Ploy: The Ransom Note Mix

No two have sounded the same and each of them have drawn upon a musical influence or five as Ploy attempts to piece together his own flavour of dance. As an artist he has continued to evolve – creating his own world in which to release the music that feels right to him.

Ploy’s own record label, Deaf Test, has been integral in the evolution of his sound. Acting as a platform in which to experiment and explore new sounds and concepts.

One challenge of his career thus far has been working out a way to connect the dots between his own musical tastes, productions and outlook towards club culture. However, as of late his focus has been rooted in the wonkier undercurrents of UK Bass music and its intersection with Tech House. A new record on Timedance forthcoming cements this idea.

We invited Ploy to record a mix and the result… Well, you are in for a treat as we gain an insight into some of the music which makes Ploy tick on the dancefloor.

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I am sam, I am in my bed in London recovering from a long weekend, I am hungry.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

Where was the mix recorded?

In my little home studio In forest hill

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

I only really listen to mixes on long journeys or when I’m running on the treadmill so maybe either of those – somewhere you can zone out and lock in. I think they need to be taken in as a whole really so ill only give them a listen when I can do it properly. Either something like that or this one could be good at a nice afterparty in someones house with your friends

What should we be wearing?

Something fancy

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

DC10 ibiza or somewhere totally unnecessary, didn’t someone do one on the Great Wall of china once maybe Nina kraviz I think? Great Wall of china but lll just bring my little £150 pioneer controller to record it

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Soul underground – dj Oji – its been stuck in my head for weeeks, would love to hear that at sunrise on a Sunday morning

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Mixes mark different points in my life – first favourite when I was younger is probably scratch perverts fabric live – I knew that track for track, used to rinse it. Nowadays it would be one from an old house series – nite:life – maybe something from that, the joeski & onionz one is great

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Ummmm would have to be one of the legends really wouldn’t it or someone who played the legendary parties so you could at least be there even if the back to back doesn’t really fit, Larry Levan? Or someone who was playing the first acid house raves in the uk that would’ve been a fun party.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I bought a pair of turntables off my friends older brother when I was about 14, some really old Stanton things can not remember the mixer tbh, and at one point had some old chunky numark cdjs. Now though, I’ve got some technics 1200’s xone 23 mixer, a pioneer controller.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

End track mostly for me, depending on the gig the first track might just be something to mix out the DJ before me’s last tune, more of a tool maybe. Depends on the context of the party though of course sometimes you need a palette cleanser opener to re set the mood etc.

What were the first and last records you bought?

I think the first record I bought was off my friend Giorgio in school, it was a run dmc LP, belonged to his dad originally, he was a dj. The last record I bought last week off discogs is this

Craig S. Loftis – You Are All I Need

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Burgers

If it was an animal what would it be?

Capybara

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

I’m sure theres some weird free jazz things I bought in a record shop once pretending that I liked it, everything else would be pretty mixable I’d say

Upcoming in the world of…

Yessss the new Timedance record is out on Friday, I’m back on the label after five years 🙂

Anything else we need to discuss?

Batu and I met Louis Theroux at the weekend.