Everybody keeps talking about Flying Lotus but in LA there are artists like Samiyam, Daedelus, Mono/Poly, Exile, Dâm-Funk, Gaslamp Killer, P.U.D.G.E. who are dropping a lot of beats and parties. Last year during the Reset party, I bought a CD called “From LA with LOVE” just for the Fly Lo track and noticed afterward one artist called Take. I really got into his beats and wanted to give you the chance to discover his music.

Take aka Sweatson Klank is a Los Angeles based producer always pushing the boundaries of instrumental Hip Hop and experimental Electronic into new directions.

After multiple successful EP’s and a full length under his belt, Take is set to release new works and remixes in 2009. As a co-founder of the “Sketchbook” parties, he has fine crafted his dj sets for the last 10 years and also adapted his own compositions for live performance. Make sure to catch his live sets!

His music is nothing short of an epic journey with continuously evolving collages that lead the listener down a dust covered road of bit-crushed melodies, molested jazz samples and over walls of bass. The 30 year old multi-instrumentalist/dj/producer describes his music as “Rooted in Hip Hop but on a space ship headed for a new and better place… somewhere out there.”

Dr. Kwest: How did everything start in LA ? I mean, where and when can we find some off-beat party ?
Take: The beat scene in LA started with a night called Sketchbook. This night was the only place to hear this music. We didn’t and still don’t even know what to call it. I like to call it SLUMP, or just Beat Music. Anyways, Sketchbook was where it all started. It was started by my friend Kutmah and the resident djs were Eric Coleman, Orlando, and myself and sometimes Dj Nobody. Over the years the night grew and we had many guests. It became a place for producers to hang out and just share their latest works on cdr or on a boombox out side. The night lasted for nearly 5 years before we decided to put it to rest. Then a new night started: The mighty Low End Theory. With better planning, and promotion those parties became more and more successful. Great sound, great crowd. Really the best place in LA to play. Other cool parties include anything put together by Dublab, Art Don’t Sleep and Mochilla.

Dr. Kwest: What are your influences? I noticed that you like funk music from Japan and India ?
Take: I am influenced by everything around me not just other music. My name ” TAKE” does not mean that I take things or am a greedy person. It means that this is my Take on things. Its music created thru my filter, my take on life. As for musical influences, I am drawn to anything that is highly original, melodic, electronic, acoustic…doesn’t matter. Over all I would say I listen to every kind of music.

Dr. Kwest: Do you think that looping or sampling is coming back?
Take: Looping and Sampling never went away for me… lol

Dr. Kwest: What kind of machine and music software do you use?
Take: I use an Old ASR-10 sampler keyboard, Abelton live, and Digital performer as my main tools for composition. Then of course I have a ton of keyboards, synths, percussion instruments and so on.

Dr. Kwest: What do you think about this movement? It’s worldwide and it‘s coming from everywhere from Europe to US and also Asia.
Take: I think this movement has grown so fast it’s almost frightening. But I think it’s fantastic at the same time. As long as people strive to create something new then the movement is healthy.

Dr. Kwest: Do you have some advice to give to people who want to start making beats?
Take: My only advice is to do it from the heart. Don’t get caught up in what others are doing, or the current “Hot” sound of the moment. Just be you!

Dr. Kwest: Are you planning to come to Europe and maybe Brussels?
Take: I will be touring Europe and UK, from the end of June until end of July. I really hope to make it to Brussels. Dates are still available, so hit me on myspace for bookings.

Dr. Kwest: Any upcoming project?
Take: Yes if have quite a bit of stuff coming up including a Split 10″ with Nosaj Thing on All City, an Untitled EP for Eat Concrete, a 7″ release for Poobah records plus a few remixes and appearances on compilations like Beat Dimensions.

Take also dropped not too long ago a mix called Levitations on Rush Hour.
Dr. Kwest interviewed Take in March 2009.