Northern Lights aka Steppa & Kitcha
Audio Warfare / Grid Recordings

01) You guys have been releasing tunes for a number of labels over the last four years, both together and separately. How did you guys first start producing, and when did you start collaborating with each other on tunes?

Since gaining an obsessive interest in the rave scene at a early age, we both followed a natural progression that started with djing and developed into producing. It wasn’t then until the year 2008 that we actually began collaborating, after previously meeting whilst record shopping some five years earlier.

02) What would you guys classify as your “big break” within the DnB scene, and why?

The “Amen” as it forms a basis for both drum & bass and jungle music ;)

03) You guys release tunes as Steppa & Kitcha, as well as under your “Northern Lights” moniker. Is there a difference in a Northern Lights tune and a Steppa & Kitcha tune?

No, not as such. An additional identity was required to use on a more exclusive basis with Grid Recordings, which in turn, could be used for collaboration work and remix duty.

04) You’ve done a couple of remixes for Twisted Individual over the last few years, as well as dropping tunes on his imprints. How did you guys link up with Twisted Individual?

A big inspiration of ours from his first release on Formation Records. He has shown a keen interest in our music since we first sent him a demo, offering his advice and guidance from then on, which lead to us releasing the cheekily titled “It’s Grim Up North EP” on Grid in 2009.

05) All of this leads up to Audio Warfare, Steppa’s new label. How long have you been planning on starting a label?

For just over a year now following successful releases on various labels, such as Heist’s Calypso Muzak and more recently Jaydan’s Smokin Riddims.

06) What are some of your plans for Audio Warfare in the near future?

An interesting project entitled “Mr Nice” working alongside Kav Sandhu (formerly of the band Happy Mondays) and his self-titled group KAV, featuring Welsh legend Howard Marks it coincides with the release of his biographical film starring Rhys Ifans.

The appropriately titled “Back To The Future” is a modern-day take on jungle, with some naughty samples most being taken from the film of the same name.

Plus ongoing work off the back of our previous collaboration with jungle revivalist Serum. Also new and exciting collaborations with fellow northerners, including a newly formed production outfit, named Bad Education, involved respectively in the music industry since the early nineties.

All of which make for an interesting contrast of style albeit drum and bass.

07) You’ve got some hurters in the bag, including the ‘97 style roller “Murder One” – what else can heads expect from you before the end of 2010 and into 2011?

A digital download in the shape of “Don’t You Want Me”. This was originally scheduled for release on vinyl last year courtesy of Logan D’s Low Down Deep label, but to no avail, it will therefore be released independently due to popular demand as a free download and is available online now at http://www.audiowarfare.co.uk

08) Can we get a current top 10 before we wrap this up?

Steppa & Kitcha – Dreamworld – Audio Warfare
Pleasure & Origin – Hard Times – Killer Bytes
KAV vs Northern Lights – Mr Nice ft Howard Marks – Audio Warfare
Taxman – Konkrete Shoes – Ganja
Steppa & Kitcha – Back To The Future – Audio Warfare
Serum & Vapour – Killing Your Sound – Philly Blunt
Northern Lights ft Bad Education – All Night Long – Audio Warfare
Original Sin – Get A Life – Playaz
Serum & Northern Lights – Danger – Audio Warfare
Dope Ammo & Tone Def – Rollin’ (Sub Zero Remix) – Dope Ammo

Northern Lights releases in the Drum&BassArena Download Store: