Max Chapman & Jacky

DMCWORLD checks in with two of our favourite electronic artists as they join forces and get ‘Addicted’ on Pete Tong’s FFRR  imprint. A huge year lies ahead for them both we discover…

 

 

Hi guys, where in the world are you at the moment?

Jacky: I am currently in my hometown Newcastle. Just sorting music out for the sold out Defected Newcastle show at Digital tonight, canna wait!

Max: I’m actually sat on a flight to the US so I’m not quite sure, hopefully heading in the right direction at least!

What made you both want to become DJs?

Jacky: I have always been heavily into my music, but dance music didn’t really come into my life properly until I was 18. If I had to put my finger on it, my first trip to Sankeys back in 2010 was the moment I decided what path was going to take. I left there that night knowing exactly what I wanted…I had no idea how, but I knew this was it!

Max : I used to be a plumber and when I stopped enjoying fitting toilets, DJing was the obvious way out.

How is 2018 shaping up for you gig wise? Are there any particular clubs or countries you can’t wait to play?

Jacky: This year is looking really exciting! I just got back last week from my Australian  tour which was wicked. I have North and South American tours coming up, a full summer of Ibiza shows. One place I really want to play is Warung. That place looks insane.

Max : It’s been pretty hectic already, this is my second trip to the US in the last ten days! There’s some big ones getting locked into the diary though, really excited about finally getting to play Paradise at DC10 in Ibiza this year, and I’d really like to go back to Lost Beach in Ecuador too. If I can add Fabric in Madrid to that too, I’ll be buzzing!

Your new single “Addicted” features vocalist Charlie Sanderson. How did you come to collaborate with Charlie? Is working with vocalists a first for either of you?

Jacky: It was totally by chance actually! Me and Max got together to work on something completely different to Addicted, and as we were working on it Charlie just happened to be popping in to the studio and whilst he was with us threw a few lines down and, yeah…this happened! I have worked with vocalists in the past and I thoroughly enjoy it, and this was no exception. Charlie nailed it.

Max : Charlie lives in my town and we’ve been mates for a while – I heard a few of his  albums which were so good, but he has never been signedbefore and I wanted to help him, so I invited him down to the studio with us. I’ve never worked with a vocalist in the studio like we did with Charlie but it was a wicked experience and I’m actually working on a few new tunes with him already.

Max Chapman & Jacky - Addicted (Ft. Charlie Sanderson)

What vibe were you going for with the track?

Jacky: We had no presumptions as to how the track was going to go. Before we started we discussed what each of us had been digging recently and we both said at the same time ‘the new Bicep album’. It flowed really well from there. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project and really happy that Pete Tong thought the same!

Max : To be honest, we really just wanted it to be different to everything else we’ve done. We didn’t want it to be a clubby track necessarily and the downtempo vibe just came naturally as we tried a few things out. With its distinct 2-step groove, “Addicted” marks a different sound to the house tracks fans have come to expect from you. What made you decide you wanted to try something new with this release?

Jacky: As I said, we never had any intention of making anything in particular. We just wanted to try something a little different and it came so naturally. We literally got this whole project nailed in half a day and were like ‘this is actually sick’! Yes, totally different to our usual stuff but it was also great to do something off the beaten track.

Max: We’d both been making a lot of tech house around the time we managed to get in the studio to collab, so we both agreed that we needed to try something fresh. Creatively, I think it’s important to try new things and not stick to the same formula.

Do you prefer writing music in the studio or on the road?

Jacky: It doesn’t bother me if I am honest. Of course, it’s nice to be sat in a comfy chair in front of a big screen but I make music everywhere. As a student, I often made music with just my Macbook – no hardware at all. So, I have adapted to working this way. I will always mix down my tracks properly in the studio but producing in headphones has always been my thing.

Max: Studio, 100% – I just built a new one too so I’m loving having a fresh environment to work in. You’re both label heads: Jacky with Red Lunar Records and Max with Resonance Records.

What plans do you have for the future with these ventures? Which artists on your radar are you hotly tipping for big things?

Jacky: At Red Lunar we only release 5-6 times a year. We like to really spend the time on each release and make sure it gets the reach it deserves. Next up on RLR we have a wicked EP coming from Liverpool boys Truth Be Told. At the moment Mason Collective, AJ Cristou and Adison are really doing it for me.

Max: We’ve got a big Camelphat remix coming up on Resonance, and a Wade EP too  which is going to blow people away. If anyone asks me who to keep an eye on at the moment it’s definitely Wade, he’s got such a fresh style and every tune he puts out just smashes it in the club.

What do you guys get up to outside of music to unwind after a long tour or hard days studio time?

Jacky: I like to eat, lots. Like, lots! Me and my fiancé do like to go out for food ‘now and again’. I play basketball too (when I’m not being a couch potato).

Max: My life is basically touring and studio time – I don’t know what you mean by unwind!

Finally, what big things can we expect from you both for 2018 and beyond?

Jacky: Well, of course I have my North and South American tours coming up which will be real fun! I will be announcing shortly where I will be playing over the summer in Ibiza which is very exciting. I am in the process of confirming some  more Jacky & Friends shows so keep your ear to the ground about all of that. I have also just recently completed a ‘Jacky & Friends Album’, consisting of originals, collaborations and remixes and that will be dropping early summer. I spent the last 5 months making sure it’s perfect so I hope everyone likes it as much as I do!

Max: Gigs, gigs and more gigs – I’ve got some big festivals including Snowboxx, CRSSD Festival and Forbidden Forest coming up, I’m over in Miami for WMC where I’m playing four label showcases including Toolroom, InCorrect and Roger Sanchez Presents: Undr The Watr, then I’m also supporting Gorgon City at their Brixton show next month with Booka Shade and Josh Butler. Keep an eye on my calendar for all the others.

Max Chapman – upcoming events…

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Chapman.Max/events

Jacky – upcoming events

https://www.facebook.com/pg/jacky.music.uk/events/?ref=page_

Buy ‘Addicted’ here…

https://www.beatport.com/track/addicted-feat-charlie-sanderson-original-mix/10252981