Interview: Rusko > <

Thu, May 6 2010

'O.M.G!' He's Finally Droppin' His Debut!

Leeds born Rusko, AKA Chris Mercer, first landed on our London-based ears with his Fabric residency alongside Caspa. His 'Fabric Live' mix CD is regarded as the first commercially available dubstep mix, in fact. But that seems all too easily boxed right now.

The electronic whizz has remixed everyone from The Prodigy, to Little Boots, Kid Sister and Kid Cudi. He's just been on tour with the Diplo and Swtich outfit Major Lazer. He's been working with MIA on her new album. And that's all before releasing his own debut album.

'O.M.G!', featuring Crookers, Gucci Mane, Ben Westbeech and more, sees Rusko bringing UK and US dancefloor sounds together under a broad dubstep palate. Everyone must have heard the first single release, 'Woo-Boost', by now, it's riding high in the charts at number seven right now. But he's also had a few other stonkers that y'all must have caught a glimspe of by now – 'Cockney Thug' anyone. Yep, it was Rusko that seemingly inserted the wobble into dubstep. A sound that he's now taking further afield...

Rivmixx: So, Rusko! You're seen as a dubstep head, but your music seems a completely new strand – if dubstep at all. How would you describe it?

Rusko: “Yeah, I am a huge dubstepper, but you are right a lot of it doesn’t fit the mould! It's just bass rave music, you know. It's party jams with lots of bass. It's not deep or serious in any way, it's just for ravin' and dancin' and fun!”

Rivmixx: You've just finished a US tour with the Diplo and Switch outfit Major Lazer - you got any funny stories to tell us?!

Rusko: “Oh my god that tour bus was a stinkin' ass place! We lost Switch for a few days! We played in Philly and me and him checked into the Four Seasons for a night of fine wine and cigars and went in a little bit too hard - no one could get in touch with him for the next three or four shows, he was AWOL! I never really found out the whole story, but I know the hotel bill was thousands...”

Rivmixx: You've been working with MIA too, producing her new album – can you tell us a bit about that.

Rusko: “Ha ha. People are gonna be a bit scared when they hear that record! I produced six tracks on the album and we mixed the whole ting together (me and MIA) in Hawaii. We've all known each other for a minute through Mad Decent and just got a bit carried away. All the tracks were built from long jams that we had, and I played some rockin' guitar on some tracks too. It's mad distorted and very in your face!”

Rivmixx: Her latest release, 'Born Free' is pretty provocative – esp the vid. What do you make of it? Her meaning etc?

Rusko: “Ha ha. We used to joke about the ginger haired kids idea, cos I'm a ginger and they would always be rippin' me because of it! We finished the album and I went on tour for six weeks, I came back and she'd made the video! I was so surprised and couldn’t believe she really did it. Music videos are back y'all!!!!!!”

Rivmixx: What made you wanna get into music?

Rusko: “Well I always grew up around music, my mom was in a band and I have played the guitar saxophone and piano for as long as I can remember. Being a DJ is just something that has happened since I released my first few singles - I had to learn pretty quick, and get out of the studio!”

Rivmixx: You've been working on your own album – 'O.M.G!', your debut!! It seems like it's taken a while, especially as you've worked with so many other acts on their work... Is it worth the wait?! Tell us about it...

Rusko: “Oh yeah, I think I'm like the last guy ever to release their record! Two reasons really; all the tracks have been tried and tested in my DJ sets, and I've been waiting for the right time worldwide, London and Europe has always been receptive but to have America playlisting my tracks now on radio and selling 2000+ tickets to club shows would have never happened two years ago, so I wanted a lot of ears to hear it.”

Rivmixx: You're on tour around the UK next month – what can we expect?

Rusko: “I try and play as many tracks as is physically possible, as loud and fast as possible, and get mad hype on the mic. I hate fancy DJ controllers and light shows and dancers - f*ck that! All I need is a volume control and a mic - simple is always most effective!”

Rivmixx: You've just moved to LA too – why?

Rusko: “I always spend a lot of time here in California and I play just as many gigs either side of the Atlantic! Being here lets me work with some crazy cool artists (T.I and Travis Barker just this week for example!). Also there is such a thing as medical marihuana - all i have to do is walk two blocks to the shop and buy the best ganja in the world. Enuff said!”

Rivmixx: Is World domination the next step? If not, what is?!

Rusko: “Ha! Being here in LA, workin' on as many projects as i can and touring every single month - I'm really working on the World domination! Either that or i'll open a weed shop and y'all never see me again!”

Before he opens that weed shop, ya'll can check him DJ at one of the many gigs he's got coming up. Rusko hits the UK on May 14 at Fabric, before a full EU / UK tour – some of which will see him play with Major Lazer. BIG! Click HERE for full listings....

'O.M.G!' is out on June 7 under Mad Decent.