Two superlative house music rock and rollers with one foot definitely in the rave
Interview : Dan Prince
Bonar, Tom welcome to DMCWORLD guys. You are currently in the midst of your first North American tour – where are you right now?
Hi Dan!! We are currently hanging out in Brooklyn, before heading down to Miami to play The Electric Pickle this Friday.”
How was the opening in San Fran?
“Harlot was great fun…really cool spot…lights down low great sound, they made us feel very at home.”
Have you had to change your set in any way for the American clubbers, or are they just lapping you up?
“Not really no. We just do what we do. That’s what we’re known for with our mixes and the music we make…so that’s what we’ve come here to represent and we think that’s what people are expecting from us here too.”
You infamously met in a record shop in Birmingham, you both had similar tastes in music and a friendship developed. Now honestly guys, what were your first impressions of each other?
“Hahahahah!! Honestly, Tom seemed like a really cool guy and that’s why we started hanging out with each other…I might not have been into his “Soul Patch” he had at the time, but you gotta let a few things slide…”
Tom – you used to work in a factory putting video tapes onto a conveyor belt for 12 hours a day. Now hand on heart, would you rather spend a day doing that or 12 hours stuck in a lift with Bonar?
“Wow! I can’t believe you found that out, it was such a long time ago. It was hard work to be fair, twelve hour shifts through the night five days a week. My body clock was all over the place! Can I choose to hang out with Bonar in a lift, we could make a small studio and get productive!”
Bonar – a big year for you sunshine. Walking down the aisle in Ibiza – but not before a stag weekend to end all stag weekends. On Snoop Dog’s tour bus I hear with my brother in law John amongst other degenerates???
“Yep indeed it is..the Stag is shaping up to be pretty memorable…my favourite group of lads on a tour bus with me for a weekend taking in some pretty big parties…and yeah so I heard it was once Snoops’ tour bus, but I don’t think he’s coming this time…”
Big new release coming from you on Waze & Odyssey’s new label Newington, tell us about the new EP…
“Well it’s a two tracker of fun old school NY influenced house – the kind we love to play in our sets at the moment…not trying to re-invent the wheel or anything…just great fresh house music.”
How does it work in the studio, who brings what to the table, who excels where…?
“Tom literally is the king of tea making…seriously though, we sit down and have a chat about what want to do and both throw in a lot of ideas…and then we’re off. Bonar tends to be “at the the desk ” and on the keyboards and Tom is great at keeping the vibe and the flow of the session plus keeping it all focused…so we don’t noodle off into a tangent the whole day.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
1. Terrance Pearce – Halcyon – Futureboogie
2. Igor Jadranin – Blue Phase – Bokhari
3. Lars Vegas – The Game – Large Music
4. Finnebassen – Baby (Ron Basejam remix) – House of Disco
5. Mark E – R Type – Bokhari
6. Juan Maclean – You Are My Destiny – DFA
7. Mirror People – Kaleidoscope (Psychmagik Remix)
8. Alex Arnout – One Nation (Tristan Da Cunha Remix)
9. JD – Dard
10. AJUSTED – Stay Up Here (Bonar Bradberry Remix) – Southern Fried
Asylum up in Leeds has played a very large in your lives these past eight years. You’ve booked some of the greatest DJs on the planet to spin for you – who though really blew you away?
“My favourite Asylum party has to be with Jazzy Jeff. I’ve never seen a club go off as much to this day! Our top three acts at Asylum are probably Theo Parrish, Danny Krivit – and top of the list is Maurice Fulton, he really is mind blowing!”
Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to right now?
“From the UK you could say Greg Wilson, Crazy P, Maxxi Soundstystem and Futureboogie. Further afield, the likes of James from Throne Of Blood and the Pillow talk guys who literally did high five us (or was it the other way round?) when we played with them at the recent WMC.”
Ibiza season is upon us and you are back at your residency at We Love…at Space. It seems it doesn’t matter what room you play in at Space, once you’ve got the room rocking it doesn’t matter to you…?
“Every room is different in Space – they all rock at different stages throughout the night. We are very lucky to say we have played in a few of them. Honestly Dan, the main terrace is probably the most exciting for us…the set up, sound quality and technical support you receive really is next level. It’s a massive honor for us to be a part of their programming, we get a huge buzz when we get asked to play each year.”
Best ever moment at We Love…?
“That’s a tough one as there has been so many. But playing the Closing Party in 2010 probably tips it as the best one yet…”
You’ve got a night / day off from Space. Where will we find you chewing wasps on a dancefloor in Ibiza?
“Well there’s all the usual spots like circo loco @ DC10 and Cocoon @ Amnesia if you’re feeling brave, stupid or both. But one of our fave places to be when we’re not at Space is at a wicked little bar (and we mean little) called Lo Cura…run by Dave and Duesi – it’s our favourite bar on the Island.”
You are back at Renate in Berlin in June – what makes this such a special place for you to play?
“Literally everything! The location, the venue, how it looks, how it feels…the crowd that goes there, the staff that works there, the promoters, the resident DJs – they are all excellent. It’s all of these things that make it so unique and special…just go there and find out!”
So then lads…
What is the event that altered the course of your life and character?
“Moving to Leeds 10 years ago.”
The song that means the most to you…
“Alice Smith – ‘Love Endeavor’ (Maurice Fulton mix)”
The principle activity if you were the Invisible Man for the day…
“Robbing banks and generally scaring people…”
The person from history you’d most like to have a pint with?
“Prince…although I’m not sure he drinks these days.”
Another cracking selection of festivals ahead of you. Glastonbury, Lovebox, Secret Garden Party and Garden Festival amongst others. Tell us the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a festival…
“I once found / made friends with a 7ft wooden cut out of a cowboy at the Secret Garden Party who I proceeded to name Keith…I took him everywhere then became fixed on the idea of entering him for the “Dave Show”. I was convinced he would win “Best Dave in Show”…needless to say he did not…helluva day though…”
Where are you especially looking forward to be hitting festival wise this summer?
“Honestly all of them. You can’t beat the summer and the festival season…let’s pray for some sun!”
Catch the boys at…
8th June – Renate Berlin
We Love…residency on the Terrace at Space Ibiza on June16th, July 14th, August 18th, September 22nd (El Salon)
29th (Closing).
28th June – Glastonbury
5th/6th/7th July – Garden Festival Croatia
20th July – Lovebox Festival
26th July – Secret Garden Party
8th – 16th Aug – South America Tour
13th/14th/15th Sept – Unknown Festival Croatia
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