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Interview with Bert from Streamizm!

Posted by: DARKSIDE on 2007-10-27 23:51:25 GMT

I hooked up with Bert from Streamizm! to try and discover more about the online station with a difference and how it all kicked off and also learn more about the Brighton nightlife.

First off, how did streamizm come about? was it thought over a few pints down the pub or something you guys have always wanted to do?
How streamizm started is a little murky really, but it was ignited by what i saw on the dubstepforum initially..

An online radio or was the webcam a specific part of the idea?
Well both really, i'd worked previous streaming high profile corporate events so i knew the technologybut what the forum showed me was that there was a wealth of talent world wide, at that time in my mind without an outlet but that was before i knew about subfmah there is more to say though, lots of things happend at the same time thoughwell, it kinda starts with hearing dubstep for the first time. first tune was ancient memories and that hooked into the first kinf music i really connected with: dub - all because of my brother. i instantly was hooked frm that moment onwards, but no-one else i knew was remotely interested.

Bert - The founder of Streamizm!

I felt I'd found the sound I'd always been waiting for (post drumnbass, breaks, electro, techno) and immediately connected with people on the forum who were in similar positions (though elsewhere internationally) where they were the minority (like 2-3 people in a city)so i decied to start streamizm, and use the technology i'd worked with to give myself to oppourtunity to share the music others, and ultimately give other people in the same boat (ie on their own) the same outlet to let rip. Problem at the time was obviously, streamizm was small, no one had heard of it, so it lacked credibility. And more to the point, i was very concious of not wanting to appear in the scene as a new station with no idea of the past, or what was happening. So streamizm ran for at least 2 months before i advertised on the forum.

Seeing the broad international membership of the Dubstepforum inspired another early Streamizm idea. I’d had some experience in the past of handling streamed events from multiple geographic locations and wanted to bring this concept to the show.
The original idea was to organise a 24 hour showcase event, with the stream source switching geographic location each hour, starting and finishing in Brighton and featuring as many dj’s/producers from the forum as possible around the globe. It was for this reason initially that video was used, to give the viewer a visual indication of the stream changing location, putting faces to names and seeing different parts of the world.

This is how the Loetech’s (Matt Carl and XI) in Toronto and Himito in Lima got involved in the show. In November last year we performed a trial run of the idea, starting in Brighton with myself and Kid Cazual, then switching to Lima for an hour from Himito, then switching to Toronto for the final hour. To the viewer the switchover involved a few seconds rebuffering and then himito’s apartment in Lima came into view, or the bearded face of Matt Carl.
Orchestrating the full 24 hour event was obviously going to be a major challenge and with Streamizm being small and unknown at that time an even harder task, but something I still plan to attempt!

When did Kid Kazual and Misery and the rest of the common faces seen on Streamizm join the ride?
Well misery was a hater. A proper hater. We work together and I give him a lift to work, so was in control of the stereo after hearing my first dubstep set, - youngtsa and task oct 2005, downloaded from barefiles, i played it repeatedly on the way to work. They couldn't get it, but over time learned to love the mcing, the big tunes, by which time i'd been to a couple of dmz's and was waxing lyrical about the scene me and misery went to our first brighton dubstep night - dubpressure hosted by tom and kion. By that time must have been the D1 dubpressure I think,was like last summermisery was hoooked once he heard the gramps.

I first ‘met’ Kid Cazual on the forum whilst discussing using Ableton for mixing and soon after Kid started to listen into what we were up to on Streamizm. I think on his first visit to the site, Jamella got on the mic and went through the usual routine of say hi to the listeners, checking where people were from etc. Kid spoke up saying he was from Hove, so Jamella ‘guest listed’ him and told him to get his arse round! On his second visit to the Streamizm house he was our guest DJ and performed his first Ableton set. He’s not missed a show since (or spent a day at work I think) and has become and integral part of Streamizm, largely responsible for where we are now.

You have had some big names on the station, and also show casing the not so popular fresh talent. Who would you say has recieved the most positive feedback to date?
Most positive feedback... there's been a lot really but from different quarters, personally speaking the first feedback i got was after alex incydes visit to the show when he first came to the uk
more recently, Tmus from amsterdam thanked me publically for introducing him to rusko, reso, quest and silkie on the show,by which he booked them for amsterdam. For me, the best shows in terms of impact and from my own part pure amazement at the sounds i was hearing woudl be cotti & cliuekid in march, and Mundo in august. I was compleltely blown away by both shows. Obviously having ntype, benga, chef and walsh were very special shows, but those 2 for me are the ones that stick out.

The Streamizm! Mascot

You got several little mascots down at the station, the kitty which is supposed to bring good luck. Has it ever failed you? And is this your official mascot?
Heheh, yeah its failed me a few times - sub vibration being the ultimate cause - it's dropped off the monitor mid-mix onto the decks a few times plus forgetting to put enough $$ in the electricity meter. We've had to show shutdown twice due to that.

Just whack it on emergency right?
Yeah emergency, back up and running in 5 mins though. Its Streamizms 1st birthday coming up in October. I am hoping for a Council equipment confiscation live on air and just keep the camera rolling until the last moment. Generally though, technicals and the like have been minimal. To be honest, working with live corporate events, you are pretty much prepared for any outcome. Thats how I like to run things, I want to enjoy it and been a part of it, and not let it be a worry and yeah - the cat is the official mascot by public demand!! If it ain't on the camera, people start to complain! I have been given two as gifts aswell, one from Bowzer when he came to visit from Canada, and one from Audiopie when she came over from San Fran.

You broadcasted the first Dubstep Forum event - Dubstep changed my life. How was this experience? I assume it just felt like the normal 9-5?
To an extent it did yes, we'd streaming the Dub Police Takeover night on 2 floors simulatenously a week before without major incident, so we were prepared. Though, nothing is ever the same, you can do pre-checks at the venue one day, come back and find a completely different situation. Both events though, we weren't completely on top of the audio quailty as the night progressed - this is something we've now resolved and tested at the last night we hosted in Brighton. Addittionally, i was pretty overwhelmed we'd been asked to do it to be honest

What about part II comming up on the 29th of September? Will you be doing the honors?
Mr Boomer has asked and we've accepted. I've personally learnt a lot since that event, about live steaming in general, and this time round i hope that experience should show through. Live steaming? I mean live streaming. I'll be there with my ironing board. When you invite guests around to the Streamizm HQ, do you ever get nervous? Especially when you havent met them before hand? I don't get particularily nervous, only if its someone big and i start to worry about the neighbours. I run the show from my own flat and the last thing i want to do is tell someone we have to turn it down. As it happens, everyone keeps the volume down - its always me that turns the mixer or the sub up. But i try to make people feel at home, let them know there are pretty much no rules (ie drinking, smoking, swearing, mcing etc) the fridge is full, and to be honest its like having a weekly house party. Thats why i think the shows are something different, guests come down and its like a
weekend away, even if its for one night. Though, my Mum is staying next week, so there is a smoking ban!

Each week your group "team waste" can be found usually either at FWD, Platform1 or at one of the few other events that occur in London each week, do you enjoy the trip?
Hahah team waste! Christ almightly! Yeah I love them man, for a few reasons really. First night in London beyound the big ones (FWD, DMZ) I reached was Redstar. I'd seen it on the forum, saw the line up, and at that time couldn't imagine seeing those dj's play fwd or dmz, so we got a car load together and headed up to london. It was like going back in time man (i know i sound like and old cunt!). A gang of us piling in a car and ripping up to london. I didn't mind not drinking because we were there to hear the tunes, same deal for Corsica when Redstar shut. Have driven to a few FWD's and a couple of DMZ leeds for the same reason. For me personnally, bearing in mind i'd pretty much spent most my life living amoungst people that hated every type of music i liked, getting into dubstep and meeting
like midned people meant that driving 2 hours to london on a thursday and having 2 hours sleep before work was most definatey worth it.

Whats your most memorable event so far?
Ahhhhhhh fuck thats a tough one. Rusko and Reso at the last Redstar for one, Underground Ice at Platform 1, his first mix massacred everyone. I was driving and wanted to get the hell out of there, but couldn't go anywhere once he started. Amsterdam in december- probably the best set ive heard Skream play. Was an insane trip, flew straight from work, cab to club, Mala, Loefah, Skream, Hijak, cab to arport, back to work the next day. Ask me after deep medi next weekend.

How does the scene compare between London and Brighton? I guess it shouldnt be that much seeing as it is only 1 train?
London can obviosuly bring in the numbers when putting a night on compareed to brighton. I find brighton still to be pretty fickle regarding music, especially out of uni time. Dubpressure draws the numbers as you'd expect for a long running nght, but anything else relys on people from the scene getting down there - in a way i suppose as it is for Platform 1 and DOTS. We've put on a few nights with mixed results, some packed, some empty though same times of the month. Though numbers aside, the best nights we've had (in london and brighton) are the ones where there are maybe 30-50 people, but all there because of the music. I'd rather have a club of 50 people going nuts, instead of 200 milling around smoking/drinking. It doesn't make financial sense obviously but some of the best nights i've been to have been of a handful of people - just reinforces the family feel of the scene, low turn out club nights can feel more like private parties. Thats pretty niave of me financially though, but they still make good nights. Brighton is full of very busy club nights full of complete fuckwits who don't give a shit about the music.

Anything else you would like to add?
I'm putting together a 1 year mix for Streamizm at the, with tunes from everyone who's helped us along the way. All i want to add really, is that i feel pretty humble the way people have accepted what we are doing over the last year, considering we've pretty much come out of the blue. Probably more I can add to that, but not sure how to put it ahhh, though its been an unbelievable experience putting on what amounts to a dubstep house party once a week for nearly a year, bless my neightbours.

Anything else in the pipleine?
Will feature DZ, Loetech, Bowzer, Quest, Tes La Rok, Reso, Rusko, Skream, Parson, Janner, Shy, Jason Burns, The Tthers, JSL and a few more. Gonna be some big changes, i'm moving from Brighton in the next few months which means the tuesday show will be changing. But we've got new shows started from DZ in Ottawa and Rod Azlan and co. But partly i'm gonna go back to what i started Streamizm for in the first place i think, giving other people the oppourtunity to host a show - not just confined to a schedule, but adhoc events as well, whether its to promote a night or a new release, or a live stream from an event

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