EXE Project
http://www.exe-project.com/
https://soundcloud.com/exe-project
https://www.facebook.com/forwardthinkingelectronicmusic/
EXE Project is a creative platform established in 2016 to showcase the versatile world of left-field electronic music from its various sub genres world wide.
Based out of Manchester England EXE curates releases, events, DJ mixes, Transmission podcasts and videos.
Released Artists:
Gore Tech / 2methyl / Aaron Spectre / Kink & Snare
Artists Hosted at EXE Events:
JK Flesh / Imaginary Forces / Ghost In The Machine / Eye-D / Aaron Spectre / Lucio De Rimanez /
Featured EXE Mix Series Artists:
Hecq / Lucio De Rimanez / Blockdata / Adrian Stainburner / Swarm Inteligance / Fyerhammer / Mathlovsky / Prole Sector / Aaron Spectre / Sub Unit / 2methyl
EXE 'Family' (Performed mixes, DJ Sets and Contributers)
Gore Tech / Subunit / Krafty PK / Babylon Broken / Meecha / Ruckuz / Nian Dub / TiNK / Semiotix / Andy Blackforest / Silent Message / Aaron Spectre
Q.
How did the members of "EXE Project" gather? When is the EXE Project officially launched?
EXE Project consists of a few of us here, we have a different person for different roles but normally there's 4 of us planning and funding the project,
as it's predominantly a label and events group it takes a lot of time to bring things to the surface, We started in 2015.
Q.
What is the concept and slogan of the EXE Project?
EXE really came from the .exe files on computers as it's the point of inception, the Alpha as it were. We also liked the logo draft and decided to run with it,there's not really a mission statement outside of 'Forward Thinking Electronic Music'.
Q.
EXE has released EP of Gore Tech, Aaron Specter, Kink & Snare. All these works are in Drum'N'Bass style. Is EXE a Drum'N'Bass label?
At the moment they just happened to be the releases that were available to us and that we enjoyed, we do have plans to release more music from various sub-genres soon, Our Transmission Podcasts and Mix Series are perhaps more reflective of our overall music tastes.
Also we like to try and vary our event line-ups to reflect the same.
Q.
You are releasing DJ Mix every month. Interesting every time with a very unique person selection. How do you find artists? What is your favorite Mix?
We certainly do, generally we get sent a submission or we find out someone we know is bringing something new out, we basically keep our eye out, we're always open to suggestions.
I couldn't say what my favourite mix has been, I think I was most excited about releasing a Hecq mix based on the new music he'd been writing and also to hear Aaron Spectre's take on new music styles knowing his history with 'mix-tapes' I've not been disappointed by any mix really, I think they're all great.
EXE - M009 - Hecq (2017)
EXE - M003 - Aaron Spectre (2016)
Q.
You are playing an aggressive Drum'n'Bass. What do you think of the recent experimental Drum'n'Bass music?
I think Drum and Bass has always been a solid foundation in everything we've done as EXE and everything I've done with Gore Tech, I think it has a lot more variations than other electronic music and it's ever pushing boundaries, I think at the moment I'm more inspired by the concepts behind the new music, the darker, industrial types not necessarily the high production values and surgical sound but perhaps the more brave, honest and thought-out ideas in the scene.
Q.
How much are you conscious of the dance floor in EXE releases and events / DJing? Is the reaction of DJs and clubs(floor) is important for EXE Project?
That's an interesting question, I think one reason we started doing what we did is because we recognize as fans first that there's so much great music in the electronic sub-cultures that we couldn't focus on one single sub-genre and I know most fans of music feel the same. The events we've ran have been so varied in turn out and music styles it's great to see a room go from moody, to all out crazy to downright puzzled all in the space of one evenings events. I'd hope to keep what we do far from hegemony and tedium as possible and focus on pushing fresh ideas over flogging tired and cliched sounds.
Q.
What do you think about streaming service? How do you find value for music without objects?
Current consumption speed is a major factor that creates new music. But, do you think that the future is a positive future?
Again that is interesting, we use the same services as most labels to push out the music to the digital stores, I'd like to think we add value to what we do by focusing on preservation. our last release (EXE-D003 - Kink & Snare - Mech EP) is a digital only however we spend a couple of days building a Gundam Mech and physically placing our own bespoke transfers on it and taking some high quality product photographs to give it a physical dimension. Music does sometimes feel ethereal in the digital age but I think if you respect the consumer and convey a sense of value, rather than trying to oversaturate your platform to increase profits at all cost, focus on development of ideas and quality.
Q.
Drum'n'Bass / Hardcore artists are releasing industrial techno / techno under a different name. Such as Adrian Stainburner (Hostage), Fyerhammer (The Teknoist), Climaxim (Limewax), GHOST 303 (Cooh), Ghost In The Machine (Eye-D & Nils van Lingen) Why do you think industrial techno is popular recently? Do you think there is something in common with DNB and industrial techno? Or do you think that social unrest and circumstances are calling industrial music?
I think if you asked any of these artists you'll find that they have been involved in the genre of Techno or Industrial for as long as they've been involved in their Drum and Bass projects. Interestingly enough the new wave of techno doesn't perhaps come directly from the older techno scene but more so from re-visiting older early industrial music. So Godflesh, Sunn(0))), Scorn and DHR acts for instance are acts I've always been a big fan off personally. I see a lot of this has influenced the new wave of acts such as Ansome, Ghost In The Machine and Perc.
I think we're also coming down from the dizzying highs of the 00s when rave-culture peaked with it's absurdity and positive feelings back down into somewhere where we need something a little darker, but this isn't the first time. the Acid House scene of the late 80s early 90s with free-party culture and ecstasy was such a high that through the 90s people began coming down and acts like Aphex Twin, Autechre through labels like Warp Records birthed the darker more paranoid sounds, ending with the Planet Mu, Wrong Music, BGMW vibe back into a high again. So I believe we're on the down again for a while and we need to get through this hangover with doom, drone and industrial sounds. but we'll peak again.
EXE - M021 - Adrian Stainburner (2018)
Q.
The EXE Project uses Japanese animation and culture. Please tell us your favorite Japanese animation/music of top 3.
We do, Oh boy we do, Favourite's well that's tough, of course, Katsuhiro Otomo and Masamune Shirow are some of our all time favourites. More recently we've been reading alot of work by Tsutomu Nihei (Abara, Biomega and of course BLAME!) We follow a lot of Manga closely and we pay close attention to Japanese design as it's some of the most thoughtful and well executed the world over. As for music Japan has always been braver than most with sound, Going back you'd find me listening to Mad Capsule Markets, A=A and Merzbow. More recently we've been listening to a lot of Church of Misery, Goth-Trad and Boris to name a few.
Q.
Please tell us the schedule of the future EXE Project.
This year we have focused mainly on mix series and releases but going forward we plan to curate some more events and more releases however we like to take our time and attempt to develop EXE Project at a more organic rate.
As such we're not likley to rush anything as all involved have other projects that they focus on as well. With that said we've been sent some excellent music latley and may speed up our release schedule more. We will also return with a new Transmission Podcast season again towards the end of 2018.
