New producer makes Spoonfed feel old.
It’s not often we’d confess to being excited about 16 year old boys we met on the internet, but since coming across his weighty bass gem All You’re Doin’ while scouring of the web for dancefloor bombs, we’ve been keeping an attentive eye on Oli Johns, aka Network.
As new waves of producers continue to prove (see Disclosure, Bondax, etc etc), young kids with a good musical ear and a bit of software can blossom into successful artists by harnessing the DIY ethos personal technology allows. Having said that, it still came as a surprise to find out the mind behind Network’s textured, bass-heavy sound is a mere 16.
His track Movin On, an atmospheric swirl of synth and bass sprinkled with chopped-up vocals, is currently available via MadTech's MTDL imprint.
Hi. Erm…ASL?
My name’s Keith, I live in Gambia and spend my time eating dates and grooming dogs, and also enjoy cricket depending on the weather.
Nah my names Oli and I make tunes on my laptop, in my bedroom, in Devon.
When did you start producing? Are you self-taught or have/are you studying it?
Been producing for a couple of years now, never studied it and don’t think I ever will. Pretty sure it will just confuse me too much.
Where does your musical inspiration come from?
Sean Paul, Sean Kingston, Shadow Child and Blawan.
Is it difficult to make music targeted at dancefloors being too young to go clubbing properly yourself?
I guess it’s not too difficult. With the amount of tunes on the internet it’s easy to find out which music is targeted at dancefloors and which isn’t. I don’t think hearing music at clubs could ever inspire me to do anything different to my music.
What do you do when you're not making music?
I live in Exeter so to be honest it’s rare anything good is happening, and usually when there is something I can’t get into the fucking thing because I’m not old enough.
Are you worried about becoming the Michael Jackson of future garage? Exposed to the fame machine too young and becoming a mess of plastic surgery and prescription pills?
(laughs) All I can imagine now is Michael Jackson making future garage and how weird it would be. Fuck plastic surgery!
(MTDL02) Network - Moving On by MadTech Records
Click here to return to Spoonfed's clubbing homepage.
Photo by Matilda Finn.
Add an event
Review: Disgraced at Bush Theatre
Writer Ayad Akhtar is a peculiar tour guide taking us through very familiar territory, intent on showing...