Sonic Explorer: Quantic In Beijing This Saturday

Quantic (aka Will Holland) grew up in England, but moved beyond his native shores to embrace music from all around the world, becoming a hugely influential DJ, producer and musician. He’s now based mainly in Colombia, but brings his wildly diverse record collection to Punk this Saturday (Dec 3) to help DJ Slide's No Go Die celebrate its first anniversary of pushing the musical button in Beijing.

What did you listen to as a kid?
I listened to a lot of acoustic music. Both my mother and father, and my sisters, played folk music in the house. The house was full of guitars, banjos, a double bass and a piano. My upbringing was very creative, and I had a lot of chances to hear different music and to try to play different instruments. In my teens, I began collecting 45s bought in local Northern Soul and jazz record stores – that got me into the music I’m making today.

How did you end up going so far down the road of Colombian/Latin American music? Was it a natural progression, or was there a “Eureka” moment?
It was a very natural induction. The sounds of Colombia only got to me once I started living in the country. It's quite hard to truly appreciate what's here from outside Colombia, as there's so much music that goes unrecorded - it's a very oral-style culture. Many of the most exciting musical moments I've had in Colombia have been in Cali. The city is full of fantastic musicians and is racially very diverse: there is a new influx of music from the Pacific coast, called "Pacifico." That's one of the most exciting areas for me.

Why have you thrown yourself into so many different projects, rather than concentrating on one?
Good question! Maybe it’s a way of dealing with or partitioning my musical tastes. Sometimes it’s hard to lump it all into one thing. I like the concept of different styles and personas, like with Lee "Scratch" Perry or Eddie Bo: It’s nice to hear a familiar sound but with a different twist. Those artists recorded under several different names, exploring different sounds. This is part of the recording process, you have the chance to present something in a fantastical or imaginary way.

Writers always seem to define your style with reference to everything you throw into the mix. But what are you not?
I'm not really into superficial music or music that belongs to the high-class. I don’t want to make music for the rich and beautiful, I want to make music for the people who honestly enjoy life and all its intricacies.

Can you use the word “quantic”?
It’s easier in Spanish, as it’s Spanish for “quantum.” How about: “Vamos a bailar la cumbia cuantica!” (“Let’s dance the cumbia quantum!”)?

Colombia is often viewed in stereotypes. What should we know about your adopted home?
Colombians have been some of the most warm, welcoming and accommodating people I have met. The 50-year armed conflict hasn't helped things: it’s a very complex situation and very hard to understand why such violence has overcome such a beautiful country. Don’t be put off – it’s one of the most fantastic places to visit or live.

Who do you think you might have been in a previous life?
Probably some kind of traveling bard or musician. Or a pirate or Viking, as I like to travel!

And which period would you have most enjoyed living through?
I’d have loved to live in Lagos, Accra, Addis Ababa, Barranquilla, Kingston, Rio de Janeiro, Port au Prince or Chicago circa 1969-71. There was something musically very interesting happening around that time. I can only look back with nostalgic envy, but the truth is that maybe it wouldn't have been that cool and we can only appreciate it now with time and hearing all the records that were recorded 40 years after.

Which musician would you most like yourself to be compared to?
David Axelrod, King Tubby … I don’t know. I think of myself more as an engineer/producer more than a devoted musician.

And which musician would you actually compare yourself to?
The only person I can think of is my father,as he was a guitar and banjo player his whole life and taught me to appreciate listening to and playing music. He was constantly enthusing on different songs he had heard and trying new things on his instrument. He taught me to always try new things, experiment and enjoy music for what it is.

Quantic's Colombian Music Sampler
“039” by Alejo Duran
“Memoria de Justino” by Grupo Socavon
“Bienvenidos” by Systema Solar
“Pitchito” by Frente Cumbiero
“Cogeme La Cana” by Pedro Laza

Make the leap with Quantic at Punk on Dec 3. RMB 100 (after 11pm).

Photos: Courtesy of the organizers