030303 is a label based in Utrecht, just 30km South of Amsterdam, and is quickly becoming known for its acid inspired (pre-covid) parties and releases. Having hosted some Mantissa favourites such as Automatic Tasty, Ceephax Acid Crew, and Lone (to name a few); I was lucky enough to be able to grab a few words from Label head Bohm about his influences, journey so far, 030303 Records, and his latest Beach Life EP.
Hey Jerome, great to meet you, to get things started off, can you tell us a bit about your musical journey so far?
I was about 11 or 12 years old when I first discovered House music (I am 43 now). Bought a New Beat compilation album and 2 Various House albums: ‘Turn up the Bass (volume 1)’ and ‘Rappin’up the House’ that had ’S Express – Superfly Guy (The fluffy bagel mix) and ‘Mr Fingers – Can you feel it’ on it. I already had a crush for synthesizer music and Hip Hop, but this was something else. From that period I was hooked on this music. Can you imagine when you hear ‘Humanoid – Stakker Humanoid’ for the first time when you are just a little kid…
Ok ok, I went back in time too much 😊
But from that time I was playing at school parties with cassettes and vinyl. My mate, Stijn Jansen (also an 030303 member) and I met some older boys who were into House parties and we got to know the scene, and new releases from them. We were mixing tapes with just record/play on a cassette deck and had fun.
A bit later (about 17) I sold my moped and bought direct drive turntables and a cheap mixer. All different House genres passed by from UK Breakbeat to Hardcore and Electronica. And then it all began getting more serious when I was in my early 20s and mixed Acid and Techno – I played at some parties and got to know the other boys who I would later start 030303 with
You’re one of the founding members of 030303 Records, can you tell us about about the Label and how it started?
It was beginning 2000’s, and as mentioned we were just a bunch of Househeads and had enormous fun at parties. The crazier the better. Acid House was our common love and at a trip to an Acid party in Gent we decided to print yellow shirts with a big smiley and the number 030303 (Utrecht – Acid) and wear that.
After being to a bunch of parties and playing, as well as organising a few individually, we decided to organise a party as a crew. The first one being in Utrecht in 2005. Acid Party, entrance € 5,- and a beer for €1,-
Our first various E.P. came out on the established label ‘Marguerita Records’ of our mate Cosmic Force in 2006 and after about 5 releases we then started our own 030303 Records label in 2009.
The intention was to release tracks of artists we booked at our parties (Ceephax Acid Crew, Luke Vibert, Kettel and JTC), artists we just like, or use the label as a platform for new artists. I think it became a nice blend of it all. The artwork was also an important aspect for us.
We have released 6 albums and 17 EP’s so far and a new Various album and EP 18 till till 20 are in pipeline, and still more to come.
That’s a lot of releases! You’ve also recently released your Beach Life EP which is really nice (Sunset Drive is a particular favourite of mine), can you tell us a bit about the process behind making it?
Ah Thanks man!
My mate Mark Wilkinson (aka Kid Machine) pushed me to release music in the first place. Over the last 10 years I have been collecting hardware and messing about on them: The Roland TR707, SH101, Juno60, TB03 (sold it), Behringer TD3 (worth the money) and also had some cool plugins in Ableton, but I never finished tracks.
After releasing my first tracks on my own label Purewaxx (split EP with Mark), I recognized I always make melancholic kind of tracks. Don’t know why, haha.
But after the Purewaxx release I made ‘Sunset Drive’. It was almost summer and I was thinking of warm weather, beaches and the sea. I always like the feeling of the drive back home in the afternoon.
For ‘Cloud control’ I borrowed the TB303 from mate Sander (another 030303 member) and was off course inspired by old Trax records. The same for Coastline cruiser. Ocean View was more an emotional track for me, after a rough year.
2 labels were interested to release music of mine after Purewaxx 001, and after those reactions I felt confident to send my tracks around. I noticed a very cool logo at SoundCloud ‘the Earman’ from Echocentric Records, listened to some cool releases like DJ Life, and that was the start…
Strangely enough, Timo from Echocentric picked out my favourite House tracks to complete this EP, and they all had a Beach theme.
You’re have a distinct style in your productions, like, favouring that warm acidy sound. Have you ever made anything that’s totally different to this?
Yeah, I have made some harder Acid tracks, Electro and recently D&B (but with warm sound, hehe). It totally depends on my mood. I don’t know what to do with these tracks, but it is fun to make as I can really lose myself completely…
Where do you draw inspiration from for your productions?
It depends on the genre, but the late 80’s / beginning 90’s House music has influenced me greatly. I think this is still following me from childhood.
I can get inspiration when if I hear something cool, see a cool videoclip on YouTube (check out EELF for instance), or when my mates and I are discussing music.
That’s a great channel to do some more digging into, thanks! Can you tell us a bit about the scene in Utrecht? And how it potentially differs from the scene in Amsterdam?
Utrecht is a student city with lots of bars, some clubs and very cool pop stages (TivoliVredenburg – de Helling and Ekko). For the last 15 years we organized parties at these stages. The outdoor festivals are smaller if you compare it to Amsterdam, but I think more intimate. Amsterdam is bigger with more clubs and bigger venues. The Dekmantel festival is awesome by the way, look at the artists they book every year, but I just think the underground scene is a little bigger in Utrecht.
Covid-19 has affected us all across the globe, how have you found it affecting things in the Netherlands? And how do you think it will change the music, and in particular the dance music scene in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is known for its outdoor festivals and indoor parties. This Covid-19 period has destroyed this and a lot of organizations like light and sound suppliers, as well as catering companies wait for the regulations regarding Covid-19 next year. A new (intelligent) lock down means a lot will be bankrupted.
The same story goes for the pop stages and the cultural sector, although there are some creative initiatives.
DJ’s and producers and some other acts are doing some cool things, but in my opinion it isn’t like the real thing. I really hope to be able to play, or dance and see cool acts at a party in 2021!
Could you give us some artists that you’re really digging right now? And why?
There are a lot of really really good artists at the moment. I still listen to great productions from the West Coast of NL, like Legowelt and I-F, sub labels and the series from Clone, M>O>S Recordings from Amsterdam. International labels like Lobster Theremin, Klasse Wrecks Tone Dropout, Furthur Electronix, R.A.N.D. Muzik and Gestalt Records… too many to mention!! And the old WARP records with Autechre, Plaid and musical wizard Aphex Twin.
Again, some great suggestions there – What are the plans in the future for both yourself and the label?
Both 030303 Records and Purewaxx have a bunch of releases in the pipeline. I have a few productions that will also be released on several other labels, which is a real honour. Following on from this Covid time, I have had even more time to focus on making music – I pretty much had to, otherwise the music would just haunt my head, haha.
Thanks so much for the time man!
Interview by: Tom Allman