Urban Vault caught up with Essex, UK based producer DUSTY OHMS, to ask him some questions about his music, inspirations and collaborations

Dusty Ohms is Hip Hop outlaw, straddling the no mans land of electronic music. Unrestricted and doing him ya pesky varmints. He’s worked with/Produced for/Remixed under various guises, with artists such as Redman, Sean Price, Daddy Freddy, Icarus, Cappo, Sonny Jim, Shotty Horroh, Joker Starr, DJ Cable. When he’s not behind the boards, Dusty Ohms is Gambling, smoking cigars, drinking cactus wine, playing horseshoes, panning for gold & shooting tin cans.

What is your name?

Dusty Ohms.

Where are you from?

Essex in the UK, the bit bordering East London.

How old are you?

33.

How long have you been making music?

Since around 2003/04, when I bought an old PC off a friend with Reason 2.0 software on it.

How many songs / albums have you released to date?

There’s been quite a lot of tracks released over the years, but as Dusty Ohms (which I started making music as 4 years ago) outside of the spots on various compilations in that time, I’ve had just the one EP with Signaflo in 2014 entitled ’91’. Then recently just dropped my debut album ‘Never Miss A Good Chance To Shut Up’ on Millennium Jazz Music, the initial batch of specially packaged cassettes all went really quickly which I was massively chuffed about, but there’s another lot on its way and it’s available digitally too.

Can you tell us about your new album, the background and inspirations behind it?

It’s been in the works for a couple of years, and some of the music started before that. Big props to Gadget for giving me so much creative freedom with it. I wanted it to be a melting pot of my previous influences but through the musical voice I have now if that makes sense. Being from an era of analogue formats and equipment, I wanted to capture that certain rawness and warmth to the whole thing, and outside of that I just wanted it to work as a whole entity and have a shape, rather than just be a collection of tracks.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your Career?

Vocalists include Sean Price, Riko Dan, Shotty Horror, Cappo, Blacks, Sonnyjim, Vader, Killa P. As I mentioned earlier I’ve been a big fan of all these guys, so I feel honoured to have been able to work with them.

I also love collaborating with other producers, I’ve a strong working relationship with both Able8 and my friend SupaSaiyan, really enjoy making music in a ‘just see where it runs’ kinda way, which both these guys are on. DJ Cable is someone I’ve made a fair few tracks with over the years, always fun and with a decent result. I worked with a tonne of Dubstep producers back in that era, a stand out was getting in the studio with Raff (now known as Nurve) from Macabre Unit, their sound was a big influence on what we did back then, plus always a proper vibe and laugh when we’d hook up.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

There are so many people that I’d love to work with, and I’ve been blessed to have already worked with some of my musical hero’s and artists that I massively rate. So I’ll just list the first few that come to mind, some of which I’ve already spoken too about collaborating… Rocks FOE, Homeboy Sandman, Trellion & Rawkid, HLMNSRA, They Call Me Raptor, Tehbis & Touchy Subject.

How have you ended up in the music industry?

From a young age I’d wanted to DJ, back in school and just after, I played Drum & Bass on various pirate stations around London and Essex in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. As a progression of that I bought the old PC off a friend and we started making beats together. We began taking it seriously in 2005, producing and DJ’ing Dubstep & Grime as a duo for around 7 years. After which I started to reshape my sound an pursue things solo as Dusty Ohms, I suppose it’s all just kind of happened from being so absorbed in underground music, one thing leading to another and here I am…

What do you think of the music industry in 2016?

I personally think it’s exciting, the internet and digital age has given it a big shake up that still hasn’t settled. There’s always gonna be pro’s and con’s in anything, and I’m always one to move with the times and roll with the punches, I’m looking forward to seeing where things go.

What have you got planned for 2017?

Just to keep making more music and put it out via the labels and camps I’m involved with. I’m surrounded by great people at the moment, so there’s a lot of different projects I’m beavering away at.

These include a beat tape I’m working with SupaSaiyan on for our label Smho Wal, and a project as part of a newly formed collective which I’m very excited about. A joint I made with Guilty Simpson will be landing as well.

What inspires you when you make your music?

Sounds a bit clique, but everything to be honest. I’ve broad musical tastes so that influences me daily, but also sounds I hear in the hustle and bustle of life. I feel mood has a lot to do with what you output creatively too.

What’s your favourite track at the moment?

I’m gonna go with ‘C Y G N & Mo Vibez – Paper’. Both them guys are so point at the moment individually as well.

What do you do when your not making music?

I intentionally don’t own a TV at the moment, so if I’m not in making music or chilling with friends, I’ll often be out and about. London is such an amazing city and has so many weird and wonderful things going on, so I like to take full advantage of that. I keep my finger on the pulse with all that’s going on with underground music and in clubs, I’m never far from decent parties, art, food and drink.

Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter definitely, although I do still find Facebook the best tool for promoting music, at least it is for me.

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

It’s a good hub, I’ve found some great music via you guys, some dope competitions too.

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music….

www.facebook.com/dustyohms/
https://twitter.com/DustyOhms
https://soundcloud.com/dustyohms
https://instagram.com/dustyohms/
www.facebook.com/MillenniumJazzMusic
https://twitter.com/Millenniumjazz
http://millenniumjazz.bandcamp.com/