Croakheads: an Interview with Primal
Primal is known for his clean neurofunk production and unique DJing style. He once described himself as being a “conductor” for his audience. Get to know him in this interview!
Q: Why did you decide to join Croakheads?
The music world is cut-throat, and Croakheads welcomed me with open arms. The people are friendly, everyone is really easy to talk to, and the passion for music and the scene runs deep.
Q: What can we expect from your sets and mixes?
Things you've never heard before. I've been producing for nearly a decade and my sound is punchy, unique, serious, yet playful. I bring an insatiable energy to my performance and the crowd feels every second of it.
Q: What grassroots venue has shaped you the most and why?
The Crown in Bristol has brought me immense joy with its Monday open decks night for the last couple of years. I came to Bristol after I finished uni, so I didn't have a default group of people in my vicinity to hang out with, so I went there every week to meet people.
The Crown has such a consistency of electronic music on every single week that it is a staple of the landscape, and I have it to thank for almost every single opportunity I've had, Releasing tunes on Evolution Audio and Nerium Records? Playing my first ever festival set this year at EXPANSIVEFEST? Collaborations with local producers? Connections made at The Crown. It can't be understated that I have this small venue to thank for my start in the scene.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing grassroots venues right now?
Turnouts. The balance sheets, even with the inflated overheads, should sort themselves out if the turnout improves. How do you compete with larger venues and acts? It can't happen without offering a unique experience, a concept, on a solid foundation of good music and a good sound system. A little bit of entrepreneurship, consistency, and curation can go a long way. I am reminded of Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. He would take a small struggling restaurant with no shortage of excuses for their underperformance, and demonstrate that a simple, well-executed concept can bring in diners. He once brought in a full lunchtime service for cheap tomato soup and cheese on toast in Paris.
Q: What has been your favourite part of your Croakheads journey so far?
Playing my first set for Croakheads in London this January. Most of a producer's life is in the dark, alone, plugging away on an indifferent computer. There, in the absence of validation, the vision for the music has to be unwavering, or else I can become jaded. I've played plenty of sets and felt a lot of positive feedback, yet, somehow, I felt a reception to my music on that day from Croakheads that will fuel my drive to make more music for a long time.
