Hostage: Valhalla

Hostage’s new EP ‘Valhalla’ is due to be released on the 1st of December, we managed to get our filthy little mits on it to listen to and boy is it an absolute monster (definitely my favourite ep of 2009).Production as per usual is perfect, every sound just packs a massive punch that will no doubt blow your bass bin off!!!

There is some truly epic music in this tasty package and nothing says epic more than the title track ‘Valhalla’, its the closest you can get audio representation of a viking invasion! The orchestral section contrasting with the heavy basslines makes this one of the most delectable tracks Hostage has ever created. Rejuvenation is more of a oldskool piano track with bouncy rhythms which at some points isn’t my cup of tea however, when the bass kicks in at 3mins its enough to make anyone go nuts. Asgard is more of  a subtle 4×4 banger than any of the other tracks on the ep, building in intensity through soaring drops and flittering bass and hi hats. Asgard is definitely a track that will appeal to both techno and ravestep lovers! ‘Ronnie Ronnie’ has to be my favourite track, this is Hostage at his best: gigantic bassline madness with intervals of a conversation about smoking a big spliff (see below interview for more info).

This is EP is just a perfect mixture of bassline chaos and ravey fun 10/10.

The remix package coming off the back of this is fantastic, featuring artists such as Angel Alanis, Rampage, Momma’s Boy and Chrissy Murderbot. My favourite of the bunch has to be the Momma’s Boy remix which has been  featured in Brodinski’s latest monthly chart.

You can listen to ‘Valhalla’ here along with some of the remixes on the artist pages!

Be sure to catch Hostage on bass duties playing out his latest tunes:

20 Nov Utrecht (Netherlands)  - TIVOLI

21 Nov Enschede (Netherlands) – ATAK

27 Nov Sheffield (England) – Krooked @ DQ

28 Nov Nieuwe Nor (Netherlands) –  Nachtstroom

We also had the chance to chat with Hostage today regarding his new EP, his musical influences and snacking!

INTERVIEW

what got you into electronic music?

Buying this cassette in 1988 (aged 11).

and the year after getting one of these samplers.

the two met and the journey started

Did you come from a different musical background before you started producing?

I started sampling loops and stuff from the above compilation 21 years ago. I hear samples and breaks in loads of those tunes on it all the time :)

If you could name your top 5 current producers who would they be and why?

If I could!? Ok, here goes.
Liam Howlett: Always inspires and entertains, and has seen a really triumphant return to form with some of the most recent stuff.
Lee Mortimer: He writes good tracks which have character and originality.
Black Noise: Been really impressed with some of their recent tunes.
Gtronic: Hard as nails Belgian tough funk.
DJ Zinc: Really liking his current direction – ‘Horrible’ on the Crackhouse EP is my mind-bass zeitgeist.

You have recently been touring pretty much all around the world! Has there been a favourite place to play that suprised you in any way?

You’re fukin’ right i’ve been all over the world. I just was away to answer this question and the postman came, that’s the most obsene mobile bill i’ve had in my life!
The Espy in Melbourne, which is this old rock and roll venue in the foyer of an old hotel used to be a haunt of mine many years ago when I stayed there, I never expected it to be going off mental on a Saturday night whilst I drop big noisy bass-bangers!

How do you keep yourself excited about music and more importantly what helps you get in the mood for creating banging music!

Music itself keeps me exited, I don’t have to try. It’s like going into a sweet shop for your ears every day. The night’s I play at inspire me often on a subconcious level and I’ll come home with all these sounds and feelings in my mind which I will spew into my DAW of choice.

Is there any artists you would like to collaborate with in the near future?

Not really. I dont like collaborating that much. I have a clear idea how I want my track to sound and for someone else to get their head round my aural vision would be impossible.

Ronnie Ronnie is an absolute monster, where did you sample the vocals from?

Ronnie Ronnie is one of the tracks on the new Valhalla EP on Nightshifters.
The vocals are sampled from a film called Babylon…..
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080406/
it’s a great film with an equally good soundtrack.

Apart from being an absolute bass viking, what influenced the Nordic theme that runs through your latest ep?

This game:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla_(video_game)

The title track transports me to a rave in a hall shrouded by clouds.

Do you think that now you have alot more commercial releases that you will move away from sending your tunes to blogs as much as before?

Nope – Here’s one for you right now (320kbps too) stock up for christmas why dontcha!?

René Et Gaston – Vallée De Larmes (Hostage Remix)

Following you on twitter has made us realise your love for snack, what is Hostage’s all time favourite snack?

It really varies depending on my mood and where I’ve been. Before I went on tour of Singpore, Australia, Germany and Spain last month I drank cider. Now I don’t! In one month I’m right back onto the beers. Hold on that’s not snacks…but where I’m heading is last night’s snackage, was pretty piggy on a Germanic tip – Frankfurters and Bitburgers http://www.bitburger.com/ were on the menu Chez L’Hostage.

At home do you listen to music that greatly varies to that which you produce?

Yeah, at home I listen to a lot of dub, old hip-hop, disco, some dnb whilst doing the dishes you know!? :)
I like listening to the kinds of music I produce whilst (when not in the club) moving, stomping at a fast pace up hills with my hood up.

Valhalla EP is released 1st of December

These words came from Dubious, posted on November 13, 2009 at 2:04 pm, filed under News. Read and leave comments here. Follow any comments here with an RSS feed.