After being invited to play several times at London's Fabric nightclub, Meat Katie aka Mark Pember is the latest DJ to mix and compile the next installment of the Fabriclive series. The mix itself embodies a wide variety of breakbeat and tech-funk and completes a hat-trick for breakbeat in the series following mixes from the Freestylers and Fabric resident Joe Ransom. Mark has also been busy juggling the roles of DJ and producer with running his new label Lot49. Nominated as one of the breakthrough labels at the 2004 Breakspoll awards, Lot49 will be one label that change the face and sound of breakbeat thanks to Mark's policy of releasing good music that would not typically be classed as breakbeat.

RA managed to grab a moment of Mark's time to talk about the mix and his new label.

- You've just completed a mix for FabricLive. How can you describe the mix, the tunes you have selected.
It’s a tech-funk mix that encompasses house, electro and techno elements yet it’s rooted in breakbeat - pretty much what I'm about! There are no standout tunes - all of them are rubbish haha. I tried to mix the tracks so they each have their own character as some people buy compilations for just one tune and they don't listen to the whole mix.

Have you changed since the last one?
It’s hard to say really, I guess this one is a bit funkier. I don't want to say to people this is what I'm doing now. As you develop you become more professional at what you do – it’s the same as any other artist. I wouldn't say I knew it all.

- What impact has Fabric had on the breakbeat scene in the UK?
The club still has a real role to play in bringing breakbeat to the masses. Dare I say it but it has become one of the superclubs – a big brand like Ministry Of Sound. The brand is representing underground artists and has a lot to answer for in a good way.

- You new mix features new tunes from your new label, Lot49. What can we expect in upcoming releases from the label?
It’s slightly different in its approach compared to Whole 9 Yards (my other label) – I’m not currently releasing anything on W9Y. Lot49 is based upon my taste. Whether that's right or that's wrong I want to put out music I'm really into. Really interesting artists are coming on board and I release single by single – tunes which I feel will have longevity. Some of the upcoming tunes are Deep Impact & Autobots – “R U Ready” which is a wicked funk tune and an uplifting party record. Koma & Bones – “Get Down” is a techno oriented 4/4 tune – I want to sign artists when they've done something completely different from what we’re normally used to hearing. Audiofly did a bassline house tune of Vandal’s “Mad As Hell” from the mix. Metric is a new artist and I will be putting out his first record – it’s a bleepy house tune which sounds like Teifschwarz mixed in with breakbeat. Surprisingly enough, DJ’s Quest & Mutiny were into what he's doing and it’s completely different to what they normally play.

- What is lot49's music policy when it comes to signing releases? What specific criteria do you look for in tunes to sign them to the label?
I didn't want to play it safe with releases. I want to sign tunes that don’t get signed to other labels. As opposed to me signing a Plump DJs record – I want to dig deeper than that. If someone delivered a blinding country and western song, I'd sign it. At the end of the day as long as I love the record, I’d sign it. It’s just an honest approach to music.

- You and Elite Force are the originators of tech-funk. How can you personally describe the sound and how do you plan to evolve it in the future?
I don’t know if we actually invented it. It’s an all-encompassing sound which is based on breakbeat - a lot of breakbeat is influenced by other breakbeat.

- How do you feel about the influx of bootlegs popping up in the breakbeat scene? Do you feel they help the scene?
I’m personally not offended by it. Some DJs are adverse to the idea saying that bootlegs are killing the scene, it’s just like people moaning about clubs - there are good ones and there are bad ones. Some artists do it to make quick money, quite easy because you're re-rubbing a track everyone knows. If you look on the artists side, some bootlegs help pay the rent on the studio, and they help you get a bit of money. I always found the standard of production on a few bootlegs to be quite high.

- Top 5.
1 - Vandal - Mad As Hell (Lot49)
2 – JDS - Detonate (TCR)
3 - Deep Impact & Autobots - R U Ready? (Lot49)
4- Elite Force - Shadowbox (Kingsize)
5- Rulers Of The Deep - Untitled (Buick Project Remix) (nrk)