Recently, I caught up with Sonkin, a long time DJ working closely with the Seclusiasis and Slit Jockey imprints gas recently started putting out some new styles. Check it out as he’s been kind enough to provide is with a short Q&A, a hefty mix for your Super Bowl Sunday, and clips from his new single. Hell yes to a man who puts Minimalistix in his mixtapes, I was just lamenting the other day that I don’t hear it as much as I’d like! Definitely keep an eye and an ear out for Sonkin in 2010, and don’t forget about his latest release Saturn on the Bass Wars EP from Atlanta’s Abstract Logic Recordings.
Sonkin & Rx - Saturn
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Check the mix, and tracklist below the fold!
ss: First things first, tell us a bit about where you are from, your label and current projects.
Sonkin: I’m grew up in Tampa, Florida, and have lived in almost ever region of the country. I moved to Philadelphia 3 years ago. I work for and with Seclusiasis and Slit Jockey Records, both run by Dev79 and Starkey. You can expect quite a few releases this year on both labels from many exciting artists. (I know, really giving a lot away, eh?) Street Bass Anthems Volume 4 came out earlier this month. As for myself; I’m always working on tunes, have a few mixes on the way, and hopefully more releases this year… maybe even a vinyl release by the end of the year… In addition to playing out as much as possible. I would also really love to do some remix work this year.
ss: For those that don’t know you are a Florida native, who has since transplanted to Philly, both regions have a rich but individually unique musical history. Do you find you draw on influences from either? Tell us a bit on how you’ve developed the sound that listeners have become familiar with from you and the Slit Jockey camp.
Sonkin: grew up listening to a lot of metal and dirty south hip hop… I try to incorporate southern rap whenever I can. I think where someone lives or resides throughout their life definitely has a lasting impact on their music. I lived in LA for a bit prior to Philly, and basically discovered dubstep out there. When I lived in Orlando for college, I first got into drum n bass, bought my first set of turn tables, and started fucking around. I guess the rest is history. Part of the reason I was drawn to Seclusiasis and eventually made a member is my appreciation for urban music, in addition to bass heavy sounds, and the dance floor vibe. I could never really see myself playing anything that wouldn’t hold up in a club. Not to say I don’t enjoy listening to experimental music and what not in my spare time, just not really the sound I chose to define myself. At the same time, I don’t know if there is really any one sound I can chose to define myself as playing, haha. I like to see people dance and have fun… I hope my music can reflect that and not come across as overly angry or aurally assaulting. That would kinda suck, eh?
ss: Other than your release Saturn on the Bass Wars EP from ALR, what recently release have caught your attention the most?
Sonkin: I think Rwina has been killing it with eveything they’ve been putting out, period… Planet Mu also keeps chugging along… Starkey’s forthcoming full-length is ridiculous! I can’t stop listening to it! From what i’ve heard so far, I might go as far as to say that this will be the year of Kastle… just some amazing production from B. Rich! Kingdom is another producer/dj who has really caught my attention. He looks primed to annihilate shit in 2010. BD1982’s full length on Seclusiasis will present a fantastic and very different approach to dance music. Obviously, Numan and SDUK are both young guns with big tunes under their belts already… it’s scary to see how good they’ll get. So much good shit on the horizon!
ss: What can we expect in the future from Sonkin?
Sonkin: You can expect one full length, hopefully by the end of this year… maybe a single or two yielding from that. Perhaps an EP of collaborations with my man Rx, with whom I did “Saturn.” Looking to collaborate with Darrel Asbury (in progress), as well as Plastic Little dj/producer SiYoung Lee, Buddy Leezle and whatever other vocalists I can get down with on tracks. Eliot Lipp and I trade music and have talked about a potential collaboration. My goal is to convince Dev79 to find time in his busy schedule to work on a tune with me, so wish me luck, haha. Aside from that, I’m trying to increase my travel itinerary as much as possible… Doing a lot of shows in the next few months, which should lead to a busy summer on the festival circuit. Of course all of this still must permit time to chill with my 2 cats… they get temperamental when I’m on the road for too long.
