Baobinga fills us in on his new release on hot New York Label, Trouble and Bass, and provides his own intriguing thoughts on the state of the underground dance scene in the UK.

You’ve always been a versatile DJ and producer, making everything from jump up to more techno orientated productions. What do you feel about the continued explosion of different styles of bass driven music? It seems like exciting times.

Yeah, I’ve always liked a wide range of underground dance music and in one sense it is really good that people are looking beyond genre barriers a bit more. But I think there has been a bit of a flip-side to that, which is that you tend to end up with a lot of people all playing the same big records, kind of cherry picking the same obvious tunes from each genre if that makes sense. It is wicked to go and see a DJ who digs deep into a sound and forces you to go along with that rather than spoon-feeding you a selection of hits. But overall, the increased openness that’s floating around at the moment is all good. Definitely beats the days when you felt you would get told off for playing record A next to record B!
The New York label Trouble and Bass are one of the hottest labels around. Can you tell us about your release with them and how you got in contact?

They’re one of the hottest labels and I’m one of the hottest producers so it’s simple baby! Nah, just messing. The tune is called ‘State Of Ghetto Jackin’ which is a terrible name.  It’s kind of a Ronseal name ‘cos the breakdown reminds me of 808 State ‘Pacific State’, the vocal is sampled off a ghetto-tech tune by DJ Nasty, and the overall swing to the beat is quite jacking so not very inspired! I met Luca Drop The Lime at Fabric a while back, stayed in touch since then, he asked for a tune for the label and this is what came out – my take on speed garage I guess. It’s got remixes by TRG inna dubstep stylie and Dave Nada on a wicked next-gen Bmore kinda tip. Bigups T&B, really pleased to be working with the crew.
You’ve also got a fierce dubstep style remix of Madox on the latest Fabric CD mixed by Freq Nasty. Do you think it’s a sound that’s finally coming of age after a few years of hype?

That was originally supposed to be a weird techno version of Bmore and it just went further and further down the path of madness! Quite surprised, in a good way, that Darin picked it for his CD. It’s pretty out there. Dubstep is kind of going the same way all scenes go at the moment I think. You’ve started to get cheesy dubstep bootlegs, there’s a shit load of generic wobble-bass tracks coming out, everyone knows the formula to ‘write a banga’ but at the same time there’s some of the best dance music around coming out of the scene.  Martyn blows me away, love some of the 2562 stuff, Pinch, Peverelist, I picked up a wicked 12″ on Seven yesterday, dark 2-step is coming back and you’ve got people like Dubchild doing their thing, Reso is bringing something interesting to the table, TRG…  So on the one hand, parts of that sound have become too much of ‘a sound’ for me but on the other, it’s better than ever.
From our own fond memories of living in Manchester, you’re about to enter about four months of perpetual darkness and rain. Is lack of vitamin d the secret to making dark, brooding music?

That and the general sense that at any time you could get into something with a little shit in a tracksuit. It gives things an edge.
Boomkat, as well as stocking your great Soul Jazz release with Tayo, say that your photo on Discogs is a ‘serious contender to the for the Tim Westwood award of foolhardy posturing.’ Any reaction before you send your homies round to get medieval on their ass?

Heh heh. I actually emailed them about that comment! That was the first ever press shot I got done and they cropped the bit that makes it obviously a joke, so yes I do look like a prize twat. Oh well.
Incredibly it’s Chew the Fats 11th birthday. What are you getting Paul as a present?

I’m going to give him the love and attention he truly deserves. Shouldn’t take too long.
Finally, The End is closing down. What does that mean to you and clubland in general?

Well, the team that run it have their reasons, which no one can argue with, but overall I do despair at the process whereby an area has cheap rent, attracts bars and clubs, becomes cool, trendy young professionals move in, realise that vibrant areas are actually quite noisy of an evening and then campaign to get the area calmed down. Not saying that this is what is happening here, but it’s definitely a problem in Manchester. Not as big a problem as the rain though. Someone should sort that out.