B U L L EVA R D
Swindle
“I USED TO SAMPLE MY DAD’S RECORDS”
ED RUSH & OPTICAL THE CREEPS (2000)
The DJ/producer talks us through the albums that influenced his genre-melding tunes
“This record just made me dance. It made us all lose our shit. The Creeps set a benchmark for quality in drum-and-bass production – a high standard that people would aim for.”
C
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HERBIE HANCOCK MR HANDS (1980)
DR DRE 2001 (1999)
RONI SIZE THROUGH THE EYES (2000)
QUINCY JONES Q’S JOOK JOINT (1995)
“This album had a major influence on my latest record. I just thought about the way that 2001 made me feel when it was first released. Sonically it was so clean, and I loved its collaborative approach. Dre’s work created a new quality standard in rap music.”
“I was completely glued to this [a compilation of drum-and-bass artists, presented by Roni Size] for a long time. As a teen, I was massively into drum-and-bass and pirate radio. Life for everyone in my area of London was music, skating and graffiti.”
“The list of people on this record is incredible – it’s a musician’s album. I grew up listening to the likes of [bassist] Marcus Miller and [guitarist] George Benson, so I want to see more musician’s albums. It’s exciting to see artists with instruments again.” THE RED BULLETIN
LOU BOYD
“My dad’s tastes were a big influence on me when I was growing up. He used to listen to all the greats of jazz, R&B and funk, and he’s played jazz guitar for 50 years. My dad is into good music – musician’s music – and I inherited his record collection. When you grow up surrounded by music, you know quality when you hear it – like this album. Some of my earliest samples were from records in my dad’s collection.”
ADAMA JALLOH
ameron Palmer, aka Swindle, is one of the most exciting and versatile producers in the UK right now. Born into a musical household and raised on a soundtrack of jazz, funk and R&B, he began playing piano at the age of eight and was recording his own tunes by the time he was 14. In January this year, the south Londoner released his third album proper, No More Normal, an epic collaboration that brings together artists from many diverse musical backgrounds – from the jazz genius of saxophonist Nubya Garcia and the vintage soul vocals of Andrew Ashong, to rapper Kojey Radical’s hip-hop wordplay and Ghetts’ grime beats. “Music has become more accessible: we mix genres and create new ones almost every summer in London,” says Swindle, now 31. “My dream was to have the best in jazz linking up with the best rappers, poets, MCs – people who feel like their art has purpose.” Here, he lists five albums that were pivotal in his musical education… Watch an exclusive No More Normal session by Swindle at redbull.com