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Andy C, Ant Miles, and Shimon are three of the biggest drum
'n bass names ever, when and how did you decide this was for
you, and to turn it into a living?
Andy and Ant first started writing together in 1991. After a
couple of releases on friend's labels, Andy set up Ram Records,
so that they could control all aspects of a release. In 1993,
Andy and Ant, under the guise of ORIGIN UNKNOWN, released 'Valley
of the Shadows' a.k.a. 'Long Dark Tunnel'. This particular track
cemented Ram as a new force in the underground dance music scene
and came at a time when Hardcore was evolving into Jungle /
Drum and Bass. Over the next few years Ant Miles collaborated
with friends of Andy who were like-minded and already involved
in the Drum and Bass genre. In 1994, Ant introduced Shimon to
the world of sound recording where they co-wrote and produced
Shimon's first release ' Predator'.
Tell us a bit about the Ram Trilogy...
It was three years later when Ant, Andy and Simon collaborated
together as RAM TRILOGY with their first tune 'No Reality'.
The success of this tune led them on to create a three single
project with staggered releases as chapters one, two and three.
Truly a story of three parts, each brought their own style into
the studio, which was proving to be a very potent and creative
combination; with tracks such as 'Chase Scene'. In 1999, RAM
TRILOGY released Ram's debut artist album 'Molten Beats' and
have since remixed for heavy weights such as Krust's 'Warhead'
and Ed Rush and Optical's 'Packman'.
Which sequencers do you use and why?
Ant Miles first started sequencing in 1985 with Steinberg's
PRO 24 v1.0, which was radically upgraded to Steinberg Cubase
a few years later. Ant, Andy and Shim, stayed with Cubase, upgrading
throughout the 90's, also upgrading from an Atari to an Apple
Macintosh computer in 1995. Due to their familiarity with Steinberg
software, the migration to Steinberg
Cubase SX3 has been instant. RAM TRILOGY are also acquainted
with other sequencers, depending largely on who they might be
also collaborating with, but it is Cubase SX that they are most
'at home' with.
Are you still using hardware samplers, or is it all software
based now?
All hardware and software sound instruments have a unique quality
with their own tricks, which are often exploited in the creation
of a track. RAM TRILOGY likes to have all options available.
All samples that are created, from hardware or software are
actually collated and loaded mainly into Native Instruments
Kontakt. Ant prefers to import Emu libraries in Steinberg
HALion 3 as the samples are automatically converted and
saved as aiff or wav files. NI
Kontakt 2 has just arrived in the studio.
Native Instruments Reaktor is widely used in dance music
in general, does that feature?
NI Reaktor
provided the bass line for Ant Miles's 'Soak it Up' (Ram Raiders
vol.5). RAM TRILOGY admits they spend most of the time altering
preset instruments and have recently explored Native
Instruments Electronic Instruments 2. The new NI Reaktor
5 is definitely on their shopping list.
Ram Records has become one of the most respected
d'n b labels, what have been some of your highlights, and who
should we look out for in the next few months?
Ram would like to think of each release has a highlight or snapshot
of where they're at in music production. The album releases
such as the Nightlife and Ram Raiders series, chart all of the
individual artist's progressions and styles. RAM TRILOGY has
been recording many tracks that will feature the beautiful Kimani
on vocals.
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What advice would you give to the up-and-coming d'n'b producer?
Ram would say the same to others as well as it's own artists
which is to make sure the tune is the best you can make it with
an emphasis on character, something that makes the tune stand-out
for the massive. Be inspired but not to directly copy others.
Record everything you do, especially when say exploring a synth
for the first time; as something may happen that you can use
in a unique way. Regularly save your work and back it up rigorously.
Stay true to the cause and express whatever you want but above
all have fun, the magic ingredient.
Back to the technology side, what would be your favourite
bits of kit / software and why?
Native Instruments and Steinberg
are worshipped at Ram, they utilise all their products. RAM
TRILOGY find it difficult to pick out one soft synth over another.
You name it they use it.
People always talk about the quality of the production on
RAM, how do you do it?
RAM TRILOGY mix down their tunes many times and compare them
with previous mixdowns that have cut well to vinyl, such as
MOVING FUSION's ' The Beginning'. The art of applying the right
amount of compression to the mixdown is the vital link for a
good mix.
What might the near future bring us from Andy C, Ant Miles,
and Shimon?
RAM TRILOGY has been quiet of late due to the hectic DJ schedule
of Shimon and Andy C ,which takes them around the world. Ant
meanwhile has been collating the Ram sound library from AKAI
and EMU formats for use with HALion
3 and Kontakt
2. It has been well worth the time taken out to explore
and learn the attributes of all the music software currently
available and RAM TRILOGY look set to explode back this winter
and 2006 in full force.
Many thanks for the interview!
www.ramrecords.co.uk
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