Bristol’s Actraiser has musical roots in everything from old jungle to funk.
Check out his varied and beautiful compositions on soundcloud. In addition, Haunted Audio has just released “Nevermore” and “Believe You” with more to come in the next couple months.

Name: Rob Sayles
Age: 29
Location: Bristol, UK

Next Gig: FilthyKleen, Lakota, Bristol – 21st November

Other aliases: ‘Dr Strafe’. Modern Funk music incorporating elements of funk, breaks, house, and drum & bass. newly release Lp on Freestyle Records entitled ‘ Like In The Deal ‘ also 12″ EP (Vice City EP) also on Freestyle.

What inspired you to start producing music and what are some of your influences?

I first got into music properly when I was 15, listening to old skool hardcore tape packs from events like dreamscape and United Dance. I also enjoyed House music and regularly used to listen to Fantastia House tapes as I grew up. After tiring of the repetitive nature and cheesey riffs of hardcore I started to lean more towards jungle, and upon hearing classics such as ‘Renegade – Terrorist’ & ‘Omni Trio – Renegade Snares’ I was instantly hooked.

Although being a junglist from 1996 to present day, I have always listened to other types of music and like to keep on top of what’s new and fresh. I enjoy chilled beats by people like Quantic, RJD2, and Bonobo, as well as glitchyness from Squarepusher, all the way across the spectrum to Indie stuff by inovative artists like Beck.

I first got into producing when I was 19, but it was always a hobby really. I didn’t get into it properly, reading up on techniques used by my favourite producers, until about 2 years ago.
I produced a funky LP for Freestyle Records as I need a break from the darkness of D&B and fancied doing something anyone could listen to and enjoy. Now I’ve turned back to my ‘dark’ roots and am currently enjoying making deep and haunting Dubstep / Electronic music.

What is one of your best ‘music moments’ (ie concert/show you attended, gig you dj’d)?

Well I have lots lots of great moments in my musical life, but I would say the best, in terms of success I suppose, would be the release last month of my album on renowned Funk label Freestyle Records. I originally started messing around in the studio, making something fun and party friendly, as I was getting into the cut up funky hip-hop breaks by people like Fort Knox Five, and Featurecast. So I tried my hand at a few tracks and they contacted me and signed me up for an album release almost immediately which was a great compliment from such an established label. They also released a 12″ featuring one cut off the LP and 3 vinyl exclusives, and it sold out it’s initial pressing very quickly. So I would say thats the best moment for me.

As far as the dubstep goes, I had loads of people interested in my first track ‘Nevermore’ but it was Haunted Audio that got in touch and wanted to roll with it very quickly.. and I couldn’t think of a more suitable place for it. I look forward to the next releases lined up on Haunted as they have some good ideas about what to do with my tunes.

What inspires you, musically or otherwise?

It’s a cliche, but other people’s music inspires me in a big way. I listen to pretty much every single dubstep and drum & bass track that comes out and I buy everything I like (which is a lot). I love the new breed of D&B producers who have taken the sound back to it’s stripped down minimum, just beats and bass with some quality effects, and they manage to make it interesting throughout. People like Break, Commix, & Calibre who are the most talented guys in the scene. On a more electro D&B tip you have amazing producers such as Logistics, Matrix & Futurebound, Chase & Status, & Bungle. It’s hard not to emulate other artist’s sounds when you listen to them constantly. I would say the top people in dubstep (in my humble opinion) at the moment are DFRNT (whos new LP Metafiction is awe-inspiring), Clubroot, Roof Light and unsigned artist Vandera, who’s stuff you really need to hear. Of course I’m inspired by other things, things that happen in my life (I recently wrote a song for a friend who passed away and it was played at the funeral), as well as films, classical music, books, video games, and anything else I might hear or see that gives me an idea for a song.

There is just so much good music out there, I recommend getting on dubstepforum and checking out the great unsigned talent that’s out there!