Category Archives: Interviews

Mohegan S☀n Interview

Posted on November 29, 2012 by | Comments Off on Mohegan S☀n Interview

Rather than be all hype or repetitious with facts to try and suade you into thinking what I’m think is good, I’d like let the music of Mohegan S☀n speak for itself. If your down with what you hear you’ll continue to read and learn what’s forthcoming from Mohegan S☀n.
His style? Juke, Jersey, Experimental.. Just good electronica. #GetFamiliar.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68605531″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Are you a real Mohegan? An Algonquian speaker? I mean to ask how and why you decided on your moniker.

I was studying the plight of the native americans at st johns university (ex-home of the Red Men) – u know how americans killed over 20 million indians in less than 100 yrs x shit

we had to write a report on a tribe and I chose the mohegan/mohican tribe or ‘wolf tribe’ from ny. I ended up finding more google info about ‘mohegan sun’ the casino than the fckin mohegan people lol

right around the same time
I was learning about how most of doctrines of the catholic church r rooted in the primitive pagan worship of the sun.

the son of god is actually the god of the sun

so yea lol the irony

And just out of curiosity, since this is a Canadian blog, where in Canada were you born?

ha that was a typo somewhere deep in the internet. I’m actually from plainfield, new jersey

I got family in nova scotia tho

Can you tell me something about your musical background?

I’ve been listening to jersey club since I was like 11. its just called ‘club’ over there lol there arent even any clubs to go to haha

the internet opened me up to juke x house x other bass stuff

I spent a nice chunk of my childhood playing games like final fantasy, kingdom hearts, zelda, resident evil, pokemon (to name a few)

so you can hear the little sprinkles of basement x internet x hit points in everything I do

How easy was it to get a hold of the “jersey/philly/bmore club tracks” that you’d listen to back in the day?

pre-soundcloud was pretty rough. reminiscing right now about after school l-rides to newark for exxxxcclluussive cds lolll

If one song could represent your childhood what would it be and why?

booman – watch out for the big girls
 
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_xzOk0w3qU&w=560&h=50]

If you hadn’t started making music what do you think you’d be up to?

actually makin money or somethin

How did you start producing in the first place?

started bullshitting mash ups and djing on virtual dj when I was 14. moved properly to ableton for production when I was 16 and I can mix on w/e now (serato, traktor, cds, vinyl, etc.)

I got made fun of constantly which kept me going

What excites you most about the sounds/genres your working with?

most ppl find it annoying that a tune or ep gets old in a month but I think its beautiful. I have such a short attention span so this way I’m never bored

Name one recent release that you’d like to remix:

rabit – terminator ep…. o wait

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67077277″ iframe=”true” /]
 
So, tell me about your track on Full Service Allstars Vol. 1 Out on Fancy Restaurant Records. How’d that all come together?

full service was the 1st party I ever played earlier in january (a big ass s/o to jerry jones, jack inslee x wrech teck)

they just recently put me on as a resident and so that super smash bros/jersey club homage was a lil sample of my gratitude

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/66033973″ iframe=”true” /]
 
You got anything coming from Ben Aqua’s #FEELINGS? Are you able to disclose?

:) (# Mohegan Son – Lips EP #) (:

droppin spring 2013

What are your plans / projects for the next few months?

aside from a few appearances on compilations, I’m working on EPs for soukouch ethnik and freshmore, a collab EP for b yrslf, a collab EP for lftf, x an adorable 2 track for the homies at paradisiaca

Any closing statements?

thx 4 this

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26407398″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/41005528″ iframe=”true” /]

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Nick Bike Interview

Posted on October 28, 2012 by | Comments Off on Nick Bike Interview

Originally posted on Schitz Popinov

Our dear Nick Bike has been stirring up our coastal waters of Vancouver in all the right places as of late. He’s been with us Schitz for an age to boot. So we thought it best to catch up with the hombre and get some of his words and experience out to you this fine Sunday afternoon. Click play and read on.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/62304110″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Hey man, how are you? Give us an intro.
Real good. Going to be 23 in February and currently enjoying my new life in Vancouver.

What brought you over to the opposite coast? Was it our ravenous mountain scape?
University life was done in PEI so it was time for change. I’ve
visited Vancouver several times and loved it. No regrets about the
move.

Since your arrival to Vancouver you have shared the bill with a few
big name’s, Ladyhawke & Viceroy to name a couple. Who has been your
personal highlight to share booth / bill with?
I’ve played with Skratch Bastid and Grandtheft a wack of times now – those kind of shows don’t get old. Good individuals to have a conversation with.

How long have you been DJing and producing and which came first?
DJing was first. Been at it for over 4 years now. Haven’t really been
“producing” – let’s just call it being busy ha.

How did you start learning about producing electronic music?
A mix of personal trial and error and a few tutorials on the internet. After I nailed some of the basics I started trying to build things by sampling pieces of other tracks with cool sounds and hits. My friend Sp00nfed taught me a bunch while we were in the process of building our EP.

Tell us a bit about your studio, where and what is it comprised of?
My ‘studio’ is right in my home. Can’t be super loud but my Techs and
DJM800 rest there – along with a microkorg, trigger-finger midi pad,
soundcard, and my Mac running Live 8.

How is your time spent these days? Between being busy and DJing.
I spent a good month on the most recent mix (Bicycle Breaks 1) – this past week I was trying to gather myself for PEI and Halifax. I spend a ton of time listening to new and old music, trying to find the good shit. Just trying to keep up on music alone is a full time job. I make edits for my sets quite often. Usually once a week I trip down to the record store for a dig.

What would you say YOUR style is?
I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s got to be funky.

How have you gone about developing a sound that you felt comfortable calling your own?
Can’t say I’ve really got to a point where I can call a specific sound
“my style”. Another 5-10 years and maybe my answer will be different.

Would you say DJ’s style is determined by the genre he or she plays?
Perhaps, but style can also be found by the way a DJ mixes, their
overall flow, crowd interaction, or specific skills or techniques that
stand out.

Your an intelligent gent. What do yo think you’d be doing had you
not become a jockey of the discs?
I still work a real job at the hospital, and I have my business degree
– so something in either of those 2 most likely.

Word up is your a dope scratcher. Can you speak to that?
Haha I will reserve the term ‘dope’ for dudes like Hedspin, Bastid,
and Gaff. I’m still very much a soldier in training.

What is Remix 86?
Remix86 is a music blog based out of Newfoundland – mostly focusing on house, disco, good dance vibes, etc. A good place to keep up on that kind of stuff and provides some light reading and feedback.

Your up on your web presence. Where can people keep up with you?
 Facebook, Twitter, and Soundcloud are all frequently updated. These
can be tapped into on my website – www.djnickbike.com

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95 Royale Interview

Posted on October 24, 2012 by | Comments Off on 95 Royale Interview


Originally posted on Schitz Popinov

*All tracks have alternate download links in description.

Every once and a while something really good lands in your inbox and get’s you thanking whatever it is you give thanks to for free music and simitaniously blessing the internet. As was the case last week when 95 Royale hit us up.
He’s a young cat making good noise. Fill your earballs and get aquatinted ::

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/65474598″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Thanks for taking the time. Much appreciated.
I’ve been looking around and there isn’t much info on you at the moment. You’ve got a Beatport account, appearances here and there on Youtube and blogs but that’s about it. Oh! and a gmail.

Haha I made that Beatport account because I thought I might be able to track sales from records but turns out you cannot.

How old are you?

17 and just finishing off school in Brisbane.

Just finished off highschool? Or..

Still in highschool as we speak but next year I’ll be out. Got about 3 or 4 weeks to go.

Are you just a studio artist? Do you DJ and play out at all?

Hmm, I always loved doing mashups and promoting them around the internet. Although I can, I don’t DJ at all at the moment, once I hit 18 I’m to join the arcade creative of Brisbane who know a place or two to DJ ; )

On that note, what are you producing with?

I use Ableton along with a half decent pair of headphones. Just love the fact that nowadays anybody can produce a reasonably sounding song with only a small laptop.

How long have you been making music and what got you started?

Oh I’ve loved house music ever since I was 13, couldn’t get enough of that filtered 80′s/90′s sound but never knew what it was called. When I hit 16 I found french house and shortly after I found the super secret ingredient used, sampling.

What resources did you use to learn in the beginning? Manuals, video tutorials, schooling or trial error?

At the start I was making mashups with virtual Dj, that helped me a lot with basic beatmatching and things just being in tune. Over this phase I had developed a small knowledge of DAW’s but didn’t know too much of how to use them. ‘Ableton Live’ was the most familiar one of the lot so I took to that one. I asked around the suburb and found a guy who knew his shit when it came to ableton so I paid for some tutoring. Later he introduced me to sampling and we began work from there. After about 8 or so sessions I had a solid grip of what I wanted to make and how to make it.

How much has your music developed since you started? Were you always making French House and Disco?

I went to an Ableton tutor planning to make some electro tunes but he showed me french house and I’d always loved it, I could just never ask anybody how to classify that 80′s sounding, but modern, song. But yeah I used to give mashups a crack. The first french house I made I never released because it was so bad, eventually I got the hang of it after finding a nice sample for ‘Now That’s Good’, sending it to Nick Redux and collaborating with him. 4Disco took a like to it and released it for me.

You have a great ear and sense of sound. Who have been the artists that you listened to giving you the inspiration to delve into French House? Did you ever listen to Mint Royale? Your music really takes me back to Mint Royale.

I have never heard of Mint Royale unfortunately . I just loved that 00′s feeling of music, it wasn’t perfect mastering, the mixing wasn’t perfect but those samples and kickdrum went together like milk n cookies. I usually give the answers that everyone gives for influences (cassius, daft punk) but here are some unorthodox answers: Poka, Kill The Noise (Yes he makes some french house!), cabin crew, tzesar.

What plans do you have for the future? Give us a heads up on the forthcoming.

Yep as I said before when I’m 18 i’ll be doing some performances and maybe one or two for now while im 17. Got MASSIVE plans with Tyler Touche, we have a killer sample in stock for you. I’v attached a Daft Punk Remix I’v almost finished. Cut off the 2nd chorus just to annoy everybody.

If you could have any super power what would it be?

To be able to talk to penguins. i fucking love penguins.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/2476784″ height=”200″ iframe=”true” /]

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Dani Deahl Interview

Posted on August 3, 2012 by | Comments Off on Dani Deahl Interview


Originaly posted on Schitz Popinov

Renowned blogshere and house star Dani Deahl has touched down on Canadian soil for her appearance tonight at the Electric Owl Social Club.

OMG ITS PRIDE!! is scheduled to be an all night house and electro banger party where select a handfull of the city’s finest female DJ’s have come together to show their support and get the crowd to bruk out.

Dani Deahl, amidst her busy schedule, has come through with the following interview. Blog lovers and blogsphere historians bookmark this ishh and get on dem Twitter @danideahl Further your knowledge by listening to Dani’s latest single, ‘Pocket Porn,’ featuring remix’s by some of the recognizable names in electro right meow.

Full event details HERE. Doors at 10!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/54951428″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Describe yourself in five words or less.
Workaholic. Music junkie. Pink haired gremlin.

Describe your ideal first date for us.
Chicago Baconfest.

Hows life lately? You excited for your upcoming Vancouver appearance?
Life has been awesome lately – just wrapped shooting for my latest video for “Pocket Porn,” I’ve been on the road a lot, collaborating with great people…livin it! I’m very excited for tonight, especially with it being pride weekend. Fest weekends are always nuts – people are in a party mentality even before the sun goes down. We’ll see if I make my flight home tomorrow.

Will this be your first show in Vancouver?
It will! I’ve played several other cities in Canada but never Vancouver.

If you could have any super power what would it be?
Invisibility. I feel like flying would be overrated.

How long have you been DJing and blogging, and which came first? Also, how did you get into blogging?
I’ve been playing professionally since I was seventeen years old. The blog I started a few years ago, and I viewed it as an outlet once my editorial position with URB ended because the magazine went digital.

Let’s pretend for a second that your blog didn’t take off as well as it did. What you would have been doing had that been the case?
To be honest, I never thought about it. I had a day job for one year once I was out of college because I felt like I had to and was so miserable I quit so I could work on all aspects of music full time. I didn’t, and still don’t have a plan B though, but not intentionally…I guess I just figured if this was what I wanted to do, then why would there be a plan B?

Has blogging afforded you any opportunities that you might not have had otherwise? DJ or media related.
I’ve been surprised at the cult following that my blog has and the names that follow and download from it – Flosstradamus just told me they go to my site. It’s been an outlet for me to interview great artists, push music from up and coming people and yeah, I definitely get booked because of the popularity of the blog. #nerdtalk

How quickly do trends, or new genres move through today’s internet driven EDM world?
It depends. I think not as quickly as some people believe. A lot of songs that are released are still a year or even two years old. Trap is blowing up in the states but it’s been around for years. Moombah is still catching on in a lot of markets. Think about how long house and electro were around before pop artists decided to pay attention. There’s always the illusion of things happening overnight in music but the reality is that there is usually a history or legacy that can be traced for that ‘overnight’ moment to happen.

If you could go back in time and change any event in music history what would it be?
I’d make sure Paris Hilton never dated Afrojack.

What has been the most surprising thing to happen with the merging of EDM and pop music in your mind?
With the watering down that’s been happening it’s also exciting to know there are people representing pop music who truly have an interest and respect for where EDM came from. Yes, there are the Madonnas of the world hopping on the “have you seen Molly” bandwagon, but Calvin Harris and Rihanna together – brilliant. Will.I.am in interviews has a genuine thirst for wanting to learn more about EDM. David and Cathy Guetta have opened so many doors for EDM artists wanting to gain more exposure. I’m always a fan of cross pollinating in music and there’s a lot of focus on the negative right now without thinking about the people making a positive difference and creating headway for all of us.

Welp. Thanks for your time. Is there anything you’d like to sign this off with?
BACON.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzaOMqYQxcs&w=560&h=315]

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Punks Jump Up Interview

Posted on June 30, 2012 by | Comments Off on Punks Jump Up Interview


Originally posted on Schitz Popinov

Touring, as modern media has revealed, is a stressful endeavor to undertake. Punks Jump Up like to keep things light and steady movin whilst on the road to get the full experience of life, which is pretty dope to hear. Seeing as how so often a producer will talk about his machine like work ethic while on tour. It’s just nice to hear some of us are still human out there on this big blueberry.

We caught up with these trend setting cats for a few words on their summer tour with Gigamesh. Read along, read along.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/50286993″ iframe=”true” /]
 
How are you guys?
Very good very good.

How has the tour been so far?
It’s been great. We just started off our joint tour with Gigamesh at Club Congress in Tucson, Arizona. Really cool place with a great crowd.

Before that we played Scion party in NY & LA & also Club Bardot in Miami.
All super fun in their own way.

Are you getting along with Gigamesh alright?
We hated each other from word go….
No, just kidding. We’re having a great time already, even though we’ve just started the tour. This tour will be FUN!

Do you have a favourite Gigamesh track?
Love the Don’t Stop track on his latest EP on Kitsune. Classic Blondie/Boney M disco but totally updated. Can’t stop playing it!

How do you keep yourselve’s relaxed AND in work mode on tour?
The DJ gigs are the work part on tour. We’re not very good at working on music while on tour, we get too distracted. If we’re in NYC, LA or Tucson we’re not gonna spend all day in the hotel room. We use the time to wander around the cities to soak up the vibes & get inspired (and maybe get drunk).
That’s just as important for our music.

There have been a number of riders floating around on the internet lately. Do you guys have any weird / original requirements on yours? Like left-handed shovels?
We always demand a white grand piano, pg tips & salted unsalted peanuts with all the nuts taken out.

If you could go back and change anything in music history what would it be?
We wouldn’t change anything but we would love to go back and be a fly on the wall in Kraftwerk’s studio, Bowie/Eno in Berlin, Ron Hardy djing at Music Box in Chicago etc etc

Favourite love song of all time?
Oh that’s easy: Berlin – Take My Breath Away.

I read in an interview you did that your musical roots lay in Punk. What was your introduction into electronic dance music?
David’s was probably Chemical Brothers (then called Dust Brothers) & early Andy Weatherall remixes. Oh also jungle (pre drum ‘n’ bass).

Joe was into hip hop from a very early stage & quickly moved into house music (US garage etc) with a bit of classic UK Hardcore thrown in!

In your experience what is the biggest difference between a punk show and an EDM show?
The instruments!

Are there any similarities?
The energy can be totally the same. .

And if you could take any element from punks rock shows and it to edm shows, what would it be?
It’s kinda already happened, the crowd stagedive to both punk & dance music these days!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/46481309″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44307554″ iframe=”true” /]

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Chewy Chocolate Cookies Interview

Posted on June 5, 2012 by | Comments Off on Chewy Chocolate Cookies Interview

Originally posted on Schitz Popinov

Chewey Chocolate Cookies are sooooo good. Like the starbucks one’s, and those Safeway one’s. They are always chewy, without fail..

Many of our readers have been with us since the “Electro Days.” The two thousands; 06-10, when electro was bread and butter, and when we (then teens) were all about the hard stuff. You know, the Palms Out Sounds, Disco Dust shit. CCC has been in the game and going hard since then, and before, and before his signage to DIM MAK. Getting signed was just the icing on the cake. Noobs best read up. Here on Schitz we’re super pumped to have lined up this interview with someone’s who’s history in the blogshpere go’s back as far as ours.

Shouts DIM MAK, thank you for setting this up. Big up’s CCC, thank’s for your time.

Get at CCC via Twitter & Facebook. Peep his labels latest release, Le Twan “Survivors ACK.” Then the interview below.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/47637130″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Dark or milk chocolate?

MILK

Describe your music in 5 words or less.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

What is the essence of DJing?

MAKE PEOPLE DANCE

Did you see Paris Hilton is doing an DJ tour??? Crazy isht right? Any thoughts on that? It’s just in the forefront of my mind right now.

I HOPE SHE’LL COME TO MY TOWN, I CAN’T WAIT TO ROCK MY NEW GLOW STICKS, DANCE SOME PROPER EDM AND DRINK ENERGY DRINKS ALL NIGHT SCREAMING “GO PARIS GO”

What adjective best describes your cookies?

CHEWY!!!

Have you seen those chocolate chip cookies that have a whole Oreo’s in them?

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THESE??? IF YOU SEE ME LIVE IN A CLUB NEAR YOU, BRING ME SOME AND I’LL BE YOUR JUKE BOX ALL NIGHT LONG!!

Do you have a favourite bakery anywhere?

BEN’S COOKIES IN LONDON (UK), MILK CHOCOLATE & ORANGE IS TO DIE FOR!!!

I read once that your favourite kind of music is supermarket music. You down with Snoop’s gin and juice playing in grocery stores in these modern times? Or are you more for the traditional elevator style super market music?

FIRST OF ALL LET ME SHOW SOME LOVE FOR THE ONE AND ONLY SNOOP AKA NEMO HOES, CCC’S HUGE FAN OF GGN’S STORMY FRONTS… MUSIC-WISE, ELEVATOR STYLE FOR LIFE, HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO SOME KENNY G ?!?!

Dim Mak has lotsa good cookies on their shelf, who’s tracks are you playing from Dim Maks top shelf roster?

STEVE AOKI!!! CCC’S DJ SET IS 99% STEVE AOKI TRACKS, I PLAY EVERY STEVE AOKI RELEASE, EVERY REMIX, I JUMP LIKE HIM, I DRESS LIKE HIM… CCC LOVES STEVE AOKI!!! …. I HOPE THIS WILL BE ENOUGH TO MAKE STEVE SIGN CCC’S ALBUM

What has been the most rewarding part of working with, as apart of and with the
infamous Dim Mak label?

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU THEY’RE TRULY AMAZING, THEY TREAT ME AS ONE OF THEM, WE HAVE MILK SHAKES TOGETHER, WE GO ON ROLLER COASTER, WE GO SEE MOVIES, WE’RE LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY, CCC LOVES DIM MAK!!! … I HOPE THIS WILL BE ENOUGH TO MAKE STEVE SIGN CCC’S ALBUM

What have you got forthcoming for the remainder of the year?

I’LL PRODUCE THE NEW DAFT PUNK ALBUM, CCC & JUSTICE HEADLINING NEW YEAR 2013 PARTY ON THE MOON (THANKS TO VIRGIN GALACTIC),
A TRACK WITH ADELE ON VOCALS AND REMIXING U2 (IF I HAVE TIME)… PRETTY BUSY YEAR I’D SAY!!!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/151876″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2683606″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/34397273″ iframe=”true” /]

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Blondtron Interview

Posted on February 14, 2012 by | Comments Off on Blondtron Interview

tumblr_lzd1y4uHKV1r5zlz8
Originally posted on the School of Remix

Icing on the cake, valentines swag. Today we have Blondtron. A dynamite Vancouver funker doing it across the pond in Berlin. These few words only just begin to lend you an impression of her fun time demeanour. Read on yall, good time’s ahead.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/31896129″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Who are you, where ya from, where are you now?

I’m a foul mouthed lady of the night. I’m from Victoria and Cortes Island and at this moment I just got back to my riad in Marrakech after a long day on a camel.

How’s Berlin livin?

Cold, German and totally inspiring.

Can you give some words on your time in Vancouver as a DJ and how you got started.

I got started as a DJ in Vancouver playing rock tunes in the gorilla cage at El Furniture Warehouse. I was paid in tacos, tequila and unlimited peanuts. Then a friend, Chris Goodspin who ran a DJ collective let me play some tunes here and there at the Urban Well and Sky Bar. I used to come over from Victoria with my fake ID and a few records. I was a total booth rat. I went to sound and audio engineering school at AI and met a lot of great people through that. I took what I could get gig wise. Then I was accepted to the Red Bull Music Academy in 2006. After I came back from that I started to get a lot more opportunities…. even played with the Schitz crew… HOLLA!

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/27738513″ params=”color=ff5500″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

As a Vancouverite what kind of experience and style do you think you’ve taken over to Berlin with you?

Vancouver is a great hip-hop and indie rock city, Vancouver DJs know how to blend the two and keep everyone in the room happy. It doesn’t have much of a minimal and house scene. I get bored of deep house tracks and I love hip hop and indie. Not to say I don’t like deep house and minimal, I do, I like all genres. But I think I bring a hip-hop/tropical/raw element to everything I play. I can’t get enough of it. I have to put some sort of chopped vocals or rap on EVERYTHING. I don’t like that over produced sound, I love baile funk, new orleans bounce and juke. It’s kind of punk rock in that it’s raw. I like to blend the rawness with the deepness and smoothness of minimal. I think I bring the sensibility of a Vancouver DJ that has to keep a mixed room happy and mix it with the deep sounds of Berlin… at least that’s what I’m trying to do.

Berlin’s night scene is vastly different from Vancouver’s but what are some differences you’ve found and did not expect.

Last week I saw a dude drinking a beer with his pitbull in H&M waiting for his girlfriend to try on jeans. People can bring their dogs everywhere and drink where they like because they learn from an early age how to regulate themselves, and be smart and have fun. It makes for a totally different kind of crowd in a club. People respect music and DJs. They very much go to listen to what the DJ is playing. A Berliner could never fathom walking up and telling the DJ to play something because it’s their birthday. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to headliners playing at 10AM. It’s just bananas, my friends will go to sleep at 8PM, wake up at 5AM, start drinking and go see their favourite DJ. It absolutely kills me!

How long have you been DJing and what got you started?

I’ve been DJing for about 9 years now if you count the 2 years in my bedroom train wrecking chicago house with techno at 33rpm (I didn’t know there was a 33 and 45 for like….longer than I’d care to admit.)

I had played a show at Cortes Island Music fest with my so called band, after we played I ate some fungi of the magical variety and was mesmerized while the DJs played… when I was returning some gear to Long & McQuade from our show I was like “Give me everything I need to be a DJ!” They would give financing to a goat so I walked out of there with everything. I got home and opened the boxes and was like “Oh, I have to put it together? shit.” I finally figured it out (sort of) then spent every spare dollar on records.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/8311942″ params=”color=ff5500″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Where you listening to anybody in particular that inspired you to get behind the decks?

Not really, Benny Benassi?! I was 17 and had a fake ID and thought I was the SHIT. I didn’t have the internet (HOW DID I LIVE?) so I’d hang at the A & B sound listening bar and just listen to random stuff. I liked house, techno, hip hop, whatever. First records I ever bought were Tiga’s remix of Heartbreaker, a Matthew Johnson EP and The Best of Tribe Called Quest double EP.

Did you have a musical background before you began DJing?

My dad is super musical and let me play all his instruments. We actually had a family blue grass band and would play at old folks homes. I rocked the fiddle and dabbled in a few other instruments, harmonica, ACCORDION (totally a hit with the boys) and settled on guitar because it was too hard to sing and play violin and accordions are just too sexy for a pretty young girl like myself.

What was your first DJ set up?

2 tech 12’s, shitty numark 3 channel mixer.

What are you working with now?

Serato, but I’m in the middle of switching to the APC 40 and Abelton. When I first got back from RMBA in Melbourne I was totally sold on DJing with Ableton, there’s just so much you can do with it, it fits my ADD style of mixing perfectly. But DJs were like “Oh she can’t mix, she’s using Ableton.” It’s hard enough being a girl starting out, there’s so much more to prove so I stuck with Serato. Now it’s like, who gives a flying fuck if you can mix two records together, big deal you neanderthal! Do something interesting!

What advice can you offer to aspiring female DJ’s?

First off, ask yourself if you’re djing for the right reasons… that goes for everyone. I don’t think it’s particularly impressive being a DJ unless you yourself feel like you are really doing something, if you feel like you’re really creating something for yourself and you’re truly enjoying your time in the music. Being a DJ is totally lame otherwise! I’m trying to change the way I do things so I feel fulfilled. I was getting a bit jaded in Vancouver and so I asked myself what my fucking problem was and the answer was I felt like a big phony. I was playing music and getting paid to drink and party but I felt like a big empty douche bag. I wasn’t creating anything I was really proud of. I had to remove myself completely from that situation and take a long look in the mirror (Insert pathetic, life-changing movie montage here). Now that I’m in Berlin I don’t know as many people so I have more time to myself and the people I am meeting are creators. I feel empowered to create… a lot! So I think that’s the most important thing.

As for the female aspect of getting in the industry, surround yourself by people that inspire you. Betti Forde has always been a huge inspiration and friend to me, she’s a fireball of feminist awesomeness. If I’ve learned anything from her it’s that it’s okay to have a giant mouth and lots of opinions. It’s okay to use your sexuality to get ahead. Wear a fucking push-up bra if you want to. Who cares? Go naked or wear a snuggie, do whatever makes you happy and do it for yourself. If you own what you do then people won’t try and oppress you or fuck you over, they’ll know that they just can’t. It’s okay if people hate you. As women we are more inclined to try and make everyone happy but you’re never ever going to make everyone happy. The longer you do this and the more success you have the more people are going to talk shit and be little pricks. Just always show up with your gear in order, be on time and do your thing.

Footnote:Sorry for swearing so much! Morrocan wine is delicious.

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Blondtron – Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter

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skywlkr Interview

Posted on February 10, 2012 by | Comments Off on skywlkr Interview

tumblr_lyhzbwRUxA1qk55si Originally posted on Realtime

Some words w. skywlkr. Google the man if you don’t know the name, he’s got some honourable mentions around. Check the man out on his soundcloud or tumblr and free DL the exclusive Bruce Lee 2. Read on.

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Firstly, thanks for taking the time. Let’s start with a who are you where are you from?

My name is skylar, from Detroit Michigan, and I go under the name skywlkr.

Has the bustling metropolis of Detroit been a big influence on your style and sound?

Being from Detroit, has shaped my music a lot. I mean I grew up in this music scene, so I’m a hybrid of everything I’ve loved from elsewhere growing up, and Detroit as well.

But I used to be part of the metal scene out here and there’s a huge Rave scene in Detroit, and I really like the vibe of hype shit and shit you can listen to while on psychedelics.

I’m totally with you on that, psychedelics can definitely broaden a persons view and experiences with music (not that I’m recommending them to anyone by saying that). How involved in the rave seen are you? Do you even get behind the decks?

I mean, I party. I’m into all that. The rave scene in Detroit is really popping, and I love that atmosphere. For instance tonight, I’m going to this shit called funk night with all the bruisers. And it’s that whole rave scene but the music is will sessions, who did elmatic with Elzhi. It’s a cool atmosphere. But ya, I’m out here. And yeah, I just got a new pair, I play around, but I plan on getting out there, playing my material live this year.

Now that we’re talkin raves I have to ask you about your track ‘Dubstep Girls are the Worsest.’ Personal experience help you along with the title?

Haha, dubstep is the new cigarettes out here. Like its the biggest fad. And some of these girls out here, just really make me laugh, man. Kinda personal.

Why and when did you make moves towards rap/ hip hop from metal, not too much cross over between the two.

Well, I left my band in New York, and when I got home I had an itch to continue making music. I can play guitar, and bass. And I’m very familiar on a drum set. So I would be like my own band. I’d record every instrument and program the drums with reason. I listened to some rap at the time, so in my free time I started just making rap beats I thought sounded cool. They sounded like Jedi Mind beats. Stoupes production of violent by design made me want to make beats. After I made beats for awhile, a friend introduced me to beat battles, and I did pretty well at them, and that’s when rappers started fucking with me. My name got around.

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Give us something to trip out to, are some notable tracks on psychedelics?

That too much to dream track, that was featured on squadda bambinos back sellin crack (called conversations pt.2) , was definitely created off some nice doses.

Now that your on page 46 of The Fader issue 77 as one of five “To Watch: Producers” have there been more people reaching out to you? People hollering out of car windows and such?

Since the fader, yeah, I have been reached out by a lot more artists, looking for music. My twitter followers went up, my bandcamp stats went up. The cool thing is/was a lot of people who read the fader aren’t just die hard hip hop fans, so people of all sorts showed loved. From all different backgrounds.

On that same page it list’s a bit of whats due from you in 2012 so I’ll skip that question. But I want to know who you’d like to have rhyme on your beats?

As far as who I’d WANT to rap on my beats, that’s a tough call. I feel like the ASAP could do something nice over a track, or like schoolboy q. But I’m really more interested in collaborating with other producers, and artists and musicians. Not to sound a certain way, but I’ve honestly got the chance to work with my favourite rappers right now.

I’ve always been curious to know how big a producers music library is, most people seem to be hesitant or unable to answer. How big is you music library? A track count would be dope.

My music library as in samples and shit, or like music I bump? As far as music I bump I only got like 3,500 songs on my iTunes. But as far as samples, I got gigs on gigs. I’m always downloading shit. Or ripping vinyl. Or listening to old CDs. Movie scores. Anything I can get my hands on. As far as a number though, idk to be exact, I keep my samples in folders, not in iTunes, so it doesn’t show a count or anything.

Production methods. I know in a lot of electronic music producers focus on one part of a new track and then build the rest around it. You have any formula like that?

Production method, I honestly don’t have one. My only thing that stays pretty consistent is blunts. A lot of times I start with just digging through samples and putting a bunch of the mp until I don’t feel like it anymore. Than I’ll just go with what sounds the coolest.

What gear are you working with?

I got a lot of gear. But my main set up is reason 6, and mpc1000, and m audio midi keyboard.

Any gear you’d like to get your hands on in the near and upcoming future?

As far as gear I want, maybe a lean prescription, haha. I love my set up right now.

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skywlkr – Facebook | Soundcloud

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Grown Folk Interview

Posted on February 8, 2012 by | Comments Off on Grown Folk Interview

Originally Posted on Schitz Popinov

Attn class. Here we have one of my favourite interviews to date. Grown Folk.

These cats have been my main squeeze as far as new music goes for some time now. They’ve received hype from some of the best people on the web but remain relatively unknown. Too unknown for my liking. Somebody bring these guys to Vancouver!!!!!! Do it. Read on:

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Introductions first. Who is Grown Folk, where are you guys from and where do you live?

We are Drew and Brendan. We both currently living in Montreal and going to University here (Drew is actually currently in London, UK for the moment) Drew grew up in Hawaii and Brendan grew up in Vermont.

When and where did you guys come together to produce under one name?

We met at University in Montreal in 2009 and both became interested in electronic music as neither of us had much exposure to it in the US. We began as resident DJs for a promotion company putting on events with all the big electro artists of that time (I say “that time” even though it was only 3 years ago). By 2010 we were dabbling in production under solo projects. After a few months of sending music back and forth we realized we were into similar things and decided to collaborate on some tracks. It was just going to be a one off thing, but it went so well we decided to stick together.

What was the final ingredient on the decision to run with the name Grown Folk?

This name actually came from Markus from LOL Boys. I was sending him some tracks and he kept telling me that it was some “grown folks house music.” That kind of stuck with me and when we were thinking of a name that’s what stuck.

What were you doing before this project?

We were both working on solo projects and getting our feet wet in the whole production thing as neither of us really started until late 2009. Drew was putting out tunes under Kid Aloha and Brendan under Roladex.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

We havent really had jobs we didn’t like!

How long have you been into making music be it DJing, producing or formal education and what got you started?

We have really only been into DJing and making music for about 3 years at this point. Both of us are life long music fans of many different genres, but we didn’t start becoming very active until we arrived in Montreal and were exposed to clubs and DJing in general. Initially I (Brendan) didn’t really have much interest in producing because I had no past musical experience and was worried I couldn’t do it. In the Winter of 2010 I saw Renaissance Man play at a big festival in Montreal and something changed. I decided that I could make music too and dove right in. Drew started producing a little bit before that, but for both of us it was really a natural progression from DJing.

What are you working with? Both software and hardware?

Right now we are working with Ableton and a MIDI keyboard. That is about it. We have plans to get hardware eventually, I think the goal is to eventually produce completely on analog gear. But that will take time and money. This summer we will probably get a 707 and hopefully if all works out some sort of synth, maybe an SH-101 or something.

Droptop is what turned me onto your music initially. What can you tell us about this particular track, how much time was spent on it, what got the track started initially and what finally brought it together?

This is actually a pretty funny story. This track started out as a hip hop beat that was being made for a friend. Before the vocal got put in and some of the synth lines we noticed the bassline had a really nice groove. So we sped it up about 25 bpm and realized we could turn it into a summer house tune. We found the vocal and put that in and worked on the structure for 2 weeks or so before we were completely happy with it.

You guys have got the 90′s rave down, locked. I often am reminded of Technotronic when I listen to your music. Can you list some influences?

Thanks man! To be honest we are more into the 90s house stuff rather than the rave and hardcore producers although there was a minute when we were putting some more rave influences into our tunes. People like MK, Murk, Larry Heard, and Kerri Chandler have all had a big influence on our sound. We are still pretty new and discovering so much new music every day that we are constantly influenced by producers from the past 20 years.

How has Montreal responded to your sound?

Montreal has had a great response to everything we have done so far. Local producers like Jacques Greene, Prince Club, and LOL Boys have all been big supporters and have become good friends. We are being booked for nights in the city pretty regularly now so things are going great!

XLR8R, Silverback Recording, Sword Artists, Templar Sound and Hush House have all been sending hype your way. Who else is out there promoting you? From here you seem relatively low key.

Yea we are slowly getting our name out there. DJ Mag did a nice review on the City Wind EP and Fact Mag has shown us some love as well.

Do you have any of your own parties going?

As of now we aren’t doing any parties of our own but we have lots of friends putting on parties every week so we are playing those mostly.

Title’s, there ALL so, “G” ,for lack of a better word. Rap influence on your titles?

Haha, absolutely. We listen to a lot of rap and usually even sneak a little into our sets when we play out.

What kind of music do you relax to or listen to on your own time?

I (Brendan) basically listen to house or electronic music all the time. I also listen to some hip hop, but unlike a lot of people, I enjoy listening to mixes or Rinse FM when I’m just relaxing. Drew is much more into rap than I am so he is definitely listening to a lot of hip hop when relaxing.

How’d you hook up with LOL Boys to remix each other?

We met Markus because he lives in Montreal as well and became good friends. The remixes were just a natural extension of that.

Do you guys have any kind of process or particular section of a song that you begin with when starting something new?

I would say we basically always start with drums. We are both into trying to make interesting rhythms combing classic drum sounds with more experimental ones. So usually we will create a skeleton with that and a bassline and move forward from there.

As far as new go’s can you tell us about your new material? Release deets, title’s, ect.

We have an original track and a collab with Dro Carey coming our on February 20th on CD on the Templar Sound Compilation. This is CD only and Aidan from Templar did an incredible job on the packaging as well as getting great artwork for it so can’t wait for that. After that we have a 12” dropping on Templar. I have to keep the details a little secret on this, but its going to be a hip hop collaboration with two rappers who are really killing it right now. We also have 2 great remixes lined up for that. In the summer we will have another 12” coming out on a new label. It will be house, and I can’t say any more than that. We also have a collaboration with LOL Boys dropping sometime in the future on the Friends of Friends sub label called Young Adults.

When might Grown Folk make an appearance in Vancouver, I’ve had my eye out since Droptop came out. Please don’t tell me I missed you somehow :S

We haven’t been there yet but hope to get out there soon. Tell your friends to book us!

Thats all I’ve got for you guys. Anything you’d like to add?

Thanks to everyone who’s supported us and bought our music, 2012 is going to be a great year, so stay tuned!

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