For more than half-a-decade, Ben Coda has been peddling his brand of progressive techno with the likes of Dave Seaman, Paul Oakenfold, Nick Warren and Roger Sanchez supporting his music.
The Ben Coda story so far... how did you end up as a producer/ DJ?
I first picked up a guitar aged about 13, and it went from there, I got my first set of decks at 17 and picked up Reason in my early 20s, then I moved on to producing using Cubase and now Logic. I always loved DJing (and still do), but really wanted to start writing the music I was hearing, rather than just playing it, so started the journey into music production. Influences were (and are) DJs like Sasha, Digweed, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Oakenfold, guys who were playing music with an air of magic around it. Underworld were a big influence, Orbital, The Prodigy, Leftfield ... all the classic stuff.
What have you been working on recently?
After the madness of the summer-festival season, I’ve had my head down and have been hard at work in the studio, both on solo tunes and Nanoplex material. We’re currently pulling together a compilation of UK progressive techno tunes for Iboga Records, and an album of remixes of tracks from the Nanoplex album 'A Billion Doller Brain', which came out earlier in the year.
Ben Coda’s sound now... are you still pursuing the progressive, techno sound? Or are there other sounds that you’re interested in?
It’s still mainly on the progressive-techno tip, but it’s always been a bit of a melting pot really… I’m pushing the tempo a little bit faster with some of my new productions, with strong progressive elements, but keeping a rolling techno vibe to it. I listen to all kinds of different styles of music, so there’s a lot of influences in there.
Nanoplex is your side project with DJ Ipcress... how different is the music to your solo productions?
It’s definitely more stripped-back and more ‘psychedelic’ than my solo stuff. We try not to use stock ‘psy’ sounds though, and focus on creating a trippy vibe with the music, whether that’s adding weird sounds into the mix, or just writing stuff that’s a bit out there. It’s great to have that outlet for the more leftfield side of things.
Working with another person... have you enjoyed the collaborative process?
I’ve worked with quite a few people in the studio with mixed results, but things have just clicked with Chris, and he brings a fresh perspective to each session, which has had a big influence on the sound. It’s quite easy to get locked into a particular sound or way of doing things if you’re working on your own, so to work with other people is important.
What advice can you dispense to anyone looking to immerse themselves within the scene?
The best way is to just get out there, go to some wicked parties and let yourself go – enter with an open mind and you’re guaranteed to have some amazing experiences.
You’re headed to Rainbow Serpent this summer... looking forward to the trip down under?
Absolutely, it’s one of the top international festivals. I’ve have heard loads of great things about it – can’t wait!
How do you plan for longhaul flights? Do you have myriad ‘time-wasting’ games to save your mind while in-transit?
I normally make sure my laptop’s fully charged so I can work on some music or mixes. Apart from that kick back, have a few drinks and enjoy it as much as possible.
Have you heard any urban legends about Australia; please share?
Ha! Not really that I can think of. I lived in Sydney a few years back, and met a fair few 'urban legends' while I was there though!
What’s your favourite memory of Australia?
There are quite a few late night/ early morning partying at the clubs in Sydney (although the memory of those is a bit hazy), scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, bush walking in the Blue Mountains; some good times.
The Ben Coda live show in 2014... what can punters expect from you when they enter your dancefloor?
Vibe wise it'll be a journey through progressive techno with a bit of tech trance thrown in for good measure. I’m planning on having a load of fresh new material to play in my live show, and I’ll be re-mixing and re-working my tracks on the fly to keep things interesting.
Do you see the dancefloor as ‘yours’ when you are DJing?
Well, there’s always a different vibe, especially between say a club and a festival. I always make sure I have enough material to go in any direction needed, but there’s a balance to strike between going with the crowd, or taking them somewhere, and giving something amazing they maybe weren't expecting. You have to work to make the dancefloor yours, if it’s mine then I’m doing my job properly!
Funniest/ scariest/ strangest moment you’ve witnessed while performing?
Plenty of crazy stuff that probably can’t be mentioned in an interview... One of the funniest/ strangest is watching Chris (Ipcress) dance while we’re doing Nanoplex live shows… he has what’s been described as a ‘quirky wobble’ – its definitely unique.
As we close in on 2015, what do you think will be the next trending sound?
I'm seeing the progressive-techno sound growing everywhere, particularly in the festival scene. It would be great if we have a resurgence in progressive music, giving people something to have a good stomp to but also a deeper experience on the dancefloor.
Do you have any phobias... please explain?
I’m not great with heights, but the way I decided to deal with it was to do a bungee jump. I’m definitely better since then, but still have my moments!
Would you ever partake in a reality show? If so, what type?
No, I’m really not a fan, it’s cheap TV, and they’re generally full of shallow, attention seekers. I don't watch TV much, but when I do I prefer a good movie or TV series.
Ben Coda plays the Rainbow Serpent Festival on 23rd-26th January, 2015, in Lexton, Victoria.
