KODE9's sci-fi vision of sound

CHERRRYBOy Magazine — Kode9

Steve Goodman is Hyperdub’s founder, DJ and multidisciplinary producer more widely known by the alias Kode9. Goodman was first established as a producer in the Dubstep scene in the early noughties, and is still regarded as one of the founding artists of the genre.

In the years to come, the genre gained traction in the mainstream and its sound changed, subsequently, Goodman and Hyperdub moved on too. Now, the phrase ‘Hyperdub sound’ is attributed to the unique, uncategorical nature of the wide variety of artists and genres the label release with replicating the distinct noise of London’s underground.

The past year has provided the time for Goodman to be patient in his music production, enabling space for more abstract projects such as audio essays that are a “breath of fresh air from fine-tuning kick drums and hi-hats” he tells CHERRYBOY.

“I am interested in where reality gets weirder than fiction. Any of these fictions I’m involved in have a pretty strong foundation in things that are actually playing out in front of us”

Recently as part of South London club Corsica Studios’ arts programme which saw the venue turn its dance floor into a physical and virtual exhibition space, Goodman showcased his video essay Audio Virology as well as a new sci-fi themed installation Astro-Darien made in collaboration with Lawrence Lek, Optigram and Silvia Kastel. “I’m always interested in repurposing club spaces and sound systems for something more interesting,” Goodman explains in regard to the future of nightclub experiences.

These dystopian and sci-fi concepts are channelled throughout Goodman’s releases. Lek and Goodman have worked together regularly in bringing to life these landscapes. Back in 2016 the pair collaborated for Nøtel, an audiovisual film set in a posthumous hotel with Goodman’s 2015 album Nothing reframed as the soundtrack. The audiovisual experience is from the viewpoint of a drone as it travels through a simulated luxury hotel, evacuated of human life. Now Nøtel eerily echoes scenes from around the world in 2020 as hospitality sectors closed their doors due to lockdown. Goodman has always been interested in where reality gets weirder than fiction. “Any of these fictions I’m involved in have a pretty strong foundation in things that are actually playing out in front of us”.

In today’s world social media is increasingly playing a larger part in how we experience music and interact with musicians, the pandemic has only accelerated this further. Platforms like Tiktok now have greater reach and power to an emerging musician than most record labels could dream of. For Goodman, signing musicians at Hyperdub remains the same process as it did 10 years ago though, “very rarely am I trawling social media looking” explains Goodman but “regarding TikTok, never say never”.

Recognising the hardship its roster faced with venues closed for an unprecedented time, Hyperdub operated throughout the pandemic providing a platform for artists who had music to release. Hyperdub also worked in tandem with Bandcamp Fridays, an initiative set up by the music buying platform which sees all purchases have their revenue fees waived on the first Friday of every month until the end of 2021.

Looking forward, what is clear is that the future of Hyperdub remains with its artists, emerging and established. “We’ve just released great albums by Fatima al Qadiri and Loraine James. We’ve got some amazing albums coming in the next year from Foodman, Proc Fiskal and more that I can’t really talk about right now..” Goodman exclaims “It’s an exciting wave of music coming on the label, going in all different kinds of directions.”

@kode9
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