 SQUEEB - AKA Chris Rigby from Manchester, UK. At an early age of 13, after watching a documentary on Ronnie Size, starting bashing about on an old Evolution MK-149 using a Mac Performer 630 and Quicktime synthesis, soon became bored of the high latency poor quality GM sounds and began experimenting with FM synthesis from a 386 enhanced daughter board. |
| Q & A with Squeeb Q: Where does your artist name come from? A: I've had alot of artist/online names in the past; Hypertronic, Bee etc.. One day I just got bored of all these suped up artist names and just closed my eyes and jabbed six keys on the keyboard. What came out was "Squeeb" and it stuck. It has a few meanings aswell, amongst "to rub ones head up and down on a surface" or "the act of sucking the air out of dead chickens", I tend to think it's a peaceful yet curious characteristic name. Q: Tell us more about your musical roots! A: As a child I was protected from the world of modern music, a single child and growing up with my folk singer - folk going parents, I listened to alot of things my parents did. Furey, Finbar & Eddie, The Incredible String band etc. which taught me wonderful polyrythmic music and eclectic percussion and relationship with unexpected melody. Later on I warmed to my mother's early electronic musical taste. Pink Floyd, Jean-Michel Jarre, Mike Oldfield etc.. From here I was inspired to learn the wonderful techniques these benchmark-settings artists used. During the learning curve of electronic music, I learned of other styles and genre's of music. Gradually growing from early electronic to progressive house and trance. Following the trends of my friends I found myself amongst the eclectic crowd once again. This is a crowd where almost anything none-commercial goes, be it drum and bass, breakbeat, big beat or experimental. I find myself writing a completely different style of music each time I take to the keyboard. I can never have one single point of musical inspiration. Life isn't steady, emotions aren't steady. So why should the music be? :) Q: How did you start producing music? A: All my life I've dabbled in analogue electronics, owned my first Mac Plus at age 6. At age 12 I saw a documentary on digital music production. The artist involved was Ronnie Size. I didn't know what he was using to make the wonderful sounds he was creating, so I took to my small collection of childhood computers and begged my parents for the first part of my musical creation hardware. A simple MIDI interface and keyboard later and I was using my Mac Plus armed with some free software to create odd and strange sounds. Nothing noticeably musical but as with any new passion, you're either inspired or it's just a 'hobby'. Thankfully my love for music creation never dulled. I found myself studying acoustics and music technology at college and university, stylishly failing every module in favour for free experimentation. New synths, new software, new ideas and inspiration now drive that passion. Q: Are you also a DJ? A: Haha! Well. I couldn't afford turntables or CD decks when I was interested in that. Instead I borrowed a couple of legacy HiFi turntables and fitted potentiometers to the motors to provide pitch control. My parents weren't happy about me dismantling their pride and joy though. Yea, that branch of 'talent' soon faded. You'll still find me behind the DJ booth, staring, intriguingly into my powerbook........ but I'm only on Facebook ;) Q: Do you work together with other artists also? E.g. Remixes? A: I've never stuck around long enough to be seriously involved with collaborations. It's only recently that I've found the time to join my creative friend's in a studio. We're considering releasing something although currently we're just there to make ominous noises. I used to date a wonderful girl called Gemma who, thankfully stayed friends. Her voice is absolutely amazing. One of my better tracks was created with the 'leftovers' from a recording we did when we were together. Pulling something we had created, so quickly after the breakup was pretty hard on me. I'm happy with the outcome. Q: Do you have any special musical aims? A: Not one in particular. We can safely assume the obvious; "To be unique", "To create the uncreatable", "To inspire love, creativity and passion amongst others". But really? I'm just happy with a track when I still smile at the end of the 600th mix-down. Q: What do you think of the contemporary popular music which is played by normal radio stations? A: You know what? I like it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people who's musical genre preference is merely "everything", but I'll keep an open ear for well produced, musical talent... Q: What have you read recently (book, play, film, etc.) that moved or surprised you? A: Ever read any Wilbur Smith? It really is just porn in written literature. Q: What is your all-time favorite track? Why? A: Orbital - Belfast. When I hear it, it still gives me goose-bumps. It's from that era when I was happiest. Fresh out of college, meeting new people at uni. Coming home early morning while the sky's turning blue, sitting outside halls with this playing.. They were the happiest times of my life. This track mimics those times perfectly. Kind of like a smell that reminds you of something so vividly. Q: What's one thing you're a fan of that people might not expect? A: Silence. |
Arkd
baMM
Brainwash
Brockout
carrige
Durden
E.F.O.
eFIGI
eSJay
fvzz
Hardeep Riot
Jaildigger
Khouse
Kontrast Boy
Kreyz
Kundalini Project
lusyD
mAvA
MdW
Mischief & Mayhem
Mistic
Mr.
monolog
parKa
Patton
Pond
Projekt 2501
Psyko Konceptor
Ric Dolore
Ruffian
Russtafari
RxYLab
R3wind
SadQube
SDDJ
Senru
shYne
Sinclair
Slamsterdam
Squeeb
Stickbubbly
The UnReal Project
Toni Smoke
Yellow Stick Men
