He’s the 18-year-old kid from Manchester who has had the music industry whispering for the past year or so, hailing him as the next Joker. It’s easy to call him a dubstep producer, but let’s just let his music do the talking shall we. The Wrap Up’s Nardene Scott caught up with the humble Numan over the phone (whilst he was in the library) to get to know exactly what he’s about...
The Wrap Up: So things have happened kind of quick for you and your music, you’ve only been producing for two years haven’t you? How did it all start for you?
Numan: It basically started because I was on a lot of forums, grime forums and stuff like that. I think it was a Skream and Benga tune called ‘The Judgement’ I heard at first and I just started producing from there. I got Fruity Loops off someone and just started.
TWU: ‘Stuck’ is exactly that, stuck in my head. I know this came out a while back through Get Darker, but just using it as an example, how do you name your tracks?
Numan: Yeah, what happened with ‘Stuck’ was it was for a compilation called ‘This Is Dubstep Vol 2: Get Darker Presents’ and they wanted a tune as quick as possible. So I started one in the morning like about 9am and say by like midday it was done, finished, mixed down and everything, so I sent it over and just quickly named it from a preview. That’s what I think it was, it just depends on what the tune is, sometimes I just name it after the pre-set when I just mess around with sounds and preludes and then just name it from there.
TWU: There’s ‘Kaya 47’ which has funky elements, ‘Race Against Time’ has the experimental feel to it and then there’s tracks like ‘Quezt’ that have an electro feel. How would you describe your sound?
Numan: I don’t know, but it’s mainly experimental. I don’t like just saying it’s experimental because some tunes are just clear dubstep and it will just sound daft to call that experimental when it’s just dubstep. I’m not sure what kind of sound it is...
TWU: Do you see yourself staying within this genre of experimental dubstep? Earlier you mentioned you used to be into grime, so maybe even getting tracks vocalled?
Numan: Yeah, what I want to do now is start working with vocalists, but like still on my vibe, so that experimental, generally more melodic kind of stuff. I want to work with Drake somehow (laughs). I worked with Opium, I produced ‘My Dream’ on his new mixtape and Wiley has vocalled something which I haven’t heard yet.
TWU: I was speaking to a producer the other day and he said a lot of dubstep producers don’t get enough of their tracks blessed by MCs. What do you think about that? Do you think it is important and are you going to be collaborating with any MCs soon?
Numan: Yeah, about three weeks ago I sent a track to JJ from Rinse and he played it on radio and P Money was freestyling over it and I’ve got that up on my YouTube now. He was asking for a tune and it was like one of them weird beats, pretty melodic as well, he wanted to vocal that.
TWU: ‘Race Against Time’ is the new EP out through Manchester’s Planet Mu records. Can you tell us what influenced the EP? There are some crazy sounds on there, which goes to show that you’re not scared to mix all sorts of sounds together…
Numan: I’ve been sending stuff to Planet Mu since I started out, so like two years now and I sent them these three tunes, which they liked, but there was one tune on there called ‘Voodoo’ and that was made on Windows 98 PC about a year ago and then they converted the MP3 to a WAV file because I couldn’t get it back. Yeah, the EP is like 140 BPM, but it is weird.
TWU: Do you play any instruments yourself? Or are your beats all computer-based?
Numan: I don’t really play any instruments and everything is off the PC, just ESC’s. I really like putting piano’s in all of my tunes, every time I’ve got a tune I always have to put something melodic in there, like a harp or something, just to keep it melodic and keep the vibe there.
TWU: Do you DJ as well as produce?
Numan: I’ve been offered quite a few shows and I’ve turned quite a few down because I can’t mix yet, but I’m trying to learn a live set. I’ve got a mixer there, but obviously I don’t know how long that’s going to take to learn that, I hope it’s soon so that I can start playing out.
TWU: Would you play a mix of your musical influences? Or would you just play staright up dubstep?
Numan: I doubt it would be straight dubstep; it would be just kind of weird music. I’m not sure, just a mix of everything. If I just played dubstep, I’d just be known as a local guy, so it’s better to play something different to make more of an impact.
TWU: So let’s talk about your music influences. Who do you like listening to in your spare time?
Numan: At the moment I just listen to a lot of Drake’s old stuff. Them beats, the ones that Noah produced, it sounds pretty deep. I started listening to old Wiley stuff like all his ‘Tunnel Vision’ albums. Most of the influences just come from my head, but then again, when I listen to a sound I probably heard it first somewhere else. Some of my tunes are influenced by zombie sounds too.
TWU: Since the beginnings of this year you have been getting lot of media attention. Have any other artists been in touch for remixes?
Numan: I think at the moment I’ve got a few remixes waiting to go in. I think I was supposed to do one for P Jam, a reggae tune, but not sure what’s going on with that. I’ve done one for Shy One, that’s on Scratch’s label from Planet Mu. Last year I done a remix for Crookers, an official remix for Southern Fried, Crookers and Miike Snow, but at the moment I’m still just trying to get some vocal stuff out.
TWU: So what’s next for Numan? What can we expect from you in 2011?
Numan: I want to get this live set sorted first. I think I’m going to start on the album pretty soon as well. I’ve got quite a few releases lined up, next one should come out in December on a drum & bass label, but they’re putting out a dubstep tune. Then this EP is supposed to be coming out on Rinse, it’s kind of like Rinse/me. I’m not sure really how the deal works, but that comes out pretty soon, just three tracks of mine. Then in 2011 I’m going to be working on my album, oh and I’ve got a mix for Bestival, it should be aired on their website pretty soon.
Numan: ‘Race Against Time’ - is out now.
Stay up to date with Numan on Twitter – www.twitter.com/NumanUK
Words: Nardene Scott
Photography: Chloe Shearman
Online editing: Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson
