AMIT (COMMERCIAL SUICIDE)
Initially, Amit’s interest were seeded in computer programming, however, on being introduced to the sequencing package MasterSound, things took a different turn. Realising his passion and talent for music, Amit embarked on an HND in Music Technology, learning the processes involved in music production and experimenting with a myriad of different sounds from dub/ reggae to electro and punk rock. Upon leaving the protective gates of academia behind, he began to save up money for his first piece of equipment: The Akai S1000.
Amit’s interest in Drum & Bass developed through his love of Belgium hardcore, highlighted by producers such as Joey Beltram and Fran Dewulf. It was the late 80’s and early 90’s and things were changing; there was a new sound emerging: sped up hip hop breaks – Drum & Bass. Listening to the sounds of Source Direct, Photek and Goldie all helped to anchor Amits D&B journey. For the next few years, he continued crafting his sound and developing his vision. With influences from the lush Hindi soundscores of Naushad, haunting vocals of Muhammad Rafi, Mukesh & Egypts Om Khaltoum, to The Cure, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Radiohead and African Bambaata, Amits unique sound was born. Described as ‘facist tribal dub with a warm eastern/gothic twist’ Amit’s big break came when he sent a track titled ‘ Eraser to Digital which received a positive response from DJ Storm, Klute and various underground DJs.
He was introduced to Klute and his label Commercial Suicide and it was there that he found the home for his future releases, headed by a team that understood and supported his vision. 2003 saw his first release on the label, ‘Dual Sense/ Roots’ and that’s when things started gaining momentum. His sound was new, different, and beautifully unnerving. Half tempo building, remnants of D&B and dark tribal energy make Amit´s music hard to catagorize and the only real way it can be explained is by listening. And that´s what people did, until eventually it started landing in all the right dj- stacks. Randal started dropping his track into his set, Grooverider and Bailey playing the track on BBC’s Radio 1 and 1Xtra, even the legendary John Peel (RIP) selected it for his show. After hearing Amit’s track during a Klute set, Goldie offered to release his next 12” on his infamous Metalheadz label and in 2004, Amit released the hypnotic ‘Gatecrasher/Pirates’ on Metalheadz. In contrast to most other D&B artists, Amit had spent little time in Djing, preferring to concentrate on the production.
All that changed last year when he decided to play his first ever live show ‘Redzone’, Holland, sharing the bill with Goldie to a crowd of 1600! The set went down a storm and further shows are now planned for this year. As well as DJing and producing, Amit also teaches Music Technology and mentors new artists from disadvantaged backgrounds, sharing his musical knowledge and experience. With live shows in planned for UK, US, Holland and Czech Republic amongst others, a solo album titled ‘Never Ending’ and a filmscore, 2006 looks set to be a very busy year for one of the most innovative producers in the D&B scene today, an artist who continues to challenge the common ideas of D&B.
Saturday Oct’ 10th, The Underground, Westland Row, D2
Starting out as a graffiti artist, earning commissions from local councils in the UK, Goldie moved to America when he began fitting gold teeth (hence his artist name), and where he also appeared in the grafitti art-movie ‘Bombing’. He returned to the UK and became a convert to rave after being taken to Rage by DJ Kemistry, and eventually started doing design work for Reinforced Records, before working as A & R for the label. Goldie quickly became one of the most famous figures in drum n’ bass, releasing various landmark records on a plethora of leading labels, but most importantly establishing the legendary Metalheadz (label
Appearing soon at OneSevenFour, here’s a mix from Rockwell.
