The dance duo who are always connected
Boys, welcome to the DMCWORLD. I remember losing the plot at Miami years ago dancing to 808 (Why Oh Why) – happy days and nights. So how did you two get together in the first place?
Shield: “It was about 2004, I was working as A&R at Oxyd Records and Cristiano was engeneering for another studio around the corner. There is a decade between us, we came from different backgrounds but we immediately found interest and feeling emotions for the same musical vibes. ‘808 (Why Oh Why)’ was our first experiment, have to say it is sounding totally different from what we do today, but keeping intact that experimental vein and melodic attitude, bringing back the old school progressive vibe and mixing it with an house beat.
What was the first record you both bought?
Shield: “Gat Decor ‘Passion’.
”
Cristiano: “Kraftwerk ‘The Robot’”
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Shield: “Working in the cinema. ”
Cristiano: “A sailor and a musician
.”
Hugely anticipated album swinging our way next month, ‘Connected’ – can you talk us through this most excellent long player…
Shield: “Yes finally it is ready, it’s been long and hard work. I know everything has been changing and the world is running so fast now…it doesn’t make sense anymore to take so long to deliver an album, but we have been thinking carefully, sometimes sleeping on it trying to explore different worlds, mixing our musical influences. The worst part of it have been all the time consumed with the contracts, and also mixing the songs in different studios, trying different sound engeneers that only revealed a loss of time. But yes finally it is here and we are pleased and excited about it.
‘Go That Deep’ (in 2008) and ‘Fallen Hero’ (in 2010) have been already tipped as soulful masterpieces when released and anticipated what we have been working on…‘Connected’ is a mixture of pop, ambient and electronica with a dose of funk, 80’s disco-lite and cinematic elements. The NUfrequency trademark combination of understatement and sonic richness.
The album is a great collaborative project with artists that need no introdutions. It kicks off with ‘My Angel’ and the breathy, sweetly gorgeous vocals of Maggie Reilly (known for her collaborations with Mike Oldfield, and the international hit ‘Moonlight Shadow’ ). ‘Make a Peace’ and ‘Streetlife’ with Ke’, the incredible voice of the smash hit ‘Strange world’. The title song ‘Connected’ with the exceptional singer/songwriter, Yoav and his unique ability to create a phenomenal spectrum of sound that transcends genre, resulting in a one-man sonic showdown. ‘Go That Deep’ featuring the beautiful vocals of the ex Massive Attack legend Shara Nelson, a soul singer with a voice from heaven, that was tipped as a modern classic when released in 2008. Ben Onono injects another strong dose of soul in ‘Fallen Hero’, beautiful and touching! ‘Fearless’ featuring the reggae Jamaican master now living in NYC Hawkman, who has already collaborated with Tricky a few years ago. The rocking ‘Passage Of Time’ and the energy of Snax, ‘Sometimes’ with the Scandinavian charmer Marie Frank who achieved an international dance floor smash as Frankee with ‘Under The Water’ in the late 90s. The album closes with the hypnotic echoing piano track ‘Main Stream’ to close a journey that is just a start for the Italian duo.
There is also a Cd2 featuring a selection of the best released and unreleased remixes of the songs of the album, completely remastered. From the class of the deep soulful masterpiece ‘Go That Deep’ remixed by Charles Webster, to the retrospective and forward-thinking Motor City Drum Ensemble version of ‘Fallen Hero’, from the inspiring Wolf & Lamb rework of ‘My Angel’ to the Juan MacLean space disco odyssey of ‘Passage Of time’. The package also includes impressive remixes from Tony Lionni, Jef K & Gwen Maze, Chris70 and the up and coming talents T Polar, Homework and Rocketnumbernine.
”
What is your current top 10 you are spinning right now?
1. NUfrequency ‘Connected’ (T Polar Remix)
2. Lana Del Rey ‘Video Games’ (Joy Orbison Remix)
3. Bocca Grande ‘Even If’ (Mr Fingers Remix)
4. Four Tet ‘Locked’
5. Ruby ‘Anna (You get the best of me)’
6. Squaremode ‘The Wheel’ (Jack Dixon Remix)
7. Floating Points ‘Arp3’
8. Junior Boys ‘You’ll improve me’ (Caribou Remix)
9. T Polar ‘Crossroads’
10. Crustation ‘Flame’ (Mood 2 Swing Remix)
What is the worst job you have ever had?
Shield: “I have gradatued in economy, and I did some small jobs as well but I mainly worked in the music business since 1998. The worst….well working as helper of an accountant in a company here in my city…just for a few months fortunately.
Cristiano: “Surely when I was working in agriculture and had to pick up tomatoes by hand.”
How did the link up with Shara Nelson, the Massive Attack goddess on ‘Go That Deep’?
Shield: “Actually, the story behind this uncanny union started back in 2005 when Cristiano approached me with a demo that he was working on. It featured the vocals of the Nina Simone classic, ‘Black is the colour of my true love’s hair’. It was an emotional down-tempo track at 100 bpm. Feeling that it was something trully magical, we started working on it together…It was hailed as being ‘bloody fantastic!’ by all in sundry and it wasn’t long before Rob Da Bank and Chris Coco soon picked it up for play on BBC Radio1.
Sample clearance proved slightly more problematic though!
And when a replacement vocal was sought, only one voice sprang to mind. Massive Attack’s ‘Unfinished Symphaty’ had played a huge part in our musical heritage, so who better than Shara Nelson to donate a vocal contribution? They’d really loved her work in recent years, her solo album on Cooltempo, and her work with Charles Webster on ‘Presence’.
We decided to send her a CD of their current productions, including the infamous backing track. After a few days Shara replied, ‘in love’ with the NUfrequency sound, describing it as ‘unique and special’…And so the project began.
After a few weeks the rough vocal of ‘Go That Deep’ was recorded leaving the boys blown away by the melody, emotive lyrics and Shara’s extraordinary interpretation.”“
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Shield: “Take it easy/”
Cristiano: “Beer drinkers live hundred of years (ferry boat).”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
Shield: “Alison Limerick ‘Where Love Lives’
Cristiano: “An edit I did of Kraftwerk ‘Trans Euro Express’
What is the most treasured album in your collection?
Shield: “Massive Attack ‘Blue Lines’ .
Cristiano: “Kraftwerk ‘Autobhann’ and Steely Dan ‘Aja’ .
DJ heroes and why?
Shield: “Francois K – a pioneer. Frankie Knuckles – A class. Lil’ Louis – the master of forward thinking house music. ”
Cristiano: “Groove Armada, they inspired me a lot. ”
Who is the coolest person on your mobile phone?
Shield: “My sweet half Antonella .”
Cristiano: “Shara Nelson .”
So we come back to yours after the club, what is the NUfrequency Back To Mine Top 10 you spin us?
“In no particular order…
Unkle ‘In A State’ (Mo Wax) .From the ‘Never Never Land’ album and the genial mind of James Lavelle. A true anthem .
Massive Attack ‘Unfinished Sympathy / Safe from Harm’ (Virgin). A great source of inspiration for us. Two timeless classics featuring the wonderful vocals of Shara Nelson
Steely Dan ‘Babylon Sisters’ (MCA) . We love Donald Fagen!
Art Of Noise ‘Paranoimia’ . Genius peace of music .
Pink Floyd ‘A Great Gig In The Sky’. Unforgettable
Peter Gabriel ‘Sladgehammer’ (Virgin) . A song with an incredible taste and energy. Peter Gabriel is a true guru for us .
FC Kahuna ‘Hayling’ (City Rockers).
One of the best electronic chilled out tunes ever made..
Mylo ‘Destroy Rock’n Roll/ (Breastfed)
. An album full of pearls, and a change of direction for dance music.
Groove Armada ‘Chicago’ (Zomba). Discovered by Cristiano when he has been working for Avex Japan. It was love at the first listen.
Sabres Of Paradise ‘Sabresonic’ (Warp). A seminal track.
What is the best release from the Rebirth stable to date?
Shield: “I don’t think there is a best release to date, there is a style I’m developing and working on since the start. Trying to create a link between the ‘soul’ of a song or the ‘feeling’ of a melody and combining it with a modern sound. This is my aim rather than just releasing disposable dancefloor tracks following the trends.”
What is coming next from your studio in 2012?
Shield: “Rebirth is going to release further productions from artists like Tevo Howard, Freaks and Bocca Grande. NUfrequency will be surely back in the studio with new ideas and something fresh for 2012
.”
NUfrequency ‘Connected’ the album is out on Rebirth Records on 7th February 2012, exclusively on I Tunes and on a 2xCD.
You can join NUfrequency and check a preview at http://soundcloud.com/nufrequency and https://twitter.com/#!/NUfrequency1
