With his latest single OBEY / Bounce It out today, we caught up with Jon Stanley, aka Cyantific.

Obey and it’s video have some serious 80’s flavour, as does your logo and [by the looks of a recent facebook photo] your film collection – what is it about that era that interests/inspires you?

It’s the decade I’m from, so I guess it’s natural look back at it fondly. I mean, it was pretty much the coolest decade ever – I could write you a list why if you’d care to disagree, but all I’d really need to say is Ferris Bueller for example, and I’d win.
I got a lot of love for the 90’s too…that’s when I really started getting into music, and going out of course. I think those two decades are the biggest influence over my music, there’s just something about the sound from then that just clicks with me.
It’s interesting hearing other people’s perspective on musical generations, and hearing their interpretations of it.

Your production is impressively varied, from uplifting vocal cuts to jungle breaks and some fierce rollers – is there a Cyantific ‘sound’ that you could describe that runs throughout?

I have a short attention span, and I couldn’t face writing the same sort of thing more than once. Plus, I love all kinds of DnB, and I like having a go at making a bit of all of it. As for whether there’s a sound running through it, I really don’t know. You’d have to tell me. From my point of view, I’d say it’s a bit all over the shop. I sometimes envy people who have a real distinct instantly recognisable sound, like Break, maybe just because I couldn’t do that.

You’ve said that you’re looking forward to starting work on your second LP, what’s your process for writing tracks and putting together an album? What will you be doing differently 5 years on?

I have started already. I’m not sure there’s a set way I work to. I was thinking about it the other day, because Computer Music are coming to film me in the studio next week. I really don’t know what I’m going to tell them, because I work differently for every different track.
One thing I would say though, is that a lot of tracks I do have been years in the making. I will have a loop going, then decide to stop working on it, then dig it up a year or 5 later. Nothing goes in the bin. Some things don’t seem relevant at the time you make them, or you’re not equipped to finish them. It doesn’t mean they’re not good ideas.

Your 3 deck sets are infamous – what is it that makes you take that extra step?

ADHD according to one journalist! I think it’s just how I am, I want to be as good as possibly I can at something. Which is easy when you love to do it.

You’re off to play various dates in Europe over the next couple of months, where is your favourite place to play? And we’ve got some US fans hanckering after some dates over there – any plans?

USA – I’d love to go back, I have a lot of friends over there. It just hasn’t come together for one reason or another. I’m sure it will at some point. My favourite city to play currently outside of England is Paris. There’s something about the way they rave!

What do you think it is about the Hospital sound that has made the label and its Hospitality nights such a massive success?

It’s accessible to a lot of people. I think at the time High Contrast came through, the scene was absolutely dying for that sound. The music was getting very samey around the end of the 90’s and they came along and shook it up. And they’ve diversified and moved with the times since.

Which producers are you feeling at the moment?

Wilkinson is doing some great stuff, I’m in the studio next door to his, so I get to hear what he’s cooking up. It’s definitely had a positive impact on my production, and plain motivation – call it friendly competition. Culture Shock is one of the best right now, as is Fresh – his new Ram EP is too good. Enei is also really impressing me. Break had a great year too. And of course Noisia, can’t forget them! Outside DnB I’m really feeling what Baobinga is doing. Jamie XX, Feed Me, Jack Beats too, looking forward to their album. Also this guy Gesaffelstein is making some amazing 80’s flavours.

What’s next for Cyantific? (Artist and label!)

Next up is ‘OBEY/Bounce It’ on my label. Then there’s this weird remix of Roger Sanchez that Wilkinson and I did, really pleased with that. Then I’m doing a single for Ram, which is a huge honour, and one off the bucket list…very much looking forward to that hitting the shops. There are a few more remixes to come this side of summer too. Other than that, a pretty busy DJ schedule over the next few months. You can read about it (and a lot of other stuff/rubbish) on my website: cyantific.co.uk