The Russian takeover continues. Another anthem for the summer’s dancefloors
Alexander, Denis welcome to DMCWORLD. A massive Buzz Chart Number 1 with ‘Starlight’ smashing up dancefloors everywhere. Talk us through the history of the tune…
“Hi guys, we are happy to talk to you about it! We started producing ‘Starlight’ 3 months ago. At that time we wanted to make something melodic in the break and main drop. Besides that we wanted that people remember this melody. When finished it we sent it to Calvin Harris to listen to it and right away got the answer from him to release ‘Starlight’ on Fly Eye.”
DMC have been down to the local trophy store to buy you an award for being the first ever artists to have 3 different records in The Buzz Chart. You are having an incredible year…
“Yeah… it’s incredible and it’s very pleasurable! It’s true though, this year has been pretty busy for us – we’ve had a few big releases such as: Quasar, Here We Go, The Edge, Just Can’t Stay Away, Starlight.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Currently we always play in our DJ sets these ones…”
1. Hard Rock Sofa & Swanky Tunes – Here We Go
2. Hard Rock Sofa – Quasar
3. Kaskade & Swanky Tunes feat. Lights – No One Knows Who We Are
4. Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash – Reload
5. Avicii & Nicky Romero – Nicktim
6. Hard Rock Sofa – Starlight
7. Hard Rock Sofa, Matisse & Sadko, Swanky Tunes – Chemistry
8. Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl feat. Georgi Kay – In My Mind (Axwell Mix)
9. Nari & Milani Vs. SHM – Leave The Atom (Hard Rock Sofa Bootleg)
10. Zedd feat. Matthew Koma – Spectrum (Deniz Koyu Remix)
“We started producing music in 2005. At that time we started to make music by using analog synths sounding more like Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and etc… Since then it has changed a lot and now it sounds more like Progressive / Electro House with very fattest and saturated sound. But we always try to keep it original and interesting to our fans.”
You have used many live instruments such as guitars and synths plus vintage effects to make your House music have a slight resemblance with hard rock. Why was that important to you?
“Yes, sometimes we add live instruments in our tracks, but the idea itself is more important for us! We make what we like and what we feeling and we think that it’s the right thing to do.”
You were DJs before you became producers…?
As we’ve said we began working together 5 years ago. Denis was a DJ then and Alex spent a lot of time in the studio producing some stuff. When we met it came clear that our music interests are almost the same. So that’s how Hard Rock Sofa was born.
Early DJ heroes?
“Pete Tong, Erick Morillo, Carl Cox, Todd Terry.”
Who are the producers from around the world that you are giving high fives to at the moment?
1. Swedish House Mafia
2. Alesso
3. Knife Party
4. Tommy Trash
5. Calvin Harris
What has been your summer anthem?
“Hard Rock Sofa & Swanky Tunes – Here We Go.”
“As we see it from Russia, the young audience in the USA got hungry for new stream with their Hip-Hop music. And now in the USA it’s time for house music and that’s why we came here. We can definitely say that USA is the main location for our gigs. We have so many fans here that really love us and our music. It’s a great place for festivals and parties with nice atmosphere and crazy crowd.”
Tell us about your studio set up – who brings what to your production work – who is great at what?
“We always make music together. Our working process always comes from idea. If we have one it can take a couple of days to make track finished. We are constantly in search for new sounds and pug-ins. Four hands are better than two while working.”
Where have been the great summer shows for you this year?
“We are very excited about every gig that we have. This summer we really liked playing in Hungary, Holland, Canada and the USA. Also we are looking forward to our future performances in South Africa, Japan, South Korea, China, England and Ireland. It’s always interesting for us to discover new places.”
What is the craziest request you have ever had from a clubber whilst DJing?
“Not so long ago while our show in Washington one of the fans asked us to sign on his arm. He said he would make a tattoo on the signature. Next time we played in that city we saw that guy again and he showed us his new tattoo.”
If you hadn’t have become producers and DJs, what other options were you exploring for careers?
It’s too difficult to answer this question as we love music very much!
What is coming next from you studio wise?
“Our new track “Kaleidoscope” is coming out on Afrojack’s Wall Recordings on August 20th. We have also a brand new collaboration with Matisse & Sadko, Swanky Tunes. The release of vocal version for “Just Can’t Stay Away” with remixes from Marco V and Norman Doray will be released in October on Spinnin’ Records.”
Proudest moment of your careers?
“We are surely proud for our 3 releases on Axwell’s Axtone. Also it was a great pleasure to hear best words from Axwell about us and our colleges in Russia during his Moscow gig.”
Everyone has one, what is your guilty pleasure song you secretly love?
“Gossip – Heavy Cross.”
Thank you dudes! Appreciate your time.
“Thanks Dan! Always pleasure!”
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