Richard Fearless: The ‘Monday Is OK’ Mix

 
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Music
 

The Death In Vegas founder and Drone boss helps us find the light in the darkness.

Cementing his name as a founding member of Death in Vegas and Black Acid, Richard Fearless came into his own as a solo artist after the launch of his Drone imprint: a space for his own creations, Death In Vegas material, as well as outings from like-minded producers — Container, D’Marc Cantu and Gabe Gurnsey to name a few.

His most recent release, Future Rave Memory, is the newest companion to his Deep Rave Memory LP, both of which were recorded in his Metal Box; a studio space that has a unique location at the meeting point of the River Thames and the River Lea.

 

It’s this geography and architecture that inspired the sounds on both releases. The blend of dark ambient, komische, drone and acid draws not only from his Metal Box destination, but the corporate buildings and metallic structures he passes on the way to the studio. Described by Richard as “an era when humanity is reckoning with its outsized place in the natural world”, the second LP is now available for your listening pleasure digitally, and on vinyl in Mid December.

Like us, we imagine you’re stumbling bleary-eyed into Monday, but luckily Richard is here to help us find the light in the darkness. He delivers a mix of droning rhythms and soundscapes that tread the line between ethereal and haunting; between distortion and bliss.

 

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us.

It’s about searching for the light in the dark, a constant theme in my struggles.

If it were to be drawn what would it look like?

A Cy Twombly picture.

If it were a food what would it be?

Ready Brek.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Munted on a coach.

What should we be wearing?

Clothes from Thursday night.

Where was it recorded?

In my studio, Metal Box.

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

Hate them.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

A friend of mine Barbara Ellen playing ‘Techno! The New Dance Sound of Detroit’ on repeat.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

When I started DJing it was Andrew Weatherall, hearing Sasha at Shellys and then Claude Young. Regarding what I’m trying to achieve I’d say perfecting my craft and pushing myself to a more refined sound.

What were your original aspirations as musicians and how do you think you’re shaping up?

I didn’t really have any. I’ve only felt in the last 10 years I’ve made anything half decent.

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

Soft Cell’s dub version of ‘Tainted Love’ that record blew my mind, remember thinking it was so sparse and sexy.

How does your brain work when making music? How does it work when you aren’t?

I’ve learnt to trust my initial instincts with music. My brain is constantly on overdrive creatively, sometimes it feels like a curse.

What were the first and last records you bought?

I was 10 years old staying at Butlins holiday camp just outside Dublin and we went into the town centre and I was desperate to buy Haysi Fantayzee ‘John Wayne is Big Leggy’ That evening I hassled the DJ all night to put it on. Eventually he did and totally cleared the floor minus my sister and I and couple of kids in wheelchairs. The last record was an Eevo Lutte reissue on Delsin of Florence which is sublime.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

Ba Doof

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? Why?

I went to Ancient Egypt once on DMT trip which was pretty fucking wild, I’d go there again.

Some self help questions for a Monday…

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that I have lined up for the week? 

Kinda.

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people I am meeting or working with?

I’ve lived in a hole for the last two years so no not really.

Am I going to my dream job?

I constantly fantasize about dream jobs, it normally comes back to something marine-based.

Am I being compensated fairly for the value I bring to my job?

Ha, not at all, less and less.

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

No, no, yes.

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them? 

My wife Elaine, I’d starve.

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise? 

I ride 12 miles every day to my studio so I’d probably just go a little further.

What’s your answer to everything? 

Think about it.

Anything else we need to discuss? 

Sorry Angie xxx

 

Tracklist
1. IMRE KISS ‘STELLAR 0102’ LOBSTER THEREMIN
2. THIS MORTAL COIL ‘ANOTHER DAY’ 4AD
3. CURVE ‘RISING’ (FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON REMIX)
4. MOBIUS ‘B36’ SKY RECORDS
5. PUNCTUM ‘GLORY BITCH’  8
6. COMFORTNOISE PLOY ‘THREE STRANDS’ COMFORTNOISE
7. FLORENCE ‘THE VINEYARD REPRISE’ EEVO LUTE
8. RICHARD FEARLESS ‘OUR ACID HOUSE’ DRONE
9. LE MATIN ‘DOGTAPE VOL.1’ LOST DOGS ENTERTAINMENT
10.DEATH IN VEGAS ‘METAL BOX’ DRONE