I have been very lucky to score an interview with one of the nicest guys in the dnb and jungle scene. A pioneer of the scene as well releasing since 1994, DJing with the famous BBC Radio 1 as well as becoming a very talented mastering engineer. Yes it is the one and only DJ Sappo.
Introduce yourself and tell us a bit of the history behind Sappo?
Hey! well I’m Sappo and I have been in the music scene primarily dnb/jungle since the start really producing and releasing my first track on 10 inch vinyl in 1994! I’m also a mastering engineer with over 25 years experience and also run a mastering company and master many tracks for upcoming and established artists in all genres of music.
You’ve been involved in this scene for a long time. How has it changed over the years?
Yep, been here for so long! i’ve seen trends come and go styles come and go! but dnb and jungle has always evolved and it’s great to see it keep rising with the new generations coming through.
What was your biggest break / thing you are most thankful for to date in your music career?
I absolutely loved and was very grateful for L double and ST Files for putting out my first track on Flex little rollers in 1994 and ST Files showing me and teaching me Cubase and Akai samplers, also Mark xtc and Marcus (da intalex) for putting out my releases. Shortly after those breaks helped me evolve as a producer and learn so much and have total freedom to make music I thought was good at the time! Also my good friend G who persuaded me to pursue setting up my own mastering company. And then there is BBC radio 1 and 1xtra for giving me an amazing platform with the only weekly national 4 hour DNB show for a good few years 🙂
Do you have any up coming releases?
Actually I do have 2 unreleased vinyl tracks coming on GOOD 2 GO records -(G2G011) it’s a coloured vinyl 12 inch release and the EP is called new dawn and my tracks are ‘hold it’ and ‘lighters’ !
You are a fantastic mastering engineer and you teach as well. How did you get into that?
Thank you! I think it was a natural movement from being in this for so long and basically knowing the software, hardware, the music scene, its workings and how music and elements are put together I was basically mastering and mixing my own stuff for over 25 years so it made sense to share the knowledge and help others 🙂
Who are your top 5 current Drum and Bass artists?
Oh god there are too many to mention. I master so much stuff it’s hard to say as I hear fresh music a lot and it’s all bloody good!
What non dnb music genres/artists do you like?
I have a love of 90s style boom bap hip hop and that flavour of stuff like 9th wonder, Mobb Deep , Brand Nubian TCQ. I also love reggae (old school) and soulful house.
Tell us about the strangest / most embarrassing experience you’ve had before, during or after a show.
I once got ill DJing at a gig and felt so ruff think it was when that norovirus was floating around, I finished my set but then my friend who was driving me I had to get them to stop about 5 times on the road whilst I kept chucking up out of the door on the way home how I didn’t chuck up in the club is a miracle!!
Where do you see / hope to see the sound of Drum and Bass evolving too in the next few years?
I think you will see more unification of the styles as recently it’s been a bit more stretched out and branched out with genre and subgenre etc , I can slowly see its more coming back to primary genres which is good and also less confusing!
What is one tip you would like to give to aspiring Drum and Bass artists?
You get exactly out what you put in!!
Some links to DJ Sappo are found below
my mastering website – www.analoguemastering.co.uk
facebook – djsappo
instagram – @sappodj
