Big remix, crazy Miami, new tune on Toolroom – the boys are on fire
Interview : Simon Tillotson
Fresh off the back of what sounds like a fairly hectic week at the WMC in Miami, My Digital Enemy made it in home in one piece in order to ensure their remix on the huge Matteo DiMarr & Dashka ‘Closer’ was released on time. With support from all the big guns flooding in, Closer looks set to do the damage this summer – we caught up with the guys to find out more about the track and their plans for Zulu records this year…
Hi guys, you’ve just got back from playing a fair few parties in Miami! Good week? Any stories to share?
“Yes! It was a crazy ten days. We kicked it off by playing at the Electric Beach Party on Nikki Beach as soon as we landed; the party was wicked, really busy! We ended up hanging out with Abel Ramos who was a right laugh – virtually forcing drinks down our necks, haha! Wednesday we played on the Sunset Yacht Cruise alongside David Penn, The Cube Guys, Saeed Younan, Filthy Rich… It was a proper party and an amazing experience to be involved. Thursday we headed to Toronto to play at the EFS club which was really cool. We only had time for three hours sleep before heading back to Miami and had to go straight to DJ at the Reload Pool Party. Our flight was late so we had no time to check in to our hotel, it was a case of rocking up to the venue with our suitcases. Quick T-Shirt change, then straight on the decks! Friday night we spent at the Toolroom party, which was awesome hanging out with all the Toolroom guys. Our final party was the H50 WMC Official Closing party. It was great to meet Federico Scavo & Junior Sanchez who we are looking forward to collaborating with in the future!!”
Shamen has just been the featured track on MTV’s Real World – you’re probably more used to seeing it played on a dance floor, was it a bit weird to see it used on TV?!
“We have had quite a few tracks played on TV in the past so it doesn’t seem that weird. It’s very inspiring to see our music used in such a global TV show though and it’s great that the My Digital Enemy sound will be blasting out in so many unsuspecting living rooms!”
You’ve had some seriously big names supporting your releases recently and Closer is no different – do you still get that buzz when you find out your music is being dropped by people like Tiesto and Pete Tong?
“Yes, yes, yes!! It’s always a buzz. It doesn’t get much bigger than that; after all, these were our idols when we started writing music and to see them supporting our tracks is a dream come true.”
Closer is arguably one of the most original tracks to be released on the label this year – did it take long to decide to sign it?
“As soon as Matteo sent it I thought, wow this is original. I’m honoured that he wanted to release it with Zulu. An Angel’s Prayer was my favourite Zulu signing for 2013 and Closer is my favourite for 2014 – easily the best two tracks we have signed for Zulu.”
What does the track make you feel Closer to?!
“The dancefloor!”
Matteo DiMarr has released on your label previously – was Closer produced with a release on Zulu specifically in mind?
“I’m not sure about that, Matteo sent this to me out of the blue… It wasn’t something we had discussed previously; I’d like to think Matteo & Dashka wrote it for Zulu but who knows!”
And how about the MDE remix? How do you think your remix completes the release?
“I think the mixes complement each other really well. The original kicks in fairly dubby with techy undertones; with our remix we had agreed that the break didn’t need too much done to it. We couldn’t possibly have improved on that. We just wanted to add more energy to the drop after the break to give it a more housey vibe. We are always aware when remixing that it’s important to bring something new to the table otherwise the mixes just steal sales from each other.”
You’ve been playing the track throughout Miami and getting huge reactions – have you been secretly road-testing any other tracks that you can share with us?!
“Our other big Zulu signing is Carl Hanaghan’s take of the classic “strings of life”. This is set for release on the 21st April and it is sure to be a big hit!! Carls been producing for Zulu right from the start, collaborating with Ted Nilsson and with us a few times for “Drum Warrior” & “We Are One”. It’s great to see him getting his first solo single out with us.
Here’s a sneaky preview!
http://soundcloud.com/zulurecords/carl-hanaghan-strings-of-life
Zulu Records continues to go from strength to strength with every release – is the label growing in the way you’d hoped?
“Yes, we couldn’t be happier with how the label has grown. It’s important we work double as hard to take it to the next level. No slacking here, we are in this for the long haul!
And finally, what else does 2014 hold for MDE?
“We are pleased to have been asked by Toolroom to do a single release for them for release in May. We have played them the initial idea which they love. We are just finishing it off now. Also expect new My Digital Enemy releases on Zulu & Vudu Records!!”
To buy:
http://www.beatport.com/release/closer/1263154
Original Mix:
https://soundcloud.com/zulurecords/matteo-dimarr-dashka-closer
My Digital Enemy Remix:
https://soundcloud.com/zulurecords/matteo-dimarr-closer-my
For more:
https://www.facebook.com/matteodimarr
https://twitter.com/matteodimarr
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dashka/46949348127
https://twitter.com/DjDashka
https://www.facebook.com/mydigitalenemyofficial
https://twitter.com/Mydigitalenemy
https://soundcloud.com/mydigitalenemy
