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Article - Rob F: Representing drum and bass in Peurto Rico

ROB F: Representing drum and bass in Puerto Rico
By: Jocelyn Dickey

Published in Rinse Magazine, May/June 2003

“There was something about the vibe it let off, when I was at parties I would zone out to it for hours,” recounts Rob F, a skilled US producer and rising talent in the realm of drum and bass, describing his early encounters with the music.

A stalwart in the DC scene, Rob F, alongside partner Impulse, became known all over the world through releases on well-respected labels like Renegade Hardware, No U Turn and Teebee’s own Subtitles.

The past few months have brought many changes for Rob F. A recent move to Puerto Rico has meant a necessary split from partner Impulse. “The move had several implications other than the obvious, Impulse no longer living near me,” he explains. “When it comes to production the change of scenery seems to push me in a different direction.”

Exposed to electronic music as it rose in popularity in the US and Canada in the mid-nineties, Rob F says he was initially drawn to the sounds of hard trance. But when drum and bass (or jungle as it was known at the time) began taking on a darker, more tech-heavy edge, Rob F became hooked on it instead.

At the time, Rob F was attending college, where he began dabbling in music production. With an interest in music, as well the complexity of the equipment and the diversity of possibilities that could be attained with it, he did not limit himself to producing only drum and bass.

“I studied music in college and initially started playing around on computers there in ‘97,” he says. “A little after that I bought some equipment and started making just about every style I could come up with.”

As Y2K began, Rob F teamed up with Impulse, and the duo realized they worked well together. “He made me look at producing from a different perspective and to start approaching it with the intention of floor play,” he says.

Impulse was just starting out and Rob, who thought he was through with making music, was helping him out and passing on some of the knowledge he’d picked up over the years. “I was finished with producing at the time and he wanted to get started,” he explains. “In the process of showing him the ropes, I realized we could come up with some really interesting sounds and ideas.”

Although they no longer work together full time, Rob F and Impulse are still toying with the notion of releasing tracks on their own imprint, Sinthetix Recordings. In the meantime, Rob F is getting back into the swing of producing after a long moving process.

“I have also been working on adjusting my production due to the difficulty in switching to all digital production,” he explains. “Presently, I am working on tracks for a handful of labels such as Hardware, DSCI4 and some others. I am also working on tracks for my first release on my own label, Devious Origin, which will be coming up within the year.”

Speaking with Rob F (albeit through Email) his enthusiasm for drum and bass, especially that of the home grown variety, is obvious. His respect for other US producers is clear. “Now more than ever there is a surge of great US producers … Hive, Kaos and Karl K to name a few,” he says.

Drum and bass may be his main focus right now, but he does admit that he still has an interest in other genres. “I hope to diversify a little bit. I would like to get into some other styles of electronic music eventually, and possibly dabble into a bit of film scoring,” he confesses.

Articles | 10.03.2007 4:45 |