Two men. One mission. We get the intention these guys are there for you…
Matt welcome to DMCWORLD. Where in the world are you right now?
“Hi Dan, we are in the studio- we’re always in the studio! Today we’re putting the finishing touches to our new Annie Mac mini mix for Radio 1 which goes out this Friday.”
Well a brilliant 2013 for you already, recent months has seen Radio 1 all over you and your music. The new single ‘Intentions’ features Clean Bandit with Nikki B on vocals. Talk us through the history of the tune…
“Well we made a version for Clean Bandit a few months ago and the remix went down so well we thought we should move on it. So we got a session organised, got in Nikki to do some vocals and also brought in some violin and cello players.”
And how long did the session take to complete the song?
“It was pretty quick, we had it nailed in a few hours.”
We all know the story of how you came to be working together, playing in the same clubs until you finally decided to get in the studio. Before that you were solo producers with your RackNRuin and Foamo aliases, had the ideas of a production partnership ever entered your heads before you met each other and got talking?
“We had both done a couple of collabs with some people when we were on our own, but certainly the idea of something permanent not at all. The way that I have looked at my work in the past is I’ve always enjoyed sharing ideas, sharing samples and having fun with my mates, a lot of them being producers. But as I said, no we hadn’t either thought of a permanent thing with anyone.”
So you’ve had a chat in the club, how soon did you get into the studio and did it just click straight away?
“Pretty much yeah. I think we hit the studio the next day to be honest and within a few hours we’d finished one tune. We were quite surprised! When we had a bit of time a couple of weeks later we got back in the studio and the same thing happened, another tune in a matter of hours. We share the same manager and that’s when he stepped in and said you make such a good team we should look at this as a new artist.”
What does each of you bring to the studio process, who excels where?
“When we began it was me that worked on the vocalists side of things, bringing in baseline melodies and writing hooks with the vocalists. Kye was more beat and percussion based, but as time has gone things have started to intertwine.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
Gorgon City – Intentions ft. Clean Bandit
Huxley – Bellywedge
Dusky – Vanishing Point
Breach – Jack (Mak & Pasteman Remix)
Gorgon City – Freeze
Made by Pete – Kiss
Michael Jasons ft Mizbee – Addiction
Infinity Ink – Infinity (Skream Remix)
Roscoe Sledge – Frisson
Gorgon City – Atlantic (There For You)
You have just returned from a tour of America, how was that – did you have to change your sets in any way?
“No not really. The thing is our sound is all new to them so they wanted to see what we were all about. It was a great trip and it can hopefully only help us get bigger over there.”
Part of the tour hit Chicago – a city we all owe so much to that is finally saying’ something again! How was your debut in the Windy City?
“It was really good. Nice people, the club was great and obviously a city I have always wanted to play in. What was great about Chicago is that it felt more real than New York and Los Angeles. More chilled, more underground and a lot cooler than the glitz and glamour of the other cities. Don’t get me wrong, we loved playing elsewhere but playing in Chicago felt like we were playing somewhere in London or Detroit.”
Your ‘musical upbringing’ saw you enjoy a feast of underground sounds; jungle, garage, hip hop and grime. What were the early clubs and DJs you were following back then?
“Most of the big jungle events of the era. United Dance, One Nation, Jungle Mania, Jungle Fever, Bagleys and SE1 when it was known as The Drone. That’s where you would have found us until the sun was coming up.”
You have a massive summer ahead in Ibiza, tell us the plans…
“We are really looking forward to Ibiza this summer. I’ve only had the one gig there and Kye had a residency at We Love a couple of years ago. But this summer we have some great gigs. Amnesia, Ibiza Rocks and a residency at Carl Cox’s night at Space with Black Butter Records. We are also popping over and doing Mallorca Rocks along the way too plus a secret little shindig back in Ibiza in August”
And are all these pop in pop out jobs or are you getting some time to erm, enjoy the ‘cultural side’ of Ibiza?!
“Ha ha. For one of the dates we’ve booked a villa and a load of our mates are coming out. Should be fun, we have a few things planned…”
Where are some of the big festivals you are looking forward to hitting this year?
“We couldn’t be happier with our festivals this summer in the UK; Glastonbury, Bestival, Secret Garden Party, SW4 and Global Gathering are in there but we also have some choice events abroad we’re looking forward to such as Hideout in Croatia.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you guys…?
“Can’t say too much at the moment but we have a big new release coming out early August.”
http://soundcloud.com/gorgon-city
https://twitter.com/GorgonCity
http://instagram.com/gorgoncity
http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/gorgon…
