A symphony on the dancefloor
Tipped by the national media as ‘one’s to watch’, Beatport’s Artist tip in 2010 and rave reviews throughout 2011, Prok & Fitch have more than proved the journalists’ predictions right. The hottest DJ/producer pairing in house music have chalked up an impressive array of achievements over their 6 years working together, with annual worldwide tours from Brazil to Australia alongside their full international DJ diary. Now focusing on their original productions, Ben Prok and James Fitch’s works have been signed to some of the biggest names in the business: Axtone, Great Stuff, Toolroom Records, CR2, Stealth, 303Lovers and more. With serious and diverse support from the likes of Carl Cox to the Swedish House Mafia, Pete Tong to Tiesto there’s few clubs worldwide, which haven’t witnessed the Prok & Fitch reaction. The boys have also been remixing for some heavy-duty names including Laidback Luke, Moby and Strictly Rhythm. Their own imprint, Floorplay Music continues to sign strong projects too, notably a smash from ATFC & David Penn – there’s no doubt that Prok & Fitch is becoming the byword for superior skills in quality house music. As 2012 kicked off the label approached 30 releases and some great new music releases scheduled throughout the year…
Words : Dan Prince
Welcome to DMCWORLD towers boys. You are playing with the S Man in two weeks at The Ministry – looking forward to that little gig?
“Oh yes definitely the highlight of our month, Roger Sanchez and Stealth have supported us from day one, having really pushed both our music and DJ Sets, so couldn’t think of someone we’d like to be playing with more. Especially in our favorite room to DJ in, that coupled with being so close to home & lots of friends in the crowd its gonna be awesome night.”
Your label Floorplay Music is fast approaching the 30 release mark. Why did you set up the label in the first place?
“Yeah 30 already!!! We got tired of waiting for labels to put our music out that we thought we needed a way to get our stuff out quickly…there are tracks we’ve done that are over a year old before they come out, and music is moving way too quickly to be able to wait that long. The ethos for the label is just good house music, we don’t stick to any particular genre so as long as it’s fresh, grooving and it works on the dancefloor we’re behind it. We’ve got a wide variety of artists on the label too, some up and coming and some established artists like: ATFC, Filthy Rich, Kid Massive, and Belocca & Sonnec. It’s great to be able to showcase some new talent when most other labels are just putting out stuff from the well know producers!”
What are your favourite 3 releases from the label to date?
Prok & Fitch- The Tribe
Alex Font- Angola
Prok & Fitch- Camping
How would you describe your musical style in 2012?
“As always for us, it’s all about the groove and plenty of organic sounds, Groovy peak time house, made for the dancefloor.”
WMC looming, what musical treats have you up your sleeves for Miami this year?
“We’ve been stupidly busy in the studio throughout the winter, so by the time WMC comes around we’ll have a lot of new tracks & Bootlegs ready for set’s. In particular our next release on our Floorplay Label, a collaboration with Amo & Navas & cheeky “Rocker” bootleg!”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
01.Todd Terry: Bounce To The Beat (Prok & Fitch School of Todd Remix) Toolroom Rec. (UK)
02. Union Jackers: Scream 303 Lovers (IT)
03. My Digital Enemy: Back To The Mansion Floorplay Music (UK)
04. Marco Lys: Back 2 Beat CD-R
05. Mark Trophy: Ripper (Sonny Wharton Mix) CD-R
06. Jay Lumen: The Drummer Great Stuff Rec. (DE)
07. Prok & Fitch & Juan Kidd: Placebo Toolroom Rec. (UK)
08. Mario Ochoa: Chronos Great Stuff Rec. (DE)
09. UAP- BiMac (The Cube Guys Mix) (Cube Recordings)
10. Kaiserdisco: La Benjamina KD Music (DE)
Your Floorplay parties have quickly become stuff of legend with sessions all over the shop. Where has gone right off?
“There was a real gap in the market for a new house night. Brighton had got a little stale, all the nights seemed to be either moody or really commercial. We decided to throw everything in and create a real party atmosphere. Our Floorplay night in Brighton has taken clubbing back to what it’s all about good music, friendly people and an atmosphere that leaves you talking about the night ’till next month’s installment! Combining our years playing in clubs around the world has meant we are both fully aware of what the ingredients are for the perfect party. We like to see our crowd as our guests – not our punters, and make sure they have such a good time they have no option but to come back for the next party. We carefully select every DJ on their music style and their ability to rock a crowd. Past guests have included Mark Knight, Chris Lake, Dirty Vegas, and Noir.”
It’s the Floorplay birthday – what dream team DJ line do you put on?
“Carl Cox, Daft Punk, Jorris Voorn, Dennis Ferrer and Martain Ten Velden.”
Who were the artists you were into as teenagers that pushed you towards the dance music world?
“Easy question, Daft Punk are without doubt our production hero’s, having pretty much paved the way for current electronic music. Having created so many ironical tracks, like Da Funk. Such a simple track that sounds so amazing in a club, and has such a wicked groove! The simplicity of it goes to show that you don’t have to be a full on musician to make a hit, just the right hook, some funk, and less is more!!”
What is the finest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Very tough choice, we’ve already changed the answer a couple of times – Lifelike & Kris Menace ‘Discopolis’.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given career wise?
“From Chris Lake on improving our productions, “strip our tracks out, less is more”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Fine Young Cannibals – ‘Drives Me Crazy’.”
Perfect Ibiza day…
“Tough call! Spend the day at El Chiringuito then a trip to La Brasa…”
You are firm favourites down in Brazil – in our opinion a rival to Ibiza atmosphere/clubber wise – why do you love it down there?
“Amazing country and great people, the list would be endless but here’s our top 3 – Picanha, beautiful beaches and the home of Caipirinha’s.”
So we come back to yours after the club, what is the Prok & Fitch Back To Mine 10 you spin us to carry on the groove…
“Here you go in no order and a bit of mix up…”
Larse – So Long (Noir Music)
Lone Cat (Dennis Ferrer and Steve Martinez Special Re-rub) (Buzzin’ Fly)
Parachute Youth – Can’t Get Better Than This (Sweat It Out)
Housse de Racket – Roman (Oliver Remix) (Kitsune)
The Prodigy – 3 Kilos (Art)
Muzik Xpress – Skylark Remix (Junior Boys Own)
D. Ramirez & Mark Knight – Colombian Soul – Funkagenda Wombat Crossing Remix (toolroom)
Retro/Grade – Reset (Sony)
Solomun – Cloud Dancer (Diynamic Music)
Radiohead – High and Dry (Jamie Cullum cover)
And finally, not many people know this, but Prok & Fitch are really good at…
“Necking Sambuca.”
Out now:
Todd Terry pres. SoundDesign – Bounce To The Beat (Prok & Fitch School Of Todd Remix) > Toolroom
Prok & Fitch vs Juan Kidd – Placebo, exclusively released on the Toolroom Miami 2012 compilation.
Coming soon:
26-03 > Prok & Fitch – Symphony (Stealth Records)
30-04 > Prok & Fitch and Marco Lys – You Need Some (Great Stuff)
May > Prok & Fitch – Alabac (Floorplay)
June > Prok & Fitch pres. Stealth Ibiza 2012 compilation (Stealth Records)
