Interview

Thank you Rico Tubbs, for taking some time of your wick beats to answer a few questions. Your album, "Knuckle Sandwich" is now out–how do you feel out this release and how long did it take you to produce?
Rico Tubbs:
It took about a half an year - there was no intention to make an labum at first but I just came up with new tracks faster than Menu could release. I feel reallly good about it - I think its pretty solid "all club no filler" album.

How can you sum up this alum release to new Rico Tubbs listeners?
Rico Tubbs:
Raw sample heavy club music.

So your from Finland, whats up with your local scene there? Have they been supportive so far? Is there anything happening in Finland that is cool?
Rico Tubbs:
Cooler than ice cold!
Scene in Finland is really good - I can honestly say its the most active in scandinavia. There are quite a few wicked clubs covering everything from dubstep to breaks to DnB to new rave electro/baltimore to breaks. Same applies to producers. Average weekend in Helsinki you have hard time to choose where to go.

How did ever get into producing in the first place...whats the story of Rico Tubbs?
Rico Tubbs:
I got to producing when I got my Amiga and a tracker program. I did my first stuff to some short films we made when I was studying. It was the birth of Skillsters duo and our own Pyssy label that took it to the next level.
Rico Tubbs Story begins bit later though - in the era of Menu Music Recordings.

How did you meet up with Menu Music? What is your opinion on Menu Music?
Rico Tubbs:
I had booked both Terry (Atomic Hooligan) and Jay Cunning of Menu to play at my clubnight and thats how it all started. I was doing some funky bass heavy breaks at the time and they liked what they heard - so the first Menu was the first RicoTubbs release "Flashlighter". Opinion on Menu? Well-oiled machine.

Whats your favourite Menu Music release?
Rico Tubbs:
It has to be my album ofcourse.

How do you put your tracks together to form your album? What was your creative process?
Rico Tubbs:
I was aiming to get a dj set like flow to it wich was quite difficult as the tracks are so different form each other. I think I got it right in the end though. The creative process is chaotic as always. I rarely have any exact plans about what kind of tune I'm going to make. Usually I get an Idea of an sample wich I then hunt down and start building on top of that. Luck plays a big role : "Oh this happens to go with that! Brilliant!"

What influenced and inspired you produce this album? How long did 1 song on average–take you to produce?
Rico Tubbs:
Much of the inspiration came from the new rise of baltimore club music.
My prodution has always been bit "hip hop" in the way I use more samples and less synths wich applies to bmore as well. 1 song can take anything from 8 hours to 3 weeks to finnish - it really varies alot. Sometimes you get the sounds right immediatly sometimes it takes endless tweaking.

What is your favourite EQing and FX virtual plugins?
Rico Tubbs:
I use lot of the basic plugins that come with FL studio.
Other than that I use PSP vintage warmer and Camelphat - they make the samples sound fresh.

Who did your sound production mixdowns and the mastering of the album?
Rico Tubbs:
I made the mixdowns and Danny Mac did mastering.

Is it true all Finland people have a Nokia cell phone? Do you have a Nokia? Do you think Nokia would like your album?
Rico Tubbs:
Yeah - pretty much everyone has Nokia -  me as well and if you ever travel to Finland you better have Nokia too! :). I think folks at Nokia might like it - I have done some music stuff for them way back. Actually a friend of mine whos working there in sound design is making a remix of one of the album tracks.

Did you goto a musical or techincal sound coarse of any sort?
Rico Tubbs:
Not really. Schoolwise I was more into graphic design and arts. I have studied some sound engineering but I found it boring and I've never really needed that as I work alone and sample heavy.

What is your personal favourite song on your album and why?
Rico Tubbs:
"Can't Get No Better" or " Unbelievable". 1st because of the dancefloor impact and second because of the emotion.

List some of your favorite electronic producers (past/present):
Rico Tubbs:
Manix,Altern-8,Krome&Time,Clipz,Reso,Prodigy,Crookers,Herve,Timbaland,Neptunes...

Do you smoke any weed? Can you produce stoned?
Rico Tubbs:
Nope. Never smoked cigarettes and that has kept me off the weed too.

What does your studio consist of?
Rico Tubbs:
PC, Monitors, Turntables and 14 000 vinyls.

What are you using to produce nowadays? Logic audio? Live ? Cubase?
Rico Tubbs:
I've worked with Logic and Pro Tools but have always used FL studio for my music. Its fastest to work with - the interface is unbeatable.

What is your favoure compressor?
Rico Tubbs:
PSP Vintage warmer.

What do you drink in Finland? How much can you drink? Can you mix smashed?
Rico Tubbs:
I think the local vodka is the favourite. Unfortunately I have pretty good stamina - wich makes drinking more expensive. I don't drink that much - if at all - when I dj - except for 1 local residency wich demands quite a few refreshing drinks. If I mix drunk I end up sctraching more than I should.

What event are you looking forward to play at in the near future? Can you tell us about some of your upcoming gigs please?
Rico Tubbs:
There's people trying to sort out tours in Canada and Australia and I'm looking forward to both as I've never been in either.

What would be your dream track to legally remix?
Rico Tubbs:
Whatever track by James Brown.

If you were stranded on an island and had a portable record player with enough batteries to play one last track,,,which track would you choose to listen to?
Rico Tubbs:
Thats should be a long tune then...If I remember correct J.B's "Doing it to death" is around 10 mins - Name fits stranded Island nicely as well.

What's going on this summer for you and what else should people look out for?
Rico Tubbs:
The whole year is really busy. I hope I can get few days off at the counrtyside - but it looks impossible.
I just finished 5 remixes and few more coming including stuff of new Tittsworth project. Release on Herves label is finished too and remix album of "Knuckle Sandiwich" seems to be out this year as well.

Shout outs: Everyone who goes out to the clubs and DANCE!


WWW Links:   www.myspace.com/ricotubbsfunk


 
Stephen McLeod
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