Interview by Dan Prince
Mr Richards, Mr Eliot…a massive welcome to DMCWORLD. Manchester in da house! Where on planet earth are you right now?
We are in our home town of Manchester right now just recovering from a heavy weekend and getting ourselves ready for another one this weekend haha.
Your favourite piece of music the pair of you have heard today since rolling out of bed?
Well I’ve literally just opened my eyes so none at the minute, but got lots of new promos to go through.
So many exciting things happening on Solardo world at the moment, let’s kick off with next weekend’s nautical shenanigans at your Solardo Sea Sessions event. Basically raving out at sea, tell us all about it…who is joining you on your way to Amsterdam?
Well we started our brand Solardo Sessions at the beginning of the year and it was all about throwing parties in obscure space’s so when one of our friends rang us and said he’s got access to a cruise liner it was a complete no brainer. So basically its a 2 day rave on a cruise liner with us Route 94, Leftwing and Kody, Max Chapmann, Arun Verone and many of the North Wests best up and coming artists. Also we stop off in Amsterdam for 6 hours so I don’t think i need to go into much more detail haha….
Tickets on sale here…https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Newcastle-on-Tyne/All-Over-NEWCASTLE/Solardo-Sea-Sessions/12806418/
Following on your amazing Tribesman EP that topped all the right charts, you have a stunning new remix of Tobias’s ‘Beat On The Drum’ coming out on November 28th on Strictly Deep, talk us through the rework…
Basically we did think remix nearly 6 months ago when we were really on the new school acid house tip so our sound is quite different now but the remix absolutely goes off every time. We’ve battered it all summer to massive reactions.
And you have just done a remix of Example…
Yeah, it’s out now on Sony/Epic records. It’s call “Later”.
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
Steve Lawler – House Record (Skream re work)
Everyone knows the original so when the rolling bass kicks in crowds go bezerk
Solardo – Fall Down
This has been one of our secret weapons of late there’s a massive old school rave stab in this track and it gets a cheer every time.
Dennis Cruz – Fever
This is a absolute bomb
Solardo – Tribesmen
Don’t think this needs any introduction
Andrea Olivia – Vermona
This one has been doing some serious damage on the scene for the last few months
The tune that helped smash you onto the world stage was of course ‘New Jam’ on Viva Music in 2015. A huge Ibiza anthem that set the White Isle alight. Tell us about your love affair with Ibiza…where do you like checking out night and day plus what is your favourite ‘Solardo in an Ibiza mess’ story…?
When we go to Ibiza we don’t usually have much time to stay around and take in the culture. We’re usually only there for a night and then straight out. When wer’e there, it usually doesn’t involve any or much sleep. In fact I think we have never actually slept there in a bed for more than 2 hours. When the likes of Skream and Jamie Roy are involved things can get extremely out of hand. I could tell you some stories but it might get us in trouble.
I live in Ibiza where Halloween is bigger than New Years Eve, you spent your ghoulish night with WHP and Elrow, what were your costumes and what was the craziest sight of the night?
Well if you want to see what I dressed as (James) go on our Facebook page and watch the after movie we did ha and I think the craziest sight of the night had to be when we played our latest track Tribesmen to a sold out Elrow at the Warehouse Project – it was definitely a special moment.
Couple of future gigs coming up that have to be mentioned. Hot Creations at Motion in Bristol, amazing label meets amazing venue. What is it about this venue that always ensures bedlam?
This is our first time at Motion! But we hear that it is sick. Can’t wait to get there and do our thing.
You shall be joining Fatboy Slim in Manchester at the Albert Hall in December for the collosal WHP party. It has the ingredients for a proper festive mash up, getting excited?
Yeah we are always really hyped up for shows in our home town. The scene in Manchester is second to none for us right now especially with the likes of Warehouse Project, Kaluki and Hidden. The vibe is mad in this city.
On the subject of great venues, we lost one of course this Autumn with the sad demise of Fabric. What on earth is the answer to this horrific situation with the UK losing all of it’s best clubs…how are we going to make those in power sit up and take notice?
This is a very very good question, the people in power are not from the same walk of life as the people that go to raves and these sort of night clubs so they will never realise what these places mean to people like us. When shutting these iconic places they don’t realise the effect it has on the people that live and breath this way of life, it’s like when they closed the Hacienda in Manchester in the 90’s – people still talk about that club around the world. I just hope that they wake up and realise what they are doing to our music culture by shutting these sort of places. We could talk about this topic all day but gunna leave it there before I say something that gets us into trouble.
Tune of the summer?
We’re going to be biased haha…Tribesmen!
When was the last time you danced to a DJ?
Last weekend to wAFF at Abode’s Tobacco Dock party.
An up and coming producer to watch out for in 2017?
Very very tough question!! Vibe Killers, Del-30, M squared, SM One…there’s too many to mention.
What is coming out next from you guys studio wise?
There’s a EP coming on Toolroom in December. A follow up EP on Hot Creations in the new year and lots and lots more that we can’t discuss yet haha…
How does it work in the studio, who excels where?
Well Mark is the man on the button’s he’s been producing at a professional level for 16 years and his work rate is second to none. I (James) come up with ideas and Mark can turn a vision into a track in no time at all.
The last GREAT…
Film you saw
Sicario
Album you checked out?
Really not had time to check out any albums at all recently.
Belly laff you had?
We have them all the time. Usually when we’re off it.
And finally, Jose Mourinho…out by February?
He’ll be given at least 2 years. He’ll need it I think.
The ‘Aztecs EP’ is available exclusively on Beatport from December 2nd via Toolroom Records
