I first met Kirk through his clothing company Boom Bear that he used to run with Orron Fearon. Since then, he has decided to put all of his energy into his music and has spent the last year putting together his EP, developing a live set and getting airplay on Radio 1. With a clever business mind as well as a creative flair, I feel that there is a lot in store for Kirk in the future and it’s always good to hear he’s doing well. I caught up with Kirk over Facebook chat to find out what he’s been up to and what’s he’s got lined up for the next couple of weeks.
Hey Kirk, you’ve been pretty busy over the last couple of months. Could you tell the breaks readers what you’ve been up to?
Yeah finished my solo instrumental EP – ‘Enter the Void’ which was influenced by electronic and eastern music, managed to get some decent radio play from DJ’s like Nihal from Radio 1, Friction and Kayper from Asian Network. also i made an EP with a great singer Marita who was a joy to work with, and right now i’ve just been asked to play Reading and Leeds Festival so i’ve been rehearsing to get that tight. The performance willl be a band performance including Ben Fawse on drums, me on guitar/electronics and Marita on vocals
That sounds tight. Is this the first time you’ve adapted your tracks into a live setting?
Yeah, in the live band way but ive always played in bands before Istarted releasing tunes. Before, I used to perform in the rapper Scorzayzee band which played at Maida Vale.
That’s amazing. Hopefully you’ll be back there, but as Kirk Spencer.
You’ve always stressed to me that you’re a producer and not a DJ. over the past couple of years it seems that, certainly in Nottingham, DJ’s have been the order of the day. do you think live music is making a comeback with acts like Mount Kimbie, SBTRKT, James Blake etc playing alongside people who are very much DJ’s and not producers?
I don’t think live music has ever really gone away, just now certain electronic genres are expanding and more people are interested in these genres. People like seeing something different rather than seeing someone just press play and mix the track in. I like being at DJ events because you get to see what’s hot and what new styles are coming up, but on the other hand I get slightly bored being at a DJ event cause I like to see the human interaction - like people going mad on stage together cause thats the background i’m from seeing bands like Rage Against The Machine. Contradicting all of that I am now djing a bit around the UK. Just DJ’d at Cable London and djing social on the 6th August.
Wow. I didn’t think i’d ever hear you say that, haha, but that’s cool. I think they’re both important in there own right but similar to you, coming from a background of live music it’s refreshing to see more live music coming back to the forefront. So, moving on, you’ve just released ‘Enter the Void’ a couple of months ago. Are there plans for a follow up? Have you already got tracks waiting?
Definitely there is gonna be a follow up, made a couple ideas so far nothing fully finished yet though. I really want to step it up on the next EP.
Are you going to record it as a live band or will that just be kept for the live performance?
Recording wise most ideas will start with me in a bedroom playing about with samples and sounds, then when those ideas are down it will be a bit of live drums and instruments then layered with electronic sounds. I’m also looking to form a new band project with Faley the bassist from the band Late of the Pier
Awesome, are you able to shed any more light on that?
Yeah I sent Faley the ‘Enter the Void’ EP and since then we got talking and became friends, like we got some big big ideas, can’t say too much apart from its gonna be very fun and big.
I’m excited to hear more about that. For those breaks readers who may not know you used to run Boom Bear (Nottingham based clothing company) with Orron. Are you solely focussing on music now?
Yeah it was something I always wanted to do. I’ve always been interested in cool tees and great graphics and I always wanted to colloborate with my mates on something Working with orron was very fun we had alot of laughs and good ideas. Got to a point were I wasnt making enough music though, so I decided to go fully into the music, but soon as i’ve toured the world and sold alot of tunes Orron and I are gonna start a bigger bigger brand.
That’s good to hear. The new Boom Bear designs that Orron has put together look dope so definitely looking forward to more from him and you guys in the future.
Yeah orron is very talented.
So, Reading and Leeds at the end of August, then what should we look out for next in the world of Kirk Spencer?
Bolshevik Bravado project, Sony Playstation commissions, more live gigs and my new EP.
Sony Playstation commissions?
Yeah gonna be doing some music for a top secret new game coming out soon .
Big, haha. Will be sure to keep my eye out for that one, and Bolshevik Bravado? Is this with Faley?
It will be with a few peeps.
But is this the same one you were talking about earlier?
Yeah
Nice. Well definitely keep us updated. Cheers.
Safe. Cya
