How did you guys meet?
We met at a party in Leeds, we were both resident DJs at different nights in the city and we had a lot of similar tastes in music so we decided to get in the studio together back in 2011.
How have your surroundings and experiences in Leeds helped shape the sound that radiates from you today?
In Leeds it was always the sub heavy sounds of Dub, Dubstep and Drum & Bass that permeated our early work and in some ways does still to this day. Living in London now definitely has a real influence on our sound as it does on our lives. We’ve always made darker music but there’s definitely an industrial raw edge that is evident on the stuff we’re making and have coming out this year.
You’ve previously described yourselves as representing the underground scene. Have you seen a shift in the popularity of underground music due to it now being easily accessible?
100%. This is reflected in the charts and the mainstream. In years gone by the cycle would be a year or two on dance music then a year or two on indie/guitar based music. Dance music took the helm several years ago and just hasn’t let go really. It’s visible in all aspects of our culture from fashion to lifestyle and seems to grow and grow every year. This isn’t a bad thing, if someone uses a commercial track as a “gateway drug” to discover something more underground or even the history of where the music came from, like Detroit or Chicago and now where it’s most exciting like the pockets of music coming out of London, Bristol and Manchester.
The UK underground is in fantastic health at the minute with labels such as Livity Sound in Bristol spearheading the venture, are there any particular artists or labels that have influenced or inspired you lately or in the past?
There are levels of creativity that are really pushing boundaries and creating challenging and exciting music that spurs us on as producers to push the envelope. Historically there have always been labels that have made their mark on us, whether it be Moving Shadow, DMZ, Swamp 81, Blueprint, Hotflush… the list goes on.
Right now working with Rupert (DJ Haus) at Unknown to the Unknown has really given us a refreshed outlook on music. From when to know a tracks finished and be confident that it has enough elements, to getting music out while it’s as hot as possible rather than the usual 12-18 month cycle that used to happen with underground vinyl records. Our sound has developed over this past year as has our studio set up and workflow and this is really reflected on our recent and forthcoming material. It’s rough house & techno made with a nod to the originators, sparse elements manipulated with analogue FX and some weird sounds from the modular.
What is it like working as a duo? Any disagreements?
We wouldn’t say disagreements really! This past 18 months we’ve learnt not to be precious with ideas when you can always come with something fresh. We don’t get bogged down trying to force things or make things work when we can just jam and get a vibe. Definitely since the modular has become a big part of the creative process Craig is at the controls with that whereas I will do tracking and make sure he doesn’t run away with himself making sounds!
The beauty of working together now is being able to get the sounds that we want quickly, it’s almost as if we make tracks like the Dance Mania guys would back in the day, 2-3 tunes in a day just cranking them out then letting them settle, test them out at a rave and if they work then we’ll use them. Because of the way we group and process our sounds working almost all in audio it means that if a track doesn’t come together in the first session we can’t really do much to change it without rebuilding the whole thing, so we usually just start a fresh with something new!
How important is it to you that the sound you produce is rooted firmly in the UK?
I think being part of the UK scene and culture is massively important to us, we’re proud to share that platform with so many other great inspiring artists! What’s ironic in some ways is that the majority of music we are making and producing right now leans towards the sounds of the US, Dj Deeon, Paul Johnson, Parris Mitchell, basically that real ghetto bumping shit! But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a wealth of great UK artists making that music their own way too and putting their own stamp on it. The stuff that Dixon Avenue Basement Jams are doing, DJ Haus, Marquis Hawkes, Big Miz etc. They’re all taking influence from that stuff and giving it that UK edge!
How did you react to the closure of fabric?
We can’t deny it feels that parts of the soul of London are being stolen from us for financial and political reasons, the closure and loss of Fabric being one of the most painful. But let us not forget all of the hardworking promoters across the country nationwide pushing to bring underground music to every region. We have an opportunity to represent and stand up against this and continue to develop and build our culture regardless of what the suits have to say about it. Fabric for us was right up there when we started out as somewhere to dream of getting a set and one of the places that never disappointed. Playing at Fabric was an accolade for any DJ, to be part of the tapestry of UK club culture and playing there meant you’d earned your salt and almost gave you a stamp of approval that your hard work had paid off. If we’re honest we’re still both in shock about the news and would really like to thank all the team there for the opportunity to be part of history and letting us grace the decks, the last time we played we closed room one with Claro Intelecto – Peace of Mind and that will remain a poignant memory in this whole saga.
Do you feel the eradication of UK club culture will have a knock on effect on UK music?
Yes. There’s already been lots of talk about people returning back to this clandestine illegal rave culture which will only go to cause more issues whether it be with the health of the ravers or issues with the police. Any time where the government feel this is an issue and begin to impose rules and regulations to steal and destroy our culture is one we should be weary of. In terms of the music we’re in an era where making music is more accessible than it has ever been, there is nothing stopping you from buying a laptop and getting a cracked copy of Ableton and distributing your tracks on Soundcloud. UK music will not recede and hide away, it’s present in the charts and the underground more so than ever and the levels of creativity are burgeoning breaking new ground. We really don’t feel we have anything to worry about in that regard.
Is there a particular type of sound you look to push through on your Materials imprint?
For us it acts as an imprint that we have complete control over. Through the 7 releases we’ve had so far we’ve definitely established a sound that is focused between house and techno. If we look back on the releases we’ve put out they’ve all been reflective of the music we were making and feeling at the time and this will only continue. The music is really a snapshot of us in that moment, a reflection of our influences and our sound at that point.
Your monthly radio show on Rinse illustrates the wide range of your music spectrum. How important is it that you show this wide range of diverse sound?
Very important. We’ve both been buying and collecting records for about 15 years and that shows through the music we play and enjoy. It’s completely broad and diverse and is something that we really want to get across with our Dance Trax parties. We’re going to be playing 5 hour sets all night and give people a view into what’s influenced us and hopefully show people some stuff they might not know alongside some new stuff we’re producing and some stuff from our back catalogue. Each DJ has a history and a reason they got into buying or making music, the cross over between us is really healthy from Soul & Disco to House & Techno, Rave & Jungle it’s all there.
Any favourite tracks that you’re dropping into sets at the minute?
Definitely, LA-4A – Invader, Floorplan – Mmm Hmm Hmm, Oli Furness – Mandingo, Kerrier District – Techno Disco (Kink Remix). We’ve also been playing our collaborations with DJ Haus and forthcoming EP on Unknown to the Unknown!
Any future projects you can tell us about?
We’ve got loads of wicked stuff coming up. Dance Trax 002 drops in October which is Automatik / Ringer, Then we’ve got a collab EP with DJ Haus on Dixon Avenue Basement Jams and another dropping on the Mighty Chiwax, Oh and not forgetting a track on the next Music is Love – Lovebox! All before the year is out!
