Save for a quietly slipped out white label in 2009, Hackney-based producer Champion seemed to disappear from the UK funky scene as quickly as he arrived. Two years on, now playing catch up with producers who first appeared when he did, his tracks are getting an overdue release via an EP on Terror Danjah’s Hardrive label. And while Motherboard and Tribal Affair are as good as grime-grafted funky gets, echoing those early Lil Silva and Hard House Banton singles, the mechanised Lose Control has traces of both early Benga and the bassline-funky crossover of Illmana and Bass Boy. Most importantly, at a time when the bass in ‘UK bass’ seems to have taken a backseat, Champion fills each track with great reservoirs of the stuff, reminding of what led to the term in the first place. Sunil Chauhan caught up with him for a quick chat as he hung out at Butterz HQ.

How did you get signed by Terror Danjah?
It was through DJ Pioneer. He’s been playing my tunes for the last three years and through him, I found out that Terror liked my stuff. And that’s how the Hardrive stuff came about. It’s been a mad one.

You’re the first funky producer he’s released anything by.
And far as I know, the first and only.

Why do you think you’ve been embraced by Terror and the Butterz camp?
I think it’s down to my sound. I started producing grime originally so it’s just incorporated into my music naturally. They liked the energy, the darkness. It fit in with what they do so much they had to embrace it. When I played at East Village, it was mad. I was standing there with Terror, looking at the crowd, I think it was Dexplicit’s turn, and went ‘ahhh it’s not going to work here’. Terror went ‘trust me, play the hard shit, don’t play the soft stuff, play what you play, play what you make’. So I went on and the first tune I played, one of mine that I never played out, straight out my laptop, it got three reloads.

D’you see yourself as much of a grime producer as a funky one?
In a weird way, I’ve never actually seen myself as a funky producer. I knew that to break through I needed to channel everything into one niche and funky house is obviously the inspiration for my sound but from the first track I did, Tribal Affair, I’ve never really considered myself as a funky house, or even a house producer. Because I hated the 4/4 drum pattern. I prefer the skippy stuff. With Tribal Affair, I dropped one of the kicks out, and Motherboard had the 4/4 drum pattern but again I tried to make it skipper with the percussion. I always try and go for energy.

How old are the tracks on the EP?
Motherboard came out in 2009, Tribal Affair is 2008, and the VIP Lose Control I did in January. It is a bit of a mixture.

There seems to be a few more funky singles on vinyl now. Is it still important?
When funky was fresh, people were doing vinyl. But because there weren’t much money in the scene, nobody thought to release their music. It was more of a fun thing. And a bit of an uncertain thing, on whether the music could sell. But now people are interested in buying some of the material. There are still a lot of collectors, especially from the trendy scene. You got Night Slugs, Numbers, Hyperdub… all that is really vinyl-driven, so that’s where I wanted to take my music.

D’you like what you hear from those labels?
I love what they’re doing ‘cos the producers are not restricted. And for me that’s perfect. I don’t like making what people think I should make. Now there’s a scene that embraces it. Bok Bok was near enough doing what we were doing, same with Doc Daneeka, that’s the nice thing about it. When I went to Night Slugs and saw what they were playing, I was blown away. I think people are starting to realise that there isn’t really any difference. They were playing UK funky or UK bass, but it didn’t have a name, it was just trendy. There is a big gap in a sense, that what you hear in Night Slugs is a bit more artistic, they aren’t so bass driven. They are dark, but they’re not dark. The only word for it is weird (laughs).

So does that mean you’ll be making more ‘artistic’ tracks now?
Nah, the only reason I’ve caught those listeners is that I’m different. I noticed when I saw Lil Silva’s set there, he was just doing what he does. And they loved him for it. But it’s mad the way it’s changed. I went to Night Slugs and heard my Lighter tune come on and people went crazy. I stood there gobsmacked ‘cos I didn’t even know anybody knew it in that world. But when I make my tunes I don’t sit down and map out what it’s going to sound like. I just like to bring out whatever’s inside of me. And as long as I don’t change, the production will probably never either. It will get better, but keep that raw and darker side that it has. That’s me through and through.

Champion – Motherboard / Tribal Affair VIP / Lose Control is released on Hardrive on 16th May

Download: Champion – FABRICLIVE x Butterz Mini Mix (Tracklist after the jump)

Miss Fire – 004FH
Joe – Claptrap
Champion – Lose Control
Champion – Lighter VIP
Dumplin Vs Champion ft Laura Lexus – Falling Down
Dj Naughty – Champagne Remix
Toddska – Gal From England
Champion – Tribal Affair VIP
Funkystepz – Fuller
Champion – Motherboard
Addictive – Bad Girl (Champion Remix Dub)
Mr Lucro & Sir Spyro – Ricochet