“We’re always trying to create whenever we can,” says Steve. “The goal is to try and keep the live set as fresh as possible and one key way to do that is by including lots of new material or remixing older tracks. We just finished working on a remix/collaboration with the Levitators from Adelaide. We reworked their track Keep Moving which was a roots comes hip hop track into a slow-mo disco house thing. It was super fun to work on and we look forward to working with those guys in the future. We also have three EP’s coming out on our own label Slap Gravity this year, which will all be on vinyl and will feature remixes from Scotland’s JD Twitch, Anthony Mansfield from the USA and Ray Mang from the UK. We also have future releases on Melbourne-based label Smash Bang and Bear Funk/Valley Sound in the UK.”
So to say they’re keeping busy is an understatement. They’ve also been talking over the possibility of working with the boys from All Good Funk Alliance on collaborating via a remix. Steve continues by saying they’re also working on getting three 12”s out this year. “In fact, we’d love to be able to put out about three a year via our label and have a big party for each release! We certainly have enough material ready to release a number of EPs at the moment.”
Direction-wise, their music has always been about pushing the funk forward. “Whatever styles of music we have produced in the past – hip hop, breaks, disco, house or glitch – we have tried to incorporate big bass lines, designed to move behinds. I suppose the best description for what we do is ‘electronic funk.’ Our influences are quite varied, but the thing that we universally love is the ‘stickier’ end of funk, disco and boogie – Locksmith, General Caine, P–funk, Bar Kays, Hunts Determination Band and Zapp. We try and take the blueprint that these artists laid down, of fat bass lines, synths, squelchy guitar and solid drums and build from there.”
Which sort of fits with their general modus operandi, given their Slap Gravity imprint was been set up to market Planet Jumper releases and remixes by people that they respect and are keen to collaborate with. “We want to focus on the idea of releasing quality music via a quality format like vinyl,” chimes Steve. “We will eventually release our music again in a digital format, but simply love the sound of our tunes on wax. It’s pretty hard to argue with the sound of vinyl when you hear your music booming back at you as the turntable spins around. Further down the track we may also look at signing other acts as well.”
Right now too, their sets are comprised solely of original Planet Jumper music. Because they are constantly refining the set, the sound can and has varied dramatically over time. “We went through a period where we were obsessed with superfast hip hop style changes and massive builds and fills! At present, we have tried to give the set a deeper groove with a good portion of the time dedicated to our love of four on the floor, disco and house music. That’s not to say Drew doesn’t get syncopated or ‘crazy’ on the kit, it’s just that the changes between tracks are slower and hopefully more dance floor friendly,” Steve says somewhat in jest, and pride.
Finally, he delivers a few words on their Revolver show, which as he mentioned, is going to feature a bunch of new Planet Jumper tracks. “We normally go with a live drum set up and then remix our tracks on the fly via Ableton. We’re also really looking forward to playing with The Volatile Ram. Keith from Optimo actually sent his remix of our track that is appearing on the upcoming Planet Jumper vinyl release, to Melbourne legend T-Rek – who is a part of Volatile Ram – who subsequently got in touch about their music.”
Steve describes that after chatting to him for a while he agreed to be involved in their launch party. “His other band just tore through the Big Day Out tour, so we can’t wait to see what The Volatile Ram will bring to Revolver. We also have Circuit Bent playing, who are doing big things in the glitch and dub step slash breaks scene. Those guys will be on first so people should definitely get down early to check them out. They will bring the party for sure. Should be a great night all round!”
And who can argue with that?
BY RK
