Head Nods

(that’s a teaser from his latest release from last month) you can DL it on his bandcamp http://handbook.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for your time, so you are from the uk?
heyy, yeah i am. i’m from york, in yorkshire :)

Handbook, how did you decide on that name?
I came up with the name Handbook on the spot, after previously being “known” as Part Time Wolf. I saw the name was already taken and needed a new one fast. I guess I must have seen a Handbook laying around and gone with it. Seems to have stuck pretty well!

What was your first musical inspiration?
 My first musical inspiration was an odd mix. I have always been into music, and can vaguely remember being an infant and listening to techno and classic rock (my Dad has a very eclectic taste in music, all quality though :D). These were my first insights into music, and have stayed with me a long time.

What made you decide to make beats?
 I decided to start making beats when I started getting into J Dilla and Free The Robots. I heard their music, and knew it was made by one person. That gave me the inspiration to start making music, and making beats. Once I saw how it could be done, I knew that I could do it.

What equipment have you used, and do you have a preference on equipment that you use?
 I used to program my beats using the MPC 1000. A greater piece of kit to get started on. This year I moved onto the Maschine. It’s incredible. Stepped up my game no end, its astonishingly intuitive. Besides from that, I use a MicroKorg, Ableton and my laptop (HP G56, for computer heads).

Have you done any collaborations?
Who would you like to work with? Over the years, I’ve worked on a number of collaborations with: Stephen Farris, Yahn Looke Picard, Languid, ManOnWire and RADICALEDWARD. Then I have worked with rappers such as: Cor Stidak, Slim Pickin’s, J.Hurt, Jetpack Jones, Broke/ and more. I’ve been lucky to work with so many talented individuals. As for people I’d wanna work with in the future, probably Teebs, Mecca:83, B.Lewis and rappers such as Stainless Steele, Actual Proof, Action Bronson. That would kick some serious ass.

What other things do you like besides music?
Not a whole lot really, I spend most of life making beats when I’m not making music or listening to it. I do enjoy my food an awful lot, and enjoy my job too (I work as a teaching assistant in a secondary school in York). I like to party, on occasion :D

What’s your favorite food?
PIZZA. I don’t know what it is about bread, cheese and tomato sauce, but damn it gets me. Every time. I got into a spell of having about three a week, but then I got chunky, so I cut down to one a week. It isn’t enough. I tried replacing it with quiche, and no offence to quiche, but it don’t compare.

Do you play video games?
 Nah, I have not got the time :D

How often do you experiment with your beats?
 Every day. Like, this weekend, I’ve cooked up a few beats, then made a house track, a garage/2step track and all sorts. Always experimenting in the “beatlab”

I constantly see a new upload on soundcloud, have you always kept that consistency?
Yeah I seem to have done. I try to upload once every three days, that’s my quota, unless something totally vibin’ is made, then I have to share. I’m childish like that. I can’t keep my beats a secret. I’m that kid who wants his drawing of an owl put up on the fridge, even though sometimes the owl actually looks like a beaver. I love to share my music.

Are you working on a new album with those tracks?
Some of them yeah. I use soundcloud to give away freebies, tracks that don’t seem to fit in any projects. Then I also upload singles from upcoming albums as some solid promo. I have two releases in the works, and some of the tracks on the soundcloud are going to feature on those releases.

well there you have it, check him out on here on tumblr, http://foundbeats.tumblr.com/

and around the web
 https://twitter.com/#!/HandbookYork

http://www.youtube.com/user/jakebrownguy

http://www.facebook.com/Handbookah

http://soundcloud.com/handbook