Interview: Ruck P (+ Mix)

Ever since we first featured him all the way back in 2015, Ruck P (a.k.a Lucien Spielmann) has been an absolute favourite here at Stereofox. As often as I enjoy indulging in his music, I grew more curious by the day. I was keen on getting to know the brain behind the drum machines and digital audio workstations. Therefore, I figured that an interview with the astoundingly talented Swiss lad was way past due.

So, we approached him and he gifted us with a very entertaining and compelling interview along with an exclusive mix that he kindly took the time to compile for us. Don't be surprised if you end up playing it for the next couple of days, or weeks. It's definitely something worth obsessing over!

Tracklist:

So how did the name Ruck P come about? Is there a meaning behind it? 

In my youth, I played basketball on a very intense level. Unfortunately, I had to stop at the age of 16 due to some knee issues. As I played on different teams (local club, regional selection and junior selection for the national team) I mostly had daily workouts or games, which wasn't really helpful for my knees. When I stopped basketball and started with dj-ing and beats-making, I wanted to choose a name that always reminds me of the time I used to play basketball on this level.

There is a very famous court in Harlem, NYC called the Rucker Park. So this is where my name came from.

What kind of music did you usually listen to growing up?

I started listening mostly to Hip hop when I was in 6th grade. During this time, I had a lot of friends being active in Hip Hop Elements, mostly in B-Boying. So I also got in touch with a lot of Funk & Soul music which helped me learn everything about the culture of sampling.

Is there a specific routine or thing that you do before you start putting down tracks?

Not at all. I think this is the most difficult part. Sometimes I get inspired by a lick or chord progression I'm playing on the guitar while sitting on my couch. Otherwise, I'm on the train, listening to some old Jazz or Soul and then there is a little piece that I'm going to use.

Do you ever just casually listen to your own stuff after it's been uploaded? 

After I release a new song, I usually don't listen to it for a while. I mostly get in touch with my productions while randomly listening to a playlist I like. This is always quite a nice surprise and in this case, I listen to the whole song.

What's the music scene like in Switzerland? 

As Switzerland is a very small country, the scene isn't as big as well. Especially in sub genres like Neo-Soul, Jazzy Vibes, Future Groove etc. We are more like a big family. There are a few clubs trying to push the scene and it's always a pleasure to meet all the fans of those genres and having a good night.

If there's one artist you could collaborate with in Europe, who would it be and why? 

This is a very tough question. I'm a big fan of FKJ from France and Tom Misch from the UK. When I'm thinking about collaborating, I'd choose Tom Misch as I really love his voice and we'd definitely have a nice jam on the guitar.

You've been on Soundcloud for a good amount of time now. What's the best playlist you've ever come across?

I never really followed playlists on Soundcloud because I preferred listening to "likes" from other artists. Therefore, I really recommend everything from DJ Wiz. I've never met someone with such great music taste, and I admire his discipline or just listening through his "likes" on Soundcloud.

Name one artist or group that inspires you the most. 

It's all about J Dilla - R.I.P.

Following on from that, if you could ask that artist/group one question, what would it be?

Unfortunately that will never happen. I'd have so many questions about his productions, but otherwise, I'm just happy that the world will always be able to listen to what this genius created. And it's even better if we don't know what he was thinking about while he was in deep concentration.

Where do you see digital music going in 10 years time? 

I'm very grateful about how Spotify and co. developed a product which allows artists all over the world to spread their music no matter how famous they are. Artists nowadays don't need a major label to reach a big audience. Unfortunately, the amount of music which gets downloaded illegally is still big. I hope that listeners in 10 years will be aware that art should be supported in a financial way. I think that a Spotify subscription is still very cheap and I wouldn't mind paying more.

In relation to the previous question, how do you think it'll affect beat-makers and producers like yourself? 

Art is a job. And there are way too many musicians who aren't able to live from their productions. I hope that digital music and its profit will open doors for those who are trying to escape from their 9-to-5 jobs.

If a musician has a certain talent, he should be able to live his passion.

What's one ultimate thing that you can't live without?

Memes! Jokes aside, I guess being surrounded by friends and family is the most important thing.

Thank you for doing this interview! Any last words or thoughts you'd like to share to your listeners? 

I'd like to thank each and every listener for the support, and I'm always very grateful about the massive feedback I receive.

Also, a big shoutout to Stereofox for always having an eye on my releases! I really appreciate your work!