- Heavy but ecstatic electronics from one half of former duo Minimal Violence.
- This week's RA Podcast marks something of a debut for Infinity Division, the new solo project from Canadian artist Ash Luk, best known as one half of EBM-techno duo Minimal Violence. (Minimal Violence had itself been a solo project since last year, when cofounder Lida P left the group.) Getting his start in Vancouver's punk scene as part of the band Lié, Luk's approach to dance music is informed not only by those origins but by Western Canada's long history with industrial music and techno—spot Skinny Puppy and Tunnel Canary in the tracklist.
Minimal Violence first impressed us with their hardware-focused house and techno, a harder-edged version of the sound that was sweeping Vancouver at the time. They moved on to Ninja Tune sub-label Technicolour and then Tresor for a series of records that saw their sound become more expansive, sharper and more melodic, incorporating not just techno and punk influences but also trance, EBM and more. These are the genres that feed into Infinity Division, and Luk's RA Podcast hurtles through everything from old Prodigy, '90s German hard trance, Canadian breakcore and new tracks from his own project. This is heavy dance music that's also heavy on melody, unafraid of huge crescendoes that hit that sweet spot between punishment and euphoria. Buckle up.
What have you been up to recently?
I've mostly been working on music to release under this new alias. Also taking this summer to do some travelling, swimming anywhere I find water and spending time with loved ones. Drawing a bit and getting back into tattooing. Aside from that I've started working on a theatre production in Berlin as a pianist and guitarist, it's been nice to be pushed out of my comfort zone a bit and to make use of my early classical piano training.
How and where was the mix recorded, and can you tell us the idea behind the mix?
XDJ 700s and my XONE 32 mixer in my home studio recorded through an old Mackie mixer running into Ableton. I don't think there is a specific idea or theme behind my mixes, it is a collection of tracks that I am currently excited about, playing out or inspired by. I tend to construct mixes and DJ sets the same way I made mixtapes for my friends when I was younger. I rarely use any tool tracks and I am drawn to epic melodies and breaks, this tends to make my sets a bit chaotic but I'm unapologetic about this as as i feel like it keeps things interesting and fun.
The obsession with contagious melodies juxtaposed with heavy rhythms is a theme that is always present in my mixes—also likely what drives me towards trance and gabber. Also I always like to incorporate Canadian content whenever possible, artists that have inspired my sound and had a formative impact on me in earlier years. This mix includes a few of those like Tunnel Canary, Skinny Puppy and Venetian Snares.
You recently debuted the new project at a show in Berlin. How did that go?
Actually, that premier was of a separate project I've been working on alongside Ireen Amnes called s.a.t.i.n. It's been a really exciting collaboration, Ireen is an incredibly talented musician and has pushed me outside of my usual approaches to constructing a live set, incorporating bass and vocals... elements of doom alongside breaks and IDM, straddling the line between an electronic project and band. We've been working on recording our first EP and planning more live shows.
How does it feel striking out on your own—and in the broadest of terms, how do you think your solo work differs (or will differ) from Minimal Violence?
To be honest it's a hard question to answer as, since Lida had stepped away from the project in April 2021, I had been doing Minimal Violence as a solo project both producing and performing since then so in that sense it is essentially a continuation of that under a different name. But in another sense it feels new, detached from the past and an opportunity to take a new approach to the project, both aesthetically and musically. I doubt the way I produce will change, the melodies and general approach to production will still remain a marker of mine but I've been taking this opportunity to explore myself and my approach to writing music—also using my own voice more, something I kept separate from the project in the past.
In the upcoming Infinity Division release I have a track that I sing on which is actually really exciting as I recorded the vocals prior to starting testosterone so it's a bit of a fragment of the past that I'm not sure I can still replicate now with my new vocal range. But that in itself is exciting as I want to do more vocals to explore this new vocal range. Overall I feel like the shift to Infinity Division is a positive one.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
Coming from Canada I find people I meet in Europe often have a very different perspective of the country than someone who has lived there. I feel it is important to educate people on the colonial history of Canada, the residential schools and the systemic racism against Indigenous peoples. Also the opioid crisis in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and important work of harm reduction workers there.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
I'm looking forward to getting out the first release under the Infinity Division name, which will be coming out through Never Sleep in the next couple of months. I popped a couple of those tracks into this mix too! Also very much looking forward to spring as I have no proper heating in my bedroom :)
TracklistTunnel Canary - Beauty Secrets
Skinny Puppy - Choralone
DNAonDNA - Haifa
Electric Universe - Luna Overdrive
The Green Martian - Industry
Cocooma - District of Power (club mix)
Space Tribe - Out of Control
Virtuart - Time Cruncher
Caater - Hold that Sucker Down
NTBR - Jahia
Y2C - Mystical Time Zone (Infinity Division Remix) (forthcoming)
Kilbourne - ID (unreleased)
Spiderwrap - Arcane
Antiloop - In My Mind
Jason Cortez - God (James Lawson remix)
Infinity Division - untitled (forthcoming)
Prodigy - No Good (start the dance) (bad for you mix)
Kineta - Scorpius
Animistic Beliefs - Goblins Caught on Camera
Dj Ibon & Vilde Tuv - Mineral Hool
Aura T-09 & Basek - West Coast pt.2
Infinity Division - Something Dreamy (forthcoming)
Venetian Snares - Goodbye9/Hello10
Saftey Trance - Besos De Fuego
Pastis, Ninu, Xory & Fini - Vorfreude
Mutant Joe - Eyes Without a Face
Sy & Demo - Tears Run Cold