Flow Dynamics in scientific terms relates to velocity and pressure measurement, but musically it is a culmination of over a year’s work from local musician Dave McKinney, whose new creative project merges live musicians with electronics to create modern soul-funk.

Dave McKinney gained his reputation as the drummer and founding member of percussive-groove band Rhibosome, who successfully

turned their studio productions into a fully fledged live set up, touring extensively throughout WA and Australia. So why did Dave opt out of Rhibosome when they were riding a wave of success playing at big dance festivals like Vibes on a Summers Day, Ministry of Sound and Big Day Out? “I just wanted to do music with different people and have a bit more freedom in terms of labels. The way I do it now is more collaborative with different singers and musicians, which is really good, I’m enjoying it,” he explained.

Dave’s Rhibosome history hasn’t been completely discarded, the funky vibe found on Rhibosome productions is still evident on Dave’s own tracks, which totals almost two album’s worth. “Funk and soul is the music I’ve always loved, so any music that’s got that in, I’m into.” It seems going solo was a good move. The first pressing of his latest twelve-inch vinyl release ‘Live in the Mix’ on UK label Freestyle Records has sold out, and the track recently entered the UK Top 40 Dance Singles Chart. The catchy single features local jazz musicians Tom O’Halloran and Graeme Blevins, soul singer Sunny Amorganda and turntablists DJ Pawel and DJ Selekt.

Dave originally started as a drummer, but quickly progressed into the production side of things. His process involves inviting other musicians to play his chord progressions or bassline ideas and then chopping it up and constructing something out it. Soul and funk elements are combined with new style beats, with sampling these days taking a back seat. “I’m still into the idea of sampling, I think it’s cool but I’m more into creating new music. If you start sampling and that’s all you do, you’re using other people’s work and they might not be getting paid for it. As a musician I know what that’s like to not get paid.”

It seems Dave is a man who likes to keep himself busy and he doesn’t limit himself to just music. Keeping busy involves study and when you learn Dave’s other passion is marine science, the inferences of words like ‘Flow Dynamics’ and ‘Rhibosome’ all begin to make sense. “I’ve got both music and science on the go and I switch between them all the time.” Do they relate to one another, I asked? “They’re actually beginning to. I might be doing some hydro-acoustic stuff soon, which is like underwater microphone stuff. I’ve actually just been offered a place at JCU (James Cook University in Townsville) they’ve got this new advanced marine biology degree, so I might switch over to that next year.”

When Dave tires of being holed up in the studio he has numerous other options, one of which involves becoming a live performer again. “I’ve done heaps of live stuff so I know I can always do that again as soon as I want to, get a band up and running and take it out live, but I’m really quite happy to just be in the studio at the moment doing remixes.” You know you’re gaining credibility when you get asked by overseas artists to do a remix. At the moment he’s hard at work remixing for Felvans, Fort Knox Five, AGFA, Random Heroes and Manteca for UK and US labels. His latest single also received support from big names like Kenny Dope, Giles Peterson, Russ Dewbury and Mr Scruff. With this success I asked if he had ever consider signing to one particular label. “I wouldn’t probably sign exclusively with anyone at the moment, there’s just no need to. Those kinds of labels don’t really operate in that way and anyway, it gives me the freedom to release stuff wherever. I’m getting lots of good DJs playing the track, which is great!”

The second pressing of Flow Dynamics twelve-inch single will be out soon on Freestyle Records and is available in Australia on Invada Records through Inertia. It features the tracks ‘Live in the Mix’ and ‘Better on Stage’. Expect more single releases and an album to follow later this year.

www.flowdynamics.com.au