Consequence

After a number of years on the outer edges of dance music drum and bass had a rebirth in 2009. Early that year two UK artists, dBridge and Instra:mental, started the Autonomic Podcast. It drew on a wide range of influences, from techno to electronica with much glitchy experimentation in-between, and it was the birth of a new wave of drum and bass- dubbed the ‘Autonomic sound’. In the Southern Hemisphere Autonomic has been championed by New Zealand artist Cameron McLaren, working under the name Consequence, who was noticed by dBridge and signed to his Exit Records label in 2009. It was an important boost that took his music to ears around the world. Now, in 2011, McLaren is about to release two albums. The first will be his collaboration with newcomer Joe Seven as They Live, and the second will be his sophomore follow-up to 2009’s Live For Never.

The last few years have been a whirlwind of activity for McLaren: “When I signed with Exit Records and Darkestral things started to move a lot faster. It gave me the motivation to become more productive and get stuff out there. Yes it was a slow accumulation in one way, yet at the same time things seem to be moving quickly.” Even so, McLaren keeps his feet on the ground and sticks to a constant work ethic: “It’s nice to know that some people out there like what you do, that’s my feelings towards any kind of success I guess. It took many years before I got any attention and you just gotta’ keep working on what you do.”

Originally from New Zealand, McLaren has been moving around a lot in the last few years. I wonder whether he feels like he has a different prospective on things being from outside the London Autonomic scene? “Yes absolutely. Unfortunately I haven’t lived in New Zealand for about three years, so I’ve been missing out on that perspective. I think it’s been good for me to move around, so that I don’t get in the same groove. Life can get too comfortable when I stay in the same place. I would like to see myself back there one day. Hopefully not too far in the future.”

So has the geographical location had any effect McLaren’s sound? “I’m not sure how to explain how it’s influenced me. I think my sound is shaped by everything around me; I can’t pin down any direct influences. For me NZ has such an amazing feeling about it, its lush.”

To be part of the Autonomic sound and artistic movement has created unity for McLaren: “It was great to get a group of like minded producers together, make music and share music. I think it helped showcase a lot of music that wasn’t getting the exposure it deserved. For me to be involved gave me a drive to keep producing and trying new things.” McLaren sees the Autonomic aim as more broad than just drum and bass though: “I think Autonomic is more about experimenting and seeing what you can do around a tempo. Initially it was focused around the 170 BPM mark, but in my eyes it seems to have developed into something wider, pretty much anything goes now.”

2011 will see the release of two new albums – one with Joe Seven, as They Live, and the other as Consequence: “Since I released Live for Never I have been trying lots of new things. Im not sure if its better or worse, but its definitely different for me. Myself and Joe Seven have written an LP under the name They Live, entitled Cancel Standard. That will be out Exit Records, March 28th. I have also written a second solo LP which should be coming out a few months later.”

This year also ushers in another change of location: “I’m leaving Melbourne very soon to move to London. Planning on touring across Europe for 2011, as well as working on the new live show I’m doing with dBridge. Will also begin work on my next lp which I am thinking about now. Watch out for more from They Live.”

Consequence [NZ] plays the City of Lost Children with Bassnectar [US], Triage [US] and more on Saturday March 26 at Brown Alley.