Oolacile is the rising dubstep star who’s signature bass sound has earned him quite a reputation among bass producers in the industry. Known for dishing out head bangers both in the studio and during his live sets, it’s no surprise this talented producer has been the talk of 2016. So far in 2016 he’s released three EPs totaling 20 tracks. In addition, he’s released countless remixes in between. Extreme dedication to the music he produces is what separates Oolacile from your ordinary producer. He’s collaborated with countless artists from the SMOG team as well as several premiere dubstep artists from the famed Disciple Records.
His seven track Expansion EP was released not long ago and has since garnered loads of support within the bass scene. Four original tracks as well as three collaborations to create another Oolacile EP that we’re in love with. Earth shattering head bangers delivered right to your door by one of the most passionate dubstep producers out there. Our favorite track has to be the collaboration with 12th Planet, Creepers. Stretch your neck and prepare to be blown away as 12th Planet and Oolacile make for the perfect team on this collaboration. RaverRafting had the opportunity to talk to Oolacile about his latest EP, stage name, and work with 12th Planet. You can stream or listen to the EP with links provided at the end of the article. Without further ado, be sure to check out our exclusive interview below!
First off, where does the interesting name “Oolacile” come from?
Oolacile: Oolacile is a location from the video game series dark souls. The actual location is located in the DLC but its mentioned throughout the whole base game. The location Oolacile was once a peaceful place that gave birth to many new types of magic. Unfortunately, the people of Oolacile were fooled by a foul serpent who had manipulated them into resurrecting a man, now turned beast named Manus. Once Manus was back he recklessly sought out to reclaim his magical broken pendant. In his wake he unleashed the abyss. The abyss is a powerful dark magic that eventually consumed all of Oolacile, destroying it and leaving nothing but darkness.
Tell me a little bit about your “Expansion” EP, what was it like to producing it? Any challenges creating a seven track EP?
Oolacile: Expansion was a collection of various tunes I had written in the past with the mindset of putting them out onto a bigger label like SMOG. Its honestly kind of unbelievable to think these tunes actually came out, knowing how many issues were involved in getting them finish and put out. The tune expansion was originally written to be released on a different label, but after a bunch of back and forth the release was cancelled to multiple differences regarding the release, rights, production, etc… The tune manipulator was originally intended to be a collab with someone but they decided they didn’t want to work on it, so I finished the tune myself, but before I could finish the tune, the project crashed and I lost the whole song. Luckily I had bounced out(exported) a preview of the tune to show the potential collab partner, so I used that as a reference to rewrite the entire song from scratch.
Oolacile: It was honestly incredibly stressful and I definitely screamed when I lost the project, but the result I got now is almost identical to what I started with, but trust me it was no easy task, as a lot of the synths I made for that song are incredibly complex. And after all of this, my entire hard drive got corrupted and I lost all the wavs and project files for Expansion, Manipulator, Crooked and Imposter. Luckily I had saved exported copies of these songs to dropbox, so I was able to recover them that way and get them released. I had intended to do more with the second drop on some tunes, like imposter, and manipulator but couldn’t because I had lost the project. The tunes instigate, no, and crepeers were written after my hard drive died so I was able to finish those properly.
What was your favorite part about producing the EP?
Oolacile: Definitely getting to write with 12th planet.
What was it like working with Jumanji and 12th planet on the track, “Creepers”?
Oolacile: Writing with 12th was an absolutely blast. I live about 3 hours away from him. I live in San Diego and he lives in Los Angeles. I took the train up a few times and stayed at his house in down town LA. We had originally started writing the tune on his laptop at Dirty Phonics studio in Paris when we played Animalz together in April. The tune originally started as one of my classic telephone style tunes but when we worked on it in LA we slowly moved away from that idea and decided to go in a heavier direction. 12th and I developed the routine of waking up early, working on the track for about 3 – 4 hours, then going and getting lunch somewhere. When we got back from lunch wed work for another 4 – 6 hours and then go out and do something. One time we went and got vegan sushi and then went to a barcade and played retro video games. Next day wed follow the same schedule.
Oolacile: The writing process was really awesome too, I know I can be kind of difficult to work with as im very hard to please and very particular in what I like, and 12th was super cool with letting me take over at times. Never the less we did have moments where we would have to drag me off the computer so he could have his turn. The way the song ended up was I created most of the synths for the drop and 12th wrote most of the intro, things like the melody and the synths in the begging, 12th also did pretty much all of the effects and subtle things you hear during and behind the drop, such as fx, and sweeps, fills, and the back ground vocals, etc.. We both wrote the patterns of the first drop together and the second drop arrangement is more 12th planets flow. That being said we both had input on what each other did, it was definitely a very even effort on the outcome of the song.
Oolacile: When writing the intro I had the idea of getting a rapper on the intro but I wanted someone who either did grime or had a grime style and 12th planet immediately said he had someone in mind. Thats how we linked up with Jumanji. We sent Jumanji and early version of the song and shortly after he had sent us back this sick verse that really matched the vibe of the song. I thought the line “watching them eat them raw, jeepers creepers” was so sick and I had to make it the big pre drop sample. That line is also how 12th and I came up with the name for the tune.
Would you say the EP is strictly dubstep, or did you try experimenting with some other sounds as well?
Oolacile: The EP is absolutely a dubstep EP, with the exception of manipulator, which is a glitchop/drumstep tune. I don’t know really know how to define that track to be honest, I honestly just think of it as fast dubstep. As far as experimenting goes, I tried to go with the more riddim style of dubstep with my tune crooked. I normally make really aggressive dubstep and I wanted to write a tune that had more swagger but still changed up enough to hold the listeners interest. Although all the songs are very unique stylistically in their own right.
Are there any artists you draw inspiration from when producing music?
Oolacile: I don’t really listen to other peoples music to get ideas from it anymore. I have really found just writing from the heart with a clean slate and coming up with my own original ideas normally comes up with the most unique and creative results. That being said I have many peers who write exceptional music and the quality of music they write inspires me to keep getting better, and to push myself even further. In my opinion MurDa has the best Mixdown and Sound Design in all of dubstep right now. Hes always pushing me to come up with crazier sounders, and get more professional sounding mixdowns. Samplifire has the most exciting flows and aggressive energies in his tracks. Im always excited to play any new stuff he sends me because I know it will absolutely destroy in the club.
What other genres of music do you enjoy?
Oolacile: I love all music. I originally got into making music almost 10 years ago when I was 12 playing guitar. I was playing in heavy metal bands for a while so I obviously really love metal. I love how technical metal can be. I don’t necessarily actively go out of my way to listen to metal that much anymore, but whenever I hear it I love listening to it, and sometimes I just got to play some of my old favorite tunes. What im currently listen to a lot of right now is the whole future bass, beats style. I really love dudes like Oshi, Tennyson, Koresma, Ramzoid, sam Gellaitry, Howie lee, masayoshii iimori, the whole soda island, pc music,and daruma collectives.
Oolacile: Im also a huge fan of all things neuro, there is this guy named CHEE from south Africa is an absolute monster producer, almost noisia level as far as sound design goes. Same with Alon Mor, who as far as im concerned has changed the game completely. Im really loving signal, audeka, disprove, mefjus, hybris, annix (decimal bass, konichi) teddy killers… There’s a lot of sick neuro and beat music its hard to name all of them. I also really enjoy other styles of dubstep, big fan of bassline, garage and grime. Im absolutely in love with Asa, Sorrow, Joker, a lot of the stuff on capsize.
Do you currently have any favorite locations to perform at?
Oolacile: Most of the places ive played have something awesome going on for them. That being said I think one really stands out for me, that is Montreal. Montreal is absolutely amazing. Montreal is safe, clean, beautiful, great food and great people. Bust most importantly, they have probably the best dubstep crowd ive played for yet. When I played at club soda a while back, the show was packed and everyone was moving. There were mosh pits and head banging all night. Most of them knew all my tunes and would speak along with the dialogue I use in my intros.
What does the future hold for Oolacile in terms of producing and touring?
Oolacile: I have a lot in store that I cant really give to much details about yet. I have 2 more Eps already done, and one is coming out this year. I have a handful of out of the country shows that will be announced soon, but no big northern America tours yet, hopefully that is something I can get sorted soon.
Listen to Expansion EP:
Connect with Oolacile:
https://www.facebook.com/oolacilemusic
https://twitter.com/OolacileDubstep
https://soundcloud.com/oolacile
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