Construct is a permanent fixture on the Montreal music scene. I say music because you’ll catch him spinning everything from dubstep, drum’n'bass, and broken beats through to hip-hop, juke, grime, and more. As well as spinning and promoting, Construct runs the J’aime Le Dubstep website. I caught up with him just before he took to the stage in the Igloo at Igloofest, to headline the stage curated by Igloofest and… J’aime Le Dubstep.
How long have you been DJing and why did you start?
Construct: I originally started back in Halifax, when Harmsworth was trying to start up a drum’n'bass night and needed a graphic designer, which I was. This was in about 2005 or 2006. So we started a drum’n'bass and breaks night. Vilify would lend me her records and I started with those. Then I found dubstep and it drove me up the walls, I loved it! All of a sudden I was playing more shows and had a radio show out there.
When did you move to Montreal, and why?
C: I moved here almost three years ago now. I came because I’d just finished university, studying graphic design, and I moved to Montreal for culture and music. I even made sure to move to Montreal two weeks earlier than I’d planned to get a ticket to see Mala at Mutek! And, well, it’s Montreal! Right now a lot of people are gravitating towards Montreal because it’s an epicentre for music. There is so much happening: music, arts, culture. Things like Under Pressure, which is an enormously fun festival. There is just a vibe and feeling in this city which is incredible.
Did you come here at the same time as Vilify and Harmsworth?
C: Vilify moved here a year before I did. And then I came here, and the year after that Harmsworth came and we all joined up again; it’s fun cause we’re kind of a crew again here. We are really lucky here for all the attention and success we get in this city – really blessed.
What has been one of the highlights of your time DJing in Montreal?
C: Well Igloofest today is definitely going to be one to beat for 2012! Apart from that playing before Bassnectar at Piknic Electronik, because they really know how to treat their artists well. I’ll get down on my knees and praise them anytime they book me because they’re just so wonderful.
You started as a breaks DJ, who were your favourite artists back then?
C: Krafty Kuts! I remember before dubstep crossed over the pond, which was around 2006, breaks were it! We had breaks and drum’n'bass on one side, and house and techno on the other. Then all of a sudden dubstep came along and somehow the breaks scene didn’t appeal to me as much. But back then, as well as Krafty Kuts, I loved Finger Lickin’, Limewax. When it comes to drum’n'bass and jungle for me it’s either super old school or super heavy. I don’t know what it is I’m just compelled to play broken beats.
Right now a lot of those different scenes are merging: drum’n'bass, dubstep, house, techno; it seems like a big melting pot is going on. Does that excite you? Right now?
C: Yeah. For sure. I think 2011 especially was great. It seemed like before that everything was branching out, and now all of a sudden everything is coming together. I don’t want people to think of me as a dubstep DJ; I’ll play six different genres in one set. I’m even pulling back to tunes from 1996 in my sets, or dropping Missy Elliot tracks, or anything like that. It’s all about shifting the dance floor or trying to create momentum.
Did you go to Africa HiTech when they were here?
C: Yeah.
Perfect example of what you’re talking about I think: a musical journey…
C: Yeah, for sure. And it’s great.
But at the same time there is still some separation between the dubstep scene and the more fluid and ill-defined scenes, at least to an extent. You play to both those crowds, and more besides, but how do you try and bridge the scenes? How do you try and show people who maybe have a preconceived idea of what ‘dubstep’ is, something new?
C: You know what? That was probably one of the biggest things for me last year. I wanted to play with styles without losing my fans. I’m not enjoying ‘brostep’ anymore: it’s really monotonous and mainstream. And I definitely doubted myself, my ability to shift my style, but after a while, people started to get the hang of it. And it’s nice because I’m getting some new attention, and I feel freer to play whatever I want a carte-blanche. And as a DJ that is the best thing for me. So depending on the night and the situation I can play different styles. It’s great.
Do you find there are any tracks you reach for that crossover between scenes well?
C: Anything by Girl Unit. Salva. The past year I’ve been a big supporter of Juke, so anything by Distal and Machinedrum. But yeah Salva and his label, Frite Nite, are killing it. Everyone should go check their stuff out at fritenite.com.
CONSTRUCT-Tuques and Helmets JLD Igloofest Promo by Piknic / Igloofest
Any releases coming up you’re looking forward to?
C: Stuff on Seclusiasis and Slit Jockey, which are two labels run by Dev79 and Starkey, out of Philly. They have this new-style grime that has the rolling triplets from hip-hop with the type of synths you get from grime. For me right now they are running the game. I’ll drop some in my set, you’ll notice, you’ll see what I mean. It’s got attitude!
So, to wrap up, what could be the best thing that could happen to you as a DJ in 2012?
C: Well right now I’m working as a DJ and freelance designer. So the best thing would be if my DJ career could get me to stop working full time and just live the life I am now and play music and promote music and write about music online and keep living like this for the next ten years I think I’ll have a smile on my face till I die!