EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HELLFIRE MACHINA

Up on deck is a FCK YES! exclusive interview with one of the hardest working producer/DJ's out there: Hellfire Machina.  The interview comes just in time for the 6 session of the Do the Dubz series  in Syracuse, NY.  Join us as we pick the brains of Jody Shires on what started it all, a day in the life, and a FCK YES! exclusive sneak peak into the future of Hellfire Machina.

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FCK YES! - How did it all begin?  What started Hellfire Machina?

Jody - I've been involved in music professionally since 1994, the time line goes a little something like this :

J-Pac (1994 - 1997) signed to Warner Bros/East West)

Co - Founder, owner and label manager of Mechanoise Records/Mechamusic Group (1997-2008 recording under the names - Sonz Of Mecha/Uncouth Youth/Mechanoise Sound System/Hostile Force/Bionic/Dirty South)

Co - Founder, owner and manager of BreaksFm (1999 - 2001)/BreaksFm.com (2001 - 2008) - Multi award winning london pirate turned internet radio station and legendary web portal.

Hellfire Machina (2008 - Present)

I started the Hellfire Machina project with Tom Williams back in 2008, (he has since left the music industry to concentrate on his family after the birth of his son Heath.) For me it was the next chapter in my adventures with bass music, for the first couple of years it was total experimentation in the studio and nothing short of craziness behind the decks, from both of us rocking a 4 deck set to our solo excursions around the country. It's a bit difficult not to mention Bass Fueled Mischief as well as it went hand in hand with our rise amongst the ranks, we're clocking up around 100 BFM parties in NYC in the last 4 years and since the switch to the West Coast we're in amongst it out in Cali now as well. No Rest for the wicked!

FY! - What was the first album you bought on your own?

Jody - Probably the soundtrack to the Water Babies or Jungle Book or something like that when I was a toddler, Mum in tow and pocket money (allowance) in hand. I used to listen to a lot of stories on vinyl as a young kid as well.

I think the first proper music album I bought was one of the Streets Sounds Electro compilations in the 80's, I had them all eventually on cassette and vinyl. I was very proud of them.  Either that or the Musical Youth lp I can't remember which came first.

FY! - What kind of equipment do you work with?

Jody - Ableton/Magic Bullet/SC Shredder

FY! - Take us through a day in the life of Hellfire Machina.

Jody - Everyday is different but they all start with the same process - I wake, I give thanks and project love, I blaze, I create.

FY! - What would you say was your biggest influence going into EDM production?

Jody - Growing up in South East London

FY! - You’ve produced a ton of stuff… which track do you like most?  Why?

Jody - This is an impossible question to answer but the first track that sprang to mind was 'Degobah Science' as Hostile Force (1998)

FY! - What’s your idea of relaxing?  What do you do when you need to unplug?

Jody - I'm very fortunate to have a loving partner that supports my musical endeavors so in my free time I spend much of it with her, long walks along the coast and lots of creative (sometimes lazy) days together whenever possible. On a solo tip I love medi vibes up on the cliffs, I spend hours up there on my own either deep in thought or lost in silence. I've been teaching myself to skate a short deck recently which has been a lot of fun (big shout out to my boys in Santa Cruz for the deck, tips and advice), 90's video games have crept back into my life lately as well and digging for music will never end.

FY! - What’s your favorite venue to perform?

Jody - Right now it's Motiv (Santa Cruz), seriously weighty system and a very comfortable booth. I have a monthly residency there with DEPTH.

FY! - What’s next for Hellfire Machina?  Give us the inside info.

Jody - Since Tom left the project that's a question I've been asked many times and your the first to get an answer in print so here goes.

When I first created Hellfire Machina it was intended to be a project for life and nothing's changed for me in that respect. Almost two decades into my music career, I'm happy to pour my creativity into one central project for the rest of my journey. That doesn't mean I won't be doing side projects, I already have a couple planned but the bulk of my output will always be as Hellfire Machina.  With Tom's departure from the landscape it's left a blank canvass of sorts and I've been busy in the studio exploring that. I'm currently working on a bunch of tracks that will be spread across two e.p's and also a 60 minute mixtape. I guess you could say I'm redefining the Hellfire sound for the future so watch this space.............

I'm based in Cali these days so a lot of my energy is spent there. I've recently started a monthly residency -  DEPTH -  to focus on the deeper UK centric end of things and I'm also in the process of launching the Northern California chapter of Konkrete Jungle. It's a very different vibe with the party scene out here and I'm finding myself very much in my element. I was going to have an extended break from BFM and throwing parties but that doesn't look like it's happening any time soon. I brought Hatcha out at the end of 2012, Dubsworth played the launch of DEPTH last week, my first Trap party is on the 30th of January with Chase Manhattan and Ultraviolet and then Youngsta is playing the next DEPTH in February. It never stops and I'm smiling like a cheshire cat. WOMP!

FY! - One last question: Pepsi or Coke?

Jody - Almond milk (homemade). Soak raw almonds in water, leave for 24 hrs then put the mixture in your blender and boom, add some vanilla extract to taste.

FY! -Thank you for your time, and awesome music!

Show some love on Hellfire Machina's Facebook page here.
Then come witness the madness at Do the Dubz 6 in Syracuse, NY.  Get the info here.