NURKO X CANADIANRAVERS INTERVIEW [CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND THE TRACK, SIGNATURE SOUND, ADVICE TO ASPIRING DJS]

Jack Leech, known professionally as Nurko, grew up in New Jersey in a family with generations of artists. Encouraged to be creative since birth, he picked up both drums and piano as a child and went on to study music in college. Using the classical knowledge of music with the influence of sub genres of electronic music on the internet, the moniker Nurko was born. His first big track, ‘Goodbye,’ released in 2015 and soon after was followed by ‘Your Embrace,’ which garnered over 2 million streams and YouTube channel placements on MrSuicideSheep, and Chill Nation. Continuing the momentum, Nurko released an unofficial remix of Halsey’s hit single ‘Without Me,’ which went on to surpass 10 million plays on YouTube tastemaker channel Trap Nation. 

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello Jack, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing?

N: I’m doing well. Just working on tunes and discovering new sounds! Always a fun time.

CR: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where does the name ‘Nurko’ come from?

N: I was born in a small town called Roosevelt, NJ. The town was founded and contains a large artist population (so it’s an easy commute to NYC) and Nurko is a street name in that town. Where I come from and my upbringing plays a big part in my music so the name Nurko being a street from where I come from means a lot to me.

CR: Your recent track is a little emotional, what inspired the song 'Lost Without You' and how did you connect with Crystal Skies' and KnownAsNat on it?

N: Always making the emotional stuff :) haha. KnownAsNat actually sent me a demo vocal to my email. I really liked it and my girlfriend Samantha who is a lyric writer collaborated with Nat on making the final vocal. Crystal Skies and I planned on working on a track for a while now, so I sent them the demo project and they liked it so then we went from there!

CR: Before you release a track, do you listen to it repeatedly to see if anything is missing?

N: Too much. It’s hard as a producer to know when a song is 100% finished. You have to listen over and over to make sure there’s nothing wrong with the mix after you mix the song. (Eg. Not enough bass, too much bass, harshness in the high end, not harsh enough, etc.) So by the time the song is done, you are almost tired of hearing it haha.

CR: It has taken you some time to create your signature sound as you have progressed in your career. Were there any obstacles along the way?

N: Yes there were some obstacles. I knew I wanted to keep creating emotional feels music. But I felt that it was easy to get lumped into what a lot of great producers are already doing. One day when I was making “If It Isn’t You” I accidentally made my signature sound and have been really honing in on that since. It’s really cool that people hear a song and are able to tell it’s me without reading the title.

CR: We know you are on tour, and we like to ask this question to the artists we interview, what is the one must-have item on your rider?

N: Topo-Chico mineral water. I drink them all the time and love them so much. It’s nice to be able to drink one before, during, or after the show!

CR: Outside dance music, what other styles do you like listening to?

N: I love rock. Specifically Hard rock like 1970’s Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, etc. I also love classical music (where a lot of inspiration comes from) like Schubert, Chopin, Beethoven,  Liszt,  etc.

CR: In your opinion, what is one mistake most aspiring DJs make? How would you advise aspiring DJs?

N: I would say the biggest mistake is to copy a signature sound that has already been established for that artist. For example, I remember when Marshmello started growing up, I started to hear so many songs sounding exactly like his. Marhsmello will always be known for that sound regardless of how dope the track is.

CR: Aside from DJing and Producing music, what makes you happy?

N: Spending time with loved ones. My friends, family, girlfriend, and pets. I also love to travel and visit new places!

CR: While it is February, we would like to ask, what is your new year's resolution for 2022? Are there any projects that you are working on that we ought to be aware of?

N: My new year’s resolution would probably be to be a little more organized. I tend to be a little messy and lose things a lot haha. Keys, wallet, etc.) I also want to work on not starting a water bottle, putting it down, and then starting another. I want to start investing in a one water container system that’s better for the environment!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Texting or talking? Talking. I’m not the biggest texter

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Hard liquor or Wine? Wine (Even though I don’t really like either lol)

Cake or pie? Cake

Hot dogs or hamburgers? Hamburgers

Xbox or PlayStation? PlayStation? Don’t really play either of them though haha

Movie theatre or arcade? Movie theatre

Guitar or piano? Piano. Been playing since a wee lad

Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel

Dog or cat? Both tbh

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot

Nurko Socials:

NOMDECODE SPARTACUS X CANADIANRAVERS [STORY BEHIND THE NAME, DJ INSPIRATION, BIGGEST SUPPORTER]

Inspired by the French Wave of the 1990s, Nomdecode Spartacus are Parisien Duo Simon Beaudoux and Martin Chourrout (of Exsonvaldes and Ravages) both on a mission to bring filtered basslines and hypnotic grooves back to both the dance floor and the street alike.

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello Simon and Martin, Glad to have you on Canadianravers how are you doing?

NS: Very great actually! We just released our second single “Hum Hum” and it is really satisfying to bring this project to life, as it has been on our minds for quite some time now. We are also very happy to release a track that pays tribute to our French Touch and French House roots.

CR: Tell us a little bit about yourselves, what is the story behind the name ‘Nomdecode Spartacus’?

NS: Nomdecode Spartacus is a project we created to fulfill our need to create more electronic music (we already write French pop music together under the name Ravages). The name is a reference to the Stanley Kubrick movie starring Kirk Douglas. At first we wanted to call ourselves “I Am Spartacus” but we then decided that we needed to have some French words in our name too, so that’s were “Nom de code” (Codename, in French) comes from.

CR: Growing up were there any artists who inspired you into becoming a Producer/DJ?

NS: The whole French Touch wave that hit when we were in Middle school and High school: Daft Punk of course, Air, Cassius, Etienne de Crecy and then a bit later Soulwax (who like us came from an indie-rock background) and Alan Braxe or Digitalism. Also, some classic House, and maybe some New Order or OMD. More recently maybe Caribou, Marek Hemann or Christian Loffler. We listen to a lot of music and electronic music has always been a big influence for us, even if we couldn’t express it as much as we wanted in our previous project.

Also, I think we need to confess an unconditional love for Miami Sound Machine’s “Dr. Beat”.

CR: Your recent track ‘Hum Hum’ got a little funk to the beat, tell us a little bit about the producing process, as well where did the inspiration come from?

NS: We recently got a new studio in Paris and we were experimenting with it. From what I remember the song almost wrote itself! We tried to put ourselves in the mindset of those artists from the 90s who didn't work with computers and were digging for loops as songstarters. We found a funk sample that we tweaked and built the track from there. We ended up replaying it after a whole because it wasn’t giving us everything we needed, but the spirit from the 90s was there :)

 CR: For your tracks is there a method you follow or just create based on playing around with the instruments to get that right sound?

NS: With Spartacus it can start with a beat, a sample, a word. There’s no rule really, we just need it to be fun. If it’s not, we start over! Also, we like to listen to a lot of old tracks and find ideas for directions to follow.

CR: Who has been your biggest supporter since your guys started your producing career?

NS: Definitely our Record Label and publishers from London, DRRT Records and North Note. 

We had some tracks for years on our hard drives and didn’t know what to do with them. We needed someone to give us the motivation to push these ideas further and they were the ones to do it. Also, they always have great input and we really trust their opinion. We’ve been handling most of our projects ourselves for years and it’s fun for once to have someone to give us feedback and help us think about the next steps, the image of the band, etc.

CR: If you had the chance to play an opening set for any artist around the world, who would it be and where would it be?  

NS: Soulwax. Or Daft Punk if they ever play again! 

CR: What has been your biggest accomplishment of 2021 personally and professionally?

NS: Releasing Nomdecode Spartacus’ first single “Work Out”, of course. Also being able to play live, after 2 years without any live show.

CR: You guys are busy as it is, what do you like to do during your downtime? 

Simon: I like to bike around Paris, cook, go to the movies, but most of my free time is dedicated to taking care of my two sons (1 and 6).

Martin: Cook, listen to the radio, go swimming, hang out with my girlfriend or some friends… That question is harder than the other ones :)

CR: What are some of your goals for 2022, anything our followers should know about?

NS: 2022 will see more music from Spartacus, for sure. Even an album, maybe. And a live show.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Texting or talking?

Simon: Talking

Martin: depends on the people on the other end

Coffee or tea?

Simon: Coffee

Martin: Tea, no milk no sugar

Hard liquor or Wine?

Simon: French wine!

Martin: Wine. Liquor makes me sick.

Cake or pie?

Simon : Pie

Martin : I’m not sure about the difference

Hot dogs or hamburgers?

Simon : Hamburgers

Martin : Depends on the context. For instance : in Germany: Hot Dog. In the US: Burger.

Xbox or PlayStation?

Simon : Game Boy

Martin : Super Nintendo

Movie theatre or arcade?

Simon : Movie

Martin: Young me: Arcade, Now Me: Movie Theater

Guitar or piano?

Simon : Guitar

Martin : Piano

Marvel or DC Comics?

Simon : DC

Martin : not sure about the difference…

Dog or cat? 

Simon : Cat

Martin : not sure about the… Cat

Hot weather or cold weather?

Simon : Hot

Martin : Definitely hot weather 

CONNECT WITH NOMDECODE SPARTACUS

SUBFILTRONIK X CANADIANRAVERS INTERVIEW [ BEHIND THE NAME, TALKING ABOUT RIDDIM, PROCESS BEHIND MAKING TRACKS]

Corey Smith, also known as Subfiltronik, is an esteemed dubstep DJ/producer based out of the U.K. A pioneering trailblazer of the riddim subgenre, the renowned talent has paved the way for many in the landscape. Over the years, the Manchester native has been featured on various imprints the likes of Buygore Records, Circus Records, Disciple, Never Say Die, and many more. He’s also graced the decks at venerated nightclub venues and events such as Sydney, Australia’s iconic Chinese Laundry nightclub, Santa Ana, California’s Yost Theater, and Paris, France’s Redlight, to name just a few.

Learning how to craft relentlessly unyielding beats from a very young age, the musician eventually took his passion to the next level and pursued a degree in it during his undergraduate studies. Blending different styles together in his signature brand of dubstep, the multifaceted creative force has released tracks featuring influences from hip-hop, R&B, drum and bass, and drumstep. Subfiltronik’s recent tracks from 2020 include his remix of UZZI's ‘Longboi Pit’, ‘Too Tough’, and his collaborative hit with Aweminus ‘Subminus’.

THE INTERVIEW

CR: Hello Corey aka Subfiltronik, glad to have you on Canadianravers, how are you doing?

S: Hello there its nice to meet, yes I am doing well thank you.

CR: Tell us a little bit about yourself and a little backstory about your stage name Subfiltronik?

S: As you all know that I am Subfiltronik, my real name is Corey and I was born and raised in Manchester, England.

CR: Your recent track 'Vendetta' on Malignant Vol.2 is a great track overall, did you create the plugins from scratch or were they pre-sets created beforehand?

S: Thank you, on the track vendetta I made the new sounds from scratch and before the breakdown the aggressive wobble bass was an old bass I created years before I created Vendetta.

CR: You are a pioneer in Riddim, has it changed a lot since it started as a subgenre in the Dubstep scene?

S: Yes most definitely we have all been blessed with wonderful new talent showcasing new sub-genres like future riddim that is breaking through the dubstep scene very nicely. There is a lot of things I could say that changed the genre and made it better as a whole but for you, all I can say is that the scene is growing and

expanding through other countries.

CR: We know Dubstep and Riddim scene is growing in the UK, how did the culture and scene influence you as an artist? Also, which club in the UK is your favourite to attend?

S: I wouldn’t say the dubstep scene is growing in the UK anymore but to be honest drum and bass takes that title for shows over here in the UK. The culture has influenced me in different ways to try other genres and create something out of my own comfort zone. My favourite club in the UK that I played at is Moho live. The venue itself is not around anymore but when I was younger I would say it was my favourite place to be in my hometown of Manchester.

CR: Can you describe the process and idea of a track to a complete track? How long does each step take before you go to the next? Do you get an “in the zone” feeling when you do create a new track?

S: To be honest I don’t really feel anything when I am making music as I am technical with my work. There is no right or wrong to creating music sometimes I start an intro or just go into the drop first and create that and then I make a bridge that compliments the intro or the other way around. Some people

might start with a vocal sample its all down to preference. I would say in the past I use to get a gut feeling when I made a good bass but other than that I drink coffee and sit for hours on end to complete a track. My advice is to know about the fundamentals first like short keys as it will help you move faster when creating

music.

CR: Tell us a little bit more about your music taste, what is your favourite genre and some artists?

S: My tastes are different haha I listen to a lot of rock music and Hip-hop music, my favourite band is ‘protest the hero’ which are based in Canada and for Hip-hop am more of an old boomer and like to listen to artist like Lloyd banks, Kendrick Lamar, RZA, Dr Dre and mobb deep.

CR: What was the single event that has changed you and the way you view life?

S: I would say my first major show in Belgium the event was called blackline event in petrol, I got to meet loads of artistes and get to see them live at a big venue back then in 2011. It changed my life as I never felt bass hit me the way it did when I was performing in UK as you might know some sound systems work better than others but at this venue it was on a whole different scale, so it made me carry on making more hard hitting music.

CR: When you are not performing or producing music, what does an average day look like for Subfiltronik?

S: Haha like everyone else, working a day job being responsible adult.

CR: Since it is the New Year, what is your New Year Resolution and What is 2022 looking like for you?

S: My new year resolution is to go hard on music in 2022. To do a lot of shows and to everyone to enjoy my music globally.

LIGHTENING ROUND

Texting or talking? Talking

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Hard liquor or Wine? Red wine sometimes hard liquor

Cake or pie? Pie

Hot dogs or hamburgers? Eww none, I love animals.

Xbox or PlayStation? Xbox

Movie theatre or arcade? Arcade

Guitar or piano? Piano

Marvel or DC Comics? Marvel

Dog or cat? Dog

Hot weather or cold weather? Hot weather

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