Signed to Sony UK’s Relentless Records after going viral with their Bicep and Nelly Furtado mashup in late 2020, the boys’ debut single ‘Everything’ was the sound of summer 2021 and was used as the soundtrack to the opening scene of that year’s Love Island series. Gearing up to support Sigala on tour, and having recently announced a summer 2023 residency at Ibiza Rocks, ‘React’ promises to be a Switch Disco set highlight as the mashup duo go from strength to strength in the club scene…
Q1. Hey Switch Disco, welcome to DMC! How’s your year going?
Hey! Thanks for having us!
This year has honestly been crazy for us. So many huge moments have happened in such a small space of time. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2023.
Q2. How did your recent single ‘React’ come about?
We created a few mashups using ‘Robert Miles – Children’, which went on to get a lot of traction. Then Jamie from our label, Relentless, suggested that we had a go at making a remake of Roberts iconic song – which initially we were both very sceptical about. With ‘Children’ being such an iconic dance music instrumental, we knew we had to have a vocal that was strong enough to compliment it. As soon as we heard Ella’s version (written by her and Maegan Cottone) we knew she had absolutely nailed it.
We were also fortunate enough to work alongside the extremely talented producers ‘Punctual’ in order to get the right sound – which we think the final song achieved!
Q3. What was it like working with Ella Henderson on the track?
She is an angel. We are so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with someone that we consider to be one of the queens of dance music vocals. She delivered on every level and would love to work with her again some time!
Q4. Your debut track ‘Everything’ was the sound of summer 2021, and used in the opening scene of that year’s Love Island series. How did it feel to get that recognition and exposure on your first single?
It felt very lucky. Although we are relatively new to releasing our own music, we were fully aware that we needed a strong campaign behind the track, for it to have any level of success. Our label were able to grant us access to a huge platform, which in turn got ‘Everything’ into the ears of millions of people.
When we first heard it being played on the opening episode, we were both in utter shock. We had no idea it was going to be used the way it was and our reactions clearly reflect that! (Check out our Instagram feed for the evidence of that…)
Q5. Who would be a dream collab in the future?
Dream collab is a tough one. There are so many other producers we want to work with – although David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Nora En Pure and Purple Disco Machine would be amongst the top spots.
Q6. You guys are known for your awesome mashups on TikTok and Instagram. How do you find navigating the world of social media as producers?
Although the social media side of what we do has been a big tool in getting us to where we are now, we both started out in this industry when it didn’t exist. We truly believe that people should be recognised for their ability to produce / DJ – rather than how many followers they have, so the subject of entering the social media lane was a complexed one for us.
We eventually decided that we were able to demonstrate the ideas we have in a way that an online audience would understand, which subsequently built a following at a rate that would not be possible without platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. When that opportunity is available, it only really made sense that we went after it.
Q7. Where and how did you both meet, and what’s the best thing about working together?
We met through mutual friends of ours, who were running a club in Zante (where Nikos is from). Consequently, we then ended up doing a summer season together back in 2011 where we built the foundations of our friendship and working relationship.
The best thing about being in a duo, is having two perspectives on every scenario we face, as well as being able to share an ever increasing workload. It would also be pretty lonely working and touring alone, so having each others company really helps!
Q8. How would you describe your sound, and where do you plan to take it in the future? What do you do when you’re looking for inspiration?
When it comes to our DJ sets – we just play bangers from the electric dance music spectrum. Every track we play is also a mashup, which enables us to fit in as many different musical moments as possible.
When it comes to releasing music, our first two singles were feel good dance floor friendly pieces and we are planning to develop that sound into global anthems.
We find inspiration from so many sources, but mainly just through listening to music. We quite often will hear something on the radio or playlist and have an idea for a remake. There’s a list of potential new single ideas on our own personal playlists that we are very protective over….
Q9. You’ve got some huge live gigs coming up this year, supporting Sigala on tour and announcing a summer residency at Ibiza Rocks. What are your top tips to get a crowd going?
We have both been resident DJs for years, before we became artists, so have lots of experience on reading crowds. We never play for just ourselves and will always try and give our audience what we think they want. If you are able to consistently please the live audience in front of you, you’ll never have a bad show.
Q.10 What’s next for Switch Disco?
A busy summer of touring, more new music and achieving all the goals we have set for ourselves. We want it all and still have a long way to go!
