Interviu Dub FX

Australian Beatboxer moved to Europe a few years back seeking his fortune. Currently it looks as if his train has come in. He played in Cluj, Romania on September 10th, 2009, at the Tranzit House and CZB took a picture of him and we said we’d email him some questions after his tour would end.

Here’s the Q&A!

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CZB: When did you start listening to music?

Dub FX: Well, I have been listening to music my whole life, but I didn’t consciously start deciding what music I wanted to listen to until I was 9 years old.

I remember my mum buying a Red Hot Chilli Peppers CD because I was singing along to one of their songs while it was being played on the radio. I must have played that CD a million times, and I still do every now and then.

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CZB: What do your parents think about what you’re doing and what you’ve accomplished?
Dub FX: I just asked my mum now because she is sitting next to me and she said amazing … I think my dad feels the same way … I don’t think they thought it would be possible for me to live off music without being a commercial product or a singer in a cover band.

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CZB: When was the last time you’ve been home to Australia?

Dub FX: I was in Australia for Christmas in 2007, and I will be spending this Christmas there as well.

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CZB: Where is home for you?

Dub FX: I have many homes… I feel at home in Australia, Italy, England and anywhere my van is parked.

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CZB: How do you feel about the fact you are inspiring people to do the same thing or a bit different than you?

Dub FX: I love it … I was inspired by other people who do it as well so I’m just adding to the collective consciousness.

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CZB: Do you see yourself doing this 10 years down the road?

Dub FX: I hope so, don’t think I will be doing the exact same thing, I may just be producing younger artists or organizing festivals.

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CZB: What was the Poland Woodstock like?
Dub FX: That was definitely a huge buzz!! We couldn’t stop smiling for a week after that … it also made us realise how powerful YouTube videos can be.

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CZB: Have you thought about being born sooner and going to Woodstock 40 years ago?

Dub FX: Well I’m sure its crossed my mind, I would rather have a time machine and do a lot more then just Woodstock.

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CZB: What were you doing and what did you feel when you found out Princess Diana died?

Dub FX: I was watching cartoons… I love “Ren and Stimpy”.

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CZB: What were you doing and how did you feel about Michael Jackson’s death?

Dub FX: Well that’s a bit different … I was a huge Michael Jackson fan and the fact that I can dance just a little bit is down to him … I was sad and I felt sorry for him … but I was more upset when I found out Dimebag Darrell died.

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CZB: When did you start out doing what you do / combining Beat-Boxing with looping?

Dub FX: About 3 years ago … I used to make a beat and then play guitar and sing over the top … after a while I realised that I could make loads of sounds with the FX pedal so I stopped using the guitar because I was more interested in exploring what I could do vocally with FX.

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CZB: I read somewhere that you have tried to be a mainstream artist in the past. Was that happening in a band, or were you making music on a home computer, how many years ago was that and what was the style of music you were promoting back then?

Dub FX: Well back when I was living in Australia. I was never exposed to jungle, dubstep, grime, etc … and the only music that was being made by people I new was heavy metal, jazz, hip-hop and electro house … these styles where all through different groups of friends so I hopped between them learning what I could from each genre … I had also learned at school and from my peers that the only way to do original music and make money is to be signed to a record label, and the only way to be signed to a record label (in Australia) is to make pop music … unfortunately Australia lacks the Jamaican influences the UK has with its bass and sound system culture … so musicians in Australia focus more on making a clean product rather then a dirty-beat and a phat-bassline.

So naturally I did what I thought I had to do in order to have a career in music. I’ve made cheesy house and electro, cheesy nu metal, cheesy reggae … the list goes on …. I could have made “non cheesy” music but I had been programmed to think that it would never sell.

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CZB: Do you have an opinion about the aborigine population and how they are being slowly integrated into white society?

Dub FX: It’s more complicated than that.

Yes I do have an opinion but I could write a book about it…

I don’t think there is any way the Australian government could fix the wrongs it has done without giving Australia back to the aboriginal population in its entirety.

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CZB: How do you find people in Eastern Europe, after 20 years of freedom from Communism?

Dub FX: I am really excited by them… I see a lot of energy and a genuine interest for new things … I have noticed that some countries still suffer from their corrupt governments who used Communism as an excuse to keep the money for themselves and give the bare minimum to their people. The fact that the people are aware of this can only make them more powerful.

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CZB: I think you must love travelling. What other exotic place do you want your music to take you?

Dub FX: I would love to go to Asia, Africa, South America, etc… I hope I can see these places before the One World Government kicks in and starts terrorising people into staying at home to watch their lies on TV.
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CZB: What would your advice be to kids who want to try out making a living out of music?
Dub FX: I would say to make whatever music you genuinely love. Don’t compromise or think that by watering down your music to suit someone else you will become popular … People aren’t stupid, they hear it when music lacks soul … so put as much of your soul into it as possible … by doing this you will already be ahead of the game. I would also suggest for young acts to go out and sell your CD’s or music on your own … don’t wait around for people to come to you…

If I had never started busking on the street I would still be working in a restaurant dreaming about what I could be doing with my life instead of actually living it.

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CZB: Does the fact that you’re playing in the East or West make any difference or is it the talent and luck that makes the artist in our Modern World?
Dub FX: All I know is this … when I was trying to make music that I thought other people would like, nobody liked it … when I started making music that I liked and I stopped caring what people would think, everyone started to like it … East, West … it makes no difference. Passion is what the people want.

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If you want to find out more about the artist, you can visit his website HERE: www.dubfx.net

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