Rival Consoles: The Ransom Note Mix

10Minute Read

Music

What does your music sound like? “hmm, cinematic, colourful ambient techno.”

Rival Consoles, the moniker of British electronic musician Ryan Lee West, has carved his own niche in the world of the experimental electronic. helping to define a lot of the sound of the always excellent Erased Tapes label. Weaving intricate soundscapes of ambient, techno, and classical elements with an ethos to “make synthesizers sound human”, West is now back with the single “Coda” Another snapshot of nocturnal soundscaping, it follows up last year’s album ‘Now Is’. The single is accompanied by the announcement of new North American tour dates, his first in 5 years.

With all that in mind, we thought it high time we ask him to record us a Ransom Note mix and ask him a few questions.

Listen and read the interview below:

Ransom Note · Rival Consoles – The Ransom Note Mix

Please introduce yourself…

Who are you?

Ryan aka Rival Consoles

Where are you?

London

And what are you?

I’m an electronic music maker/producer

What does your music sound like?

hmm, cinematic, colourful ambient techno.

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

How does your brain work when making music?

When things are exciting for me, my mind is sorting through possibilities and building the parts to make structure come into existence, there is a momentum that comes from the music itself and propels me.

How does it work when you aren’t?

This ranges from nonchalance to extreme frustration, though patience is important for making over the long term, so I try to remain focused on the bigger picture.

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

One of the first records I got into was Fat of the Land by the Prodigy, I had it on cassette and would play it everyday on lunch break at secondary. I think I liked how physical everything sounded a lot, everything sounds big and heavy.

Where was the mix recorded?

The mix was recorded at Phonox, London.

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

I think commuting would make sense or before going out, it’s quite fast and high energy.

What should we be wearing?

High vis jacket and Adidas Gazelles

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

I’d like to DJ at record-playing bars that you find in various cities around the world, it’s a different vibe because music isn’t the sole focus but it intrigues me.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I really like ‘A Ship Full of Ghosts – Jinjé’ it’s fun and vibey with a lot of colour and dynamics, a great piece for early on because it seems to pull people into focus.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I don’t really have one, coz I prefer to listen to newness than constantly going back to mixes as such, though there have been times I have been in clubs and wished I could listen on repeat to certain sets.

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

I like the idea of bringing my synth ideas alongside the drum machines of Jeff Mills 909 sets!

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

I’m seldom a DJ, so I often DJ with Ableton live, in a way the DJs who use 6 CDJs and drum machine accompaniments are in sign with how I work.

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

I actually think it’s nice to have the end reference the beginning of the set, and in this set I actually end as I start, because it’s the ambient work evokes the sound of the city to me.

What were the first and last records you bought?
As mentioned it’s most likely the Fat of the Land and the last record I bought was New religion old rules by JK Flesh

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

Milk chocolate Leibniz

If it was an animal what would it be?

Probably a fox, as it is deceptive.

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

Probably one of mine haha

Am I going to my dream job?

Yep

Am I being compensated fairly for the value I bring to my job?

Yes and no at different points over the years, but ofc it’s hard to understand the value of things in a wold which is so distorted financially.

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

At times yes, but on tour can be quite chaotic for the mind and body.

You just had a fight with the person you are closest to. do you not speak to them until they apologise…or do you apologise first?
If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? how long would it be before you eat them?
?!?!

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise?

I love to cycle around!

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? why?

Would be pretty cool to go to the premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in early 1900s