FreQ Nasty

b. Darin McFadyen, 15 November 1969, Fiji. Raised in New Zealand, Freq Nasty is, despite his exotic origins, signed to the UK’s influential independent Botchit & Scarper. The label is a purveyor of ‘nu-school breaks’ - experimental, abstract electro as practised by artists such as Adam Freeland, Soul Of Man, Tayo and Rennie Pilgrem. Indeed, his single ‘Funky As…’ was released on Freeland’s label, Marine Parade. His tough, electronic rhythms are punctuated with obscure, kitsch samples of film dialogue and synthesised squelches and bleeps. Occasionally, he uses the vocal skills of rappers such as Phoebe One and the drum ‘n’ bass MC, Skibadee. His debut single for Botchit & Scarper, ‘Boomin’ Back Atcha’, became popular with more underground DJs. His next single ‘Underglass’ also made an impact on dancefloors and in the music press and established his trademark sound of ‘acid’ sounds underpinned by fierce breakbeats and powerful bass. ‘Freq-A-Zoid’, his third single, was a surprise. Alluding to Kraftwerk, Daft Punk and Les Rythmes Digitales, it was an unusual slice of ‘tech-funk’ that proved to work equally well on techno, house and hip-hop dancefloors. Freq Nasty, and his studio partner Blim, have remixed Sousounde’s ‘Metisse’ and Steve Reich’s ‘Desert Music’. McFadyen is also an in-demand DJ, playing all over the world and at the seminal Big Beat Boutique (Norman Cook’s home club) at its venue, London’s Scala. His debut Freq’s Geeks & Mutilations received ecstatic praise from the UK music press, won over by the album’s refreshing experimentation and undeniable funkiness.