Fresh new talent for your ears.
Kerri Chandler's Madhouse Records has been consistently pushing boundaries with deep, soulful cuts for two decades, so it was with pretty huge excitement that we heard about MadTech, the label's new offshoot. With a focus on the more experimental, low end driven side of Madhouse, the imprint will aim to release work from a range of young producers and new talent.
One such whippersnapper is Nottingham's Citizen, whose debut EP, the suitably titled Deep End, is also the label's first output. The title track is an epic wave of echoing vocals trapped beneath a rush of crashing drums, which has been getting big love from the likes of Benji B and of, course, Spoonfed.
Having seen a formidable set from the youngster at The Boiler Room a few weeks back, I decided to have a chat to find out how it feels to be carrying the torch for MadTech.
Citizen - Deep End *Benji B Radio One Rip* by Citizen .
Where are you from? What's your story?
London via Nottingham, home of the brave aka Shottingham, central. Producing for a while now and running parties in both cities. Desired to make a house project as it's always been something I've respected but never thought to create and I finally shrugged off the doubts and went for it.
Do you feel that being a child of the '90s has influenced the music you make today?
100%. I was a growing up when garage was the main UK output and the scene had this love affair with house, from which it was derived, so all of my earliest electronic exposure is owed to the UkG scene at the time.
How did the collaboration with Madhouse and Madtech come about?
James Threlfall, the A&R at Madhouse, contacted me. A few tracks had been circulating on Soundcloud with a view to releasing them on Madhouse, but I was moving at the time so everything was everywhere. The creative agency I am involved with was getting their biggest clients to date, which in turn resulted in me missing two of the meetings we scheduled.
He then turned up to a night I was playing with Oliver Rant in Dalston and I think I had 'Bar A Thym' going or something and he gave me the lowdown, and it fit pretty much exactly what I wanted to do with one side of the Citizen project. Kerri suggested creating a sub-label for more abrasive output, thus Madtech was born.
How does the label's vision fit with your own?
I think just bigging up UK talent and exposing peers to one another. Obviously Madhouse is steeped in house legend also which is what I'm primarily about - house music that is.
How big an influence has Kerri Chandler had on your music?
Massively. I remember the first time I heard 'Heaven' and 'Bar A Thym', it's just one of those things that resonates with me and inspires me to make the music I'm making. Kerri infuses a tonne of soul into his programming somehow and it's just amazing to listen to.
Who does your artwork?
Myself and Matilda Finn do the majority of the artwork for Citizen as well as the videos.
What are your non-musical influences?
Greg Araki. Akira. Steak Saturdays. Budweiser.
Who was the first DJ you saw or club you went to that changed your life?
That would have to be DJ EZ - many moons ago. I was severely underage and ended up going back to a bar that this older woman owned and drinking Jack Daniels and listening to some pirate station. Then breaking into a hotel with friends and playing knock a door run. Missed first period...
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