Alex Clayton, AKA Asdasfr Bawd, is fast becoming a key figure in the local scene. His music absorbs the present, processes the past and paves the way for future sounds and rhythms. The recently released debut is instantly accessible but deceptively complex, and we're looking forward to what happens next. To better understand his unique music mind we asked Alex to make us a guest mix for THUMP on FBi Click, and to answer a few questions about his craft.
Detroit Falls - Pariah
Throwback - Dubbel Dutch
Silo Pass - Bok Bok
Forgive - Mala
Crook - Cassius Select
Sais - Floating Points
J Doe - Joy Orbison
Nite Train – Burial
Drowning – Ramadanman
Reckless - Olaf
Dinosaur - 2562
Shades - Guy Andrews
Untitled - Joe
Fill My Coffee - Arkist
Sexual - Addison Groove
We Are You In The Future - Martyn
Bobby McFerrin - Thinkin Bout Your Body (Percussions Edit?)
No Think - Sepulcure
Kellerkind - Phon.o
Wolf Cub - Burial & Four TetTHUMP: I recently read online, someone describing your music as the love child of Jamie XX, Four Tet and James Blake. What do you think of that?
Asdasfr Bawd: Pretty humbling really, they are huge inspirations for me. I can't see my own music on a macro level like that, it's not possible for me to step back and see the bigger picture. On a smaller level I can see it, and it means a lot for listeners to draw parallels between my music and theirs.Are they artists you draw inspiration from?
James Blake & Mount Kimbie were a revelation for me, an access point for UK music. I was first introduced to it by Raudie (River Yarra) and Nico (Nico Niquo) who I met at high school. So they're at the heart of it, and then Jamie XX and Four Tet were extensions. But I guess these artists summarised what we think of as UK music in a way, it wasn't until I started listening to some of the smaller guys like Joy Orbison and Ramadanman when I really started to get into all of it. Outside UK, Sepulcure was a pretty big influence for me in this project, as well as the Aussie representatives Friendships, Cliques and Cassius Select.What's your creative process like? Does it take a while to get from an idea to the final product?
Usually I pump out a track in a few hours, it's pretty crazy. If something doesn't work out, then my creative process slumps and I've lost it. Typically starts with recording and sampling, then moves to a beat and then from there on everything else around it. It's quick.What's your favourite piece of gear at the moment, or something you couldn't imagine making music without?
Well actually my two-track was made all on a laptop, with a few sampled synth patches from a crappy Yamaha keyboard. I'm starting to get more gear and I've had my eyes on the Roland SP-404 for a while.Can you give us a little description of the mix you've put together?
Some of my favourite songs, and songs that have been milestones. There is quite a lot, but it moves fast enough for you to get a good idea. Just some fun stuff.What can we expect from you in the coming months?
There's a huge backlog of material I can't wait to release, including some remixes and a new EP coming out on Solitaire Recordings later this year.Listen to Antonia Gauci each week, THUMP on FBi Click
Find Asdasfr Bawd_ on Facebook, SoundCloud, Twitter._
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Tracklist:
Detroit Falls - Pariah
Throwback - Dubbel Dutch
Silo Pass - Bok Bok
Forgive - Mala
Crook - Cassius Select
Sais - Floating Points
J Doe - Joy Orbison
Nite Train – Burial
Drowning – Ramadanman
Reckless - Olaf
Dinosaur - 2562
Shades - Guy Andrews
Untitled - Joe
Fill My Coffee - Arkist
Sexual - Addison Groove
We Are You In The Future - Martyn
Bobby McFerrin - Thinkin Bout Your Body (Percussions Edit?)
No Think - Sepulcure
Kellerkind - Phon.o
Wolf Cub - Burial & Four TetTHUMP: I recently read online, someone describing your music as the love child of Jamie XX, Four Tet and James Blake. What do you think of that?
Asdasfr Bawd: Pretty humbling really, they are huge inspirations for me. I can't see my own music on a macro level like that, it's not possible for me to step back and see the bigger picture. On a smaller level I can see it, and it means a lot for listeners to draw parallels between my music and theirs.Are they artists you draw inspiration from?
James Blake & Mount Kimbie were a revelation for me, an access point for UK music. I was first introduced to it by Raudie (River Yarra) and Nico (Nico Niquo) who I met at high school. So they're at the heart of it, and then Jamie XX and Four Tet were extensions. But I guess these artists summarised what we think of as UK music in a way, it wasn't until I started listening to some of the smaller guys like Joy Orbison and Ramadanman when I really started to get into all of it. Outside UK, Sepulcure was a pretty big influence for me in this project, as well as the Aussie representatives Friendships, Cliques and Cassius Select.
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Usually I pump out a track in a few hours, it's pretty crazy. If something doesn't work out, then my creative process slumps and I've lost it. Typically starts with recording and sampling, then moves to a beat and then from there on everything else around it. It's quick.What's your favourite piece of gear at the moment, or something you couldn't imagine making music without?
Well actually my two-track was made all on a laptop, with a few sampled synth patches from a crappy Yamaha keyboard. I'm starting to get more gear and I've had my eyes on the Roland SP-404 for a while.Can you give us a little description of the mix you've put together?
Some of my favourite songs, and songs that have been milestones. There is quite a lot, but it moves fast enough for you to get a good idea. Just some fun stuff.What can we expect from you in the coming months?
There's a huge backlog of material I can't wait to release, including some remixes and a new EP coming out on Solitaire Recordings later this year.Listen to Antonia Gauci each week, THUMP on FBi Click
Find Asdasfr Bawd_ on Facebook, SoundCloud, Twitter._