Interview: Daedelus

When Los Angeles-based producer, DJ, instrumentalist and live electronic music performer Daedelus (aka Alfred Darlington) was in his teens, he went on a family holiday to the UK. While there, Daedelus was captivated by the bass and rave sounds of pirate radio. After returning to America, he played in jazz, rock and ska bands before eventually realising DJing, production and live electronic performance were the ways forward for him.

Since then, he's released well-loved and challenging records on Plug Research, Mush Records, Laboratory Instinct, Ninja Tune, Brainfeeder, Alpha Pup Records, Eastern Developments and Anticon Records, along the way earning himself a cult live following across the globe. Last year Brainfeeder records released The Light Brigade, Daedelus' fifteenth studio album. A successor to his 2009 Righteous Fists of Harmony (an EP inspired by the Boxer Rebellion), The Light Brigade recalls the Crimean war of 1853-56. The music was written and recorded before the recent troubles broke out in that region, a turn of events which lends an air of requiem to the album.

A year-and-a-half after his last New Zealand tour, Daedelus returns for three shows across Christchurch, Wellington and Aucklandthis month. UnderTheRadar talked to him about staying involved, levels of success, live performance, and the dynamic between what he does on record and on stage...

Click here to read Martyn Pepperell's interview with Daedus, and stream The Light Brigade below...

Daedelus plays three New Zealand shows on the 21st, 24th and 25th of June at Dux Live, Christchurch, Bodega, Wellington and Cassette 9, Auckland, respectively. Head over here for more information and to buy tickets.

We are giving away two single passes to giveaway to his Auckland date at Cassette Nine next Thursday, head over here to enter.