The slick bunch over at Skoop records arguably have the most original producers and rappers in Scotland on their roster, with the likes of Tzusan, CRPNTR and most recently to the fold, PATA, an off-kilter electronic producer originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil who currently resides in Glasgow. Skoop is resolutely a label that is set for the world stage, with an abundance to offer in stimulating, fresh club sounds.
PATA’s compact debut album Manifesta is a distinctive seven-track medley of thrumming bass, rolling tribal rhythms and intricate synth-work. The remix by Glaswegian producer/DJ Kami-O explores a different groove, leaning more towards sub-heavy bass music.
PATA’s unique sound gravitates towards territory explored by LA Beat Scene luminaries like FlyLo, an earthy, grassroots sound that isn’t afraid to get adventurous. With elements of IDM, hip-hop, R&B, and jazz, PATA’s upfront rhythms have a strong, earthy base and healthy roots.
Manifesta as an album flows with immense fluidity. The disparate influences are all woven together into a shimmering tapestry of dub, future bass and Chicago footwork influences. Gripping, burly basslines rub against angular, rolling synth lines.
PATA’S production feels exceptionally fresh and exciting. He leads the listener into exhilarating percussive abstraction, always ready with an earworm synth hook. There is a uniquely tribal sound to his sampling, too, which marks him out even from his talented Skoop peers.
Revelrousers caught up with PATA and asked him to draw us some insights into the making of Manifesta. We began by asking him about the name.
“PATA is paw in both Portuguese and Spanish,” he says. “It came basically from me having started producing when a longboard crash resulting in surgery fucked my hand. I couldn’t play guitar well anymore. That is when I started producing with o’skanz. So, an alias idea I always had was Brokenpaw aka Patakebrada; which became PATA.”
His first long release as PATA, the album was two years in the making. “It pulls together a range of styles that my sound has sort of settled into, and hopefully showcases the influences that inspired me, as well as representing a local slice of the UK electronic music scene,” he says.
“I’m inspired by a range of producers, primarily from the US (particularly Los Angeles), the UK, and my homeland of Brazil,” he continues, citing a long list of eclectic influences. “From the US, the likes of Mr Carmack, Kenny Segal, TSURUDA – basically guys that created what became unhelpfully termed the LA Beat Scene back in 2011. These guys really helped evolve the fusion of lo-fi and hip-hop melodic sensibilities with rock-solid trap rhythms, and still go hard today.”
Like many of the Skoop clan, his roots in bass music still exert a strong pull. “The UK dubstep scene is also a major home for me, having been my introduction into Soundsystem culture. The likes of Mala, Commodo and Clams Casino taught me a lot about sub bass and atmosphere.”
Is he a perfectionist, or does he like to create fast and loose? It’s “a mixed bag,” he says. “Sometimes a track comes together really quickly and effortlessly if you’re in the right headspace. Sometimes it takes weeks of tweaking and scrapping and re-working.”
Of the album tracks, “Veiled and T.I.N.K.A.M came together within a couple of weeks, whereas Market Riddim was constantly tweaked and changed for over a year before I was happy with it.”
Remix duties go to Skoop regular Kami-O, and PATA was thrilled to have him aboard. “It’s an honour! The guy’s one of the fiercest dubstep producers in Scotland right now and he’s getting the recognition he deserves; he’s been putting out banger after banger as well as guest mixes for a while now. I have a lot of respect for his sound, and he’s a legend to boot.”
The two were introduced by Skoop clan’s lyrical sniper Tzusan: “Really glad he made the connection,” says PATA. He sees Kami-O as a future collaborator: “You can be sure we’re working together again in the future. I gave him free reign to pick any track and I’d send over the stems, and I rate what he did to Market Riddim. His cut is much sludgier and the synth in the last drop is flames.”
Who else would he like to collaborate with? “I would love to do some work with the frankly ridiculous amount of vocal talent in the Scottish hip hop scene at the moment, many of whom also have releases under Skoop, so the connection exists already and is what I’d like to work towards next. I’d also like to work on a UK Baile-inspired release with Dearly Beloved, whose knowledge and love for baile funk outshines mine (and plenty of my countrymen too).”
PATA feels he has found a home at Skoop, a label that vibes with his aesthetic and approach. “I’m absolutely gassed to be putting out my first proper release in such good company, for sure. The Scottish scene has so much to give right now and this group of artists is primed to fly the flag for our beat scene.”
Soundsystem certified music, ice cream for the ears. Take a big Skoop.
- Preview the album on Seek Sick Sounds
- Manifesta is out 24 June on Skoop
- PATA on Soundcloud
- Kami-O on Soundcloud
Revel Rousers 