Sangers & Ra

Big new feel good bass monster ‘Life’ from the Australian east coast crew

Welcome to DMCWORLD Magazine, you are currently in the middle of a European tour, how was the Waldstock Festival in Germany at the weekend?

“Waldstock was amazing. It was a one stage festival in this forest in the middle of Bavaria with thousands of crazy Germans who love to dance. Between us, we have now played in that area three times in four years and it’s become a second home to us.”

And then a huge tour around the Ukraine, not the first time there though… a country that loves your sound…

“We’re here for one week but we have three official performance dates at the KaZantip festival. It’s the most amazing place in the world. Awesome weather, picturesque location, great people, and yes they love our sound here. It’s somewhat of a breakbeat mecca with the Stanton Warriors, Krafty Kuts, the Freestylers, Lady Waks, Smash HiFi and Atomic Hooligan all here partying with us.”

Massive new tune coming from you in the form of “Life”, a feel good bass monster with some cool remixes. Talk us through the tune.

“It’s definitely a deeper more reflective tune than we’re use to making. We usually make club bangers we can play out but we’ve been wanting to make a tune like this for a while. N’fa Jones did an incredible job with the lyrics and vocals and there have been some stellar remixes from Rocket Pink, Punk Ninja, Spenda C and Will Styles that have already gone down really well here on our European tour.”

What is the current top 10 you are spinning?

1. Stanton Warriors – Shoot Me Down (Kamuki Remix)
2. Justice – Audio Video Disco (Sangers & Ra Mix)
3. Marten Hørger vs Zedd vs Frenzy – Slam the Love
4. Draft feat N’fa Jones – Bali Party (Sangers & Ra Remix)
5. Boys Noize – Yeah (Stanton Warriors Re-Bump)
6. Sub Focus feat. Kenzie May – Falling Down (Nick Thayer Remix)
7. Diplo and Nicky Da B – Express Yourself
8. N’fa Jones – March On (Sangers & Ra Remix)
9. Rebel Sonix vs Geek Boy and Whiskey Pete – Get On It
10. Sangers & Ra feat. N’fa Jones – Life (Rocket Pimp Remix)

You joined forces in 2009 and quickly establised yourself as the head of the Australian east coast breakbeat revival. Tess us how you got into dance music growing up?

“We’ve both been into dance music for over ten years. When it rose to prominence in the early noughties we were both massive fans of all the funky breaks / Fingerlickin’ movement. Sangers started promoting parties back in 2006 and we’ve both been DJing since 2003. Our sound is more a blend of all “bass” music now. We love to play everything from Hip Hop to Electro, Dubstep and Drum & Bass.”

What was the record that changed your life?

“To be honest, neither of us are really that sort of person/artist that is impacted in that way. There is an endless list of songs that we love and that mean alot to us at different points in our lives but we’re more about party music and bringing a party vibe than “changing your life” with a song.”

Early DJ Heroes?

“Plump DJs and A. Skillz.”

How did you two first meet and how did the idea of a studio partnership happen?

“We met through mutual friends and through playing at Breaks & Enter which was at the Empire MoonBar in Brisbane at the time. We quickly realised that we had very similar music tastes and a matching desire to make the same type of music. We started with a bootleg and it just took off from there.”

Your tunes have been played the world over by the likes of the Stanton Warriors. Westbam and Maelstrom. Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?

“Some of our close friends that we share tunes with and ask for feedback from are Marten Hørger, Peo De Pitte, Maelstrom, NAPT and Hardy Hard. We really wouldn’t be where we’re at without their support.”


What is coming next from the Sangers & Ra studio?

“More bass monsters. We’re currently addicted to hardware and plan on buying a few bits and pieces when we get back to Australia. We have a new song that we’ve been working on with Marten Hørger for some time called “Mosquito” – keep an ear out for that one.”
 
Who brings what to the production process, who excels where?

“We both contribute to the creative process and tracks can sometimes originate from either of us or both of us together in the studio. Ra is a strong engineer and Sangers is great at cutting up samples and vocals.”
 
What has been your summer anthem?

“It’s currently the middle of summer here in Europe and of course our summer anthem is our brand new tune, “Life”, with N’fa Jones. It’s been going down great as a closing song for our sets. Marten Hørger’s remix of “Shake that Pressure” by Deekline and Ed Solo is also in our bag of tricks.”
 
You are constantly on world touring duties – what territories do you really love retiring to, where really gets your sound?

“The Ukraine, Russia and Germany have really been receptive of what we do. It seems the audiences we get to play to fit like a glove. Everything we do seems to be working, which is a great feeling!”
 
Outside of your sound, what other genres of music do you listen to at home?
 
“We listen to everything. We draw inspiration from a lot of different genres and enjoy a variety of music. Lately we’ve been listening to Aussie Hip Hop, 90’s Hip Hop, 70’s Funk, Indie dance, Indie Rock and Drum & Bass.”

Tell us about the current state of the club scene in Brisbane…
 
“There are some cool clubs that are pushing bass music, like Family. Some other clubs pushing underground music still do well, such as BarSoma. We also like all the smaller bars that are now open to having mashup party music from all genres played, such as Press Club and Empire. Aside from that, it seems a lot of venues are really crossing over to the commercial borders as Brisbane’s population is increasing and dance music has risen to such prominence.”

What has been the biggest Oz festival of 2012?

“We love playing at Parklife every year. Fuzzy have done a great job of bringing cutting edge artists and underground music to Australia. In Brisbane there is the Blah Blah Blah festival that exclusive to Brisbane and promotes bass music of every form, from Aussie Hip Hop to Drum and Bass.”
 
Strangest request you have ever had from a clubber whilst DJing?

“Do you have an deodorant?” And also a 40 year old man asking for “that skrull guy”…he meant Skrillex.”
 


What is each other’s most annoying habit?

“Ra has no patience and Sangers cannot function at all without internet access.”
 
What is your guilty pleasure song?

“The Lonely Island and T Pain’s “I’m On A Boat” gets a play whenever it’s appropriate – on boat parties, on boat shaped stages and whenever there’s a random pirate in the audience.”
 
And finally, who is the DJ you always avoid at a festival as you just know it is going to end in drunken carnage?

“Barry Ashworth without a doubt. We don’t get to see him much as he’s constantly touring the world with the Dub Pistols but when we do cross paths, it’s a mess waiting to happen.”

 

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