keep those pages turning. Few artists have emerged in recent years that have stepped up to the big stage the way that Glasgow young gun Frazi.er has. From appearing at some of Europe and Asia’s finest techno emporiums Frazi.er is in the process of stepping up to take Scottish techno in new and exciting directions.

This is not news to the likes of Pan-Pot who have brought this talented artist into the fold of their Second State imprint, or Carl Cox and his Intec label for that matter. For those that have caught Fraz in action at Terminal V or one of his own iNCEPT parties you will be accustomed to the many styles in his arsenal that he is capable of unleashing.

There is little doubt that there is much more to come from Frazi.er as he is only just getting started, so where else should we look for the next edition of our podcast series than this ascending artist. In keeping with our recent Berlin weekender announcement, Frazi.er has put together this sterling mix that is jam packed full of warehouse grooves and stripped back percussion that will help tide you over until our next event….

As always to accompany each podcast we sat down with Frazi.er to find out more…

The current lockdown period has been an interesting time for electronic music, how has it been for you and your approach to music?

Do you know, in a way it’s been quite refreshing as I’ve been purely focused on developing my sound quality. I was fully self-taught and probably got a little comfortable working this way and not studying production in a more advanced way. I think there will be a lot of good music coming out over the next few months and I’m also looking forward to showcasing a higher energy sound.

How have you been utilising your time?

I’ve still been trying to stay in an organised routine, going to the studio most days, planning ahead, working on a lot of new projects and getting ready for things getting back to normal.

Going back to your formative years, what clubs and parties were you going to?

When I was 18 I went over to Berlin and went to Tresor two nights in a row, and for me that’s when I really started to realise what techno and clubbing was all about. I also done 3 summers in Ibiza between the ages of 18-21 going to clubs like Amnesia, DC10, and Space every week and then in the winter time back in Glasgow with the likes of Pressure at The Arches and Electric Frog at SWG3.

Is there a specific point at this time that sent you down your current musical path?

It’s funny actually because nobody in my generation really knew what Techno was, it almost seemed like it was a new genre of music and not actually nearly 30years old. I was lucky in a sense that I hung about with people a lot older than me and I managed to find out about certain parties like Electric Frog and Pressure just before turning 18. My first trip to Ibiza back in 2012, I went with a few friends and on the first night we went to Carl Cox at Space. I can remember clearly walking into the main room and Coxy was playing an old Slam remix of “Paperclip People – Throw” and turning around to my friends and going “fukin hell!!” while jumping around like I was mentally unstable haha.

If people reading this interview have not been to your iNCEPT nights how would you say they differ from other techno parties?

Since we started it was almost like a small community, it was the same few hundred people and new faces coming every party. We brought the likes of Amelie Lens, Sam Paganini, SHDW + Obscure Shape, Ilario Alicante etc. to Glasgow for their first headline shows. Over the last year, we’ve introduced special light installations, bigger sound systems to clubs, relaxed dress code and of course the no camera policy as of last November onwards

Moving over to music, what are the roots of your sound? Was there a specific artist or label that seriously influenced your style?

My early influences were always attracted to really raw stripped back techno. When I was a late teen I came across a French artist Ron Costa who had a really unique sound at the time. Then it would’ve been the likes of Pan-Pot, Ben Klock, Slam, Sam Paganini, Robert Hood then eventually finding Dax J and SHDW & Obscure Shape my sound developed into a higher intensity, raw ravey sound.

How did you transfer those influences to your DJ sets and productions?

If you went to one of my open to close events or a show in Berlin with a longer set time you can hear stuff influenced from Ben Klock and Detroit at the start then building up into high intensity bangers. For my music production, I take inspiration from a selection of artists/labels and sounds and transform this into a raw project.

What have you been working on in the studio lately?

A mixture of deeper rave sounds and warehouse bangers. I still feel like I have so much to offer in terms of production and the best is still to come so I’m looking forward to trying to deliver this.

Your Elementra Records imprint is making all the right moves, what is the plan for the label going forward?

The plan is to keep building the label up and introduce a label manager as time is the biggest issue for me running it. The initial idea was mainly as an outlet to release my own material, but I’m looking forward to introducing more upcoming acts as well.

You have just mixed the second instalment of the Terminal V podcast, can you tell us a little about how you approached the mix?

For all mixes and playlists, I piece them together roughly where I would play them and always try and pair them next to other tracks I think they would flow well with. For this set I’ve went for a Berlin Warehouse kind of sound which I felt was suited for TV’s upcoming Berlin showcase in the techno capital. Dark, raw and heavy!

For people that have not been to Terminal V how would you describe it?

Terminal V has become a massive movement in Scotland. Area V could compete with any festival in Europe, a massive steel shed, high end production and thousands of Scottish ravers going all out for the occasion. It’s always got a good variation of acts, catering to all types of House and Techno lovers.

What can we expect from your set when you take to the decks for Terminal V next?

You can expect some high-energy bangers, all my previously sets have been warm up sets and a lot different to what I’d normally play usually. We’ve definitely got some unfinished business, you can expect some high intensity techno!

Interview by  Stu Todd