RISING STAR COMBINE TALKS ABOUT LEVELLING UP & New Single AHEAD OF BROOKLYN DEBUT [INTERVIEW]

Here at SMACK we like to keep our finger on the pulse of what’s making waves in the underground. Easily one of the freshest names to hit the scene in 2024 is UK native Ken Walsh aka Combine. With support from the likes of Skream, Benga, Mala, Kursa, Mythm, Veil and many more, Combine has catapulted himself to the forefront of bass culture here in the US and around the globe.

Combine’s debut Doorgunner Megamix EP which dropped on Truth’s seminal Deep Dark & Dangerous imprint took the 140 world by storm thanks to the infectious smash hit “Modelo Time.” Now the heavyweight beatsmith has put down roots in Portland, Oregon, and is ready to make his NYC debut alongside iconic pioneer The Widdler.

Get Tickets To See Combine With The Widdler, Abstrakt Sonance, Krook, & The SMACK NYC Residents.

SMACK: Hey Ken, we're excited to bring you out to Brooklyn next month. How long have you been producing and what got you started? 

Combine: Hey, I'm really excited to be coming to play in Brooklyn. I've visited NYC a few times and have always loved the city. I haven't had the chance to go to any shows though, so I'm really excited to see what the energy is like on the East Coast. 

I’ve been making tunes since I was around 14-15. I messed around with software before then, but I had never really made a tune or anything. It’s weird looking back, when I first got started I wrote around 20 tunes in the first 6 months, and it's only recently where I have gotten tunes to the point I can finish them quickly. I was really into Deadmau5, Spor & Noisia back then and had found a few web forums on production by accident. It all started there I guess. 

SMACK: Who are some artists that inspired you early on? 

Combine: Growing up my Mum was always blasting stuff like The Gorillaz, Roots Manuva, Daft Punk etc, so while I didn't start making stuff like that, it definitely was a deep rooted influence. I was really into metal bands like Avenged Sevenfold & UK Hybrid Bands like Enter Shikari & Hadouken (I later found out Noisia produced their 2010 LP, For The Masses - which made total sense). I then found Drum & Bass which led me to Noisia, Phace, Spor, Konflict, Ed Rush & Optical. I was obsessed with the overproduced early techstep / neurofunk sound back then and I still am honestly haha. 

SMACK:How long have you been living in the States and what's it been like making the move from the UK? 

Combine: I’ve been here for around 2 years now, but I've been bouncing back and forth for the last 6-7 years. I came out here on Holiday with my best mate and absolutely fell in love. America is dope as fuck. I really enjoy it here, road tripping across the US is really fun.

SMACK: You've been getting some major support lately from legends like Skream, Benga and Mala playing your tracks, does that feel like an "I made it moment"?

Combine: It’s been wild to all of a sudden get a lot of attention on my music. I never really sent stuff out for the first 10 years of making tunes because I wasn't confident with my music, but something clicked in me after the pandemic and I moved out to the USA. I had levelled up so much, written a lot of music and it finally felt right. To go from that, to where I am now has been a huge moment for me.

SMACK: Your debut EP Doorgunner Megamix is one of the best projects of the year, highlighted by the massive tune "Modelo Time". What was your creative process like for that release?

Combine: After heading down to SXSW with Klippee in 2023, I was really inspired to give it a blast and I wrote most of that EP in around a month. I wanted a batch of suped up aggressive 140 tracks to play the next time I had a set or something. I got myself a 6 pack of Modelo & a weed pen called “Jet Fuel”. That combo basically wrote the EP for me haha.

SMACK: What can the Brooklyn crowd expect from a Combine set?

Combine: Usually I play a pretty intense set, but given it’s a daytime slot, I may go a little deeper at the start of the set. It all depends on what the crowd is feeling on the day though.If everyone is up for it, I’ll be slinging bangers for a full 60!

SMACK: What are your favorite ways to unwind and stay grounded while on tour? 

Combine: I haven’t had the pleasure to tour much yet, but I do travel for work a bunch. I really like asking locals about the best food spots / bars. I’ve had some of the most enriching experiences just talking to random people I meet across America. I’d rather be out exploring than in a hotel room!

SMACK: What's been the highlight of your year so far? Are there any sets that particularly standout?

Combine: For sets, 100% it has to be Infrasound / supporting Ternion Sound @ The Black Box in Denver. Both were such fun sets with a really strong vibe in the crowd. Really hope I can keep playing those two spots for a long time!  Outside of shows, I’ve been really enjoying collaborating with other producers this year. Shouts out to my boy WAVHART, we have been cooking up some insane new stuff recently and have a big project we’re working on at the moment.

Get Tickets To See Combine With The Widdler, Abstrakt Sonance, Krook, & The SMACK NYC Residents.

SMACK: There's no doubt you'll keep this momentum going into next year. What plans do you have for 2025?

Combine: Lots of big label releases in the beginning of the year, working on some big remixes right now and looking to lock down some kind of tour for the middle of 2025! Keep an eye on my socials as it's going to start going pretty quick :)