Under his latest project ‘The Polygon’, Ramsey Neville steps up to the legendary SCI+TEC label with a collection of four tracks named after different locations or memories that have given him inspiration over the years.
Neville has established himself as one of New York’s most notable techno talents. His well-formed sound has come on labels like Unity Records, Addeepted, SLC-6, Black Line + more, and last year he remixed for Josh Wink on Ovum Recordings while also landing on Techno Brooklyn Records. He also runs the IMPULSE CØNTROL playlist on Spotify with 11k+ subscribers and is working on turning it into a label and party in 2023.
EG caught up with Ramsey Neville to learn more about the drop of ‘The Polygon’, his plans for IMPULSE CØNTROL, his origins, future endeavors, and more.
EG: Hi Ramsey! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you based right now?
Ramsey Neville: Hey EG, thanks for having me! I’ve been pretty good, 2023 is off to a solid start that’s for sure. I’m currently based in Brooklyn, New York.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your ‘The Polygon’ EP on SCI+TEC! What has the initial reception been like?
Ramsey Neville: Thanks, really appreciate that. The reception has been great so far, getting some nice early support on the tracks and seeing them get rinsed by some big DJs which is really exciting!
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find here? Is there a thread or concept running through these four cuts?
Ramsey Neville: When I sat down to write these tracks, my focus was to make tunes ready for the dance floor. I wanted to channel the same type of energy I love to experience when immersed in a night out. These four tracks are named after different locations or memories that have given me inspiration over the years. Everything from a neighborhood bar in Brooklyn to the location of one of my favorite parties in Berlin, to a grim piece of history in remote Kazakhstan. The range of thoughts and emotions that these places represent is reflected throughout my music.
EG: Why did you decide to go with SCI+TEC for this particular release? Did you have a previous relationship with the label?
Ramsey Neville: I’ve been a fan of SCI+TEC for many years and have always loved the curation of the music they put out. After seeing Dubfire support one of my previous tracks, ‘Motherboard’, during his HöR set, I got in touch and sent him my latest demos. He has long been an inspiration and is a true pioneer in electronic music, so I couldn’t be more excited that this EP found a home on his label.
“When I sat down to write these tracks, my focus was to make tunes ready for the dance floor. I wanted to channel the same type of energy I love to experience when immersed in a night out”
EG: How would you describe your sound by now? What track would you recommend to someone who hasn’t heard of Ramsey Neville before? Why?
Ramsey Neville: I would describe my sound as raw/gritty hypnotic techno, mixed with some elements of minimal, and bits of acid with the occasional melody thrown in. It’s hard to recommend just one track for a first-time listener, but I would have them check out a couple of older tracks of mine called ‘Us vs. Them’ and ‘Motherboard’, and then ‘The Polygon’ and ‘Tradesman’ off of my latest EP. Those four tracks really encompass my sound and are some of my favorite tunes I’ve ever produced.
EG: So, how did you get started in the industry? Did you come across a show or record that pushed you down the rabbit hole?
Ramsey Neville: This is going to show my age, but back in the day I was always the guy who brought an iPod to the party to play music through the aux. I’ve always loved sharing new music with people, so I fell into DJing pretty easily. Back in 2010, I started out as a hip-hop DJ at house parties in college but always had a passion for electronic music. I eventually worked my way into getting a gig in the side room of a local club which made me absolutely hooked. From then on I’ve never looked back and have been going down this rabbit hole ever since.
If I had to choose one of the songs that really made me love electronic music in the first place, I’d have to say ‘Explosion’ by Kalwi & Remi. I first heard it when it came out back in 2006, and then went to my first rave shortly thereafter.
EG: How do you feel about the use and role of social media today? Does it take too much away from the music?
Ramsey Neville: I think the role of social media in the music industry today is a complex one. On one hand, it’s such a great tool to share your music and connect with people across the globe, but on the other hand, it takes up way too much time. Time that would be so much better spent in the studio making music instead of figuring out what to post on social media. Over the past few years, there’s been this growing pressure to always be posting exciting videos and photos, announcing some big career move, or just constantly creating new content, otherwise, the perception is that you’ve lost momentum. Unfortunately, social media has become such a big part of growing yourself as an artist these days that you have to invest time into it. But when it really comes down to it the most important thing is the music you make, not the photos you post.
EG: Can you tell us something about yourself that only a few people know about?
Ramsey Neville: It’s been quite a few years since I last practiced, but I have my 2nd-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
“…It takes up way too much time. Time that would be so much better spent in the studio making music instead of figuring out what to post on social media”
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Have you checked out any good movies, series, books, or albums you’d recommend?
Ramsey Neville: Traveling and exploring new places is what I really enjoy outside of the studio, whether it’s something local or somewhere far away, I just love being on the move and trying new things. On the television front, in the early days of the pandemic I got really into ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’, which then lead me down a Star Trek rabbit hole (which unbeknownst to me included 12 separate Star Trek TV series and 13 movies) so needless to say, I’m still knee deep in that entertainment universe.
A book I’ve read recently is ‘It’s All in Your Head: Get Out of Your Way’ by Russ. It’s a really quick read but super insightful and is really inspiring for anyone pursuing a career in music, or really any kind of creative field.
EG: What’s next for Ramsey Neville? What particular milestones are you looking forward to in 2023? Where can your fans catch you next?
Ramsey Neville: For the rest of 2023, I’m focused on making better and better music, more releases, and more shows in new cities. Also over the next few months, I’m excited to be launching a Brooklyn-based artist collective/party brand/mix series called IMPULSE CØNTROL. My next show is at Nebula in New York City, where I’m supporting the legendary Sven Väth. After that, I’m in the process of confirming more shows this spring and summer in Brooklyn and beyond, so stay tuned!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Ramsey! We wish you all the best for the future.
Ramsey Neville: Thanks for having me, it’s been fun!
Ramsey Neville’s ‘The Polygon’ EP is out now via SCI+TEC. Purchase your copy here.
Follow Ramsey Neville: Instagram | Facebook | Soundcloud | Spotify
