Quantic Interview: SXSW 2010

Writer, producer, DJ, bandleader--Quantic is a man of many talents and many successes. DJ Quantic, the Limp Twins, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno, and Quantic and his Combo Barbaro are all the fruits of one man's musical vision. Spinner chatted with this prolific artist as he prepared for his first visit to the SXSW Festival.

Years ago you described your sound as a direct fusion of jazz, drum & bass and soul. How would you describe your sound today?

It's difficult to define. I'd say it's a musical symphony of American soul, African music, South American, Caribbean, English flavor and a taste of jazz and other styles rolled into one. It's a bit like a sausage where everything is mashed together and comes out as something new and tasty.

Your stage name is Quantic, which means "a homogeneous polynomial having two or more variables." What did you do, just open a dictionary and point?

[Laughs] Pretty much. I opened the book to the "Q's" and there it was. The definition doesn't directly describe me, but in some ways it does. Yet it's really about the music defining the name, not the name defining the music.

What about your band's name, "Combo Barbaro?"

In some Cuban and other Latin music styles, people who make music might shout out "barbaro!" in the way the English might say, "wicked" or "fierce" or an American might say "great!" It does also mean "barbarian" which is pretty cool, too.

You are appearing at SXSW as a DJ, but not with your band, correct?

Yes, I'm a working DJ, so I will represent my band and my music as a DJ and producer. I'll play original music as well as remixes and other great works. There will be future releases included so people can hear a new sound even before it's available to buy.

You're from the UK. Why do you now live in Colombia?

Cali, Colombia is considered the salsa capital of the world, and the cumbia and other Colombian sounds from here are amazing as well. I came to search for old records filled with this music to use in my DJ sets. I very much like experimenting with music, and it was easy to set things up here to pursue my projects and to work with extraordinary musicians I wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to work with.

You've said that you consider it important to record with all of the musicians at once versus having individuals come in and lay down tracks on their own. Why?

It's the aspect of conversation really. Music is a conversation that should be created in the company of others where there is harmony, vibration, communication and improvisation. Most of the legendary music everyone looks up to was recorded that way.

What's the craziest thing you've experienced out on the road?

Well, there's always some craziness, but I guess I would have to say leaving things at hotels, like your wallet or passport, or getting to the airport and discovering you've left behind one of the band members. It's never good to lose a band member.

What's in your SXSW survival kit?

Good Colombian rum. And I will be bringing my accordion, because I'm just learning to play it. And I'll probably bring a sound recorder as well.

Is Columbian rum your biggest vice?

Well, the thing is that there is a lot of moonshine rum out on the coast here, and you never know what you are going to get. It might taste great or it might be utterly terrible and do unspeakable things to you, which you will find out the next day.

Do you have a secret that people don't know about you?

Well, people often assume that when artists make music that the artist only likes that type of music. What I think people would be surprised to know is that I have a healthy appetite for a variety of music--from Norwegian black metal, to Dolly Parton, to just about anyone. I'm pretty musically open-minded.

Do you have any surprises planned for the festival?

There will be many of my new productions from here in Colombia. I will bring music that hasn't been heard by a lot of people already.

You are a producer, a writer, a DJ and a bandleader. How do you make it all work when you stretch yourself in so many different directions?

Being true to yourself is the main thing, being true to your own opinions. I just really enjoy the concept of people being creative. One person can be many things, can do many things.

Do you have any celebrity crushes?

Well, if I walked past Alicia Keys, I wouldn't say no to a conversation. But really, I'm just fulfilled by interesting people I meet. I guess I don't feel the need for them to also have celebrity.

What's the funniest thing you've ever witnessed from the DJ stage?

I often play a lot of cumbia music [Colombian folk and dance music], and my wife teases me because I tend to play a lot of it. So lately I try to not play too much, and when I was recently in Australia, I was bent down, searching through my records, and a group of girls just came right into the booth and pinched me on my bum. It was like really hard, and then I turned around, and they just chanted at me that they wanted cumbia, and really, they didn't look like the kind of people who would want that music at all. I've probably been groped too many times as a DJ, but I probably shouldn't put that in print.

What's on the horizon for Quantic?

Quantic and his Combo Barbaro is my current band, and our latest album release, 'Tradition in Transition,' is now out on the Tru Thoughts label. I'm happy it's been so well received, for some really amazing musicians were involved. And I'm currently recording a record with the great UK vocalist, Alice Russell, set for a late 2010 release.


Tricia Spencer is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.