The Kings Of The Breaks
Dominic and Mark – massive new track that was knocked up in a Sydney hotel room on your Aussie ‘Good Vibrations’ Tour that saw you play alongside Deadmau5 and Fatboy Slim – an incredible story behind the new tune, but we’ll come to that later. I have asked this question to many DJs and artists over the years and none will be ever a stranger answer – how did you come up with your name, please explain the Tower Bridge story Dominic…
“Ha. Mark tripped over a drain cover on Tower Bridge with Stanton Warrior written on it. There are hundreds all over London, its a brand name. We decided to call ourselves after it. Entrance to the underground and all that…”
It is the DMC World Championship 25th Anniversary this year – who do you think is the best ever Turntable DMC Champ?
“We love the DMC championships – my fav back in the day was DJ Noise but now it has to be Craze or Q Bert.”
Who are your biggest Breakbeat heroes – artist and DJ wise?
“James Brown’s drummer and Kraftwerk as they both made original beats that are still re-used today.”
You scooped the Dance Star and Muzik Magazine Awards with your ‘Stanton Sessions’ mix album – the biggest ever selling Breaks album of all time – beating off the likes of Deep Dish and Danny Tenaglia – do awards like that mean so much to you?
“Our mothers’ like our awards! But for us it’s more important to get actual people a) to our dancefloors and b) have them going crazy thus having a memorable night. Thats what our new Stanton Sessions club nights are all about.”
Best club you’ve ever played at?
Zouk in Singapore had the best system, recently Vanguard in LA went off in a very special way.”
Best festival of the summer 2009?
“Glastonbury went off for us, easily our highlight.”
Your remixes for the likes of Missy Elliot, Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx, Mylo, Freeform Five, Gorillaz, Azzido Da Bass…we could go on and on and on. What has been your greatest remix and also, who were you were most proudest to chop up?
“We have just completed a remix of Big Daddy Kane ‘Raw’ which is currently smashing it. Gorillaz has to be the biggest but at the moment i think our MIA and Rye Rye remix of Bang is a speaker killer.”
One of the main accolades that sets you apart from the rest, is the sets you produce that include homemade edits, remixes and basically, just new stuff. How important do you think this whole re-working of music is relevant to the UK dancefloor today…do you think too many DJs are just too lazy slotting on a record?
“Re-working music whether in the studio or on the fly is important because it brings a special uniqueness to your sets. These days anyone can use a computer and play a dj set.”
You have worked with some incredible vocalists – Big Baddy Kane, Twista and The Beatnuts – Hip Hop and Funk in da house. Which artist that you have worked with over the years though, really blew your socks off?
“Big Daddy Kane is one of the best rappers in the world so that was exciting. Working with Sway was good as his style was so original and innovative also.”
What is your one, guilty pleasure tune?
“Madonna – ‘Into the Groove’.
Best record you’ve been sent this week?
“Although it’s uncool to say, but the Guetta & Afrojack – ‘Toyfriend’ track is awesome.”
How important do you think releasing free promo DJ download sets to your fans in today’s day and age credit crunch are – are you not conscious about this affecting your record sales?
“It’s all about getting your music out as far as possible these days, so DJ download sets are a good way to do that.”
What one artist would you most like to create a track with – and why?
“Daft Punk because they wear funny helmets.”
Your graffiti artwork is of legends on your track covers…people like SheOne and Rough, the latter who won a design award for your ‘Da Antidote’ work – apart from the obvious like Banksy…who are the cool dudes spraying up canvases right now that you rate?
“Shepard Fairy who is playing at our Stanton sessions night at Matter on the 25th did the famous Obama picture which he use on his campaign. It doesn’t get much cooler that that.”
So the new tune, brilliant by the way – how on earth did a track that was meant to be simply an intro tune become a major mid set blockbuster?
“Probably because we didn’t think about it and just rushed it out for a gig. Some of the best ideas come about like that.”
Best album ever made?
“Michael Jackson – ‘Thriller’.
What is coming next from the Stanton’s studio…?
“An artist album and the Stanton Sessions worldwide tour which is all booked in and ready to roll on the 25th September at Matter London…”
