THE OTHERS UNVEIL 'MYSTYLE 004'

Interview with the Dub Police mainstay around his new mix comp

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 12:50

Alex Crawford, aka The Others, burst onto the dubstep scene back in 2007 when his track 'Africa VIP' featured on Caspa & Rusko's seminal Fabriclive mix. Alex went on to produce a stream of widely acclaimed releases for Dub Police, and seven years on he's still an integral part of the label, a testament to his loyalty and the close-knit team behind the label.

Alex has that rare skill achieved by so few in that he manages to produce tunes that sit just as well in the sets of underground tastemakers as they do in the sets of heavier dubstep DJs. His latest project is a continuation of Dub Police's 'MyStyle' series, a one-hour mix album of the highest quality, filled with dubs from the scene's most exciting artists, including Thelem, Icicle, Bukez Finezt, Biome and many more. A documentary is beng released with the compilation, watch the trailer below:

We had a chat with Alex about the release and his recent productions...

Hi Alex, your recent output seems to be more eclectic than ever! You've got the Breakage-style beats of 'Empire', the tribal vibes of 'Amazonia VIP', and the more contemporary styled 'All The Way Down' — are you feeling more inspired than ever?
"Yes, I hope my latest output shows the broad range of styles I make, and I can’t wait to see how it’s received. This year I’ve worked very hard getting my tracks up to the standard I think is needed, and personally I’m very pleased with the results. There’s some great dubstep around right now and more vibes, energy and styles than ever before. I guess my tracks are a reflection of where the genre is in 2014."

What's your writing process like? Do you sit down and think 'I'm gonna write in a certain style', or does it come naturally?
"No not really, I very rarely sit down to write a certain style of tune, it kinda just comes from experimenting with different sounds. When it comes to making music I think sometimes people tend to overthink things rather than focusing on a piece of music that suits a club environment, because essentially that is the aim."

You've been one of the most prolific, if not the most prolific artist in terms of releases on Dub Police — what is it about the label that makes it the perfect place to release your music?
"They are pretty relaxed about which direction I want to take the music in and they are supportive of my vision. They give me the reins creatively, and it’s fun putting releases together with them as they are always open to ideas. The ethos of the label has always been this way, and I believe that’s the way it should be for any artist — it’s all about doing what you feel is right at that time."

You’re on tour with label head Caspa in North America this month, does your 'MyStyle 004' mix showcase the sets you will play?
"Yes, there will definitely be a strong 'MyStyle' theme throughout my sets in North America on the ‘500’ tour, but with added firepower from music I’ve been writing and gathering lately. I can’t remember the last time I was so happy with the music in my sets, there seems to be so much quality dubstep around at the moment, which is perfect timing for me!"

How did you go about selecting tracks for your 'MyStyle' mix?
"The backbone of the mix is new material from me; original productions, collaborations and remixes. Around that I’ve also got a bunch of tracks from artists I’m really feeling at the moment, as well as a few golden oldies. It’s basically the kind of set you’d hear me play in a live scenario."

What does the future hold for The Others, any plans for a second album?
"I think at some point in the not so distant future I would look at putting together a new album, but I’m not in any rush. I think this time around I’m going to just focus on writing new material and then when I’ve got a nice selection of tracks I’m happy with, I will work an album around it. The next release from me will be ‘Empire EP’ which is the second 'MyStyle 004' sampler, and will feature four tracks taken from the compilation."

We just announced the results for our ever-controversial Top 100 DJs poll... who are the best five DJs you've ever had the pleasure of seeing?
"DJ EZ, David Rodigan, Andy C, Carl Cox and N-Type. All of those guys are heroes of mine, and if they were ever to be all on the same line-up together, I’d be there on the front row raving away."

Finally, you've got such a big back catalogue now, but if you had to pick just one — what would your favourite track of yours be, and why?
"That’s a question I’ve been asked a lot over the years and it’s still not any easier to answer. It’s like asking which is my favourite child, because they are all as important to me as the next. I guess one track that really stands out above the rest is ‘Splinter In My Soul’ as it reminds me of a time when I was just really starting to get recognition within the dubstep scene, and the writing process was very natural — I made it from start to finish in one eight-hour session which I can’t recall doing with any other track I’ve written. But I’m also extremely excited about my new music, so that opinion may change over the coming months!"

For more details and North American tour tickets, go here

'MyStyle 004' is out on 17.11.14, buy the compilation digitally here or physically here