With a name like Future Thinkin’, it may seem ironic to look, and judge,
retrospectively. True, it is necessary to put this organisation’s history
and influences into context. However, given the current state of musical
affairs, and the views recently shared by FT’s management, the name
symbolises more than their material organisation, and actually embodies
the musical developments which are forming the new and future musical
epoch.
Originally sprouting from the enthusiasm of three drum’n’bass heads, FT is
a London based agency and promotions outlet that today houses a
comprehensive selection of DJs, producers, musicians and vocalists. Their
recent brochure conveys their representation of a broad and open-minded
insight into the drum’n’bass scene. Indeed, this doubles as their vision
and mission: a platform through which the most diverse aspects of music
are encouraged; of performances by artists that reflect abstract and
experimental break beats, and create a forward moving fusion of sound,
thus: FUTURE THINKIN With two major events staged this year [c.2000],
exciting prospects currently in the pipeline, and the imminent hosting of
upstairs at “Intuition”, I felt the time was apt to discover whether the
tides of change had been anticipated and, if so, to evaluate the role of
FT amongst these innovations which are, it would seem, without boundaries…
I had agreed with Shylo, the more vocal of FT’s management, that a
comfortable, informal setting would be most appropriate, and so I arrived
at his Walthamstow pad on a cool summer’s evening. After greeting, pouring
a rum and coke each, and setting a rather melodic and laid back mix to
play, we began. Or rather, Shylo began, and introducing Future Thinkin’ to
me with some background:
“Our progress has been slow, mainly because we’ve resisted the temptation
to be ‘just another promotion’. We’ve tried hard to maintain our direction
and stay true to what we believe in basically allowing the music to
breathe.”
When you first started out, how did the scene appear to you?
“When we first started, Roni Size had won the Mercury Music Prize, Goldie
was in the ‘papers all the time – the music was as diverse as I’ve ever
seen it. The future was bright…”
Shylo hesitates,.…but, there was still the underlying feeling that too
much control was in the hands of too few people – not a good thing for the
scene.”
I asked how much he thought this affected the organisation’s
start-up:
“We found it difficult in the past to get recognition for what we were
doing, but, as things began to change musically, we knew that the time was
right.” “We started out with two nights at ‘The Dragon’ in London Bridge,
and were harshly introduced to the realities of commercial events. We
spent time concentrating on building a base: house parties and other
things – working on getting the crew together.”
The ‘crew’, today, is a formidable wealth of artists, recognised and
recruited for being what Shylo considers as simply:
“…good vocalists, talented DJs, MCs and producers – who’re in it for the
love and not the money.”
Now I was curious about the role of FT’s artists within the current
musical climate….
“I believe that there’s a need for the entire spectrum of drum’n’bass to
be represented under one roof. That’s something which I believe is unique
to Future Thinkin’. That, coupled with the fact that we have live
musicians, vocalists and MCs who not only ride over the vibe within the
music, but ride with it.”
It seems that drum’n’bass followers are becoming frustrated, that the
scene needs a new direction; I asked what Shylo thought of this year’s
“progress” –
“For me, this year’s been disappointing drum’n’bass wise. A lot of tracks
were being made to a formula, rather than pieces of individual expression.
But I can understand why this has happened. There are many people who rely
on d&b for money in their pockets, and to do that, they have to sell a
product. I think that, in doing so, they’ve began to lose sight of the
reason they started with this music in the first place.” He continues,
putting FT into context, We’ve spent three and a half years selecting DJs
that we feel…each represent a part of drum’n’bass – and have that section
covered. Our vocalists know how to work with the music, and the MCs have
something to say and to get across.” These rumblings of discontent had
been made clear. As a collective who had once struggled to get their views
across, Shylo states Future Thinkin’s objective:
“To show the world that there’s so much under the label of ‘drum’n’bass’
that has been neglected, for many years. We’re trying to provide a
platform for people to see what drum’n’bass really is.”So, despite the
apparent reactionary powers that have reduced hopeful enthusiasts to
followers rather than leaders, there is now a niche emerging for new,
different artists, and listeners alike. Shylo, asked about the faces of
music not yet recognised, or overlooked, by the mainstream, moves in for
the jugular:
“I would hope that people take note of what we’re trying to do, and
realise that if drum’n’bass is going to progress, then…what? Then, things
have to change. We just intend to remain true to what we believe in, and
that is: universal music for universal people.”
Perhaps Future Thinkin’s aims are where the old barriers to freedom of
expression, and long burgeoning unrest and agitation, can converge.
Perhaps drum’n’bass has consolidated itself enough, to the point where it
needs fresh air and is ready to stride towards pastures greener.
Perhaps, this consistent paradox of ‘breakbeat connoisseurs’ and
‘pioneers’ of style with the ‘formula’ of dancefloor production has
brought the realisation of d&b’s frustrations and possibilities to the
masses. There is certainly juxtaposition between the dominant, somewhat
predictable tracks pouring out of the record shops, and the more
experimental/melodic pieces of “individual expression” that appear to be
guarded from the ears, and record bags of many faithful followers.
Finally, I asked Shylo who Future Thinkin’ are doing this for. His answer,
by the time of the second ‘Futurism’ event earlier this year, had grown
into something of an FT maxim:
“Purely for those who gather to the beat of the drum.”
