Sometimes it takes someone to think outside the box to change the majorities mind set, and no I am not referring to politics (yawn)! I am actually talking about Redlight (Hugh Pescod), previously know as Clipz, previously renowned for pushing drum and bass boundaries. Well, he has now sacked that off and has started something completely new. Fresh out of the box, Redlight has upped the anti.

So it sounds like? Good question.

Imagine rave music never quite got to being drum & bass in the early 90s, dubstep wasn't distinguished by its half beat snare hits or Gary Glitter was never 'The Leader of the Gang!.' Redlight is pretty much impossible to place. It can't be pigeon holed into a genre, sub genre or category. It's Redlight. That's it. And it's great.

And this is what he had to say...

The initial question that we are all thinking, what made you move away from Clipz and the drum and bass scene for something totally new?
"I just wanted a new challenge really, I've been into different music as long as I have been into drum & bass. It's always been part of what I do. I have drawn inspiration from other music i.e. hip-hop, house, raga, you know, grime. All of those things have been a mish mash in my music. If you listen to the intros I used to do, they always had other music in and I tried to incorporate other things." says Redlight "I just felt like I couldn't do anything more within that genre. I found everything I was hearing, it was getting quite stale, and I just want enjoying it. There is still some good drum & bass out there. There is a lot of good music, but a lot of rubbish too. But the good stuff shines through. I just felt like I had done as much as I could do within that genre."

How did it feel to be essentially starting again?
"It's been good. It's hard work don't get me wrong. If you got to start again, it's going to be tough but that what life's about init. You know, pushing yourself. If your not scared of failing then you can't just get on and do new things man. It's like; fear holds people back in their lives. We have all got it inside us and we just got to get on and try new things. If you do, things are going to happen because of it. If you don't, you stay there moaning about stuff and don't want to move on in life, then you're never going to move on." he says "If you are scared about something, it's a good thing. It means you're stepping out of you're comfort zone and you're doing something new. If you go through your whole life not being scared it means your lazy and not doing nothing, taking the safe option, the easy route. It's all good if you want to take that route, its fine. But for me, its like, I want to try something new and I want to move on and do new things in my life"

What were your initial thoughts behind Redlight? "
"I have been doing a lot of projects, since 2005 really. I was experimenting for a few years, doing various down tempo projects. For me really its working with vocalists, I love working with vocalists. I am working with a lot of different vocalist on their albums at the moment and starting work on my album." says Redlight.

"You can pull from any inspiration. Its like when acid house started in '89 and it moved into hardcore you could pull from any pool of music. Any vibe you can get you can push in there. I feel like that's where I want to be. I want to be pushing any vibe of music. I don't want anyone going: 'na na you cant do that or you cant do this'. I wanna do what I wanna do."

"I feel like at the moment with the British dance music scene it's at a point where you can just push what ever you want to push. I think a lot of people are doing that, you've seen the results, underground British dance music being top ten in the chats constantly. With major labels trying to sign people. That's because its breaking music."

How would you describe the way your sound has evolved to becoming Redlight?
"I don't really know, to be honest!" he laughs, 'I am just doing my thing. Since I have started it I have definitely found groves and steps that I want to do. The more dubsteppy sound, the more housey, funky sound, I am just amalgamating it all into the pot and coming up with new stuff."

"I get in inspired by a lot of things around me, Skream, Goldie, Basement Jaxx, you know" he pauses "DeadMau5, grime artists like Giggs and vocalists like Ms Dynamite or even Kaiser Chiefs. All kinds of different music."

"Everything I am into, I put it into the pot and see what comes out really, but keep it still me. So I'm not copying anyone, I'm doing what I'm doing."

How do you feel your drum & bass following have reacted to your new sound?
"I think a lot of people are like: 'Wow'. A lot of people are into drum & bass are into it for one reason, they want to hear cutting edge new music. They are excited by new music".

"If you are going to make new music and try to push the British music forward then people are just going to support you, if they're not then I'm not interested in them anyway!. I'm not interested in what people think of me anyway to be honest, it doesn't bother me. It makes me laugh. Each to their own. You're going to get haters, your going to get a lot of people who are positive as well. It's all been love really. A lot of the scene has been really supportive." he pauses "I still really respect what everyone is doing and how the music is moving forward. There is a lot of good stuff out there".

Can you tell us a about your new single 'Stupid' featuring Roses Gabor. How did you meet and start working together?

"Well, I did the beat 'Stupid' in my old studio in Bristol, I live in London now" he says.

"A lot of the music that's coming out now 'Stupid', 'MDMA' and other bits and bobs I did at the beginning of last year, but no one was really ready for it."

" Basically 'Stupid' " He pauses "I was playing it, Toddla was playing it Seiji and Zinc. We were playing it for a couple of months and no one had it. Then Shy wanted to do a release on Digital Sound Boy, so I put it in his inbox". He pauses " But I don't think he listened to it for 3 months, then he came back to me and said: 'You said you were going to give me a tune man' I was like: 'Look in your inbox mate, I sent you one months ago!?" he laughed "Then he found it and was like: 'yeah I wanna sign it, I wanna sign it'. At the same time Seiji who had been playing it, was working with Roses up in London and she just did a vocal on it and they sent it to me. I said: 'yeah come down the studio, I'm really into that, that's the kinda vibe I want on top of it' So she came down and we went from there really." "So that was probably about Sept last year. It's still going to be honest. People are still hearing it and getting into it. It's going to be a grower I think."

If you could collaborate with anyone - dead or alive who would it be? Dead?!
"I dunno" he laughs "There are loads of people, loads of different artists" he stops and thinks. "Beyonce, I'd love to get her on a beat, that would be sick. Some old mow town shit. Myles Davies, he's a genius. If someone inspires me then I want to work with them."

Can you tell us a bit about how you work when creating a track? Do you have any good tips you fancy sharing with SWU?
"I'd say you have got to persevere really, its never easy. I mean I am in here on a Saturday, its 3pm and I have been here since midday cutting up Ms Dynamite vocals."

"You just have to persevere, its takes along time. Sometimes you can put down a tune quickly in like 5 hours, some other tunes you got to take time on."

"Listen to other peoples tunes, reference to it. If you think your tune is fucking amazing before you have even played it to anyone, you are going about it the wrong way. You are just getting too over excited!" he laughs. "Get a few of your best tunes by other producers in, and listen to their tune compared to yours and see the pitfalls. Work on it from there. Don't copy them; compare that level of sound, the dynamics, the definition of their beats and bass. Just have fun, take your time and creative something good and enjoyable."

You are all over the 2010 festivals playing Glastonbury, Glade, and The Big Chill. For you what would make the ultimate festival line-up and experience?
"Free to get in, so everyone could get in. No violence and stupid people. Really good acts, good sound system, good weather. Reg James if he was still alive, Myles Davis if he was still alive! Jimmy Hendrix if he was still alive!!" He laughs "Errrm, Beyonce, Giggs, D Double E, Skream and Benga, Basemet Jaxx."

If I gave you a quid to put in a duke box and any choose 4 tracks - what would they be?
"I haven't got a good memory you know, I'm never going to pick the right tunes!" he laughs, I didn't say there was I right answer! "There are too many though" he pauses "Eddie Murphy and Rick James 'I just want to party all the time', that's a great track" "Errrrm, lets go to '91 or something, The House Crew, Production House 'Keep the Fire Burning'. Errrm" I can hear him tapping away on his computer '2001-2002, The Game 'Runnin' " he pauses again, for longer this time "aaaand errrm Skream featuring Yasmin 'I give you everything'.Â

So, whets next for Redlight?
"Well the next thing is, I got a release coming on MTA (Chase and Status label) called: 'MDMA'. The dubstep boys have been playing it and it's picking up fast. I am just literally; I am on the computer now I've got a vocal version with Ms Dynamite." He clicks something and I get a sneak listen of Ms Dynamites distinctive vocal sounding amazing considering I am talking to Redlight over the phone.

"I am also producing some tracks for Miss Brat and a couple tunes for Ms Dynamite. Also helping Roses Gabor with her EP. What else have I been doing?" he pauses "Just got a tune on Rusko's album and helped engineer and produce another one on there. Been working with Ben Westbeech, doing a remix with Wiley and Toddla T. Busy really!!"

so, get your ear holes around this - www.myspace.com/redlightredlight