Puff Daddy

Never come between a Scotsman and his tea. That’s just one of the many things learned when we finally get to talk to Alex Smoke, the melodic minimal maestro who’s one of our top tips for 2005.

Dinner dilemmas aside, the genial 25-year-old has had a fairly conventional route into electronic music, but a less than conventional one into the world of, er, ‘real’ music.
“I suppose I first got into electronic music around the age of 13,” he recalls, “and then started clubbing when I was old enough to go into Glasgow. But my mother was a violinist, so I was introduced to music at an early age – I played the cello, piano… er… drums…” His classical education is something that informs all the music he makes – his new LP for Soma is an exercise in accessible minimalism with a dancefloor turn, but with a grace and structure that belies his classical roots.
“Aye, I suppose it has – it’s something that’s always been said about the music I make.”
Alex began making beats when “I got my first PC when I was 21” and his first release followed soon after. A mere four years later, he has honed his sound into something approaching perfection – if you don’t believe us, check his excellent debut, Incommunicado.
How much of an influence were Soma head honchos Slam on your formative years clubbing?
“Slam at The Arches was a big influence – it was a real clubbers’ club. It was based around the Detroit sound, and that was something that was a big thing for me.”
Another big influence on Alex’s style are the techno minimalists – Luciano, Villalobos and the like.
“Aye, what they are doing is great. It’s such a change from straighter stuff – it’s a more off-kilter take on house and techno, but it’s melodic and interesting at the same time.”
How important was releasing your debut on Soma?
“I suppose it’s like the granddaddy of Glasgow – it’s got the biggest international profile, so that’s great for someone like me. And the important thing is they let me make the record I wanted to make – which is cool, because I think it’s a bit of a departure for them.”
A departure of sorts it may be, but a timely one, as it places the venerable label near the top of the minimal tree.
Alex is also releasing material on a new German label – one that gives him the opportunity to explore darker terrain.
“The releases on Vakant are more European,” he reckons. “On the album, there are other influences in there – electro and the like – but the Vakant stuff is a bit darker.”
Now, there’s the little matter of the live set to get on the road.
“I have loads of DJ gigs booked, but for the live set, I still have a laptop to get - I’m working on it.”
He makes his live debut in March in Glasgow’s venerable SubClub. What about the vocals on the LP?
“I used to sing in a choir, so this is something that came naturally to me – when I was making a track and I felt they needed them, I just sang through the headphones. I’m not a big fan of having vocals plastered all over a tune, but when they work, they work.”
Will you be singing live?
“Heh-heh! I’m not sure about that – maybe after a few years on the road!” And how was the tea?
“Wicked!”

Incommunicado is out now on Soma.