Sending Us Love… Quite simply, these boys are blowing up worldwide. With translation help courtesy of their manager Stas, we check in with three of the biggest producers of the year. Fact.
Vadim, Dmitry and Stanislav welcome all the way from Russia to DMCWORLD Magazine. So how did you three team up in the first place?
“All three of us are from Smolensk. Some years ago Stas moved to Moscow and now is responsible for management issues. Dmitry and Vadim work at the studio in Smolensk. We always stay in touch with each other and discuss our deals.”
Your musical style has changed over the years, describe the different genres of music you began with and where you are now?
“We started at the end of 90’s and were keen on pure techno and the classic electro sound. After that we moved into big-beat wave. Such producers as Norman Cook, Groove Armada had great influence on our work. We mixed beats with funky cuts. That was an amazing time. In early zeroes a meeting with French-house scene got back our tracks to 4×4 beats. It filled them with sweet harmonies and groovy bases. Daft Punk, Cassius, Dj Falcone, to name a few, brought Swanky Tunes to the next step in the career. Later we tried into sinthy-pop, new electro movement, combining all the skills we had got before. Right now we are making things on the edge of all kinds of house music. But everybody can say ‘This is Swanky Tunes’s touch!'”
An incredible year to date for you, some 20 trance/techno tracks released on every major label around the world – talk us through your favourite five tunes of the year…we at DMCWORLD are loving your techno rave version of the Stooges ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’.
“Thank you very much for such a good words! Well, Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa – ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ on Doorn Records. We decided to make a cover of ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ because you can count dance versions of this huge song on 5 fingers of your hand. And of course we love the original song so much! It will be released in August.Also, Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa – ‘Feedback’ on Spinnin Records. The next track we to talk about is a collaboration with Hard Rock Sofa and it’s called ‘Feedback’. ‘Feedback’ is an endeavor to recreate a Daft Punk’s sound of the middle of the 90s. It feels like someone wants to get a feedback from the past. Hope we made it strong! . The new Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa EP on Size Records which will be released in August as well. There are 2 tracks ‘United’ and ‘Smolengrad’. The last one has a play of words in it’s name – Smolensk and grad (it means city). So this is respect to our home which ‘united’ Swanky Tunes and Hard Rock Sofa. Swanky Tunes & R3hab feat. Max C – ‘Sendin My Love’ on Wall Records has to be mentioned. And the last one which we are really proud of is ‘Sendin My Love’. This track is already supported by all big DJs around the world. It’s great to know and feel that we made a really cool track!”
What kind of music were you into growing up?
“It’s hard to say what we were into growing up. We listened to different kinds of music.It was true electronic music, which made us start to produce our
own tracks basically.”
What kind of childhoods did you have, were your parent happy you following your dreams about becoming musicians?
“You will laugh, but we had never dreamt about becoming musicians. Once, our parents said that music wasn’t for us and we should think about education and other big things in our lives. We were young and of course agreed with them, but something told us to keep on making the music. We studied, worked and spent all our free time at the studio, because the only thing we wanted to do was music. Now 15 years later we can say one should listen to their parents’s advice, but one should have their own goals in life!”
What are the big 10 tunes you are spinning at the moment?
R3hab & Swanky Tunes feat. Max’C – ‘Sending My Love’ on Wall Recordings
Junior Sanchez feat. Karmen ‘I Believe In’ (Swanky Tunes Remix) on Size
Records
Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa ‘United’ (Original Mix) on Size Records
Deniz Koyu ‘Tung!’ (Original Mix) on Flamingo Recordings
Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog (Original Mix) on Doom Records
Prodigy vs Firebeatz ‘The Funky Shit’ (Firebeatz Bootleg) White
Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa ‘Smolengrad’ (Original Mix) on Size Records
Swanky Tunes & Hard Rock Sofa ‘Feedback’ (Original Mix) on Spinnin’ Records
Third Party ‘Duel’ (Original Mix) on Size Records
Arty ‘Around The World’ (Original Mix) on Anjunabeats
Who in dance music today have been your big influences?
“All producers who push house music further and make people dance. We guess you know them perfectly!”
What is the best club you have played at this year?
“Amnesia, Cap D’Agde.”
Describe the dance music and club scene in Russia today.
“There are no differences between Russia and other countries. Many clubs are really good with pleasant atmosphere and great audience. Only one thing lacks in Russia – big local festivals and open air events. It would be great if the promoters could bring more of them into the clubbing life of our country!”
DMC own the Back To Mine series, if we were to come back to one of your houses after a club, what 10 back to mine tunes would you play us from your personal collection?
“Daft Punk ‘Da Funk’
Groove Armada ‘I See You Baby’
Iggy Pop & The Stooges ‘I Wanna Be your Dog’
Nirvana ‘Smells Like A Teen Spirit’
Laurent Garnier ‘The Man With The Red Face’
Depesche Mode ‘Personal Jesus’
Gus Gus ‘Why’
Les Rythmes Digitales ‘Jacques Your Body’
Moby ‘Natural Blues’
The Gossip ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’
Your music has been heavily supported by the likes of Tiesto, David Guetta, The Swedish House Mafia and Laidback Luke. How does that feel?
“It feels like something you wanted to get for too long has just dropped on you! Now we want to say great thanks to all the guys who support us!”
So you have an unlimited budget and you are putting on your own event – what would be your dream DJ and live act line up – money no object?
“It’s difficult to say! We think there will be every name and everyone who has been supporting us. The only problem we will face – to find a place for such a big party!”
Which festival have you enjoyed playing at the most?
“Belgium att the ‘Tomorrowland’ festival.”
What is the strangest request you have had whilst performing from a clubber?
“Every request in a foreign language, except for English and Russian of
course!”
What is the best record ever made?
At the moment this is Swanky Tunes collaboration with R3hab featuring Max C ‘Sending My Love’.”.
What is next for the mighty Swanky Tunes?
“To make all the floors around the world be happy and shout louder!”
