Featurecast at Pop Ya Cork, Manchester!

Featurecast has been bringing his mid-tempo Breaks, Hip-Hop, Funk and D&B sounds to UK audiences and partygoers across the world for quite some years. Lighting up the main stage of Breakfest Australia, Canada's Shambhala festival and the UK's Glastonbury, Bestival, Beat Herder and Fusion Festival to name just a few.

His passion for his craft led to early releases on Jalapeno Records, Insane Bangers, Bomb Strikes, Good Groove and Ghetto Funk before releasing his 'Run For Cover' album in 2012. His tracks have featured on advertisements for iPod, FIFA 13 and other films and games. It's no surprise that he has received high praise from other artists such as Krafty Kuts, DJ Yoda and Z-Trip, also playing alongside the likes of De La Soul, Mark Ronson and DJ Fresh.

"Featurecast delivers an LP full of funky goodness that covers all the genres impeccably. 12 tracks of the highest quality but what more would you expect from an artist at the top of his game #classic."

-Krafty Kuts

Featurecast?s 'Shout It Out' album was released in April this year, an eagerly awaited multi-genre follow up to 'Run for Cover?' Available on Itunes , Amazon , Spotify and Beatport

Lee speaks to us today about his influences and what's next for Featurecast ahead of his performance at Pop Ya Cork!

Hi Lee, how are you? Looking forward to Playing Pop Ya Cork?

Yes, really excited to be heading back to Manchester! It's been a while.

What can Pop Ya Cork partygoers expect from your set?

I like to play a varied set, everything from Funk, hip hop, breaks, Drum & Bass to mid tempo. Lots of mashups and music with a good vibe, heavy basslines and energy.

Your music is so diverse, incorporating so many different genres, which artists have been your major influences growing up, and throughout your career?

From a production point of view I'd say my biggest influence was probably Liam Howett of the prodigy. He was the first producer I read about and saw in the studio and he was someone who really opened my eyes to production and what could be done.

How do you decide which songs to sample in your music?

Just by what I hear and like the sound of. If I hear something that has a certain feel or energy I always add it to notes on my phone, then I'll get hold of a copy and add it to my iTunes for future use. I have a bunch of folders in my iTunes that I use for either mixtapes, remixes or for samples.

When did you decide to become a DJ, and what steps did you take to master your craft?

I never really decided to be a DJ, my focus was more on the production side but as my music got more and more noticed the opportunities to DJ out came about so I kind of fell into that way. Now I work on my DJ profile more by putting out DJ mixes and of course by releasing music.

When you started DJing, did you always want to use time coded vinyl in your sets? Is that how you learned?

I learned the old fashion way on vinyl and a pair of cheap decks. But I now use Serato which has the best of both worlds with the old and the new. I can't imagine djing with vinyl these days, it's just so limiting. I love technology and try to embrace it all.

Your album 'Shout It Out' was released in April do you have anything else in the pipeline?

Next up I'll be releasing my Shambhala music festival set. It's the first time I've ever released a DJ set from a festival so I'm pretty excited. I also have a Halloween mix I'll be putting out this month, and after that it will be my new sample pack being released through Loopmasters. I'm sure I'll also release another edition of the Thrift Shop Bangers series between now and December.

With festival season drawing to a close, what have been your highlights this summer?

Shambhala music festival in Canada. I played the Saturday night after A Skills, Z Trip, DJ Numark, Cut Chemist, Skratch Bastid and Questlove. It was literally all my favourite hip hop DJ's on the same bill and I got to play a prime time slot. It was a very memorable gig.. Breakfest in Australia would be a close second.

Name three things that you always take on the road with you, any creature comforts that you can't live without?

I don't really have any, as long as I've got my laptop and phone I'm all set!

And finally, what song have you had stuck in your head all day?

The Muppets - Ma nam ma nam. I saw someone post it on Facebook earlier today and now i've had it stuck in my head all day. Im considering doing a remix of it!

Thanks to Lee for chatting to us today! We can't wait for his set at Pop Ya Cork! Get your tickets

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