As Vex'd, Jamie Teasdale was a dubstep pioneer in the early noughties. That all seems a long time ago now, as he prepares for the release of Severant, his debut album as Kuedo. The record evokes a futuristic landscape reminiscent of Blade Runner (Teasdale claims the Vangelis soundtrack as a key influence) yet listen closely and there's far more going on – especially in the intricate rhythms inspired by such unlikely sources as footwurk, UK road rap and southern hip-hop. Don't expect these influences to leap out at you, though, as Severant is a deftly created piece of music. The word that perhaps best describes it is "immersive" – listen through headphones and you may find yourself unable to get back to the real world without a struggle. We caught up with Teasdale for a quick chat. Do let us know what you make of the album in the comments section below …
Is there a connection between Severant and your dubstep past?
"It's not something I worry about at all. But I would say not intentionally. Dubstep is not a frame of reference for me now. Going back to 2003-5, [dubstep] was the newest, most exciting and potential-laden form within British electronic dance music so it became a great way to explore. It wasn't fully formed. It was a really interesting, exciting time to be involved. There was so much untapped energy and potential."
So "dubstep" became constricted?
"I think by any definition it did. There's a kind of lightness in being of a genre that's not self-consciously a genre yet. And once it's become a genre, it has this burden of structure and expectation – and that's where it's been for years."
Tell me about the new record. I was fascinated to hear that you've been listening to a lot of UK road rap as it's not the first thing you hear listening to Severant.
"There's are many reasons why I listen to it. Hip-hop has always been my most loved form of music. The reason why it's gratifying and exciting to see road rap come out of Britain is because I love Atlanta southern rap, and there's something about the way Britain has adopted it that sounds really authentic. UK hip-hop has some aspects of an identity crisis at times, but in this form it has somehow gone. I also find some of the content totally compelling, some of the stories they're telling. I don't always believe them – there's an element of fantasy to it – but even if they are real, they're so different from my life that I have to fantasise to picture it."
How does that influence manifest itself in your record?
"Well, the gritty lyrical content can be matched with a backing track that sounds really far out, with this fantastic, synthesised strings … the juxtaposition between the two I find interesting."
Both have a strong element of escapism …
To some extent, yeah.
Without wanting this to come out the wrong way, I thought Severant was a great album to listen to on the bus. You kind of lose yourself in it when travelling …
"(Laughs) Yeah, the one thing I really wanted to create was something I could put on and just drift away to while cycling around town or riding on the train … it's like an internal world you can climb in to."
In that sense, it reminds me of Burial.
"I wouldn't use that as a frame of reference in terms of musical devices. I've not listened to it in a long time, but I think Burial profoundly inspired us all by virtue of being a fantastic artist with really good intentions. Really honourable intentions and immaculate execution."
You've name-checked Blade Runner. What was your first impression of that film?
"The first time was when I was four or five. I'd woken up early and my parents were watching it and I remember hiding behind the couch. They didn't know I was there. I was profoundly struck by it, because it was that exact scene where they're flying over the city in the beginning. Because it was a place that I'd never seen before, it represented a whole aspect of life I'd never seen. It really struck me and scared me. As an adult, it's always fascinated me and I feel like I carry it with me all the time. For example, the way I look at cities has been affected by it."
Do you think there's a link between your music and geography?
"Well, if I interpret the question in a slightly different way … there's a definite parallel to my feelings about cities and feelings I try to capture in music. My relationship to being lost in a big city and the events that play out in that situation are some of the things I aim for and tried to nail when I made this record."
• Severant by Kuedo is out on 17 October through Planet Mu.
