The Essentials
Interview with an English dubstep producer Doctor P
Doctor P and Cookie Monsta are touring our neck of the woods this week. They will play at three events in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and Sacramento starting tonight.
To get tickets, visit Vital Presents or enter our ticket giveaway contest here.
Doctor P was nice enough to spend a few minutes on answering several questions about his music, Circus Records label, and future plans.
Rave Area: You said that one of the advantages of owning a music label is a higher level of control. However, managing a successful label must be time- and energy-consuming. How do you balance your management duties, music production, and a tight tour schedule?
Doctor P: In the beginning there was only four of us running the label, so I was much more involved back then. Everything has grown so much that I am now a lot less involved in the day-to-day running of the label. We’ve got a good team running everything behind the scenes. Without them, there would be no way for me to do what I do!
Rave Area: What motivates you to stay in the underground scene?
Doctor P: I was always interested in making music—it was never really a goal of mine to become a ‘famous’ DJ on any level. I still make music just for fun; that’s what it’s all about really.
Rave Area: A few years ago you decided to make a switch from D&B to Dubstep. Do you envision moving on to something new in the foreseeable future?
Doctor P: I’ve never really had a plan—I just make whatever I am inspired to make at the time. If some new style comes along and it inspires me, I am open to start doing something new. Lots of producers started making a lot of house and trap when [those genres] came about, but those two styles have never really been my thing, so I decided not to go down that route.
Rave Area: As an underground artist who chooses to steer away from the commercial hits and radio direction, is it fair to say that you may not have the largest fan base, but your followers are the most loyal ones?
Doctor P: I don’t think it’s really been a conscious choice to steer away from ‘commercial’ music. I just make the music I want to make, and the rest seems to come with it. I’m fortunate that quite a lot of people seem to like my music!
Rave Area: You’ve played a number of times in the San Francisco Bay area; what’s your opinion about the local crowd? How is it compared to the crowd in UK?
Doctor P: The San Francisco area is always really good. People from that area seem to be very knowledgeable about the music, and they’re very passionate about it. There’s always a really good, fun atmosphere at San Francisco shows.
Rave Area: Being in the underground scene, you see a lot of young and talented artists who are not well known to the wider audience yet. Can you name a couple of up-and-rising DJs who deserve special attention?
Doctor P: I’ve been really into the Canadian artist Snails for a couple of years; his name has been growing a lot lately. We’ve recently signed a new UK act called Diskord, and I’m really into their stuff. I think it’s only a matter of time until they have a really big track that everybody knows.
Rave Area What advice would you give to producers who are still trying to find their place in the scene?
Doctor P: It takes practice to become good at anything. The more music you make, the better you will be. Make music at every opportunity!
