Cern Interview circa May 2007

This is the first of a series of interviews I did with NZ producers/DJs for NZ Music Month 2007.

Who are CERN and how did you all link up?
J: Drum & Bass producers from AK republic

Have you had any international interest in your tunes?
J: We're just trying to get some really solid material together. We have had interest, definitely, but can't say too much at the moment.

Have any (or all) of you looked into working on music outside of drum and bass?
J: Power ballads!!!!! They are very emotive, complex songs that sing to the heart and rock like a panther in mating season, and a few downbeat bits.
O: We've spent a little time on Dubstep lately - really looking forward to doing some more with that.

You’ve been involved with promoting a number of parties in Auckland now, how did you get into that side of things?
O: Primarily for us promoting is about wanting to see our favorite producers perform live, as a lot of them had never really come down (or up) this way. Only until recently have we been seeing artists like Mayhem, Psidream and Break gain enough popularity to play gigs through New Zealand, which is fucking sweet!!
Our South In Session parties more recently have definitely proved to be really popular - it's great to meet other like-minded fools from other parts of the country, and the progress we have made from collaborating in the studio with Teknik, Menace and Dose has taken our tunes to a new level.

What fills your time outside of music?
J: Just the usual stuff. Food and girl
O: My Girl. Work. Uni. Eating.

What role do you think online networking (forums, Myspace etc) have to play in the future of drum and bass?
J: A huge role. Myspace, forums etc has opened up the communication lines in a phenomenal way. It’s easy for everybody to be in contact with their favorite labels/producers and get your tunes heard.

What would the line-up at your dream gig be?
J: Hmmm... Sabre, Mayhem, PHACE, Fierce & Break, D Bridge & Christchurch posse (Teknik, Menace & Dose).
O: I would say Konflict, Noisia & Mayhem w/MC Verse, Phace, Fierce & Break, and D-Bridge.

What's your honest opinion of New Zealand Music Month? Is it really necessary?
J: Well, what could really be wrong with pushing all of NZ’s music for a month? I think it’s a real positive step for getting new artists heard and a good chance for people to hear more of what NZ’s established and lesser known artists have to offer! Cheers!

Our mystery writer wants to know: why do you find Chad so handsome?
CHAD: Well, basically. I have spent years honing my extremely good looking skills so that I become irresistible to just about anything, even small animals. I spend countless hours in front of my vintage $50.000 mahogany framed mirror making sure I look more perfecter than perfect, so you know I’m good.

Who's the one to watch from Auckland?
J: Us I hope, ha! Flirt w/ Dirt and Bugsy I suppose. Ha!!!

A current top ten and any shout outs to close?

Flirt with Dirt - Zanzibar
Teknik & The Upbeats - Poison
Dose & Cern - Jackblack
The Chad - Love is a Force to be Reckoned With
Vanadis - The Angels Share
Teknik & Cern - Untitled
Mayhem - Lebanon
Phace, Bulletproof & Teknik - Hypersleep
Bulletproof & Teknik - Smash Palace
Psidream, Dose, Teknik & Menace - Untitled

Shouts to Jay, Charlie B, Bugsy, Matt & Evan, Pat & Stu, Vanadis, Teknik, Dose, Menace and Package & Nato.