One thing I love seeing is where people end up. Years ago, I was working for DogsOnAcid, keeping things primarily drum & bass, and got put on to Mosus, who at the time was managing the mighty V Recordings. He was also known as a DJ, and would produce tunes every now and again. Four years ago, Mosus embarked on the Need For Mirrors project, which took off like a rocket. We're talking releases on Metalheadz, Playaz, Commercial Suicide, Spearhead, Symmetry, and many other labels. It was a time where that forward-thinking sound was perfect, and NFM hit at just the right time.
Fast-forward to today, and Mosus is continuing his path of consistently killing the dnb scene with quality material. He hit me up about his Soul In Motion monthly, the next of which is going down on June 4 and features Doc Scott and Technimatic, as well as Pennygiles and DJ Bailey, who runs the night with Mosus. It was high time we caught back and not only talked about what Need For Mirrors has been (and will be) doing, but the ethos behind the monthly and what they have up their sleeve. He also went in the mix, and trust me, you need that.
The last four years seem to have been good for Need For Mirrors; you’ve releases everywhere, from Metalheadz to V Recordings. What do you think it is about your sound that’s resonated with so many of the dnb scene’s finest?
I think its just the strength of the song writing, the mixdowns are not the best but the tracks have some sense of depth and nostalgia. At the core its just drum & bass. When I have attempted to do anything on the fringe of dnb the reception hasn't been as strong as the rollers & steppers.
We know you’ve had bits come out on Spearhead, Warm Communications, and Horizons Music this year, but that tune “Bredren” on Philly Blunt has been doing our head in. Seeing as there’s a history with Philly Blunt, with the imprint having a real “sound” to it, was your approach to pay homage to the Philly Blunt vibe or was “Bredren” something that just fit?
Well after the "Came To Play" remix single on Philly Blunt in early 2013, I had been working on a follow up release. And hammering out a lot of tunes for the project and Bryan Gee has a real particular vibe he connects with Philly so it was pretty difficult to gauge what was worthy of being on Philly and what was not. Eventually I wrote "Bredren" late in 2013 and that totally switched up the project from a 12" to an EP and in quick succession the rest of the tracks fell into place.
Now we’re here to talk about your Soul In Motion night, which will go on its fourth event on June 4. We’re assuming the classic DJ Krust tune is part of what you’re trying to represent, but tell us what Soul In Motion nights are all about.
Soul In Motion is a night conceived by Myself & DJ Bailey.
We had been waiting for the right venue to present its self and when Basement opened in late 2013 we knew this was the spot for us. The venue is housed in the basement of the Edition hotel 10 Berners Street Soho and has amazing state of the art db Technologies sound system which is perfect for venue and our music sounds amazing on it. The venue is one of the best in London and we feel really spoiled to be able play our music in such a setting.
We both felt the need to have a midweek drum & bass night back in central London, something that would cater for the latest drum & bass that represents what we are about: grooves, beats, breaks and bass—the music. The night gives us both a home to play regularly and test out all our new music before the weekend and the heads can hear all the new music for the first time along with us, its vibes in there. The night has helped me write some of my best work to date. I'm writing music just for the club night & that sound system.
The night is a free entry, guest list-only event; you email in and you're on the list. It starts at 8PM and finishes at 1AM, so it allows for people to get a bite to eat after work and go out listen to the latest drum & bass in a great venue and still be able to leave and get the last train home and hit work the next day. At present the night is the first Wednesday of the month but we want to get it more regular as the night builds.
Aside from Krust, you’ve had Klute, Jubei, Total Science, DLR, Foreign Concept & Flexout, and Peer Pressure crews as special guests, with Doc Scott, Technimatic, and Pennyglies lined up for the June event. Talk to us about the caliber of DJ you’re looking for when booking Soul In Motion.
Myself & Bailey are residents and we have three guests a month. We try and get a mix of the old school and new school DJs and producers in the venue who are pushing the music forward playing cutting edge beats and are passionate about what we are doing. This night is bigger then me and Bailey, and when the heads come down to the club they know something special is going on. You can draw a different selection and tune in.
What are your plans for the night?
We have a solid schedule for the rest of the year and we hope to start doubling up on some months and working on one-off special events.
What’s next up for Need For Mirrors, release-wise?
I have the Food EP out on horizons in July. After that I have some more music forthcoming on Metalheadz, Digital Soundboy, Symmetry, V Records, and Philly Blunt, as well as my own label Zoltar.
Do androids dance?
They do, but only at Soul In Motion.
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Tracklist:
1: NEED FOR MIRRORS - PEDESTRIAN - HORIZONS MUSIC
2: SPIRIT - UNTITLED DUB
3: PENNY GILES - UNTITLED DUB
4: BREAK - MOVING ON - HORIZONS MUSIC
4: NEED FOR MIRRORS - BERNERS STREET DUB
5: DIGITAL - UNTITLED - V RECORDS DUB
6: NEED FOR MIRRORS - UNTITLED DUB
7: TECHNIMATIC - SERENDIPITY (LSB REMIX) - INTEGRAL
8: LENZMAN FEAT. MARTYNA BAKER - PAPER FACES - METALHEADZ
9: LSB - LEAVE - SOULR
10: ZERO T FEAT: STEO - REFUSAL (ALIX PEREZ REMIX) - INTEGRAL
11: HYBRID MINDS - FELICITY - HOSPITAL RECORDS
12: ENEI - WOODRUNNER - CRITICAL
13: NEED FOR MIRRORS - UNTITLED DUB
15: DR MEAKER - RIGHT BACK (BREAK RMX) - V RECORDS
