The Stockholm Rebels without a pause smash up the world’s dancefloors
Interview : Dan Prince
Hey guys welcome to DMCWORLD, where in the world are you right now?
“Hey guys! We are in back in Stockholm Sweden right now!”
Well the wait is finally over, today sees the release of your massive collaboration with AN21 ‘Rebel’ swinging our way on Size Records. Talk us through the history of the track which is already being cited as dance music’s newest repeat offender!!
“Well, we started out on something raw, presented it to AN21 and finished it off together. Took a couple of turns before it felt 100% right, but we are super happy with how it ended up sounding!”
Massive props from Antoine in DJ Mag last week when he was asked who his ‘5 DJs to watch in 2014’ were. He bagged you at No. 1 remarking “their sound is the freshest breeze I’ve heard in years. You can tell how much thought they really put in while listening to their music. Mark my words!” – kind words!
“Yeah, that was a proud moment for us, we try very hard to progress in terms of sound quality and also try to implement new and fresh ideas into the pretty stacked sound of progressive house today. Feels great that we are getting a lot of recognition for it lately!”
When did you two first meet your fellow Swedish superstar and when did the idea of working together first kick around?
“Basically we knew AN21 from back home in Stockholm as we used to play the same clubs over here, then we actually met him in Miami during the Swedish House Mafia Masquerade Hotel. He opened up for SHM and dropped our track ‘Roll the Dice’. So we had a chat about working together in the future and also about remixing one of his upcoming singles, it turned out to be our ‘People Of The Night’ Remix. The rest is pretty much history and we have had a nice close relationship ever since…”
You admitted once that “sometimes collabs work and sometimes they don’t. If it feels good and there is time, let’s do it!.” So why did you three click so well in the studio?
“Well, it’s pretty easy when you have the same goals in terms of sounds and arrangement. So it was really easy to be honest. As long as all ideas are treated with respect and an open mind, things work out!”
Okay let’s kick back for a minute. You are one of the few producers around who readily admit that you love ALL music, from 60s to 80s and from Rock to R&B. How old were you both when you started to appreciate good music and who were the artists you were singing along to in your childhood bedrooms?
“We think music has been around us for as long as we can remember, but we guess we were around 6-7 years old, A lot of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Mötley Crue, Carlos Santana, Guns N Roses, Ahmad Jamal, J Dilla, John Barry, Greek folk music, Michael Jackson, Queen, a lot of the soundtracks from 80s and 90’s movies. There are so many to mention in this category!”
When did the idea of a career in music start to formulate and what were your tentative first steps into the world of DJing and production?
“The idea really came about 3-4 years ago, we just felt there was something good going on as soon as we started working together. It was a lot harder in the beginning, production, arrangement and mixing were 2 things we had to learn and try to master a long the way, and we believe we have developed A LOT during these last couple of years. Memorable steps in the beginning were the first tracks we put out there, like our remix for Mikael Weermets – ‘Free’, our Dinka and Scientist remixes, as well as our first real single ‘Roll The Dice’ and first record deal with Virgin/EMI!”
What did your families think of your choice of profession?
“Well they always believed in us, but I don’t think they were on par with how determined we were to making it happen. Today everyone knows how determined we are and our families support us 110%. And believe us, from time to time it’s very well needed.”
Fact or fiction : you two met on the internet?
“Fact!”
2013 was a huge year for you, DJ sets in Miami and Ibiza plus loads of cool festivals and tracks such as POTN, Silver Sun, Payback and Zonk seeing the light of day. You once said “when you reach your goals you set up new ones and so on, always try to do better.” So what are the goals for 2014?
“We always have smaller individual goals that we want to reach, like release on some labels, develop in certain areas, work with talented songwriters etc. But the main goal for 2014 is to continue to have a normal and honest approach to our and others music, perform at some of the big festivals out there, and everything that comes along with it should be handled with a great attitude and carefulness.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning…
Deniz Koyu – Ruby
Kryder – Tarzan
Sebjak – ID
Dimitri Vangelis, Wyman & Steve Angello – Payback
Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman – Zonk
Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman – ID1
Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman – ID2
Black Jacks – Who are you (Yakuza)
Lush & Simon – Adrenaline
Congorock, Nom De Strip – Minerals (Original Mix)
What is the 1 festival you are REALLY looking forward to hitting in 2014?
“That’s a hard one. I guess the one which is getting booked first. But of course Tomorrowland, Ultra, EDC Vegas are those that everybody is dreaming of doing.”
Tell us about your studio set up…
“We use an…
IMAC 27″ i7 3ghz something computer
RME Fireface UFX Soundcard
ADAM a77x monitros
Sennheiser hd800 headphones
A couple of hardware compressors such as a classic SSL G-series, and a cool polish comp called MONSTER
A couple of synths, VIRUS Polar, Slim Fatty.
That’s pretty much it and a lot of software bundles from NI, Waves etc.”
Who excels in what area when producing…or is there a lot of overlapping?
“We are both on the same page when we make music. If one of us has an idea about adding something to the song, the other one would be like YES, that’s the usual scenario, but sometimes one of us wants something in there, the other one might not approve, but then there is a compromise in the end that feels good to both. It’s important to respect each others ideas, as music is about taste and not right or wrong. Nothing gets released without both feeling it 1000%.”
You are very picky when it comes to your remixing that you take on, which is very refreshing in today’s day and age. Let’s pick the remix you are most famous for, Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’…how do you approach a remix of that magnitude on day one…?
“Same as we do with all remixes, how can we make this playable, we start out with having fun in the studio, much like a jam session, when we find a good trail, we start to work on getting it done. That’s about it…”
When was the last time you had a massive argument about music?
“Between ourselves? NEVER.
With others? 1 day ago perhaps, hahaha….
We pretty much discuss the state of music with a lot with the people we work with and others too for that matter, some agree some don’t. It’s pretty obvious who believes in good music, and who believes in just making money. Let’s leave it at that…”
Who are the big producers around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“That’s a hard one, but everybody who does their own thing with a well thought of process. But within dance music let’s say:
Steve Angello
Deniz Koyu
Alesso
Matisse & Sadko
Axwell…”
And also tell us about a young up and coming producer we should be looking out for in 2014…
“There are too many to mention, but there are these 2 guys from Stockholm that are really showing a lot of good things. They are kind of secret at the moment, but they will be out there soon enough! Their name is Black Jacks.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you guys studio wise…?
“It would be safe to assume, that ‘PAYBACK’ is next up from us. And yes, there we said it!”
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