Breach 'I never intended to be put into the mainstream'

Image: Breach

For most of you, you'll be vastly acquainted with Ben Westbeech, operator of the Breach moniker for his acclaimed summer sparkler 'Jack' that managed to infiltrate just about every radio wave going back in 2013. 

It'd be wrong to recognise the producer solely for that feat, for what lies beneath the hype that surrounded that track is a multi talented individual with capabilities that stretch as far as being a trained cellist and vocalist, something that lead him to move to Amsterdam where he now resides. 

Before 'Jack' (below) launched his name into the raving stratosphere, Breach was operating on Gilles Peterson's esteemed imprint Brownswood, reflecting his immense capabilities, one's that he continues to exercise beyond the turning point in his career via his Naked Naked label and some much anticipated productions, reaffirming the notion that there is a lot more to come from the Hertfordshire lad.

With plenty in the pipeline and his burgeoning label to talk about, we caught up with Ben ahead of his upcoming date for Nightvision in Edinburgh on  Saturday 17th January, we got onto the subject of Trouw, working with Kelis and much more. 

Hi Ben, thanks for speaking to us! You’re set to play for Nightvision in Edinburgh on the 17th. Are you looking forward to it? How do you find the Scottish ravers?

Yes, I am really excited to come back to Edinburgh, it is such a beautiful city and has a great vibe. The people there always enjoy the music!

We've noticed your Soundcloud has you down as residing in Amsterdam. What lead you to that move and how are you finding life there?

I originally moved to make a Ben Westbeech album and to be around the great music scene here. I also fell in love with the place 15 years ago and always wanted to live here. But things got super busy for the Breach project so I had to put the singing album on hold.

It must be a massive disappointment that Trouw has hosted its last rave, what are your thoughts on that? 

Yes! It's very sad but something new will happen. I have some great memories of playing and partying there, and I was there on the last night to see it off with all my friends so that was special. I have learnt a lot from that venue.

You seem to be all over the world at the moment, touring North America most recently, how was that, is there anything you've taken from it?  

It was an amazing experience seeing all these places I'd never been to before like Edmonton and Calgary! We ate some unreal food and had some eye opening times. The travelling was pretty intense though. Most places you are only there for 24 hours so it's smash and grab tourism, we were seeing all we could in a very small time frame. 

Yet you've still managed to find time in the studio producing 'Avocado' with Cinnaman (below). That is being released on limited vinyl, what's the thinking behind that exclusivity? Is it perhaps providing you with an alternative experience to 'Jack' which blew up everywhere?  

Well my label Naked Naked has been putting out records like this since we began so it's always been the way we out the releases out. It's pressed on the best quality vinyl and sounds lovely. It's for the fans of the label who want something to hold and enjoy on there turntable. 

Speaking of 'Jack', what is it like to have worked away for years in the underground then all of a sudden be thrust into the limelight with a track that crosses over into the mainstream? And how important is it move on from that as an artist and yet maintain that same level of consistency with future productions?

I never intended to be put into the mainstream so for me I've just kept on doing what I'm doing. It was really crazy in a way and also taught me a lot as a producer and put me into positions I could only have dreamed of before. It's been great and I'm just trying to push my sound forward and challenge myself with the music I play and create. 

There's no better way of continuing your hot streak than producing with Kelis on board, that's pretty impressive right? How did you come to working with Kelis, who approached who? 

That tune started off as a remix and then Ninja Tune approached me about re working it with Kelis. Then we went into the studio and worked on it. It was nice to work with her. She has a very unique voice.

And you briefly mentioned it before, but your label 'Naked Naked', how's it all going? Are there any artists/productions in the pipeline we perhaps should look out for? 

Yes there are more releases coming from a French producer called Coni and Viers who lives in Leeds and I'm really excited about. 

2014 was a pretty key year for you, what were some highlights for yourself, and now that we've moved on into 2015, do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

Hahaha I don't really do resolutions! 

Catch Breach in action and head here for tickets to his Nightvision date at The Liquid Room, Edinburgh

Tickets are no longer available for this event