2010 proves to be a big year for Metachemical, with no less than seven originals and remixes slated for release. The Kingston, Ontario breaks producer known as Mike Stannard to his friends, enemies and creditors can’t seem to give up on broken beats no matter how had he tires. “People keep advising I go 4/4, or hip hop, but despite the occasional foray into electro house breaks are what I love. There is just something about those kicks, filters and LFOs. Nothing puts that all together like breaks.”
Metachemical believes in keeping things in the studio as simple as possible. Having started with hardware synths, mixing boards and turntables a decade ago, the setup is pure digital and pure simplicity. “Basically the studio consists of a desk, a midi keyboard and a couple other controllers, the computer, soundcard and monitors. Inside the box it’s pretty simple as well, I use as few instruments and effects as possible. I’d rather know a piece of software well and get the best out of it then have a ton of stuff I don’t know how to use, relying on presets for everything. You will never get your own sound that way.” As for the raging analog vs. digital debate, Meta put it succinctly: “If you are worried about what the producer or DJ is using you missed the point entirely.”
With chart successes “Network Psychology,” “Hearing Voices” and his remix of Break The Box’s “Rock Da Mic” on Breakspoll nominated Dead Famous records, Metachemical has begun to edge his name and sound into the breakbeat sound space. After a short hiatus in early 2010, Meta will be back in September with a remix of fellow Canuck producer Scratche’s “Good Timing” on brand new Canadian breaks label Breakz R Boss. Following this killer release, remixes for American breakbeat veteran Cereal Killaz and his latest “Addicted To You” on his label Scrape Recordings. Also slated for release on Scrape, a remix of Zarbizarre’s progressive track 3773, originals “All The Things (Rock Redux)” and “Sometimes She takes Drugs,” and a contribution to a charity LP for Discosynthetique called “The Button.” A remix for Dead Famous and Breakspoll nominated label Scarcity Records should see the light of day early 2011.
I knew I had to ask Meta what he thought of the current state of the scene, his answer didn’t surprise me: “I hear people say all the time that breaks is dead. Dubstep is the new thing, or it’s something else already, honestly I can’t and don’t care to keep track. Breaks heads love breaks and will keep doing it, and I’ll be there too. I’ve had enough people tell me I should have given up a long time ago and spent my time doing something more constructive. Making music you love seems constructive to me.”

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