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Dirtyphonics Interview

Drum and Bass | Wednesday 31st August 2011 | Osh

TGN catch up with the bass mash up that is Dirtyphonics whilst they are at their studio in Paris to talk about MPC’s, ‘Vandals’ and a possible album.


Are we all ready to start?

Yeah, check one, two. Dirtyphonics in the house.

So how are you guys?

We are all fine. We are in the studio working on a new remix. It’s the four of us trying to make some sounds, kicks, bass and snares.

What remix are you working on?

We are working on a Jim Mac remix.

Sick, so what are Dirtyphonics about?

Well our first vision was to make music because we were all working in different places and we were just mad on making music and that’s how we came about. It is the passion of making music and then playing live around the world.

Paris isn’t that famed for it’s Drum & Bass. What is the scene like today?

For a long time we’ve had Drum & Bass parties and most of the big DJs all come from England so like 10 years ago there was never a French headlining. Now we’ve done Dirtyphonics it’s changed a little bit. You get at least 1000 people for a big party in Paris so it’s still on. I guess now with the Internet there are no barriers between people in the city and out. Everyone is making music and its good.

So who originally influenced you?

Well we all started from different backgrounds. Some of us come from Hip-hop, others were in mellow bands so we all listen to 90’s and 00’s music and that’s our influences whether its Rap, Metal, Hip-hop or House. We found something in Drum & Bass and then we wanted to make Electro and Dubstep.

Are there any artists in particular?

It would be like Daft Punk and Metallica and lots of stuff. When it is from Drum & Bass it’s be Noisia and Sub Focus of course. When it is about Electro, Soulwax. There is to much influence!

When all four of you are in the studio how does production work?

We all try to go forward as a team. Production takes a little longer sometimes, but its better when you have 4 people that are happy with something. Then you know you have got something.

If you could collaborate with any artists who would it be?

Charlie says Axl Rose. Well I’d like to work with Method Man because I’m a Hip-hop listener myself. Just stuff like that, anything can be good you know.

So your live show is pretty different . What are you actually doing?

Well basically it came from the gear we had in our studio. We play all the lines on the MPC’s, which are basically samplers. So basically live, one part is played by the MPC, its all the basslines and stuff and all the beats come from the CDJ’s which are mixed with other tracks. It comes from the idea to be on stage all together when we are playing the tunes. It’s a little bit more risky because we don’t just press play. We are playing all the basslines so we can go wrong but  when it’s four people you always manage to keep on going.

What’s your favourite Dirtyphonics song to play to a crowd?

That’s a harsh question. Well definitely something that drives people crazy is ‘Vandals’. We get really hyped because it’s a song that was out maybe a year and a half ago and when we play it, it goes crazy each time. So we are always happy to play it.

Are there any plans for an album?

Well we got lots of remixes coming up. We’ve already mixed Nero, Bloody Beetroots and Benny Benassi. We are being productive in the studio right now and we’re trying to make an album while we make the remixes.

If you were to put on a rave, could choose any 3 artists, who would it be?

In a big show playing with us you mean?  One of us is saying Metallica. Prodigy. Steve Aoki, we said Daft Punk again and Slash. And I like old bluesman so I’d get some old bluesman like maybe Buddy Guy. It will be cool Metallica, Dirtyphonics and Buddy Guy.

If you were invisible for a day what would you do?

Well.. music.

Really? Absolutely choose music?

Yeah man it’s not work at all, it’s not a job,. For me it’s just pleasure so it would be music. Thomas would be thinking. Charlie said sex in the kitchen. I didn’t mean sex in the kitchen, I mean cooking and sex. Pidgeon also say’s music, he’d be mixing for 10 hours.

Do you have any Guestlist exclusives?

We’re doing a world tour! We’re going to USA, New Zealand, Australia, all around Europe, Asia. We have our debut album that we are working on. I can’t give a date but it’s next year.

Keep up to date with Dirtyphonics and check out their new EP Tarantino/Oakwood at myspace.com/dirtyphonics

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