Scheme Boy

https://soundcloud.com/scheme-boy
https://www.varispeed.eu/

Q. What is your favourite music in 2022?

Here’s a selection of what I’ve been listening to and playing out during 2022. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order as there is no way I could choose which of these is better than the others!

Aura T & Baseck – West Coast (EP)
Blockdata – Entropy
Butterfist – Freakshow
dgoHn – Undesignated Remixes (LP)
Dolphin – Recalibrated (EP)
Drumcorps – Creatures
G Jones & Eprom – Acid Disk 2 (EP)
Gore Tech – Nemesystem (LP)
Jacob – Time Trials (EP)
Johnny Broke – Computer Science (LP)
Kavari – Attachment Style
MacheeeN Boi – Wired Weird (EP)
Msymiakos & Algorithmic – Survival
μ-ziq – Magic Pony Ride (LP)
S.Murk – Circuitbreaks
Salander – Haxium (EP)
Scalameriya – Aeon Core (LP)
Seppa – Elision (EP)
Smyla & Gein – Invaders
Somatic Responses – Fragments (EP)
Tipper – Marble Hunting (LP)
Tusk Mite – P H ▽ T I S M S (LP)
Two Fingers & Muadeep – Blood Moon

Q. What is your favourite media for 2022?

Movies:
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022 version)
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Crimes of the Future
Prey

TV:
Better Call Saul and Succession have been my favourite TV dramas of recent years. As for comedies, I usually watch endless repeats of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Trailer Park Boys and Peep Show. They just never get old!

Games:
I rarely get invested in new games, but the one game that did suck up a lot of my time this year was Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. I have always been a fan of the franchise and loved AC Odyssey. Valhalla wasn’t quite as well-made as Odyssey, a bit buggy, and not as smooth, but I still enjoyed it. I’m just a sucker for big open-world game environments with epic landscapes.

Books:
None of these are 2022 books. They are just the ones I read in 2022...
Red Notice by Bill Browder
Why We Get the Wrong Politicians by Isabel Hardman
Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! The Secret History of 2000AD and Judge Dredd by Pat Mills

Podcasts:
Lex Fridman
Hardcore History

Q. What was your most memorable experience in 2022?

My most memorable experience of 2022 probably wasn’t the best experience of the year. In August, after nearly two years on a waiting list, I finally received an operation on my left ear that was badly needed to prevent me from having total hearing loss on that side. I won’t bore you with the specifics, but it was due to unlucky genetics that caused my ear canal to be a weird shape. It wasn’t caused by being sat behind a drum kit or playing breakcore on massive sound systems for 20+ years. Although, those things probably haven’t helped! I just have tiny ear canals. The operation went well, but it wasn’t a pleasant recovery period. So, for that reason, it is probably the most memorable single thing that happened to me in 2022. I think I have put off deafness for a few more years, so for that reason alone, it was all worth it.

Q. What was 2022 like for you?

I am almost hesitant to answer this question honestly as so many people, in my life and around the world, have really struggled this year, but I have to say, 2022 has been a pretty good year for me. There have been tough times for sure. My aforementioned ear operation and being ill in other ways a few times for example, but overall, I have a lot to be grateful for. A lot of that gratitude comes down to the success of my monthly Varispeed Socialz events. I started them as the UK came out of its final covid lockdown in August 2021. I was only expecting to do a few events whilst we waited for events to return to normal again. However, it became clear, from the reaction the events got, that there was a real desire in Bristol for a regular multi-genre event that focussed on heavy and experimental underground music. So, it was decided to carry on throughout 2022, and I’m so glad we did,

as we have been lucky to have some of the best artists in the world agree to play our small little sweat box. I know I am biased, but there has not been a bad set at any of the Socialz events. Everyone brings their A-game. For me, I think the most notable sets were Enduser, Dolphin and my debut back-to-back sets with Scamp, Tugie and Algorithmic.

This link will take you to the flyers of all our events in 2022, just so you can get a taste of what has been going down in our tiny little corner of BS5 Bristol...

https://www.varispeed.eu/gallery/

Whilst I am in “shameless plug mode” I should probably also mention that 2022 was the year Varispeed finally got on the merchandise bandwagon. We put out a Varispeed smiley shirt, an exclusive Enduser “Making Jungle Sad” shirt, and also a USB stick full of recordings from our Socialz events. The USBs have now all sold out, but you can still order the shirts here...

https://varispeed303.bandcamp.com/

Q. What do you want 2023 to be?

My hopes for 2023 are very similar to my hopes for 2022...I just want gigs and tours to return to normal. I know lockdowns are over in most places, but in the UK, both Covid and Brexit hit at the same time. Both had a huge impact on our live music industry. Once we got over Covid then we had the harsh realities of Brexit to face. Yes, people are putting on shows again, clubs are back and festivals are back, but the cross-channel bookings are way down from just a few years ago. EU artists aren’t playing in the UK as much, and UK artists aren’t playing in the EU as much. Which I think is culturally sad for everyone. It is getting better, and slowly we are finding what our new normal is, but sadly, there is still a way to go yet for touring underground artists.

However, I don’t want to end on a downbeat. I am also looking forward to another year of Varispeed events, and collaborations outside of Bristol with other promoters. We already have legends like The DJ Producer, The Teknoist, Ladyscraper and Skull Vomit booked for the first few months of 2023, which is a pretty good start to the year if you ask me!

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Best of 2022