Coming through with Mantissa Mix 191 is Oli Silva.
Oli Silva is a producer and DJ from London. A veteran of the London scene and Lion and Lamb resident, we had a chat to talk through his begins, the concept behind his Mantissa Mix and his views on the pandemic’s effect on the industry.
G: Hello mate , how’s it going? Can you quickly introduce yourself and maybe just talk us through how you first got into making music and DJing?
O: Hi, I am Oli Silva. Where shall I start? From the beginning? I’ve always been tinkering with music, messing around as a teenager with guitars and bongos then buying a drum kit trying not to wake the parents, jamming with friends trying to make stoner rock and being silly in cheap rehearsal studios around Park Royal. I was also interested in the technology side of music as well, getting my first computer setup from Turnkey on Charring cross road, first hire purchase you know, first proper speakers was so excited, Fostex PM1’s they were, still got them today. Can’t mix for shit on them but nice to listen to music on.
I guess getting into dj’ing really started when I got a job at the Elbow Room on Westbourne Grove. It was a pool bar opened by Arthur Baker and Paul Daly. It was a American pool style bar but done well. The general manager at the time was a guy called Kem and he was friends with Craig and was also living with Lee Burridge at the time, he would take us all to Fabric. Me and Eddie, who worked at the Elbow and who I leant to first learnt to DJ with, me and him would be baby faced standing in the booth in room one going yeah this is fucking cool, like little Beavis and Buttheads, meeting Judy and Craig, nervous little boys we were, thinking this is pretty cool. Also the infamous Tyrant parties at carnival at the Elbow Room were special, we would cover all the pool tables and dance on top of them, got sweaty. Then me and Ed bought some decks then got a flat together and learnt how to mix.
G: Did both the process of learning to DJ and produce come at a similar time?
O: Yeah, I was definitely making music first. Messing around on a computer and instruments. I first started DJing properly when I was around 21 or so.
G: The few times I have seen you play you have always played mostly records. Has it always been that way?
O: Not always. I started off collecting vinyl. There was a period like 15 years ago where I used Traktor. Everyone used Traktor then ahahaha. But yeah mainly vinyl, I prefer to play more records if I can help it.
G: How many records do you think you have?
O: Not a ridiculous amount compared to some people. Maybe two thousand or so.
G: Are they organised really well or?
O: No unfortunately not. They are quite the opposite. They’ve been moving around so much in the last year. One of those things I have been needing to organise for ages, slowly torturing myself hehe. It’s well past due.
G: Are there any records that you own that are particularly special to you? Do you remember your first?
O: So many special ones it’s hard to pick, the first ones I guess were early Pantytec on Perlon, old Playhouse records, Loved going to Berlin to shop for records, disco as well, records like Richie Rome African Suite that’s a special one for me. B52’s to Jon Hassell records, all sorts really.
G: I know we have had this conversation a few times, about your favourite club. You have always said Fabric. I just wondered if you could explain why it is your favourite and what do you think makes it so special?
O: Fabric is just special. It is like the British Museum of club music. I just think those early days especially of going to Fabric, the sets I saw there, the sound system. The team there. It is a very special place. Playing there is also amazing, sounds incredible. It has some real heritage to it I think and so many good times there.
G: How do you compare it now to what It was back then? I have heard from many people it has changed a lot since it has reopened.
O: Well to tie in the Lion and Lamb. When Fabric shut the Lion and Lamb opened. It was the universes answer. The perfect relief for that horrible crisis. With the conditions they have forced upon them by the police and the council it is difficult for them to run Fabric at full speed.. They are in a tight spot with , but they fact they were able to reopen was huge. The different door policy does change it slightly, but it is still Fabric. I don’t think it is less enjoyable or more enjoyable. It is still an incredibly special place.
G: Are there any clubs you really dig apart from Fabric? I know we have chatted about Barbarellas before.
O: Barbs is a special place, outdoors, dancing till the sun comes up always special. Beautiful festival Love International, beautiful people who run it, Dave Harvey Ben and Katie and the team are amazing: The energy there is incredible, I have had some very spiritual moments there. The whole place feels heeling. Houghton has always been really special, Burning Man was cool.. but clubs I guess, Pickle factory has a great sound system. Lion and Lamb of course is very dear to my heart, the sound system and the lads there are special.
G: How do you compare playing at a club versus at festival? Do you approach playing at them any different?
O: It can be a different vibe but I think knowing who is playing before or after you is key. I don’t really change my approach.
G: When I go and have a little search of ‘Oli Silva’ on Soundcloud or Discogs there isn’t too much out there music wise!
O: Yeah, it’s a bit bleak but I think I am on the cusp of a nice flurry soon. I released the record on Craig’s label a while ago . That was a special record, having Craig on the remix as well, I could of just died happy there. Just had a track out on the Parasol culture VA with Thoma Bulwer . A Remix for Adam curtain’s Troublemaker and collab with Manuk on Eya records, but yeah need to get this show on the road.
How long ago was the release on Craig’s, five or six years ago. I am still on a bit of a learning curve with new equipment, moving flats didn’t help, trying to get used to a new space plus some family dramas, output has just been at a snails pace but feeling good for what’s to come.
G: Whats your preference when making music, do you prefer messing around with instruments and hardware or are you happy just with a computer? Where does a track start for you?
O: My setup is a lot of analogue and digital synths and drum machines guitars. Some effects and outboard processing. I used a lot of in the box sample drums as well. At the same time when I have been working with Andre we have been using a lot of midi plugins , particularly the Arturia plugins. They are great, quick work flow, they might not have the same weight as analogue gear but you can just layer it with analogue or replace. I use a picture of both depending on project I guess.
There are no rules as they say. I think drums are a good place to start but yeah. There are no rules wherever you feel best, even some noises from the garden can be a good place to start.
G: Do you ever sample stuff?
O: Sometimes, definitely not as much as would like.
G: Who are some Dj’s you really enjoy, who you like to see or have inspired you?
O: So many, Craig has always been an inspiration. Nicholas Lutz is an incredible DJ, such a good mixer. Smooth bastard. Ricardo Villalobos, Wayne Holland is someone I admire a lot, mans got skills. When I first heard Felix Dickenson for the first time at Barbarellas he blew my mind, Ivan Smagghe,. Lee Burridge is an outrageous mixer. Adam Shelton, Tristan da Cunha, Jonny Rock so many…
G: Strange question but where do you rank yourself amongst all these DJ’s?
O: Hey man let’s not turn this into a competition, I got enough stress going on haha, I guess your probably better then you think, it’s a confidence thing dj’ing isn’t it, you gotta own it I guess.
I love watching how top DJ’s mix, seeing what they actually doing mix to mix. Everyone has a different style. You can take different techniques from different DJs and try learn them. Lutz is so smooth and blend whereas Ricardo can be a bit more choppy. I think I am a bit of a mixture of both, blend and choppy, sounds like a hair dressers haha.
G: Which producers do you really enjoy?
O: All sorts. from Darling, kind of poppy melodic electronica to Dave Campbell music. Calibre to Ultramarine. Some new clubby bits like Prince de Takicardie, Tc80, spoilt for choice these days.
Keith Tenniswood (Radioactiveman). His music and recording and mixing skills phenomenal. Ricardo, his productions are also insane.
G: Yeah he played two days at the pub in December and it was crazy.
O: I was gutted to miss that, I heard I was off the wall.
G: Have you ever considered playing live?
O: I have done a few mini ambient live sets. In terms of clubby stuff I would like to. Getting it all together is another story. I think I need to focus on getting some more music out first.
G: Anything upcoming production wise that you want to chat about?
O: Doing an Eya release which is quite exciting, four tracker. Me and Manuk and a special guest on the remix. Sounding pretty good. Got an EP for the Nothing Special which has been in the works for a while, its been tricky. Wanting to make it as best as I can. You want that one to be ‘special’ so I put too much pressure on myself, the tracks keep changing for that constantly. I am also doing a little project with the big man himself which is looking juicy!
The stuff I have been making with Andre is exciting, Strange Romance we are calling ourselves. What do you think of that name? Need to do a survey haha.
G: Yeah I like it, I think it works. Naming artists or bands is always tricky.
O: Just like Radiohead. shit name, but amazing music. The engineer who mixes all their stuff is a guy named Nigel Godrich. He is a God. One of my idols. The way he gets Radiohead tracks to sound is unreal.
G: Exciting, lots of things in the works. Just to finish, what is your whole take on the pandemic and how its been dealt with?
O: Yeah it is hard, I feel like we are all being conditioned to not going out. Sitting at home staring at screens listening to downtempo music losing the club touch perhaps. Well things are closed I guess. I think the spirit of clubbing needs to be kept alive somehow through all of this. That is sort of what my inspiration has been behind this mix, an effort to record something a bit club focused to give myself and everyone a bit of a reminder that we will return to clubs one day!!
I hope clubs open soon. I truly hope the government comes to their senses and appreciates this lockdown is doing more damage than the actual virus. Health is paramount but there doesn’t seem to be enough relief for clubs, venues, artists and DJs and those in the arts sector. If they want to keep venues closed as they fear for the spread of the virus they need to support 100% not this 80% bollocks. If you are a government who cares about arts you allocate resources more effectively. It is limiting and musicians are creatives are suffering big time, I mean they got plenty of money for a space command project haha.
The whole thing is a bit frightening but hopefully yeah by summer.
G: Agreed, thanks for chatting to me and getting this mix together for us.
O: Thanks for having me on the series bud.
Lots of exciting music coming from Oli this year, and hopefully we can catch him across Europe at Love International in the Summer or at our favourite local.
Follow his socials here:
https://www.facebook.com/olisilvamusic
https://www.instagram.com/olisilvamusic/
Interview by: Angus Whitfield