The Prototypes’ Get Hype Records imprint continues to elevate the game with each and every release, and their latest single is one for the record books. Featuring the deadly Russian trio known as Teddy Killerz bringing their signature no-holds-barred approach the dancefloor, the crew lock horns with the Netherlands-based drum and bass stalwart, Nymfo, and the untouchable dubstep killer known as Funtcase.
Both tunes are smashers in their own right and with the Teddy Killerz well-known flirtation fascination with dubstep on their own tunes, the collab with Funtcase seems like a no-brainer. The tune itself is an unchained exploration of neck-snapping, chest-pounding fury. Unfolding like the byproduct of a heavy metal-infused digital nightmare, the anabolic skanker known as “Boom!” is sure to have the squad bouncing off the walls no matter what bpm they traditionally call home.
To celebrate the monumental release, we thought we’d elevate our own game and transform the usual Q&A format and just listen in as Funtcase and Teddy Killerz put each other in the hot seat. The results are absolutely epic so check the beats and the resulting conversation below. The cut is out now across the globe so get yours here.
Teddy Killerz: You have been in the scene for a long time. How has dubstep changed over the years? How do you feel about its current state?
Funtcase: Well, back in the very early days it was quite minimal. The energetic elements were there with people like myself, BAR9 and 16bit, but generally it was a lot more stripped back and simple. These days it’s a melee of intricate sound design and formulas.
Teddy Killerz: How do people react to drum and bass tunes in your sets in North America? Do you think DnB is getting bigger in the US or has it stayed on the same level as past years?
Funtcase: It’s slowly but surely becoming more accepted for sure but it’s still definitely got a long way to go. It’s bigger than ever right now I feel and people are beginning to grasp it; it’s just going to take a while.
Teddy Killerz: What’s your favorite synth (apart from Serum xD) right now?
Funtcase: I LOVE Reaktor, got some nutty sounds out of that, mainly because of my new Komplete Kontrol keyboard and messing around with the NI Komplete 12 set.
Teddy Killerz: Tell us your hottest Top 3 DnB and Top 3 dubstep producers right now.
Funtcase: In DnB it has to be Mefjus, DJ Limited and Hybrid Minds. For dubstep it’s Phiso, Svdden Death and Mvrda.
Teddy Killerz: How do I explain to my grandma what dubstep music is?
Funtcase: I always have to explain what dubstep is to older taxi and Uber drivers. What I say is it’s slow, stompy, heavy, bass-driven music! Ok, it’s my turn. Why Teddy Killerz?
Teddy Killerz: One friend of ours offered to draw us something linked with bears. We thought it was a good idea and would be cool to come up with something a bit silly and funny and scary at the same time; something opposite to typical serious DnB things, you know. That’s how we came up with Teddies idea. Technically we are still talking about “bears” but plush and badass!
Funtcase: Do you guys ever struggle with agreeing to each other’s ideas on tracks?
Teddy Killerz: It happens sometimes. Usually, we try to get a tune or idea to the point where everyone is happy about it but sometimes if two of us like something badly, the third one needs to make concessions to them.
Funtcase: Do each of you serve a specific purpose in your production? For example, one is the sound designer specialist, one is the mixdown guy, and so on?
Teddy Killerz: Not really. It depends on the tune. Sometimes one of us starts and finishes it, sometimes each of us works on the idea.
Funtcase: Do you find dubstep a lot easier than DnB to make?
Teddy Killerz: It’s hard to say. I think it’s easy to make dubstep when you have the experience of making dubstep. It’s the same for any other genre. Dubstep is about different production techniques but it’s cool to mix it with some of sounds we usually make for DnB.
Funtcase: What year was your first release and has it aged badly?
Teddy Killerz: As Teddy Killerz, I think it was 2012 and it actually was a breaks EP called The Exorcist we did for Hardcore Beats UK. Well, of course it sounds old compared to the today’s standards of scene and our sound but it’s not extremely horrible.