Drum and bass’ lasting influence and popularity has been nothing less than extraordinary. Rising out of the early 90s English rave scene, the genre’s aggressive syncopated rhythms and high, difficult-to-dance-to BPM have kept it somewhat of a niche interest among worldwide music fans, with only a few breakout acts such as Pendulum and Chase & Status. Nonetheless, DnB’s now decades-long legacy continues to march on with a dedicated worldwide following, including a Boston community which gathers weekly for the Phoenix Landing’s popular Elements show Thursday nights.
Etherwood, real name Woody Allen (yes, really!) is looking to bring the genre forward. Hailing from the English Midlands city of Lincoln, he is one if the most exciting signees on Med School, an experimental offshoot of the legendary Hospital Records. Woody has spent the last few years crafting a series of incredible tunes in the subgenre known as liquid funk, which is characterized by its focus on traditional instrumental layers instead of the more common bar-oriented samples. A multi-instrumentalist, he works piano, guitar and saxophone into the signature DnB rhythm.
The results have been fantastic. His self-titled debut album’s disarming mix of ethereal melodies and powerful drum patterns made for something both incredibly thoughtful and driving, hammered home by a series of excellent vocal performances (including some wonderfully vulnerable ones from Woody himself). It’s the kind of electronic music that an indie kid could easily get into—and your parents probably wouldn’t hate.
Tomorrow night, Etherwood is hitting the Middle East for his very first US show as part of the Hospitality North America tour. We chatted with him about songwriting, vinyl releases and his upcoming second album.
Allston Pudding: You’re about to head out on your first US tour under the Hospitality banner. What are your thoughts on playing for a bunch of yanks who might not be as familiar with your music?
Woody Allen: I can’t wait. I love playing in new places and I guess I’ll just do my thing and hope everyone enjoys it! I’ve been looking forward to coming stateside for ages.
AP: How did you get your start in Drum and Bass? Who are your biggest influences?
WA: I started getting hooked on DnB at University. I mainly listened to artists like Logistics, London Elektricity, Roni Size, DJ Hype, Aphrodite and Photek. That inspired me to start producing it myself.
AP: Your music really sets itself apart by relying as much on traditional instruments as synths. What is your recording process like? Do you tend to write melodies or rhythms first?
WA: That’s a big thing for me. Most of the songs start on piano or guitar and the rest layers around it usually. It’s important for me to maintain that aspect. I’ll usually write vocal melodies or lead lines as I’m writing the piano and guitar parts.
AP: You perform vocals on a handful of the first album’s standout tracks, which is quite a rarity for drum and bass artist. What inspired your decision to do that?
WA: I’ve always enjoyed singing and I’d naturally play with some melodies over my own tracks anyway, but I never thought I’d record anything until the first album came along. There were a few tracks that I thought really needed vocals, so I had a go at singing some lines and we all stuck with it. It did take me a while to get over hearing my own voice on record.
AP: Is it ever difficult to decide whether to take on vocal duties yourself or have someone else sing?
WA: For the new album I made a conscious decision to be the sole male vocalist on the album. I think it says a lot and keeps a definite focus and theme throughout. Plus it really helps keep things simple! As you said, it’s quite rare for producers in DnB to sing on their own tracks and I really like that.
AP: Has your approach to production changed at all since the first album?
WA: Yeah, definitely. I was still pretty new to production when the debut dropped. Since then, I’ve had chance to hone my favorite aspects of the first album and take the whole sound to a different level. At least that’s how I see it. A lot more thought has gone into the construction of the tracks on the new album.
AP: What has your experience working with Med School been like?
WA: I love it! For me, the most important aspect of signing to a label is maintaining the freedom to be able to write what you enjoy writing and Med School relish that. It also allows producers to be a little more experimental in their approach as opposed to feeling a duty to stick to that DnB formula.
AP: Despite having been around for many years, drum and bass has continued to attract new artists and fans at an incredible pace. Where do you think the longevity of the genre stems from?
WA: Drum and bass is a genre like no other. I see it as a sub culture. It’s always been there and it’s always bordered the line between underground and commercial. It’s a bit of a rebellion as well, I suppose. DnB has always had such a strong vibe and consistently produces amazing music that it’s lasted for so long and maintains it’s popularity. It’s stronger than ever now and it’s a great time to live in for producers like myself.
AP: The only disappointment with your debut album was that the vinyl version only had about half of the tracks! Any chance of a deluxe reissue down the line?
WA: Potentially. Obviously, we were restricted by releasing a solo vinyl release, so it may be nice to put a limited edition out in the future.
AP: Have you considered doing any live shows like the BBC Maida Vale Spotify session?
WA: Yeah I have. At the moment, all my concentration is on finishing the new record but I’m really looking forward to experimenting with a live set up to see what we can achieve. Watch this space.
AP: How is the new album coming along?
WA: Really well now. You have the initial stage of the joy of creation. Then the painful stage of tweaking every last hi hat until the track gels. Now I can see the finish line and the whole thing is coming together really nicely. Can’t wait to share it.
AP: Can we expect any collaborations or returning vocalists?
WA: Yeah there a few collabs and some great vocalists on there. I won’t say who just to keep the suspense!
UPDATE: Due to Visa problems, Etherwood was forced to cancel his set at the Middle East 3/04. However, he has assured us that he will be back in Boston soon!
@georgegreeny I will, I promise. Sorry again
— Etherwood (@EtherwoodUK) March 4, 2015
You can also check out newly released single “You’ll Always Be a Part of Me,” our first taste of the new album, below: