Introducing: Phil Tangent & his FABRICLIVE x Commercial Suicide Mix

Bursting into drum & bass can be a hard thing to do, but when you first come through with the backing of someone like Soul:ution and Soul:R boss, Marcus Intalex, it’s pretty much a given that people will listen to what you’re doing. But what newcomer Phil Tangent has done with his duo of releases for the Soul:R label is create a solid statement, displaying a real tonal depth alongside the requisite command of razor sharp production and intricate drum programming. Having already played here in Farringdon a couple of times we thought it was only right that we asked Tangent to introduce himself a little better, so with that in mind he went and put together one of the most satisfying mixes that’s come through these pages in a while. You can catch Tangent in the Commercial Suicide hosted Room Three a on 15th February alongside Klute, Dom & Roland, Nymfo and Seba… Download: Phil Tangent – FABRICLIVE x Commercial Suicide Mix For those who may not be acquainted with you or your sound, can you introduce yourself and your music? How would you describe the music you make? I’m Phil from Leighton Buzzard, a small town in Bedfordshire and I’m rapidly approaching 30. My parents are huge soul and Motown enthusiasts and I attribute a lot of my musical influences to them and from house music. If I had to describe the music I make, Jon Methodus, co-owner of Rubik Records puts it best - “deep and soulful with an occasional dark undertone.” How did you get involved with d&b? My first venture into the world of drum & bass was back in ’96 when a friend of mine gave me a copy of LTJ Bukem’s compilation Logical Progression. I listened to it at every available opportunity and was the soundtrack to my walks to and from secondary school. However, it wasn’t until I enrolled to the University of East London in 2001 that I decided to start DJing d&b. I was still playing house music at the time. I was living in halls with a couple of d&b fanatics and we’d often go to Movement at Bar Rhumba on a Thursday night or FABRICLIVE on a Friday. The energy was unparalleled to anything I’d witnessed before and I knew this was the music I wanted to play. We decided to set up a monthly drum & bass night called Sub Zero and hold it in the Student’s Union Bar. The nights were proving popular and I was making regular trips to HMV in Bond Street (when they had a good vinyl selection) and Blackmarket Records in Berwick Street to buy all the records I could afford. It was like an addiction and it still is. How does it feel being picked out by Marcus to release on Soul:R? Is it a label you’ve always respected? I've been following Soul:R since the second release in 2001. I was living in East London at the time so pirate radio was a staple diet for me. I remember I was listening to Kool FM and this track came on that just captivated me. I had to find out what it was. The track in question was Calibre’s ‘Fire & Water'. From then, I used to record the shows and listen to them on the bus to and from University. I'm very happy I did as I might have missed out on 'Lover' and '3am' by M.I.S.T. It was Bailey who sent 'Billie's Smile' to Marcus on my behalf and I can't thank him enough. I may never have had the chance if it wasn't for him. If you told me I'd be releasing music on Soul:R ten years ago I wouldn't have believed you but to be part of this label that I've followed for so long alongside a huge roster of talented artists I've respected for years is an amazing experience and one I hope to continue. What have you been working on recently? As well as the Commercial Suicide release, I've just wrapped up a single which will be released on Rubik Digital in the next couple of months. I’m currently working on a single for French label IM:Ltd and have just finished a remix of Hibea’s ‘The Form’ for them which should see the light of day soon. I'm also collaborating with Pennygiles on some material so keep a look out for that too. Can you tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve made for us? The mix is just a selection of tunes I'm feeling at the minute. I decided to go a bit deeper and a darker but still retain that soul. -- Phil Tangent – FABRICLIVE x Commercial Suicide Mix Tracklist: Phil Tangent - Contrition (Commercial Suicide Dub) Mortem - The Touch (IM:LTD) HIBEA - White Owl (Arp XP remix) (IM:LTD Dub) Phil Tangent - Squaring The Circle (Soul:R) DRS Ft. SPY & Kemo - Renegade (Soul:R) NME Click - Gator (Blu:Saphir Dub) Eastcolors & Noel - Moonwalker (Demand Records) Gunston - G.U.R.L. (Dub) June Miller - Brave Man (Sonorous Music) Roy Green, Protone & Pennygiles ft. Nina - Wake Up (Intrigue Dub) Mercy - Blackjack (Samurai) Will Miles - Ring Of Fire (Rubik Records Dub) Seba - Say You Love Me (Secret Operations) Paragon - Heirship (Samurai) June Miller - Bright Lights (Sonorous Music) Mr. Joseph - Forgotten Emotions (Liquid Drops) Commix - Painted Smile Catch Phil in the Commercial Suicide hosted Room Three on Friday 15th February.