Hot Seat: Formula
About The Artist:
Formula may look like your typical UK drum & bass figure, for several reasons. Formula grew up in the West Indies, better known as The Caribbean, an area of the world not normally associated with Bass music. Formula’s career in drum and bass started when he returned to the UK in 2018, where he found himself making basic drum and bass tunes using the reggae samples he grew up listening to, reworking acapellas and other riffs into making his first steps into drum and bass.
Formula was known under a different alias "Moretein" where he make house and other garage styled tracks before re-branding and moving into drum and bass's gaff. With a West Indian background, Formula stands out among the UK's drum and bass community.
Interview:
We got into Formula's DM to ask him a few questions regarding his journey as a solo artist. This is what we chose to feature:
Warehouse: Why "Formula"?
Formula: I have for a very long time followed Motorsport of all sorts and growing up living down the road from Silverstone I was surrounded by racing fans, so naturally I was drawn to the fast and noisy sounds of Formula One. I used to go under the name "Moretein" which I made up and so made it difficult for myself as not a soul could pronounce my name properly.
Warehouse: You used to make House & UK Bass music so when did this delve into strictly drum and bass?
Formula: Yes for a long time before I was moretein I made dubstep under various aliases, one of my tracks when I was under the name KERN was played by excision in various locations around the US. But before I moved to the UK I was making UK Bass music and when I finally moved to this country (England) I discovered the more gritty and cut back drum and bass music which I now am so in love with.
Warehouse: So I take it growing up in the Caribbean meant you were distanced from the more digital sounds of drum and bass?
Formula: Yeah, granted i had heard drum and bass before thanks to Skrillex and Noisia but I found it too difficult and complicated and so kept my head in house music as at the time i was able to make so much of it.
Warehouse: Being here now in the UK have you been able to experience more music variety in general?
Formula: Yes, back in the Caribbean we didn't have the likes of Rinse FM, BBC Radio 1xtra or Reprezent and actually the only way i was able to listen to electronic music was via the internet either on Grooveshark back in early 2010's or YouTube. There was no local music station on the Island which meant the only way to be heard was to perform and electronic music is no where near as relevant as it is in Europe and the Americas.
Warehouse: Do you think the lack of musical diversity helped steer you in the right direction with your own production?
Formula: At one stage I was making or trying to make music with local artists to see if i could then somehow get myself a gig to show off my music. I was able to DJ at a halloween festival but the event staff cut my set short because the music was too much for some people.
Warehouse: Just a final little question, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Formula: If all goes to plan I'd hope to be living off of my music and able to work from home. I think having freedom to do whatever you want with your day is important to my creativity so I would like to say that is my answer but this scene works in mysterious ways so I could be working in a chip shop come five years. Thankfully I like fish..
Warehouse: Thank you for submitting your music for the hot seat its been great chatting with you.