Nutritious: Exclusive Interview for Paper

A BIG thanks for taking the time to chat with us and for (once again) providing such an incredible selection of tracks for the Blurs E.P. out on Paper Recordings

Thank you to Paper and the team. It’s an absolute pleasure to have Blurs out on the label. You’re absolutely one of the most iconic dance labels, and I appreciate so much working with y’all.

For those that don’t know, can you give us a brief history of the life & career of Nutritious?

Well, I’ve been a musician since I was a little kid. And in fact, I had an older brother who was a guitar virtuoso who also really liked to trip and take LSD. And he would tell me stories that when I was as young as two or three years old, that he would play guitar and have me play drums with him, and he would be on these fantastical trips and journeys and I’d be playing along. And, that’s how I learned improvisational music — kind of got into my system.

As I got older, once I had the dexterity to get behind a drum kit, I started playing in bands. I played CBGBs at a very young age, around 16. Then I got into electronic music. My first foray into electronic was through a Yamaha QY sequencer, which evolved to Fruity Loops — I use Ableton now.

I started going to nightclubs in New York and started working to promote at some of the clubs — Palladium in particular. I started going to The Tunnel and became enamoured with the music that I heard and that I was dancing to until the early hours of the morning.

I would go back home and try to recreate the music that I heard in my head. And at the time, I had a four track cassette recorder [Tascam], some CD players, some guitar effects pedals, and the QY. And I would patch them all together and whatever instruments I could kind of loop into this situation and started making mixtapes. The mixtapes started sounding good, so it was time to get some turntables [Technic 1200 mk2].

Photo by Kaitlin Parry

There seems to be a lot of influences peppered throughout this release. Are there any specific tracks or artists that you conjure up when in the studio and in particular for the Blurs E.P?

I listen to so much music that it’s really hard to pick out any one influence. I love all kinds of genres, and I actually spend a lot of time listening to various types of music, new and classic. So when I get into the studio, and I go to write and produce, it’s rarely thinking about something musical that gets the project started. It’s typically a memory or an experience or some type of trip or journey I’ve had that I wind up re-imagining in my mind and then bringing the sounds I recall to life through the production.
I’ll start with drums, bass, keyboard, and anything that comes to mind that can get the musical project started. Then, as I get the sounds down on paper, it starts to come to life.

Speaking of the studio, what is your setup for making music? Are there any specific instruments or plugins that are always by your side?

In the studio, I like to have various instruments around. I like to work in the box and also have instruments to play — from drums and percussion to synthesizers. Lately, I’ve been really digging the [Ashun Sound Machines] Hydrasynth and Moog Grandmother.
I spend a considerable amount of time mixing and working on sound design and effects, and I really do like a fair amount of plugins for that and really dig all kinds of virtual instruments. I have to shout out Cherry Audio. I really dig a lot of their synths. Also, UVI — their stuff sounds really great. In terms of mixing and recording, Melda is one of my favorite go-tos for plugins. I use a Softube Console 1 system to help make the experience more tactile. And I’ll incorporate turntables, sampling, you name it.

How is the dance music scene currently doing in Brooklyn? (I visited Mister Sunday when I visited last time, and it was pretty incredible!)

New York is a really special place, and Brooklyn, in particular, has always been a home for house music. What I think is the best part about New York is the entire metro area. You can find all kinds of nooks and crannies and great places to party and great DJs and new parties, and it’s just an amazing hub of music in general and art.

Last one, (for a bit of fun!), do you have a fave studio snack that will always be present in your music making sessions?

Definitely, I do. I really enjoy going into the studio with some fresh coconut water. Maybe there’s not a lot in terms of the way of traditional snacks, but I dig nootropics in the studio for sure. Lately, one of my favourite combinations is a mix of saffron and bacopa, two plant botanicals that just have a really nice opening effect on the mind — helps me write — I dig it.

BLURS by NUTRITIOUS is out now on Beatport exclusively – LISTEN

General release 06-09-23

Say hello on INSTAGRAM

 

Out the Box: Léna C

For our next Out The Box feature we welcome one of our own Hebden Bridge cartel by way of Léna C!

Growing up in a family of traditional musicians in her birthplace, Brittany, Léna C. has shaped a DJ career across the Channel in Manchester over the last many years. Léna’s mixes and compositions exude her eclectic influences mixing electronic and traditional sounds from all around the world. She holds a regular show on Melodic Distraction entitled ‘Ecléctico’ and recently accompanied the MD crew to play at their stage for this year’s We Out Here Festival. She also recently provided a live mix for MAJ (My Analogue Journal) channel on YouTube which resulted in her being booked to play for JAzz X in Romania of course, she provides sounds on home turf too with appearances at Band On The Wall, Nelson’s, Gotwood, Green Island & The Talleyrand!

Oh and if that wasn’t impressive enough she also released her debut E.P. ‘Promenade’ on vinyl via our friends at Sprechen!

Follow Léna on Instagram.

Léna C

Any books/publications you have recently read?

Aside from music, I love photography which I have been doing as a hobby for a very long time! So anything that is photo related, whether it be a book, an exhibition, or a documentary, is something that I will definitely try to check out. I recently purchased a beautiful book called ‘L’Opéra du Monde’ (The Opera of the World) by the incredibly talented French photographer Christine Spengler. She primarily worked as a war photographer and has documented all the major conflicts since the 70s. In the first part of the book, one can discover her powerful black-and-white war photographs for which she’s won many prizes.

Christine Spengler – L’Opera Du Monde

But the second half is dedicated to the other side of her work which is her collage pictures where she frames a black and white photo with a mixture of flower petals, jewellery, fabric, seashells, and anything colourful that will contrast with the black and white element. The end result is so unique and beautiful! Christine Spengler is definitely a very inspirational woman for me.

Christine Spengler – ‘L’Opéra du Monde’

Are there any films watched you’d like to share with our audience?

There are so many because I love films! I recently watched an Iranian film called ‘Hit the Road’ released in 2021. It’s one of those films that makes you laugh and cry at the same time. The little boy in the film is so cute and such a good actor! Highly recommend it!

Places to visit/go on walks?

I live in beautiful Yorkshire, God’s Own Country they say! (it is the title of another very good film which I also highly recommend!) So I’m lucky to be surrounded by beautiful nature all year long! I love the Moors for their vast hills renowned for their dramatic scenery. Fog and mist can frequently roll in, creating an atmospheric and mystical ambience. The moorland near Hebden Bridge and Haworth served as the backdrop for Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights” which inspired Kate Bush’s 1978 song.

How about places to eat?

I love Nelson’s in Hebden Bridge because not only do they serve divine vegan food but it is also a very good place for a drink especially if you’re into wine. They have DJs playing almost every weekend and I occasionally play there myself! It’s just a great spot in the valley!

Nelsons, No.1 Vegan restaurant and Bar in Hebden Bridge

Ways to spend a Sunday?

Approaching Stoodley Pike from Edge End Moor

Whether I’m recovering from a late Saturday DJ set or not, I always try to do my yoga routine. I started yoga at the beginning of covid and I’ve managed to stick to it since then! Then I usually go out for a walk either at Hardcastle Crags, Widdop Reservoir, Stoodley Pike or by the canal to Todmorden. There are so many lovely walks near where I live, we are spoiled for choice!

Hardcastle Crags

Out The Box: NIIX

For our latest Out The Box feature, we caught up with Manchester-based music artist, DJ and producer NIIX, who was fresh off the back of attending & playing at this years We Out Here Festival (a firm fave of ours here at Paper!). She gave us the lowdown on the things she likes to check out when not working on music, which is tough, seeing as though she is 24/7 involved in DJing, radio hosting, performing & much more!
Inspired by the likes of Shygirl, Arca and Surusinghe, her debut EP ‘I’ has received radio-play on NTS, BBC Introducing and more, as well as making Spotify’s New Music Friday UK editorial playlist. 2021/22 has seen NIIX DJ at Gottwood Festival, Africa Oyé and Audio Farm, alongside live performances and DJ support slots for Leon Vynehall, Max Cooper and Jenny Hval.
As well as monthly residencies on Melodic Distraction, Steam Manchester and Aaja Radio, NIIX is also co-founder of Dubs Club, a North West-based meet-up group for gender minorities to share their electronic music productions.

NIIX – Photo by Danny de la Bastide

Fave place to eat/fave dish
Oooh, this is hard – it really depends on what mood I’m in! If I’m feeling boujee it’s a trip to Sanskruti, an all veggie Indian in Withington – the jackfruit curry slaps every time. Shout out to This n That, a staple of Manchester’s food scene! Also, Waka Waka Noodles in Levenshulme – the mock chicken is just 🤌

Sanksruti, Manchester

Fave place of interest/area to go walking
Delamere Forest in Cheshire is stunning and always a nostalgic visit for me. I grew up nearby and used to do orienteering there with the school as part of P.E lol. Formby Beach is unbeatable; it’s hard to believe you’re in Liverpool when you’re lying on the softest, golden dunes soaking up the sounds of the ocean. I also visited Lumb Falls in Hebden Bridge recently for a spot of wild swimming. I was in awe of its beauty and its a little haven of paradise.

Formby Beach, Merseyside

Fave book or publication you’ve recently read
It’s got to be Junji Ito’s horror manga UZUMAKI. I’m obsessed with anything horror, and this is veeeeery creepy/fucked up. The illustrations, though, as disturbing as some of them are, they’re absolutely beautiful. If you’re looking to get into either manga or horror, I reckon this is a good starting point.

Uzumaki – Spiral into Horror by Junji Ito

TV series, documentary or film you’re liking?
Me and some friends recently watched a film called ‘The Vast of Night’ after some deep scouring of Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a sci-fi thriller set in the 1950s about a radio host who discovers a strange-sounding frequency. I had never heard of it before, so I had low expectations, but it’s honestly BLEW OUR MINDS – we were hooked from start to finish. You follow the characters’ discoveries in real time, so you’re literally on the edge of your seat. An impressive directorial debut from Andrew Patterson, I highly recommend it (especially if you’re a lil space freak and fascinated by the unknown like me).

Vast of Night can be found on Prime

Thanks, NIIX; we think you’re great!