Igloofest 31 janvier & Entrevue Caspa @ Montréal

HighOnBeats : From playing Fabric, Sonar and some of the biggest festivals in the world. How does your Igloofest experience compares?

Caspa: To be fair, it’s up there with everyone else. It’s just a really good festival. When i got here earlier on, I was really surprised at how it looked. It looked great, everyone is really friendly, and i was like “ok, cool.” And it sorta surprised me to be honest with you. I don’t know, Montreal I’ve never played it before. Well, I did play in 2007 but that really small if you know what I mean. So, I didn’t really know what to expect and it was like “Ah, okay.” When i got here and I saw the crowd I was like “Wow! They’re up for it.” It’s a really good crowd. Probably one of my best shows in Canada I’ve seen in a while. I really enjoyed it. It was good. Really good vibes.

HOB: That’s really good to hear. The temperature just dropped today from +1 to -12.

C: I know, when I took off in Toronto it was mad fucking storm. In London they would shut down the whole world. Here it’s like “Huh, yeah we’re still flying.”

HOB: When playing a big festival versus playing a show in London like Dub Police at Fabric. Does your approach to mixing change?

C: Nah, I feel like I need to give people the same I give everywhere. Well, Fabric is very particular because it’s a very upfront crowd. Generally, like tonight I played a lot of new tunes, and I think it’s quite exciting to play new tunes. If people don’t dance that’s a good thing, I kinda like that stuff. You don’t have to make them dance all the time. It’s nice to have a little chill time cause people are listing. You get to listen for a bit. But yeah, it’s very similar. I like playing similar sets everywhere – new tunes, old tunes, classic, and then some weird shit in between. I’ve done it tonight, and it went off. Thing is tonight, every tune i played was good. That’s how you can tell it was a good crowd.

HOB: Talking about playing new tracks. Do you feel pressure to play some of the more current trends in music?

C: No. Because i like a lot of different music. I really do! But i never feel pressure to play music. When Moombahton came around, it was like “Play Moombahton! Play Moombahton!” Yeah, I’m alright. It doesn’t really catch me too much. I kinda play what I like. If I like it and I believe in it and feel a good vibe about it then I’ll play it. Weither it’s Hip Hop, or Dubstep, or Trap, or Moombahton but I don’t wanna play music for the shake of it. I kinda wanna feel it. It’s all about a passion and a feeling. If feel it, I’ll play it. It could be a really minimal tune or a big crazy tune. If I like it, I like it. I think that’s the way to be. If I like a tune, play it. Don’t play it for the money. the crowd or the attention. Play it cause you like it. I think that’s really important.

HOB: How do you feel the reception is from crowds here in North America versus Europe for the style of music you play?

C: I feel here it’s a little bit younger. The crowd is definitely younger, and I don’t mean it in a bad way but I think they’re a few years behind. Because UK and Europe are so connected and so advanced with the music, it’s a little bit ahead but it’s good. To be honest most of my fans are from Canada and the America. I can see my facebook counting how many fans I’ve got. I can see the percentages are over here, so I just feel it’s good energy when I come out here all the time. Anywhere I play – Whistler, or here, or Toronto. Last night with Toronto was sick! Just really good energy. And I think what’s really strange is (last night and today) when i played the old stuff people really connected with it still, and that was good. Sometimes, people will be like “Next. What’s next? Move on. Next. Move on Next.” They knew it still. That was good man. It’s such a youtube generation. Come and go, come and go. But it’s good to still connect with people and play new stuff and old stuff.

HOB: What is your vision for Dub Police going forward?

C: Dub Police, we try to develop the artist really. When I first started it, it was more like a hobby. I signed Rusko, N-type, and all these young artist. I didn’t really expect to be anything really. It’s kinda blown out of proportion a bit. But now, you develop an artist into a really good artist. Album wise, just good music, man. It’s what it’s about. Whether it’s Dubstep or any kind of other music, it’s about putting good music out. The Others put their album on Dub Police, Emalkay put his album out of Dub Police. My new album is coming out in April. So I think it’s about showcasing good music really and what I’m into, because I think without the passion and the love the music, the label wouldn’t exist. It’s all about the music first and foremost, if I’m into it it comes out. Just pushing good music really, positive vibes.

HOB: Any forthcoming works from artist on Dub Police you can share with us?

C: My album is coming out in April, it’s called Alpha Omega. Subscapes just got a Mystyle mix #3 in the series. The Others album just came out called Red Planet. Got some singles and stuff as well, but trying to get more album situations but that’s the main things coming out. But my album is top of the list. It’s been like fucking four years, shit. It’s called Alpha Omega, A to Z.

HOB: You chose to release this yourself on Dub Police, what this a choice you wanted to make from the beginning?

C: Yeah, I signed one of my single to Virgin EMI – which is the tune I’ve done with Keith Flynt from The Prodigy. And it just felt right, it was a good deal. They gave me loads of money. It was like “Fuck it, why not?” Other then the money they really understand the music a bit. They got into it. I signed a deal where i can still release music on Dub Police. It was alright, these guys get it. I didn’t wanna sign a deal where I couldn’t release music no more. Fuck that! I’m underground, you can’t tell me if I can release music or not. So the deal was good. So, I done that and that was cool, but I just feel like Dub Police has been setup for this now, along the roots and stuff. It’s about time i put something out, It’s been four years. I think the album is very mixed, Alpha Omega is a good name for it. It’s like A to Z, it’s very in between. It’s the whole sound. I hope you appreciate it.

HOB: When can we expect this?

C: April, well release day… It’s the first time you’re hearing it, but the release day is April 15th. Give or take 9 weeks.

HOB: Do you & Rusko have any plans to work together in the future?

C: Nah. It’s a shame, because me and Chris (Rusko) – I love the boy, and he moved to LA a long time ago. We do speak now and then and it’s cool. But I know there is a huge market for people to go like “let’s do a tour together.” It could be really big. But we’re doing are own thing as well, it’s kinda hard. When we were in London together it was easier. Now he’s got bigger and better and stuff. I don’t know man, it’s kinda question mark. I’m down. Bro, I’m down.

HOB: Cool, next time I see him I’ll put it up there for you.

C: I’m down. It needs to happen. Will it happen? No.

HOB: Your EP ON IT has a diverse grouping of remixes style wise. When putting together an EP how do you go about picking who does remixes?

C: Same as putting the releases out. Who am I into? Who would i go buy music from? When i do remixes myself, would i buy this? Yes i would. Cool, let me remix this. The same thing, Dismantle love that guy. He’s sick. TC, I done a remix from his a long time ago, Where’s my money?. So i was like: “Come on bruv. Gimme a little pay back. It was a good tune for you.” It’s who I’m into really. I would never, ever, ever get a remix for the shake of it, or release it for the shake of it. “OHhh this guy is really cool, you gotta get a remix of him.” Nah, if I’m into it it’s good. If I’m not and it’s good, it’s still good – but I’ve gotta be into it. I’ve gotta be into the artist and what they do. All their about, and what they’re releasing. That’s the type of guy I am. If I’m into it and I love it I’ll ask them.

HOB: Now that you’ve worked with Keith Flynt & toured with The Prodigy – what possibly could be left on your bucket list?

C: The definitely a thick. When they asked me to play the shows I was really excited. Like they say you should never meet your heroes, but some are cool. I think I’d like to work with some guys within Hip Hop, and do some mad collaboration. I’d love to work with Drake, that was nearly on the cards years ago. When I did the tune with Mr Hudson Love never dies. He was gonna do a remix of that tune, and it never happend. Cause he was really busy at the time, that was when he blew up, like 2010. I think I’d like to work with a few hip hop guys, like Machine Gun Kelly I’d love to work with him. That kind of vibe. Sorta bring dance music with hip hop – the whole bass thing. When I was in texas I met up with Waka Flocka Flames. We were gonna get on a tune. I sent him a few tunes, and he didnt quite understand. He was like “I don’t know…” He couldn’t understand it. He’s so used to so much hip hop, and I’m sending a few crazy bass tunes. But It’d like to really bring it together, I think dance and hip hop could really come together, in a good way. Not in a cheesy way, like David Guetta.

HOB: Hip Hop itself has already grown leaps and bounds in the past 20 years stylistically. So it’s almost natural that now electronic music is dance music come together sound wise.

C: Well Trap is bass heavy Hip Hop really, so I can see that bringing the whole vocalist thing in and dubstep meeting it halfway somewhere. That would be pretty really cool.

HOB: And finally, what is in your perfect sandwich?

C: I would say: tuna, red onion, ketchup, cream salad, sriracha sauce, a little paprika with some lettuce, extra onions on top (white onion) in a white sub and 12″ long.

HOB: Sweet, I’m gonna have to try that.

C: It’s pretty good. Spicy, tangy and beatiful.