Deeprhythms

I first met Ben Cowper in Berlin at the Hypersoft party and it was no-brainer to ask him for a mix after hearing his superb b2b set DJ Teeth

Ben, who goes by Cowper, is a DJ, record collector, and the mind behind Between Stations, a radio show that’s grown into a party and now a label. In this chat, we talk about his journey into music, the label’s vision, and the records that shaped him.

Hi there Ben, how’s things? Can you introduce yourself briefly to our listeners?

Hey Timo! Thanks for having me, things are good. My name is Ben but I play records and make music under the name Cowper. I run a radio show, occasional party and now label called Between Stations.

Starting up the label has been taking up most of my time recently, but it’s finally just about here. It feels like a long time coming. I’m not much of a producer, but I’ve always been a bit of a nerd around collecting records and tapes, and organising parties, so the admin-heavy side of organising a label seemed like a natural progression haha.

What about DJ’ing, and how did you get started?

So growing up I used to be a big punk, hardcore and metal fan. I used to go off to see bands in London with friends and on my own after school and college. I always had some interest in other kinds of music, but punk was the main thing for a while. When I started going to university in Cardiff, I kind of fell into regularly going to the Teak parties, run by James Teak, David J Bull, Seka, Rikki Humphrey and Esther. 

Those parties became really formative for me. My close group of friends all stem from that party and I got to see some incredible DJs play. Some of my favourite dancefloor moments ever are from that party. Attending that party month in month out in my late teens and early twenties is what pushed me further down the hole of dance music, and made me want to learn to mix records together. I owe a lot to the Teak crew for who I am today, musically and non-musically. 

Name a few records or songs that had a big impact on you in your early days and why?

King of the Beach –  Wavves definitely stands out as a record that defined my teens and is always one I revisit with a lot of nostalgia.

Moving forward a few years, Dance It Down – The Pool is one that jumps out at me. I remember David J Bull playing this at a Teak Residents Party (I think) in the final hour of the night and it absolutely blowing my mind at the time. The last hour of the night is always where something magic ends up happening. 

Do you have any memorable experiences to share from your early days as a DJ?

I think the most memorable experience to date has been being invited out to play for the Hypersoft party on a couple of occasions in Berlin, my first time playing outside of the UK. DJ TEETH and TPR are big inspirations to me. I really look up to them both, and will always appreciate them having me to play. I’ve gone on to revisit that party on multiple occasions to dance and have made some amazing friends. 

The first time, I got to play a 6 hour set in the Absinth room, which was super trippy, dark and really fun. I managed to partially record some of the set when I finally got my Tascam working! The second time, I went b2b with DJ TEETH in the Red Room which was a wonderful full circle moment. 

You are an avid vinyl fan and record collector. Tell us a little about your collection and how you go about finding records to buy?

I’ve not sold many records over the years, so my collection really paints a picture of how my tastes have morphed over the years. I still have a lot of my old punk and emo records, then a lot house, italo disco, disco and new wave from when I first started buying records to DJ, then moving to the new beat, trance and techno records I play a lot of now.

I’ve also got a nice section of ambient, noise and musique concrète records too, which I find super interesting to listen to and play early on when warming up.

I think, like most people now, I predominately use Discogs for finding records nowadays. It’s so easy to endlessly browse and get lost in. But I always love visiting record shops regularly at home or if I’m ever visiting a new city. Locally, it’s great to have All Night Flight, Piccadilly Records and Vinyl Exchange on the doorstep to pop in, pick up an online order, or get a recommendation.

When you select records for your sets, what’s your approach like?

I usually like to prepare where I want to start, so I will pick the first two or three records I want to play to begin, and I may have a record in mind I want to finish on. But between those points I like to be spontaneous. I’ll watch and listen to any crowd that may be there listening, or with a b2b partner I may be playing with and respond to what’s going on around me. I always like to try and be as fluid as possible and be present when playing a set.

Do you have a comfort record, one you can put on that makes you feel good no matter what?

Yeah I have a few! Three that really come to mind are:

Periphera – Pataphysical
Operation: Doomsday – MF DOOM
Somewhere Decent to Live – Space Afrika

Name five tracks or releases that are currently on heavy rotation?

Rock To The Beat – 101
The Breathing Engine – KG Beat
Northern Lights – Shjva
Implant – Eat Static
Orbitality – Some Other People

Who are the artists and DJ’s you think deserve more attention than they get currently?

Bitzer Maloney, Herc Morse, Schuttle and Jorg Kuning of Bakk Heia Records 
aka.zato
Tilly
Remove-Me
Richard Gregory
HENRY
Frond
98dots

You have a show on Noods Radio called Between Stations, what’s the story behind it?

I run a monthly show on Noods Radio, based in my old city of Bristol, called Between Stations. It’s been running for the last 2.5 years and is just an opportunity for me and guests to share the music we’re interested in, which generally ends up being dark and weird.

Between Stations is your label – tell us about your vision for the label and what’s in the pipeline?

The label has kind of evolved off the back of the radio show. I’ve always been drawn to physical mediums for consuming music: vinyl, cassette, CDs etc. There’s something I find really grounding and pleasant about pulling out a tape or a record and listening to something in full. So I wanted to contribute in my own way to that feeling and share releases that you can see and touch, as well as hear.

The label will be focussed around a regular mixtape series released exclusively onto cassette. There will also be occasional vinyl-only edits and original music released along the way too.

So far, I have the debut mixtape from DOOM TV (Loma Doom & TVST) which is out now, with a 3 track EP of edits by myself coming in early 2025. 

What’s your take on the current state of electronic music?

Generally oversaturated and lame, with pockets of amazing people doing amazing shit.

Let’s talk about Manchester & Bristol, how’s the scene there?

Manchester is still very new to me, having only lived here just over a year. But I’ve met some fantastic people and the extended Red Laser Records crew have really made me feel welcome and helped me settle.

Bristol will always be home for me. Lots of freaks making weird, interesting and really beautiful art, and supporting one another in doing so.

Can you name a few local acts, events or locations that should be on people’s radar?

Talking Drum
Mish
Kelan
Señor Chugger
Jabu
(a)
Deep Nalström
Schwet
Dirtytalk
Mackenzie
Balouu
I-sha
k-means
Observer
Jay L & Andy Mac

I could keep going!!

So the mix, can you tell us a little something about that? 

I’m quite comfortable with playing slower, chuggy records. So I wanted to test myself by recording a faster vinyl only dance set. This is the result!

Many thanks, anything else?

Thanks for having me!