Don’t try to understand it, just go with it. Model 86′ teaser for his ‘Self Help Dance EP’ contained 14 uncomfortable vignettes, accompanied by his own beats and synths. A great example of great artwork matched up with great tunes; get familiar with Model 86!
Who are you, can you tell us something about yourself and where do we know you from?
You don’t know me from anywhere. Well, you might have caught some stuff on BBC Radio One or Six and a few blogs and mags. My name’s MODEL 86. I make electronic music but not confined to. I grew up in Manchester and I live in London.
How did you became a producer?
I had always wrote songs for some reason. Then I met a couple of guys when I was around 15 who were making hip hop in their bedroom and it blew my mind. I started collecting records. I had a copy of ACID Pro, a couple of years later I bought an MPC 2000XL. Dropped out of Art college, went to study music.
What other producers, songwriters and/or artists do you see as your primary inspirations?
I listen to such a variety of stuff, top 5% of everything. A couple of my favourite albums are MF DOOM – OPERATION DOOMSDAY, Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes, Ramsey Lewis – Funky Serenity. I like a lot of Hudson Mohawake’s stuff, Brahm’s 3rd, BIG L.
I’m sure a lot of people ask themselves, where did the name Model 86 come from?
Can’t tell you, sorry. Not right now.
What piece of equipment would you most like to own and which one you can’t live without?
I’d quite like large Neve desks and everything Manley and Makenoise have made. I can’t live without my monitors (Dynaudio BM6mk2s) and headphones of course, not having some sort of midi-input would be a massive pain in the ass.
Can you describe the process of creating your last EP/album, Self Help Dance?
I knew I wanted to release something experimental and beat-based, so just start working on a bunch of tracks. I started going back through my records and combining synths and sample and drums / percussion. Then when whittling them down for a release I thought ‘fuck it, have them all!’
What do you when you’re not producing / working?
Cinema, basketball, computer games.
Tell us about some spots in Manchester that inspire you, or where you like to hang out.
My family is there, that’s about it. I live in London and think it’s the only place to live in the UK. Spots in London, I’m about coffee, so Dose, Kaffiene, Look Mum No Hands, Prufrock, The Fields Beneath, there are many. The Rio cinema.
Is Los Angeles an inspirational place for you, referring to track 6 from your last EP?
Yes. I was out there for a few weeks last year and have a few friends there. I love it. I want to live there for a bit. I wrote L.A when I got back, simples. That track is not as nuanced as the actual place of course.
What are your thoughts on the whole 90’s revival trend, music wise?
Is there one? Wicked. Don’t have any thoughts on the fact it’s 90s. If it’s good, it’s good.
Imagine yourself stranded on a deserted island, name three must-have items you need to have to survive.
One of those small water filters. Food. Paper and pencils.
What projects are you currently working on and what can we expect from you in the future?
Working on another release at the moment, some remixes for some people too. Let’s see what happens!
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