With the news that UK drum & bass legend TONY COLMAN aka LONDON ELEKTRICITY is hitting Brisbane for a wild mid-week show, SCOTTY HARMS puts some questions to the Hospital Records founder.

SCOTTY HARMS: Firstly, I have to ask about the new album. Give us the scoop, how is it coming along? 

TONY COLMAN: Been chipping away at it for eight months, now I feel like I can see how it’s shaping up. Very, very excited. This time all vocals are by Elsa Esmeralda, who sang on Just One Second off my last album. She is a great songwriter as well as a sublime singer.

SH: What’s the state of your studio at the moment? Have you started pairing down on outboard equipment

TC: Yes, I’m working with a hybrid set up of Mac Pro using Cubase and a lot of instruments and synths. 

SH: Other drum & bass outfits like Pendulum have told us that getting their live rig sorted was a real pain – did you experience this back when performing as a live act? And did it influence the return of DJ sets at all?

TC: Live dance music is not easy – but no pain, no gain. I loved every minute of touring live and I wouldn't change a thing. Having said that, I do love travelling with my records and not six moaning minnies.

SH: ‘The Colminator’ iPhone soundboard allows people to use some of your catchphrases from the Hospital Podcast in daily life – have you heard people use this out and about?

TC: Haha, no I haven’t.

SH: Hospital and Med School seem to be constantly putting out fresh and groundbreaking stuff – New Blood 010 was brilliant. Is drum & bass in a renaissance, or are you guys just really good at finding/signing hot acts?

TC: Big, big things in drum & bass right now – I wouldn’t say renaissance, as that implies it was going through a sparse patch before, which in my opinion was not the case. But I agree it’s better than ever right now. 

SH: As a touring DJ, is there still plenty left in the tank? Between the label, podcast and other commitments, does the thought ever cross your mind to pull back the number of long nights in clubs?

TC: Oh, I have pulled them back. I play about 30% of the shows I used to play – I also have a family to look after, and I have no intention of being an absent father. 

SH: It’s good to see another artist still playing on 1200s – even though your collection must take up an entire house, what’s your most prized piece of vinyl?

TC: Wow. Probably an acetate of an unreleased tune by The Whispers called Dance If You Want To, found it in a junk shop many years ago. 

SH: What have you got in store for the madmen who will be checking out your Brisbane show?

TC: Pure filth and utter beauty – I hope!

LONDON ELEKTRICITY plays at the brand new Electric Playground (ex-Planet Nightclub) on Wednesday Jun 9, supported by Kosha D, Hifire, Butterz & Slynk (Shifty). Presold tickets via OzTix. Check out www.londonelektricity.com and www.hospitalrecords.com for more information.

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