Just what the doctor ordered! A huge 2013 looms for the new deadly Dutch duo
Jim, Ray welcome to DMCWORLD Magazine, two super hot Dutch producers who look set for an incredible 2013. Congratulations! The band was formed whilst you were both studying Music Composition & Production at the Utrecht School of the Arts in Hilversum; you both liked each other’s taste in music so it was an obvious decision to join forces. However back in the day Ray you were into hip hop beats and Jim you were a trance fanatic. These are two sounds that aren’t usually associated with each other – but with you two, your techniques just clicked together…?
“We are both very open-minded guys and were looking at things more from an energetic level into music then necessarily some sort of typical genre. Before we studied music, making hip hop beats or trance orientated stuff was more a way of expression and experimenting with making music the electronic way. We quickly found out that we had a lot in common with each other music wise. But we also have the same approach concerning productions – mixing etc. and always aiming for the highest quality.”
It’s always interesting to hear who were early musical influences for dance music stars, yours are a right mish mash of artists – Frank Sinatra, Axwell, Daft Punk and Stevie Wonder were filling your ears growing up. Where has this love of music come from, were you brought up in musical households?
Ray: “Yes, my mother studied music and was a singing teacher and soprano in classical music. So I’ve been brought up with classical music and singing – I always wanted to be a big Jazz singer style star like Frank Sinatra.”
Jim: “My family is not the typical ‘musical family’, but music and creativity has always been supported by my parents. Back in the early days I filled my hours with break dancing and playing keyboard and piano.”
In the early days you were a trio with an MC on board who would always describe your music as ‘sick’ – hence the name. How hard a deal was it dropping him when you realized you wanted to go solo?
“Actually it wasn’t a big deal because things weren’t that serious at the time, it was just having fun. He wanted to put his energy into working out at the gym more so than the music so he kinda made the decision for us. The real Sick Individuals started when we made a pact between ourselves saying, “let’s do this together with no one in and no one out. And here we are!”
Too many breaking into the EDM scene looks easy – make a top tune in your home studio, get some gigs and off you go. But we know it’s not that easy. You have great management and a leading booking agency now and things are flying, but you did a lot of work in the early days working for free. Did you ever lose the faith?
“We still talk about those early moments a lot. The first release took us six months because we weren’t happy with the paperwork side of things. We asked for a small amount of money for the track and the A&R people said “well then we have to listen to the track once more”. We were stunned by that reaction. We thought they really liked the track and it made sense to us then why we couldn’t get in contact with them for weeks and then months. After that release we knew that we had to change our strategy – but we never lost faith.”
Your producing came before the DJing. Can you remember the first club you played at together? What was it like?
“Yes and it was really nerve wracking but amazing at the same time. Our first show in Utrecht was closing for a pop band in club called Tivoli for about 200 people. We’d had to put all our money together four days before the show and with some added help from our families we managed to buy two Pioneer decks to practice on. Mixing the kicks together took us about one minute every track! But in the end we made it.”
2012 saw you produce over 20 remixes – we love your attitude to your projects where you can’t wait to try new things out and switch the mood of the original. What remix have you had the most fun with and were especially pleased with the final product?
“It’s been awhile but the remix we did for Laurent Simeca called “On Fire” was a great experience. Before we got the remix we used to go to a great tech house party where great Dutch DJs like Erick E would spin. He played so many inspirational tracks that we decided to make a completely different approach of the next remix. So we made more of a tech house vibe track that ended up in the main top 3 chart of TraxSource.”
What is coming out next from you guys studio wise, we hear some big labels are about to put out your stuff…?
“We are finishing one special and secret project that we can’t say anything about yet…but it’s going to be huge! Some of our upcoming originals and remixes will be released on labels such as Big & Dirty, SIZE X, Spinnin’, Epic and BigBeat.”
What would you say is each other’s greatest quality producing and also as a DJ?
Ray: “Well Jim really stands out in creating flowing beats and special sounds, he has a great feel for rhythm and especially a great eye for detail, behind the decks he gives me a great energy boost.”
Jim: “Ray always comes up with new ideas, he’s particularly good in thinking out of the box and he has a natural feel for creating harmonies and melodies. He is a great partner who I can rely on.”
What are some of the current top tunes you are spinning?
1. SICK INDIVIDUALS – Free (Original Mix)
2. Icona Pop – I Love it (SICK INDIVIDUALS Remix)
3. Danny Avila – Breaking Your Fall (SICK INDIVIDUALS Remix)
4. Roberto Da Costa – Excited (SICK INDIVIDUALS Remix)
5. Conor Maynard – Vegas Girl (SICK INDIVIDUALS Dub Mix)
6. Korr-a – Fiyacracka (SICK INDIVIDUALS Dub Mix)
7. Someday – You’re In My Head (SICK INDIVIDUALS Remix)
8. Nervo & Hook n Sling – Reason (SICK INDIVIDUALS Remix)
9. SICK INDIVIDUALS – Soldiers (Original Mix)
10. Dimitri Vangelis ft Wyman – Pieces of Light (Original Mix)
11. Savoy ft. Heather Bright – We Are The Sun (SICK INDIVIDUALS Remix)
We enjoyed your set at The Ministry of Sound a little while back – what was that evening like for you?
“It was really amazing to play in a club with so much energy. That sound system in combination with our music just felt so incredibly Sick! The crowd at the Ministry are true house fans and go completely insane!”
America is beckoning in 2013 for you, VISA sorted and Miami on the horizon. What are you most looking forward to your first time at the craziest couple of weeks on the clubbing calendar?
“The enthusiasm and the craziness from the US crowd and of course ULTRA Festival! But also travelling and performing across America, meeting our (new) fans and perhaps do some collaborations. We are so ready!”
Not many people know this, but Sick Individuals are really good at…?
“Diabolo Tricks (Circus), baseball and cooking nice meals for family and friends.”
What is the greatest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“DJ Delicous & Till West – NYPD (Sick Edit 2010).”
You have DJ’d alongside some superstars in the past – what one DJ has really blown you away with his deck skills?
“Laidback Luke and Chuckie definitely. Two of the best technically skilled DJs out there!”
Tell us about the gig you did on a train going through Austria, sounded crazy…
“That was a crazy experience! We were asked to do a set for a small crowd of around 100 people in a big train compartment. The train was moving from right to left, up and down and the crowd was going nuts. It was quite a challenge mixing tracks in a situation like that. But we’ll never forget it.”
How did the whole China experience come about, that country is slowly finding its feet on the clubbing map…
“In 2010 we came in contact with a bookings agency in Shanghai who was really eager in giving good house parties for expats and Chinese early adapters. After playing at some parties, the owner of a club in Shanghai asked us to play every Friday night. That resulted in doing more gigs than ever before in Shanghai, Chengdu and Hong Kong. It was crazy because the crowd’s reaction is so different than here in Europe. Sometimes they dance more in the breaks part than the climaxes. We really want to go back and play there, really special memories for us.”
Everyone has one, what is your guilty pleasures record you secretly love but shouldn’t?
Ray : ” When I hear G-Unit – Stunt 101, I know I’m not your typical gangster, but I definitely feel like one when playing it loud in my room.”
Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“Axwell, Hardwell, Steve Angello,Fedde Le Grand, Nicky Romero, Dannic, Bingo Players.”
What is the weirdest record you have ever had whilst Djing?
“GangnamStyle Trap remix?”
And finally – where are some of the big gigs coming up that you are getting excited about…
“We got several awesome gigs in Holland, Germany, Belgium, Ibiza and the United States. Keep an eye on our Facebook for all the latest gigs and SICK INDIVIDUALS news. Thanks DMCWORLD!”
Check the boys down at The Ministry of Sound…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14WrvUXzxdU
http://www.sickindividuals.com
http://www.facebook.com/sickindividualsofficial