 Tell us about your name. Why LTJ Bukem?
LTJ: Bukem is from the Hawaii 5-O television series where
a policemen says “Bukem Dano” when arresting someone. LTJ
means nothing, it was just a suggestion from a friend in 89’
and it stuck……..
Tell us about ‘intelligent’ drum n bass and how it differs
from other forms of drum n bass (with ref to Goldie and Andy
C).
LTJ: I don’t know what ‘intelligent’ drum n bass is. What
does this say about other people’s music?
You have previously noted jazz, rare groove and soul to be
inspiring. Do you think it would help drum n bass fans broaden
their horizons by listening to forms of music you find
inspiring?
LTJ: Listening to any kind of music from anywhere inspires
anyone who is into music to make music, not one thing but
everything………
Some have even found your music to exude a cinematic
feel. What do you think of that? And do you have an all-time
favourite movie?
LTJ: I do think the music I like so much can be put to
pictures, it definitely creates soundscapes so to speak, but
then it depends on the animation, in that sense any piece of
music can fit picture, it totally depends on the person fusing
the 2 together and their vision.
I have so many favourites when it comes to films and film
music.
Superfly has to be up there in the top 5. Curtis Mayfield
makes the film with his musical interpretation.
 How necessary are genre’s?
LTJ: They're not, apart from slight breaking down of styles so
a man knows what he is telling another about a piece of music,
but D&B is D&B, why have different styles of one style, it
only confuses and confines people’s attitudes, and therefore
closes minds
Commercialism. How do you feel it affects the industry?
LTJ: As long as it doesn’t change the original reason for it
going commercial, which in most cases it does.
It seems as
though whenever something goes commercial, in some cases
the artists creativity gets controlled, instead of expressed.
After a sell out night at Phuture, Singapore and
relatively large response here in Kuala Lumpur recently, what
is your opinion on drum n bass in Asia?
LTJ: When can we come back please.
A lot of healthy free spirited people.
Terrorism. What is its effect on you and your work, if any?
LTJ: I think it’s obviously affected everyone world-wide as the
economic results have shown us.
Lets hope we don’t actually go to war, then a lot of us
will be worrying about a lot more, not just work……
Travelling nightmares. Tell us about a particularly
memorable occurrence.
LTJ: Traveling is a nightmare full stop. Trying to do 11
gigs in as many days is never easy, so when you have numerous
delays, connection failures, touring can actually become near
impossible, and I’ve been in those situations plenty of
times……Not getting to a gig is the worst thing.
-Kathia Dec 2002
-Much thanks to LTJ and Ashwin!
-Pictures courtesy of GLO website
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