Hot Natured Blog Takeover with Russ Yallop

For the fourth day hanging out with Hot Natured we complete our discourse with each member of the lineup for Saturday night, as we speak to yet another rising star, Russ Yallop. A fellow Brit getting in the groove with Jamie and co. he’s recently signed onto one of our most beloved of labels, Crosstown Rebels, joining the ranks of Art Department, Dinky and Phonique. He’s also got releases forthcoming on Hot Creations and Rebellion this summer for us to look forward to and coming here today he’s given us a glimpse into his musical inspirations as well as a track to download for you guys. Time's up! This track no longer available What are some of your influences, dating as far back as you can go to the music that inspires you today? Influences for me are a hard thing to place… it pretty much just consists of a list of producers and music I used to like. I listened to Hip Hop fanatically throughout my youth, and this has provided me with an instant sample resource I can call upon as Hip Hop is all about sampling. The records some Hip Hop producers used to sample were soul and disco records, so although the Hip Hop records they created had very little in common with the vibes associated with House music, the records they were sampling did. So for example with my track 'Rock Me' I was familiar with the sample used from a Hip Hop track, Blahzay Blahzay's - Danger, however it was the original disco track I sampled to make 'Rock Me' which is a house track. So inadvertently Hip Hop has provided me lots of soul and disco influence just from the instrumentals they used. In the noughties I was also very into the sounds of labels such as Get Physical, Wagon Repair, Poker Flat, etc. In particular the darkness of some of the records, the sinister basslines and beats. So without question this period of music influences some of the beats and melodies I make today. Bass that makes you frown! As for today I pretty much am constantly drawing influence from all the music I like being made around me. For example the quirkiness and downright 'ballsyness' of some of the music coming from Wolf + Lamb. The fun loving attitude exhibited in some of Jamie Jones’ music and Hot Creations. The soul and sexiness that Lee Foss makes and plays. And of course Crosstown with quality albums from people like Art Department, Deniz and Maceo. All of these sources I listen to and get my ideas from, it really is an exciting time for underground music at the moment. 2011 is off to an exciting start and you have two new releases on the way on Hot Creations and Rebellion. How does it feel personally to be involved with two of the hottest labels at the top of a very vibrant house music scene? It feels great. If I had to pick they would be the labels I'd choose to release on. Of course that's what you'd expect as you naturally make the style of music of your favourite labels! But it's true the scene does feel particularly vibrant at the moment. The music coming from the labels and artists I've mentioned has a real sense of originality and innovation about it and that's what makes it exciting. What elements make for an awesome Hot Natured party in your opinion? Well of course like any party it’s the combination of great tunes and people who love them! The tunes I suppose are the full spread from House tunes being made today, from the original tunes that influenced them, and everything in between. Add a crowd who know their music and know how to party, and you have a great Hot Natured party! Does producing with your friends make the creative process more interesting and fun… what’s it like when the Hot Natured posse step in the studio together..? I actually wouldn't know as all the music I have made so far has been done on my own! I have a few collaborations finished and coming up but they were a case of separate work in separate studios. This is mainly as I don't live in London yet and also as I have a large amount of solo projects started I need to finish. That’s what I tell myself anyway, though it could be some sort of body odour issue or personality disorder that I am unaware of. I definitely plan to collaborate in the future but as it stands I'm flying solo for the time being. What excites you about the current climate in electronic music? Do you feel like you now have more freedom to play a variety of music than you would have done a few years back..? Absolutely, like I said previously, the music being made within our scene has real freshness about it. The 'musicality' of it is exciting, by which I mean it's melody based as opposed to rhythm based around one loop. The music being made now has real melodies again, just like the disco and electro of the past, which is why you can sometimes drop a brand new track and an old track side by side and no one would notice. Someone asked me at the weekend about a tune, whether they'd be able to get hold of it or not, I replied they should be as it's been out for thirty years! So there's an example of the extended range of what's being played at the moment. What are you looking forward to most this summer and what big and breaking plans do you have in the pipeline? I’m mostly looking forward to Ibiza, my home from home, and the possibility of playing out there. As for big and breaking plans it really is just a case keeping my nose to the grindstone producing as much quality music as I can. Being such a new face I need to prove my salt and therefore that means working ultra hard and being a slave to the studio! The Royal Wedding is next weekend- who’s your favourite famous couple & why…? Can't say I saw this one coming! Favourite famous couple huh. Switch favourite for most hated and I'd be overwhelmed with answers but a celebrity couple I actually don't want to murder is quite a toughie.... Beyonce and Jay-Z??? If they offered me round for dinner at theirs I'd be happy to go. Most other famous couples I'd bring a bottle but it wouldn't be for drinking! As it’s Easter I thought it would be nice to spread some love with an edit I did for my Ibiza Voice podcast back in February. It’s a reworking of the excellent 6th Borough Project remix of Craig Bartley's Birdshell tune released last year which you can download by the link above. Russ Yallop ‘The Crossroads’ on Rebellion is out on vinyl on May 2nd