Ninja Tune and Big Dada Takeover at The Big Chill House
January 9th, 2009 by sparky
On Saturday 24th January the Ninja Tune mother-ship touches down at The Big Chill House, with an epic line-up featuring performances from new Canadian signing Ghislain Poirier, art-school drop-out and Mary Anne Hobbs favourite King Cannibal and Berlin-born, Dalston resident Xrabit. All of which will beautifully animated by VJ Mox.
Admission is free before 10pm, £5 after.
We caught up Ghislain, King Cannibal and Xrabit to find out a little more about what makes them tick…
Ghislain Poirier
Ghislain Poirier
Montreal’s latest signing to the Ninja roster makes his Big Chill debut, dropping his globally renowned bass slammin’ style. He has remixed tracks for UK grime/hip hop sensation Lady Sovereign (Def Jam), The Editors, Champion, Bassnectar and Pierre Lapointe. More recently his “Go Ballistic” track, featuring remixes from Toddla T and King Cannibal made a large impact on dancefloors around the world.
Who are you?
I’m Ghislain Poirier, a producer/DJ from Montreal pushing the bass in many directions ranging from digital dancehall to soca and electronic riddims. I’ve done lots of remixes as well for Lady Sovereign, Pole, The Editors, etc.
What have you been working on lately?
I’m working on a series of three EPs for Ninja Tune in 2009. The first one is called Soca Sound System and it’s super hype soca I must say, with Mr. Slaughter, Face-T and MC Zulu. The second one is about dancehall, it’s the Run The Riddim EP and I already have Burro Banton on it. The third one is a collaboration with my drummer Christian Olsen for mad instrumental tracks.
What are your current top 5 tunes?
Masters At Work – Work (Chew Fu Refix)
Bunji Garlin – Fire Fi Dem
Bassnectar – Art Of Revolution
Mali – Respecté Nou
Face-T – Set The Trend ex-aequo with Mr. Slaughter – Changing Flows
And your all-time top 5 tunes?
Oh boy, I can’t answer that.
Who would you cite as your main musical influences?
The roots of my musical influences are Public Enemy, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Roots Manuva, Rhythm & Sound, King Tubby.
What has been your best gig experience?
I’ve done many awesome gigs, but playing at the Dour festival in Belgium in 2006 was a huge hit. Also, playing the Igloofest – an outdoor event in Montreal – was totally crazy because 3300 people were dancing in the cold and the snow, in the middle of January !
And your worst?
It was a gig in an indoor stadium in a small village in France. The capacity was something like 1200 people and to get a “vide” the promoters said you needed like 500 people. When I started my set there were 3 people in front of me. When I finished there were 12 left… but all dancing !
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
Nice staff. Good imported beer. Olives.
Describe your ideal evening chilling at home…
Watching the Canadiens, our hockey team in Montreal, with my friends.
Where is your favourite place?
Home : Montreal.
What are you reading these days?
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. Propaganda by Edward Bernays.
If your life was a film, which one would it be?
Hum… Rocky, the first one !
Highlight of your life so far?
Making music.
What would you most like to achieve over the next five years?
A kid.
What was your best Big Chill moment?
Well, I’m from Montreal… Just went once for a beer at the Big Chill Bar ! The best moment is gonna be when I’m playing !
I’m just on my way to the bar – what do I get you?
Belgium beer like Chimay or Québécois beer La Maudite. Or Porto.
When are you performing next?
In Berlin at club transmediale festival with my live show – with my drummer Christian Olsen and emcee Face-T.
Where can we find you online?
www.ghislainpoirier.com and www.myspace.com/ghislainpoirier
Xrabit and DMG$
Xrabit
Brand new signing to Ninja’s hip hop off-shoot Big Dada, Dalston based (although German-born) X-rabit is a one man production house, taking in production, remixes, DJing, video directing and also a keen artist, his style falls somewhere between hip hop, grime, pfunk and crunk. He also likes ribs.
Who are you?
XRABIT.
What have you been working on lately?
Produced an album: XRABIT & DMG$ “Hello World” out mid-March on Big Dada.
What are your current top 5 tunes?
Diplo ‘Don’t Go’
Goon Camp ‘Supa Star’
Lil Wayne ‘I Got My’
Kenna ‘ Say Goodbye To Love’
Ninja Sonik ‘ Tight Pants’
And your all-time top 5 tunes?
Michael Jackson ‘Rock With You’
Alice Coltrane ‘Journey In Satchidananda’
Bad Brains ‘Pay To Cum’
ESG ‘Erase you’
Palace ‘You Have Cum In Your Hair And Your Dick Is Hanging Out’
Who would you cite as your main musical influences?
Absolutely EVERYTHING!
If you could collaborate with one person (living or dead) who would it be, and why?
Pharrell Williams – Neptunes, but they don’t need me HAHA – why? I’d just love to learn it all.
What has been your best gig experience?
The Jesus Lizard ca 1992. Singer David Yow was the most impressive act I’ve ever seen.
And your worst?
I can’t tell, my best friend would be angry.
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
Drinks, good seating (like comfortable bar stools and couches) and NICE bar staff is all I need.
Describe your ideal evening chilling at home…
Watching ‘Freaks and Geeks’ or ‘The Wire’ with a nice glass of whiskey.
Where is your favourite place?
Home
What are you reading these days?
‘Crowds and Power’ by Elias Canetti.
If your life was a film, which one would it be?
Superbad.
Highlight of your life so far?
Winning the Michael Jackson Moonwalk contest age 12.
What would most like to achieve over the next five years?
Making music and some money.
At a festival – tent, B&B, or hotel for you, and why?
B&B or hotel. I HATE tents and anything camping related.
What was your best Big Chill moment?
When I finished my set and people came and thanked me.
Describe the essence of The Big Chill in a few words…
Nicest Festival around. People there seem genuinely friendly and relaxed.
I’m just on my way to the bar – what I get you?
Beer and a Tequila/good scotch.
When are you next performing?
24th Jan Big Chill House.
Where can we find you online?
King Cannibal
King Cannibal
Art school dropout ZILLA (government name Dylan Richards) began working on his own brand of super-evolved mixes towards the latter end of the nineties as a reaction to the glut of uninspiring mix compilations that had began to flood the industry. 2009 looks set to be a year of true Cannibal Carnage due to massive radio support in the form of the recent BBC Radio 1 Scorn Vs King Cannibal Soundclash Special and Aragami Style receiving HEAVY rotation on Mary Anne Hobb’s Experimental show , planned collaborations with Bong-Ra, remixes for The Qemists ft Wiley, Ghislain Poirier, Scorn and Ebola his EP on Bong Ra’s Kriss Records and appearances at numerous festivals all squeezed around the recording schedule for King Cannibal’s debut LP for his proud new home, Ninja Tune.
Who are you?
King Cannibal, but I’m occasionally known as ‘ZILLA’.
What have you been working on lately?
The as yet untitled King Cannibal is the main concern, but today I’ve been finishing a few contenders for the next single choice. I recently did quite an intensive mix for Sub Fm’s Riddim ‘n’ Bruise show, using all the records I’ve bought but never get the chance to play-out at shows as a means to justify keep buying stuff. Its aired but the archives are up on my blog and various forums.
What are your current top 5 tunes?
Dylan – Dark Planet, Donny Remix (Position Chrome)
Geenus – In To The Future (Rinse)
Donny – Systomless Coma , Current Value Remix (Barcode Recordings)
Scuba – Ruptured, Surgeon Remix (Hot Flush)
Limewax – One Of Them, Current Value Remx (Lost Soul)
And your all-time top 5 tunes?
Damn, well at this very moment in time I’d say:
Derrick May – It is what it is
Photek – KDJZ
My Bloody Valentine – (When You Wake) You’re Still In A Dream
Ed Rush & Nico – Technology
Pylon – Cool
Who would you cite as your main musical influences?
Optical, Nico, The Neptunes, Modeselektor, Photek, Technical Itch… it’s a long list but these are always the first people that spring to mind.
If you could collaborate with one person (living or dead) who would it be, and why?
Current Value, so I can steal his hard drive.
What has been your best gig experience?
Its hard to think of the best gig, as everytime I play to a good , up for it crowd I declare it my best gig. Playing with such an amazing line up at Dissident in Bristol was one of my most recent high points though, its very enjoyable to get paid to meet lots of people whose records you have in your collection.
And your worst?
I had a gig last year that was 4 hours late opening, no proper soundsystem, no deejay monitors, no bass and no damn money on the night – but at least (some) people were there, I’ll gladly take that than playing to someone sweeping the floor at the Batofar.
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
Good music, comfy chairs and Ted Danson.
Describe your ideal evening chilling at home…
Nail some music, followed by a cup of tea and then take in a film of two with my girlfriend. Ideally one trashy 80s b-flick followed by something good, maybe its time to re-watch Suspiria again.
Where is your favourite place?
At work in the studio feeling the breeze from the monitors hitting my face.
What are you reading these days?
Mostly google results for the words King Cannibal. GUILTY!
If your life was a film, which one would it be?
Hmm… Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown? Porno Holocaust? Mac and Me? Its really hard to settle with a single film.
Highlight of your life so far?
Being signed to Ninja Tune, a label I’ve followed for most of my musical years .
What would most like to achieve over the next five years?
Just to make the best possible music I can, simple really.
At a festival – tent, B&B, or hotel for you, and why?
I’d have to go for tent, for that authentic festival experience. Which obviously includes waking up at 6 in the morning being so cold you think you may die of hypothermia only to finally nurse your frozen self back to sleep and wake up about 11 am being so hot you have to immediately tear of every item of clothing you’d wrapped yourself up in 5 hours ago.
I’m just on my way to the bar – what I get you?
Just a lemonade please, I’m not a big drinker really.
When are you next performing?
16th Of Jan in Rebeltronics in Utrecht, a night hosted by Bong-Ra. Its going to be a great night, The Killamanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble are playing earlier in the night followed by Ebola, Broken Note and myself.
Where can we find you online?
Other than www.ninjatune.net, and the site’s forum I can be found at www.Godsofwar.wordpress.com (a blog I run with a few other like minded artists, some on Ninja, some not) and www.myspace.com/kingcannibal.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:58 pm
[...] Big Dada’s takeover of the Big Chill House, i’ve done a little interview with them. Head over to the site for the full piece along with words from Ghislain Poirier and [...]