Bournemouth breakbeat trio Aquasky have seen and done pretty much everything in the world of underground dance music, but that hasn't stopped them from continuing to hammer out dancefloor-detonating records. Dave, Brent and Keiron started out back in 1995, after releasing their own records separately. Since then they've released over 150 tunes, appearing alongside such luminaries as LTJ Bukem and hip-hop legends like Kool Keith; and most recently brought out their seventh album entitled Teamplayers. From DnB to breaks The band's sound has evolved over the last few years, taking in different influences along the way, and they've also taken on two of their own record labels - Passenger Records and 777 Records, which they use to distribute and release breakbeat music as Brent explains: "When we started Passenger as a breakbeat label, there wasn't anyone doing our style of music at that time. In the early it was Thankfully we've influenced people over the years, get sent a lot of demos from unknown acts and also established acts. "What we chose is tracks that will work on the dancefloor, what styles of breakbeat they are I don't mind, as long as they have that energy on the dancefloor." Local scene The band base themselves in Dorset, but despite their position within the global network Dave's not that impressed with the local underground dance scene: "It's not as good as it used to be. There's lots of cheesy pubs and clubs. If you're talking about underground scene, I don't think there's much of an underground scene. "It used to be underground a few years ago with free parties and clubs that first hooked onto the music but as far as breaks and drum and bass in Bournemouth there's not much of an established breaks night." Brent feels it's not always the fault of the promoters though: "There are clubs which do have breaks DJs, and decent breaks acts; but then you walk in and the place is empty." Dorset influence Despite the fact that drum and bass and breakbeat are labelled 'urban' music, the environment in which the guys work is very much more rural, as Keiron explains: "It's a nice environment to be in, I mean we lived in London. I don't think you need to be in London to make it these days, as communications are good world wide. "There's nothing wrong with being in a place like Bournemouth - it's quieter than London. Plus you've got the beach which you don't get in London." Plus it's actually given them a fresh impetus: "We don't involve ourselves in the scene - we're not mixing with the crowds and hearing what everyone else is doing. "Musically we're doing what we like instead of what we hear, or what we think should be making. "It's good to be detached." What's next? They might be busy running two record labels, recording and releasing albums AND running a website, but the band are also scheduled to tour their new album as Brent admits: "We've licensed this album to lots of countries abroad, so we've got an obligation to the companies to tour it!" "Other than that I think we'll be a bit more business-like in the way we go about things." Teamplayers is on general release. For more information see the band's official website to hear tunes and find out more about the band. The website is available below: Aquasky >
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