Interview with Ibi Alfa - 11th Hour Technology

Of all the newer generation of electronic artists hailing from the UK at this time, perhaps none is so prolific or underrated as Ibi Alfa. The youngest member of Brighton's No Future organisation (whose ranks include Justin Berkovi and Christian Vogel), he rose into the world of techno at the tender age of 13. From first working with Ferox boss Russ Gabriel, through to his current south coast connections, he has long displayed a talent for producing funky techno far from the beaten track.

With his own label Automatic currently releasing some of the finest electronic music to found in the UK at this time, and his live shows touring Europe and beyond, things are looking good for Mr. Alfa.

Ibi Alfa Well I had been DJing for ages and tinkering with drum machines and sequencers - then when I was 17 I hooked up with Russ Gabriel, and he let me use his studio. Colin Dale played the track on his Kiss Radio show and some months after it was released on Solid records.

Ibi Alfa I fist played live at Analog City in London about 96 I think - I can't really remember but after that I always ended up getting bookings to play live. I enjoyed it so it wasn't a problem, but sometimes it does make me think when I see DJ's that the whole hassle of travelling to Europe with half your studio is a bit of a hassle when it could just a record bag...

Ibi Alfa Integrale distribution had done a few releases with my trax on for other labels, and they got in touch with me and we took it from there.

11th-hour How has your production style developed over the years, and how do you see this continuing?

Ibi Alfa It kind of varies, I know a lot more about production now, so I can do more than I could and use a lot more different ideas, but I suppose I have definitely veered further and further from "purism" without even really realising it. Some of the records that I released last year could easily be termed experimental but I didn't premeditate that, I wasn't really listening to much techno music but I was producing a lot of music based around techno foundations. Whereas when I first started producing music it was 24/7 techno on the turntables, and nearly all the music I made was meant to be techno music, now I suppose I would, if pushed, have to describe a lot of it as experimental dance music, I don't know if that makes any sense...

11th-hour What (if any) difficulties have you experienced in your progression and development?

Ibi Alfa Well I think that there was definitely a phase for me when I really wasn't sure if I cared much for techno any more, I mean I love all those classic trax as much as anybody but I am not really one for living in the past myself, the way I see it Motown, Stax, and all that other music from the 60's and 70's is great to listen to, but listen to the production on R+B and hip-hop now, progression!!!!!! And none of that would have come about without people sticking their necks out a little - the Neptune's sound a million miles away from say the Detroit spinners, but it is still Soul, right? So I find it hard sometimes to listen to trax that just sound like what I heard ten years ago and look at it as pioneering.

Ibi Alfa Everything, any sounds I hear or sequence of sounds I get something out of. There are a whole load of people doing trax etc, but it is basically just me. I am in the pub for example and I hear a cheesy, pop track distorted thru the walls and the shit system then I might pick up on a tiny little break and think Wow, that is really cool, but if I could hear it properly I would hate it. I listen to quite a lot of Hip - Hop because I love the production - I am really into Black Eyed Peas at the moment... But on the whole I just get distracted by any music really, and that definitely effects my "style"

11th-hour What is your opinion of the UK music scene, compared with the other countries that you visit?

Ibi Alfa Well I live here so I don't want to be too rude, but to be brutally honest, rubbish. Generally pretty uninspired. You got TEST in Glasgow, House of GOD in Birmingham, Lost in London and that is about it...I think that the licensing laws definitely have a big impact, you can't have 24 hour party, like in Europe. But still, a lot of the time it seems people are so busy protecting there own little thing they couldn't care less about anything else...two heads are better than one.

11th-hour To what extent do you see the divisions within electronic music - do you regard all the different styles as separate, and what are your thoughts on techno purism?

Ibi Alfa Personally I think the term techno Purism has been one of the most damaging things for the whole scene. I read Jeff Mills saying in some magazine, years ago, how techno was what you had not heard b4, or something like that, so I fail to see how people are working to a format that has been around for years and calling it pure… I love the music of Detroit and it has heavy influences on my own sound without a doubt, but I was born in London so there are things that are relevant to them that probably have no part in my life and no doubt vice versa. I don't know, but Purism has never meant shit to me. I just a wanted to make music not studio clones of someone else's style.

11th-hour What links you see between popular culture and that of underground music - and how does the culture around you influence what you create?

Ibi Alfa I just don't know, the word Underground - I just don't understand what it means anymore.

11th-hour What projects would you like most like to be involved with, and why?

Ibi Alfa Doing a remix of someone like ODB, Busta Rhymes or someone like that would have to be it. Or doing a massive budget Super Hi TECH R+B LP. We all got dreams. HAHAHA

11th-hour What hopes do you have for the future, both for production and playing?

Ibi Alfa Just to be able to keep on going making music, and if I am lucky enough to get it released and let others listen then that is enough for me, it is not going to change the world but it is still always enjoyable.

Ibi Alfa I guess if you look at the seven deadly sins that pretty much sums it up.

Many thanks to Ibi Alfa for taking the time out to speak with us.