NEWS
EVENTS
M.A.N.D.Y Interview
House | Tuesday 16th August 2011 | Osh
Ahead of their set at South West Four Festival on 27th & 28th August, Joe Le Groove caught up with one of the most successful Electro acts from Berlin: M.A.N.D.Y.
With their electrifying live performances and pulsing music, the Berlin duo have become one of the most successful Electro acts in Europe. They tell us about their inspirations and what they’ll be bringing to the South West Four Festival
“The key to success is following your destiny, developing a real passion and pursuing it even if all your friends and family think you are retarded.”
The two of you met when you were just 15. What music were you listening to growing up?
Patrick listened to a lot of Janis Joplin and some of his father’s Jazz stuff. I was more into the darker Electronic stuff like Swans, Current 93, Dead Can Dance etc. It was a good mix. We always recorded music tapes for each other so we got a good education.
How would you say your music relationship has developed since then?
Wow, that would be a long one! Luckily we still share a deep passion for Electronic music and we pretty much have an identical view on the whole scene. There are some differences of course, but that brings a little tension, which is very healthy. At home I hardly listen to Electronics unless I’m preparing for gigs. Lots of Jazz...I like love songs and real pop music too like stuff by Justin Timberlake or Beyoncé.
How did your co-founded label Get Physical come together and become one of the most respected in Electronic music?
As always it's very much about following your destiny, developing a real passion and pursuing it even if all your friends and family think you are retarded. It's about the right timing too and a little quantum of luck. When we started the label in 2001 we came up with a sound that was fresh and fairly new at that period, but I think the biggest key to success was us being really good friends who could count on each other. Booka Shade and T. left the label at the end of last year but we are still very good friends. T. has released his album on Get Physical Music and we are still doing music together with Walter & Arno too. After so many years of working together, it was time to move on...
You recently had Body Language Vol.10 by M.A.N.D.Y. out on your Get Physical imprint. Where did you want to take your listeners when you compiled the mix?
To heaven! And a little peek into hell too of course! No seriously, we always try to combine all the various styles and try to squeeze that into one CD. It's mostly hard work and you have to try out a million different ways; that is the reason why our CDs are always months in the making. We are very happy about how it turned out.
You guys are playing at the South West Four festival again this year in London. What will be different about this year’s show?
Well this year we’ve played 99% of all our gigs together, which has really made us stronger and brought us much more together again. We will probably bring some new visuals with us too.
If you had to book four acts for an arena at a festival, who would you choose and why?
Booka Shade, as they’re our long-term friends and we always have tons of fun with them; we are planning to do some live stuff together soon. Kraftwerk are an all-time favorite of course... The Foo Fighters - they’re our favorite rockers and Dave Grohl seems to be a super cool guy to rave with. Lastly, Amon Tobin for his amazing light show and to create some interesting sound collages to connect the acts.
You have implemented LED lighting and video mapping into your performances; can you tell us more about that?
It is a very unique show that maps our bodies onto the stage with the help of infrared cameras. We developed great visuals and plan to bring this to the UK later this year.
What have you got in store for your fans for the rest of 2011?
Right this second we are sitting here with Booka Shade and preparing a new single. Our last co-production, ‘Home’, will be released in August and we’ve also done a collaboration with Adultnapper from Brooklyn called M.A.N.D.U.L.T. We’ll deliver some remixes for various labels, too, and are playing on some Get Physical nights all over the globe.
If you were marooned on a desert island and had to take 3 famous people with you, who would they be and why?
Keith Richards! He must have some interesting, funny stories to tell and if we found a nice oasis in the desert I'm sure we'd have fun over a couples of drinks. Also Miss Picky - she's such a fashionable lady and I heard she's a good cook too. Ornella Muti. No explanation needed; just beautiful to look at and I’m sure a fantastic addition to beautiful sunsets.
For tickets for South West Four Festival go to www.southhwestfour.com
With their electrifying live performances and pulsing music, the Berlin duo have become one of the most successful Electro acts in Europe. They tell us about their inspirations and what they’ll be bringing to the South West Four Festival
“The key to success is following your destiny, developing a real passion and pursuing it even if all your friends and family think you are retarded.”
The two of you met when you were just 15. What music were you listening to growing up?
Patrick listened to a lot of Janis Joplin and some of his father’s Jazz stuff. I was more into the darker Electronic stuff like Swans, Current 93, Dead Can Dance etc. It was a good mix. We always recorded music tapes for each other so we got a good education.
How would you say your music relationship has developed since then?
Wow, that would be a long one! Luckily we still share a deep passion for Electronic music and we pretty much have an identical view on the whole scene. There are some differences of course, but that brings a little tension, which is very healthy. At home I hardly listen to Electronics unless I’m preparing for gigs. Lots of Jazz...I like love songs and real pop music too like stuff by Justin Timberlake or Beyoncé.
How did your co-founded label Get Physical come together and become one of the most respected in Electronic music?
As always it's very much about following your destiny, developing a real passion and pursuing it even if all your friends and family think you are retarded. It's about the right timing too and a little quantum of luck. When we started the label in 2001 we came up with a sound that was fresh and fairly new at that period, but I think the biggest key to success was us being really good friends who could count on each other. Booka Shade and T. left the label at the end of last year but we are still very good friends. T. has released his album on Get Physical Music and we are still doing music together with Walter & Arno too. After so many years of working together, it was time to move on...
You recently had Body Language Vol.10 by M.A.N.D.Y. out on your Get Physical imprint. Where did you want to take your listeners when you compiled the mix?
To heaven! And a little peek into hell too of course! No seriously, we always try to combine all the various styles and try to squeeze that into one CD. It's mostly hard work and you have to try out a million different ways; that is the reason why our CDs are always months in the making. We are very happy about how it turned out.
You guys are playing at the South West Four festival again this year in London. What will be different about this year’s show?
Well this year we’ve played 99% of all our gigs together, which has really made us stronger and brought us much more together again. We will probably bring some new visuals with us too.
If you had to book four acts for an arena at a festival, who would you choose and why?
Booka Shade, as they’re our long-term friends and we always have tons of fun with them; we are planning to do some live stuff together soon. Kraftwerk are an all-time favorite of course... The Foo Fighters - they’re our favorite rockers and Dave Grohl seems to be a super cool guy to rave with. Lastly, Amon Tobin for his amazing light show and to create some interesting sound collages to connect the acts.
You have implemented LED lighting and video mapping into your performances; can you tell us more about that?
It is a very unique show that maps our bodies onto the stage with the help of infrared cameras. We developed great visuals and plan to bring this to the UK later this year.
What have you got in store for your fans for the rest of 2011?
Right this second we are sitting here with Booka Shade and preparing a new single. Our last co-production, ‘Home’, will be released in August and we’ve also done a collaboration with Adultnapper from Brooklyn called M.A.N.D.U.L.T. We’ll deliver some remixes for various labels, too, and are playing on some Get Physical nights all over the globe.
If you were marooned on a desert island and had to take 3 famous people with you, who would they be and why?
Keith Richards! He must have some interesting, funny stories to tell and if we found a nice oasis in the desert I'm sure we'd have fun over a couples of drinks. Also Miss Picky - she's such a fashionable lady and I heard she's a good cook too. Ornella Muti. No explanation needed; just beautiful to look at and I’m sure a fantastic addition to beautiful sunsets.
For tickets for South West Four Festival go to www.southhwestfour.com
