The boys are back in town. New album and a new series of PBR parties a coming
Interview : Dan Prince
Aha! Our old friends Bonar and Tom…how the fuck are you and where can we find you today?
“Feeling great thank you very much Dan. We’re currently sat in Heathrow Terminal 5 waiting to fly to Berlin to play one of our favourite gigs, Salon Zur Wilden Renate.”
A very exciting new release swinging our way, you take care of disc 3 of the ‘Boutique Hostal Salinas: Ibiza Summer Sessions’ compilation…talk us through the tunes you handpicked for the album…
“It’s been a really exciting project. We’ve been friends with Dave and all the gang at Boutique Hostal Salinas for many years so we jumped at the chance to get involved when we were asked. It’s also our first official mix comp plus it’s for close friends (no pressure then!) so we wanted to do the best job possible. We tried to strike the balance of creating a mix which is true to the Hotel, Ibiza, and ourselves. Because of this, picking the final group of tracks took a while. We’re really happy with how the mix finished.”
Some more big news from you guys is that you are setting up your own PBR parties starting in Leeds and London. Tell us more…
“Yes it’s something we wanted to get up and running for 2014. We’ve been promoting for many years, it’s in our blood. After Asylum finished last year creating some PBR related parties was a natural step. We’re starting in Leeds and London, aiming on doing around three in each city with a view to taking it further if the demand is there. We like the idea of being in total control of the party from start to finish…being able to choose the venue, line up, and sound etc. No massive name DJs, no huge advertising, it will be a slow burning, starting small and growing organically. The first event is in Leeds on October 11th.”
What was your highlight of Secret Garden Party last month, having a cheeky one with Prince Harry?
“Prince Harry, yeah he’s pretty cool, we had a couple of Rum n’ ting’s together in the Labrinyth after we played. The SGP is amazing isn’t it? The people, the vibe, the stages are all fucking brilliant! The Labrinyth was our highlight this year, we got to play alongside our friends in a secret stage in the woods… perfect! Unfortunately we only stayed one night (gutted!) so we had to cram it all in before heading up to Wickerman Festival on Saturday.”
It’s that time of year again, the annual DJ Top100. I interviewed Arthur Baker this week, he remarked…“there are too many DJs and genres for a realistic competition”. What are your thoughts on that – do you give a fuck?
“We try not taking these things too seriously, if we’re included great, if not, no stress. DJs and their management spend a lot of time, money and effort on marketing campaigns to be included in these polls, it’s a big deal for some people. Due to this fact they can sometimes be inaccurate. Although the likes of RA and DT seem to be a sort of fair reflection of what’s happening on the underground circuit.”
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“Certainly got a point. We grew up spending years practicing in our bedrooms on crap turntables, working out how to mix records, how tracks fit together, learning tempos, and general record structure. It was years before we got the chance to play in a club, then you would push for a residency earning your stripes warming up and playing alongside the guests. Those years really make you as a DJ, they’re invaluable. It’s what turns a DJ into a great act. These days if you have a big record you can be playing in front of big crowds on a laptop with hardly any ‘DJ’ experience. More turntable ninjas please!”
what is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
Tom: “Anything from ‘Now 1’ The ultimate sound track to my childhood!”
Bonar: “Van Morrison – The Days Before Rock & Roll.”
…always get you dancing?
Tom: “Michael Jackson – ABC.”
Bonar: “Chromeo – Bonafied Lovin.”
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
Bonar: “Amie Mann – Give Up.”
Tom: “The Streets – Dry Your Eyes Mate.”
…you wish you would have made?
Bonar: “Prince – Sometimes It snows In April.”
Tom: “Talking Heads – This Must be the Place.”
The last non dance music album you checked out?
“The last Oneohtrix Point Never Album – Commissions and R Plus Seven I just listened to, though you could really argue it’s kind of a dance music album (very, very loosely).”
You have been in and out of Croatia all summer…has Ibiza got anything to worry about?
“I don’t think so. Ibiza is a beautiful place, it’s always going to be around entertaining people. It’s how it involves which will determine how popular in continues to be. We’ve noticed a slight change in the last twenty years we’ve been visiting. There seems to more ‘high end’ places, I’ve heard Hard Rock Hotel has the most expensive restaurant in the world in it… your plate is suspended in the air whilst you eat, WTF is that all about! Croatia has taken that little part of Balearic spirit which made it incredible in the first place…untouched, relatively cheap, day time partying, and open air clubs. Every reason why it is becoming so popular so quickly.”
In your opinion, is it possible for someone to make it as a DJ in 2014, without any production behind them?
“It’s very hard to do that in this day and age. There is another route by having a very cool record label. Look at Ben UFO and Hessle Audio. An amazing record label, Ben is the tastemaker and a really well travelled DJ.”
What are the big 5 records in your box right now…
Bonar…
Parada 88 – Your Gonna Miss Me. Double A side to the new International feel release – proper !
Blamma! Blamma! – Zsa Zsa (Blamma! Blamma! Rework). Not enough people reworking their own originals these days, let’s have more of this please.
Midland – Before We Leave (Gerd Janson Remix). Beautiful house music and an excellent remix, what’s not to like…
The Youngsters – The Third Knife (Matthias Tanziman remix ) – holy coat hangers this is good, loved the original this is even better can’t stop playing it.
Lonely Boy – I Like Disco (Emperor Machine Remix). Just love the Emperor Machine sound, no one else comes close to what he’s trying to do, excellent remix.
Tom…
The Young Gentlemen’s Adventure Society – Adventure Party
Boot Tax – Confuzed House
Pete Herbert Gang Related
Buckley ft. Phoenix Pearle– The Red Road
Alelle Fu – Taron Trekka
What is each other’s greatest quality as a producer…?
Tom: “Bonar… hahaha!”
And each other’s most annoying habit in or out of the studio?
Bonar: “Losing biscuits in cups of tea…we never learn…”
You played at We Love…at Space in Ibiza back in June, the first season without your good friend Mark Broadbent on board. Were the great vibes still there?
“We played the opening party and two weeks following that, both were great. We all miss Mark and Sarah. Mark has a wealth of musical knowledge, plus he took risks and booked interesting acts, there’s not many promoters like that. Plus he is a lot of fun, the after parties are always fun (trouble) with Mark and Sarah around. However things move on, that’s life. We support Andy in any way we can and we play for We Love as long as we’re welcome. This season is going really well so he’s off to a great start.”
Last week some superstar DJs including Paul Oakenfold, Afrojack and Steve Angello announced that “Ibiza is too expensive” and that the “mystique of Ibiza isn’t there anymore”. Do you agree
“Hahahaaa that’s pretty funny coming from the millionaire’s club! Those guys are the ones who command the high fees which result in high door prices and the general price increase in Ibiza. You will always be able to find the magic in Ibiza, you’ve just got to search a little deeper!”
Throw 3 reasons at us why you love Ibiza?
“Fish Shack, mates, villa parties.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Well right now we have just remixed Lana Del Ray – Ultra Violence – you can check that here http://bit.ly/1pSSKm
Next month we have our remix of Walter Ego – Control Alt Delete coming out on 2020Vision. Then later in the the year look out for our collaboration EP with X-Press 2 on Futureboogie Recordings.”
Boutique Hostal Salinas: Ibiza Summer Sessions compiled and mixed by David Phillips & PBR Streetgang is out now on Seamless Recordings.
Buy links…
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/boutique-hostal-salinas-ibiza/id899171050
