Summer is upon us, music fans! For the first Yan Zombie Presents of the summer, I'm excited to welcome Kir Mokum, founding member of Vancouver drum 'n ' bass collective SHAHdjs, alongside local Nelson bass music producers Philthkids.
Honesty being the best policy, I first met Kir Mokum through my opinionated online ranting (about what, exactly, I've completely forgotten) and a subsequent heated debate.
Since then I enjoyed his set at Sync Festival in Golden last year where we met in person for good laughs. Expect forward thinking d'n'b-influenced bass music, cohesive, concept-driven sets full of music that is new to your ears.
Local talent the Philthkids will be bringing their dirty footwork and jungle styles to open the night.
Kir Mokum was nice enough to answer a few questions about music and cats.
Yan Zombie: how has the recent Vancouver crack down and closing of community art spaces such as W2 and Submerged studios (and many others) affected the underground music scene there?
Kir Mokum: It's been hard, obviously. For those who don't know, almost every underground venue save for a tiny handful have had to shut their doors for various reasons, but usually because the city doesn't want them to exist. It's nearly impossible to do a legal show on the weekend.
The bigger clubs do their own shows on the weekend and take both door and bar sales and the alternatives are extremely few and far between. I think the reaction from the music community will be creative and divergent. More smaller shows, more illegal shows, but hopefully also work with the city to help them understand the importance and permanence of underground music and maybe, just maybe, be able to move Vancouver's archaic liquor laws into the 20th century at least.
YZ: What releases/artists have you been most impressed with in 2013?
KR: I'm a huge fanboy of Blu Mar Ten Music and Exit records. Both have been consistently putting out quality releases that are at least interesting and forward thinking if not aesthetically amazing. Specific new artists I'm keeping an eye on are acts like Frederic Robertson, Ed:it, Fracture's dawn day night outfit is def. doing some interesting things. Also the Utopia crew are making some very nice waves (mako, fields, mute, villem).
YZ: I'll open up the discussion here for you to say anything you'd like to say about cats...
KR: I honestly considered buying a plane ticket to Arizona to visit Tardar Sauce. Colonel Meow and Lil Bub make me a better person too.
Catch Kir Mokum this Thursday, June 27 at Spiritbar. This show is not to be missed for all fans of drum ‘n’ bass, jungle and footwork. Tickets at the door are $7 before 11:30 p.m. or $10 after.
Yan Zombie is a Nelson-based electronic music producer and promoter. His events run monthly at Spirtbar. Follow him on twitter @yanzombiemusic.