Interview

Alongside the 6-part series of tutorial videos about Ableton Live 11 Lite I made for the Feb '22 issue of Computer Music Magazine, I also did an interview. The one that was published was quite radically cut down, so here's the interview in full:

Can you give me a biog about yourself, how and why you got into music production?

My two main obsessions growing up were music and computers, so I suppose it was inevitable that I would end with a career producing music on a computer! I started learning the piano from six years old, as well as singing in the school choir. I was an 80’s kid with home computers in their infancy, so the first sequencer I used was called ‘MIDItrack Performer’ using an EMR interface on a BBC B computer. I connected my Yamaha DX-7 and Roland S-10 sampler, and together with a Yamaha 4-track cassette recorder (borrowed from my uncle), I was making early demos in my teens. At the same time, I was in a band at school, and we used to spend weekends rehearsing and playing gigs whenever we could. Our school friends were really supportive, making flyers and turning up to our small gigs.

Once I left school and went to University in London, I continued to get together with my school bandmates to work on demos. We were called ‘The K-Creative’ and influenced by Hip Hop, House, and Jazz. It led to us being signed to Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label in 1991, and this was officially the start of my music career.

After releasing our debut album ‘QED’ we ended up going our separate ways, but I started to work more on my production skills, writing with other artists, making radio jingles, and playing at jam sessions to build up my network of contacts. This eventually led to a record deal with Columbia France in 2000, and I went on to release three solo albums, ‘Life Changes’, ‘Rising Son’ and very recently ‘Short Circuits’. Throughout my career, I have also played keyboards with bands and artists like Galliano, Raw Stylus, Two Banks of Four, and Kylie Minogue, remixed over 50 tracks, and worked at Xenomania. I currently release music on my own label, Primaudial Records, continue writing and producing with artists such as Incognito, Dave Lee, Duke Dumont, and Valerie Etienne, as well as having an ambient electronic project called Ayota.

And how did you go from there to become an Ableton Certified Trainer?

Ayota Interview for Nick Luscombe's Flomotion

This is an interview I did recently with Nick Luscombe for his Flomotion radio site, talking about my Ayota project. (http://www.flomotionradio.com/)

You can find out more about Ayota here: https://www.skioakenfull.com/ayota

Ski Oakenfull Interview for Vibe 101 FM Deli-G

This is a phone interview I did with DJ Deli-G for his show on Vibe 101 FM called 'The Touch' on 31 July 2005.

As part of an album showcase, he featured tracks from my 'Rising Son' LP.

Ayota Interview for Resonance FM Tom Chivers

This is an interview I did with Tom Chivers for his 'Penned In The Margins' Poetry show on Resonance FM.

It took place on 20th August 2006. It features 2 tracks from the 'Helicopter Cuts' album released on Third Ear Japan.

Ski Oakenfull Interview for Kiss FM Tom Middleton

This is an interview I did with Tom Middleton for his Kiss FM show on 23rd June 2001 whilst promoting my 'Life Changes' album.

Ski Oakenfull Interview for XFM John Kennedy

This is an interview that I did for John Kennedy's One Night Stand show on XFM, date: 17 May 2001.

It was around the time I was promoting my 'Life Changes' album. There was also a DJ mix to accompany the interview which is also available on mixcloud.