- Experimental electronics from a bright new name.
- When Samuel Kerridge's first EP came out on Horizontal Ground last September, Angus Finlayson called him "perhaps the most singular talent the label has yet exposed." It's not hard to see why—with its bleak imagery and dilapidated rhythms, Aurus Interna is an extraordinarily bold debut release. It's also a fitting introduction to Kerridge as an artist. Born in the UK but now based in Berlin, Kerridge grew up with a taste for house and techno that over time came to favor the dark and challenging side of things. When he's not DJing, producing or playing live, he organizes Contort, a series of Sunday afternoon experimental events at Mindpirates, a free arts space hidden down a back alley in Kreuzberg. With past guests like Christian Vogel, Milton Bradley and Sandra Electronics, it's one of the most musically adventurous things happening in the city.
Kerridge is currently building a nice momentum—he's got a record in the works for Downwards America, and just made his debut at Berghain during CTM. His RA podcast shows how he got here: with nearly 30 tracks from experimental and leftfield techno artists, all strung together with samples from his own productions, it's vivid, immersive and far from conventional.
What have you been up to recently?
Preparing my live set for the showcase at Berghain as part of the CTM festival, and creating new music.
How and where was the mix recorded?
The mix was recorded at my home in Berlin using vinyl, CDs and samples.
Can you tell us about the idea behind the mix?
I had just under a week to compile and record this. It's got a mixture of old and new, with samples of my productions running throughout. This was a chance to show some of my inspirations, where I come from, and maybe to some extent where I am going. I like to keep people on their toes, but at the same time it all has to work, and fit, and keep a suspense and tension. It's the fear of the unknown, and I love to create a real atmosphere. I hope this mix achieves that, and offers a little diversity.
Do you DJ much normally or are you more focussed on your live act?
At this moment in time with shows coming up, I'm focussed on my live act. But, my first love is to DJ. I've been doing it since the age of 14, so any excuse to dust the turntables off.
You put out your first 12-inch last September on Horizontal Ground. What was your musical history leading up to that point?
I was exposed to electronic music from the age of four, as my parents were into the UK acid house scene. We had a VW camper and I'd find myself waking up at illegal parties. I use to sleep during the night, but I remember the convoy the night before and then the police in the morning, and the occasional bouncer with a gun at some licensed events when things started to get heavy. My dad would take me in record shops, so he could find out where the next parties were. So I've been submersed in the scene most of my life.
I had run some parties in the UK and then moved to Berlin in October 2011, co-founded the irregular Contort events, and tried to concentrate most of my time on producing.
What are you up to next?
Generally trying to continue what I have been doing and exploring different projects. My next EP drops in February on Downwards, then more releases to follow.
TracklistPan Sonic - Kertsilogia - Herzlogy
Pan Sonic - Lhetys Transmission - Blast First Petite
Sawf - Sand#1 - Modal Analysis
Roly Porter - Arrakis - Subtext
Vromb - L'Homme Grenouille - Nautilus
Raime - Passed Over Trail - Blackest Ever Black
Demdike Stare - Regolith - Modern Love
Haxan Cloak - The Fall - Aurora Borealis
Samuel Kerridge - Remove Yourself - Horizontal ground
Violetshaped - Anesthesia - Violet Poison
Donato Dozzy - K - Further Records
Northern Structures - Session 2 - Sonic Groove
CUB - C U 1 – (UST REMIX) - Downwards
Wicked Messenger - The Three-Eyed Fox - Self Released
Powell - Search - Diagonal
James T. Cotton - Lojak pt.4 - Spectral Sound
Violetshaped - The Remixes - Kangding Ray - Violet Poison
Samuel Kerridge - Waiting For Love EP (samples) - Downwards
Ancient Methods - AM-2 A2 - Ancient Methods
Shifted - Bloodless - Mote Evolver
Emptyset - Structure - Subtext
Mike Parker - Moisture (Treatment 3) - Prologue
Suum Cuique - Strohtopf - Modern Love
Perc - My Head Is Slowly Exploding (Ancient Methods Remix) - Perc Trax
Shackleton - Tin Foil Sky - Skull Disco
Regis - Blinding Horses - Blackest Ever Black
Vatican Shadow - Jordanian Descent (Guantanamo Military Commissions) - Hospital Productions
Sunn 0))) + Boris - N.L.T - Southern Lord