Slackk first came on to our radar a while back with a stone cold re-imagining of classic Wiley instrumental ‘Fire Flies’, which would later go on to feature on his EP for the Glaswegian Numbers label. Taking on one of most iconic producers and seminal tracks to ever emerge from grime is a bold move, but fortunately he handled it with due care, adeptly rewiring it via his own sound into a formidably ruffneck outing. Given our love of classic eski sounds at Liminal Sounds HQ, from that point on we have been sure to keep a keen eye on his movements.

While his music isn’t always so overtly grime influenced as the aforementioned track, it is symptomatic of how his music presents itself to us. Channeling that brutal sonic impact and rhythmic ingenuity into something altogether new, Slackk’s productions skitter around in style from rugged house rhythms to trap beats to squirming, overloaded acid tracks, not to mention his Patrice and Friends project (which we also highly recommend checking out). Paying little heed to anyone else, Slackk manages to merge these divergent influences into a sound that remains resolutely his own – tough, energetic and uncompromising. Fundamentally, this is music that knows how to work a dance floor, a basic rule, sure, but one that is all too often forgotten and should never be underplayed.

Releases on Numbers, Diskotopia and Unknown to the Unknown have delved into these different facets adroitly and continue to wow us each time. Up next is the ‘Raw Missions’ EP, which is forthcoming on the consistently exciting Local Action label and sees Slackk delving further into his love of grime. With the promise that it is his strongest material yet, it is an extremely exciting prospect.

Given all of the above, Slackk is the perfect addition to our next lineup alongside grime legends Slimzee and Youngstar. Ahead of the event next Friday we got some questions at him about the importance of his drums, his love of grime and what people can expect from his set, the results of which you can read below.

Oh and just wait until you hear his contribution to LS004…

First up, for those that may not already be aware can you please introduce yourself…

I am a bald scouse bloke who lives in London and makes music. Good cook, too, if I say so myself.

You make really varied music, both as Slackk and Patrice and Friends and talk about a love of an array of different stuff. Do you think there is anything inherent to everything you make? Any fundamental principles that tie it all together?

I don’t necessarily know if there’s anything fundamental that ties it together as such, no. If I’m making music I think, more than anything, there needs to be an upswing to the drums, some overriding sense of momentum bringing it forward. If there’s any kind of unifying factor, I’d like to think it’s precisely that – I always build my drums first then frame the melodies and that around them. Really, there’s no massive difference between the drums on a Slackk thing or a Patrice & Friends thing, aside from the pace and perhaps where the snare might go. And obviously the pace.

Or perhaps another way to discuss it would be, what are you striving to make when you start a track? Is that something you are even conscious of in the studio?

I just like music with a bit of colour and impact, really. You do obviously have some kind of idea in terms of what you’re aiming to make on a specific day – for the entirety of last month I was alternating between slow jams and lex luger ripoffs – but generally that’s just the bpm that drives it. Beyond that I just play around with melodies and see what comes out?

What makes your tracks immediately stand out to me is the focus on rhythm and the maximization of its dynamics. Is this what you are drawn to as a listener?

Yeah, I guess so. As I touched on before, I think the most important thing in terms of making club stuff is an upswing, something to drive the hips. I’m not really about pushing stiff, rigid drums at you; you need that bounce, some energy.

I have seen you talking about your interest in film a lot, so I thought I would try a little cross-discipline questioning… If you were to liken a producer to a film director in their role, which director would Slackk be? And which director would Patrice & Friends be?

I have no idea who Slackk would be, frankly. That’s a difficult question because I don’t even really know where my stuff comes from exactly. If there was a director whose work I could steal and say was mine, I’d probably go for John Cassavettes, just for Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, but I don’t think that reflects my music at all. Patrice & Friends is basically the work of a jobbing 70s director making blaxploitation on the cheap, so let’s say Al Adamson – he made all kinds of exploiation films and – most important of all – Black Samurai, which I edited down for the “Obvious” video.

Say you were trying to explain your music to someone that is deaf, what film would best visually convey the vibe of your music?

The Slackk stuff? Dobermann. French film from the late nineties- really stupid, bit violent, mildly inventive.

Any director living or dead – who would you get to direct a music video for you? And which actor would star as you?

Gaspar Noe. Not sure if you’ve ever seen Enter The Void, but I saw it at the end of last year and visually it’s just so intense, proper smacks you in the face. Loved the visual idenity of that. We need someone bald to play me, so let’s say Danny DeVito.

The event you are playing at is all about honouring our love of grime, so I would like to move on to that for a bit…What was your first contact with grime? Was it something you immediately connected with?

Er it was pirate radio, basically. I was in London and coming from Liverpool, I dunno, it’s not the same vibe to the scene up there, not by a long shot. Grime just seemed really raw and fresh to me, the old stuff still does in a sense. I think it was the fact that it was so alien and weird to me when I first heard it that drew me in.

You set up the grime tapes blog, which is an absolute goldmine for rare and classic sets. Why did you decide to set that up?

It was for purely selfish reasons initially, if I’m honest- I just wanted more sets than I had and after trawling through RWD forums and all that in search of more, I ended up with hundreds of them. It just made sense to me after barefiles kind of dropped away to put them somewhere. So I made the site. Then people started coming to me with their sets and it snowballed, basically.

Everyone has their own personal favourites and it is often surprising what comes out, so here are some rapidfire grime questions…

Favourite ever set?

The last NASTY set on Deja. After Muskateers ran up on that East Co set with a shotgun, they got rid of all the grime on there- as you know- but about a week later, you had one last hurrah I guess? 10/05/04, the date; it’s just an incredible set- Mak10 on top form, no rewinds, Esco’s there. It is the best set ever, no question for me.

Favourite producer?

Alias, Youngstar or anyone from Black Ops.

Most coveted grime dub?

Ah man that’s a tough one. I have a real fascination with all the Endz refixes, so maybe Endz Vs Ho? Either that or Bongo Madness.

Most elusive grime dub?

I don’t own it but I’ve always wanted Funktions On The Low. It’s very rare that you see it for sale and if it does go up, it goes really quickly. Just a great tune though.

Favourite MC?

D Double, Wiley or Hyper. Trim needs a mention there as well. My favourite combination of MCs was always Dizzman & Rugrat though. Oh and K Dot/Kidman- too much. I’m talking about the one from South, though, not that bloke from Sheffield who’s robbed his name and doesn’t deserve it.

Favourite MC soundbite?

Ah man there are too many. I think I’d go for the Wiley Christmas set where he’s bladdered and sending for everyone and there’s that “what kind of wastepaper pants name is that” line about Bashy. Such an odd insult, love it.

Most underrated?

K Dot. Essentials were such a great crew but they kind of fell away, and he’s one of the best MCs I’ve ever heard anywhere. Really wish someone would drag him back to it.

Plugging time…What have you got coming up release wise over the next few months? Anything people should know about?

Yeah, I’ve got my Raw Missions EP coming on Local Action imminently. It’s all mastered and test presses are on their way. Very happy with it, it’s all around 140 and I think the strongest Slackk stuff so far, by a considerable margin. Tried to make a proper grime EP, the kind of music that I’ve always loved, and I’ve kind of succeeded, from my perspective.

What can people expect from your set at Liminal Sounds?

Just a load of aggression and hype. I’ve got to be on point, considering who I’m playing alongside.

-Catch Slackk playing at LS04 @ Rhythm Factory on Fri 20th April alongside Slimzee, Youngstar, Pedro 123,  MIK + more