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Interviews with Housemeister & Djedjotronic of Boysnoize Records – Playing tomorrow 3/23 @ Chop Suey (All Ages)

2012/03/22 //
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If you’re in Seattle tomorrow night, Chop Suey is the place to be (3/23 TIX). I’ve been hammering this Boysnoize Records showcase through flyering, Twitter and Disco Droppings, and it’s finally here! Housemeister and Djedjotronic will be performing tomorrow, and they were kind enough to talk with me for a bit. This feature, along with the Strip Steve interview before it, will give you a snapshot of who these artists are and what you’ll be witnessing at Chop Suey. With countless releases, Housemeister has a wonderfully distorted aesthetic with sound and a quirky outlook on life. Hear his “Music Is Awesome” album. Djedjotronic has been delivering incredible track after incredible track, always pursuing edgy and forward thinking grooves. Featured on the Miami Noize 2012 compilation 

 

HOUSEMEISTER INTERVIEW

DD Your personality in the interviews i’ve seen/read, especially the one a few years back for “Love The Alien” is hilarious. You seem to have a friendly, laidback and wacky mindset. How would you describe youself? 

H I’m just a very cool freidenker ;] I do what I want at any time.

 

DD I remember watching the music video for “Shizzo” a long time ago but didnt hear the release till recently. This is some solid, distorted realness. Boys Noize and yourself producing together sounds extremely fun and effortless. What do you admire most about your label boss, Boys Noize? 

H He is a good boy and he never stops working. He’s very inspiring and we’re very good friends. That’s it bitches! 

DD I know you’re very fond of machines and other hardware. Will any of these be used for your set at Chop Suey Seattle?

H No, I will just play a dj-set.

 

DD Will you be bringing some Housemeister stickers to Seattle, so I can put them up everywhere? ;]

H Sure! :]

Housemeister – Facebook Soundcloud Twitter 

DJEDJOTRONIC INTERVIEW 

DD Ever since I heard your remix of “Bedrock”, you quickly became a favorite of mine. I’d say your one of the freshest dance producers around. There is incredible diversity between your original tracks and remixes. What keeps you focused to continually push your style and expand the sonic story of Djedjotronic? 

D For me the only way to not get bored with music is trying out new stuff. I like to do the new things people won’t expect. Also I like to challenge myself and go out of my comfort zone..

 

DD For those who havent seen you live, what will your set sound like in comparison to the other BNR artists playing at Chop Suey tomorrow? 

D It’s just better.. haha ;]

DD The short preview of “Miamite” for Miami Noize 2012 is exciting. A a pro mix of old and new vibes. Will you be playing the full version in your upcoming Seattle show? 

D Maybe I’ll play the full version, depending on the vibe..It’s not a banger for  the dance floor, but I had so much fun doin’ it!

 

DD Last year you performed at Fabric alongside Shadow Dancer, Boys Noize, Housemeister and Jokers Of The Scene. What was that experience like? I’ve enjoyed many Fabriclives, especially Simian Mobile Disco and Pearson Sound. 

D It’s a good club with an amazing soundsystem.. I loved it.

DD Lastly, What do you enjoy most about the U.S? What do you and the other BNR boyz hope to accomplish with this U.S tour?

D Goin to In-n-Out Burgers. Meeting Katy Perry.

Djedjotronic – Facebook Soundcloud Twitter 

– Jimi Jaxon 

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Strip Steve (Boysnoize Records) – Playing 3/23 @ Chop Suey (Seattle)

2012/03/20 //
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Key member of the illustrious Boysnoize Records – Strip Steve quickly stood out with his energetic “Skip School” and “Delta Disco” EP’s. Encouraged by label head and friend Boys Noize, Strip Steve has developed an open mind with genres, effortlessly bouncing between old and new styles, focusing on what feels right first. Get to know him in this interview for Disco Droppings, and if you’re in the Seattle area this friday for his show at Chop Suey (All Ages) and want to get in for free, I have a contest for you! The 10th person to retweet my link to this feature will receive 2 free tickets to the show, courtesy of George Bashington Productions and Disco Droppings. Strip Steve appears on the freshly released Miami Noize 2012 compilation (Boysnoize Records) – check it out on Beatport 

  

DD How are you doing? Will this be your first Seattle show?

SS All good! Super stoked to be in Seattle for the first time and play at Chop Suey..

DD The electronic community here in Seattle has a love for house and techno, and the younger crowd is aware of electro sounds. However, I feel this Boysnoize Records night has a unique and progressive take on all of these genres, that hasn’t been presented much. What kind of a set will you be playing?

SS I usually play a mixture of House and techno, old and new stuff, with a ghetto feeling I guess… I just play whatever I feel no matter what style it is, and people usually tell me it makes sense ahah.

 

DD Carl Craig played yours and Das Glow’s track “Calcium” in his essential mix. What an honor! 

SS Yeah it’s crazy! I dont know how it happened, I guess he got the promo and liked it… I just remember discovering this one day, I had just woken up, and Das Glow was at my place, so I ran to tell him. Good times…

 

DD Your new track “Strollin'” concludes the BNR release, Miami Noize 2012, which has been just released. Its got a breezy feel, what was the inspiration for this one?

SS Summer I guess? My girlfriend told me this track always puts her in a good mood when she hears it, so I though it would be perfect for the Miami sampler, has this sunny delight feeling. 

DD How much do you enjoy smoking cigarettes while djing? I love it! 

SS Love it! Doable in Seattle though?

DD Probably not :[ – What can we expect from Strip Steve in the near future? I heard some rumors ;] Are we going to here some new stuff at the show?

SS Yeah I’m putting the last touch on my debut album at the moment, so I’m trying out some of the tracks in clubs when I feel it.. So yah, keep your ears open ;]

Strip Steve: Facebook Twitter

stripsteve.com

– Jimi Jaxon  

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James Arctic – Car Crash Set / 7 Deadly Records

2012/03/19 //
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You’ll be seeing a lot of James Arctic on Disco Droppings. I’ve become an evangelist of his music, through Twitter, my label 7 Deadly Records and upcoming DJ sets. See what he’s got coming up in this lil interview..

 

DD Always a pleasure to hear from you James. You just saw Africa Hitech, what was it like? 

A They killed it! First time I’ve seen them and was very impressed. Jumped between genres like it was nothing! Highlights would be the classic selection of old Plasticman & Coki tunes…really got the crowd going mental.

 

DD Between III Cosby and my sets, your track “Kings” has been getting good Seattle play. Now with “Cold Looks”, I got a new secret weapon to play out! Wheres that vocal come from?

A Big up! I’ve had lots of support recently with that tune..out to Kozee, Distal, Ill Cosby, Artifact, BD1982 and of course yourself for repping the tune! 

The vocal in “Cold Looks” is actually from a Gwen Stefani tune…I’m not gona say which one though! The idea pretty much came about during a Sunday grocery shop with the girlfriend, who knew about this Gwen Stefani tune (I had no idea, promise), anyway I was played the tune in the car and thought it would be pretty cool to sample…so I did!

 

DD You got two upcoming releases over here in the States. First with Car Crash Set and second with 7 Deadly Records – Whats your vision for these new sounds? 

A Well my release with CCS is actually a step back from the Acid House sound I’ve been hammering lately. Both tunes were made a while ago, but revamped recently for the release. ‘Green Lagoon’, the title track of the EP is more of a stripped back, quirky bass track, with a bit of hiphop influence and a beefy sub to drive it along. The b side, ‘Ollie North’, is a much more energetic, club friendly track…with a hint of cowbell, can’t forget the cowbell. 

My remix of Sphyramid’s “Acid Feel”, coming soon on 7 Deadly Records is basically a dancefloor stomper with a few surprises thrown in. As with any remix, I like to take out as much as possible from the original, changing up some of the signature sounds and build the majority on my own. I like to think I’ve put together a track here which incorporates heaps of my influences…you can hear Grime, Acid House & Bassline in this for sure. 

DD Last words? I’m sure I’ll have you back on Disco Droppings very soon.

A Thanks again for inviting me back, pleasure as always. Look out for my next releases coming soon on digital, plus a short video to accompany a dark acid house tune I made the other day. Out to everyone supporting, it really means a lot. 

James Arctic – Facebook Twitter Soundcloud 

– Jimi Jaxon 

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Mirror State – Sub.Fm/Car Crash Set/Broken Bubble

2012/03/14 //
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Listen to Mirror State on his Sub.FM show – Saturday nights 12-2 am West Coast time

DD Wow, your remix of Kid Smpl is so incredible. What was your mindset like when you created this? 

MS I have been working with Kid Smpl for a while now and listening to a lot of his music, so when I sat down to do the remix I already had an idea of how I wanted it to sound really. The details in his tracks are excellent and I wanted to create a new space for them.

DD What first got you interested in producing? 

MS Since I was younger I was always obsessed with technology and being able to tinker with things, I guess that carried on and was a big part of reason of interest. I learnt about music theory and electronics when I was in school as well, so I always felt an urge to do it. I wanted to create music by myself and explore different sounds and techniques so I think production can be a progression of that,  and it allows me to create an outlet myself.

 

DD How would you describe your show on Sub.fm? What about the station impresses you the most? 

MS The show I host is focused on new sounds that are mainly unreleased as well as other picks, it would fit between mainly garage and 2 step through to ambient tracks, and tracks you would play out on any good system. I have been on Sub FM for nearly a year now and I have the utmost respect for Whistla who runs the station and what he does. A lot of the hosts are from around the world so the output is quite diverse which is great to be part of.

DD What themes or symbols run through your music, if any? It has a kind of underwater feel to me. 

MS There are definitely themes..some quite subtle but I do try and make certain things stand out. The elements, landscapes, and more human themes like distress would be a few ideas that run through. So you aren’t wrong about it having a slightly underwater feel sometimes.

 

DD Talk a bit about upcoming releases..

MS I have 2 releases coming out in April, an EP called “Extension” coming out on Manchester label Broken Bubble and also a single with Seattle label Car Crash Set which will include “Dwell”, and a collaboration I did with Kid Smpl called “Fall Apart”. Both labels are doing innovative things within the scene from different ends, and is definitely something I’m looking forward to.  

The remix I did of Kid Smpl’s track “Float” will be coming out with the original on a label called Night Tracks with another remix from Venture some time quite soon. Additionally I’ve done a remix for the group Archie Pelago from Brooklyn who are doing truly original things. It’s of their song “Subway Gothic” and may also be seeing a release in a bit.

I am also working with a label called Solace Records so you can expect some other new things over the next few months including a collaboration with one of the guys behind the label called Stole.

DD Last words? 

MS Always appreciate the support man. Big up.

Mirror State: Soundcloud Twitter Facebook 

– Jimi Jaxon 

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IG88 – New Release Out On Nueva Forma

2012/03/07 //
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I’ve been friends with Branden Clarke aka IG88 for a few years now. Seeing his progression artistically and as a live performer has been a pleasure. Here’s my interview with him about his new release, “A Loom And Not Me”, which you can pick up here – And for a much more hilarious side of IG88, follow his Twitter account…

DD Whatsup IG88. Your brand new album has been getting local love on KEXP – as well as the label releasing it, Nueva Forma. What does it mean to you? 

IG Hey you handsome critter!  

I have been really flattered with how well “A Loom And Not Me” has been received.  Nueva Forma is an Audio/Visual label based out of Portland and with a small group of like minded artists so it has been a wonderful experience so far.  The recent love on KEXP has been pretty surreal for me,  I am honored to be a part of the air waves. I was always perfectly fine with my music just being the soundtrack to someones rainy intoxicated ride home, sounds generating from a hand me down CDR.  So the idea of people in my home town being able to tune in on a radio dial feels better than bathing in a sea of warm cream cheese. 

 

DD Talk a bit about the vocalist, whom you worked with on this album. 

IG Jenni Potts is an amazingly talented vocalist hailing from Bellingham WA, she has multiple solo albums out leaning more towards the Singer/Songwriter style.  Her ability to take my songs to a whole new level speaks volumes about how eclectic she is as a musician.  In the studio with her is always a blast because we are pretty strange individuals.   

The other vocalist featured on the title track is Evan Konrad, he is better know for his work as Bed Of Stars, an amazing band from Vancouver Canada.  I was lucky to have come in contact with him and you can expect to hear more collaborations from us in the near future. 

DD Are you taking a break from producing now that this album is out? Or are you already creating new material? 

IG Oh golly gee wilikerzz.. no break for me coming up anytime soon.  While still in the process of writing “A Loom And Not Me” I was still putting lots of work into my current hip hop project Triceracorn as well as remix’s for people and working on my live set.  No breast for the queery. 

 

DD How do you feel you’ve grown as a producer and performer? 

IG I am learning more and more about myself and what I want to audibly express after every show I do, sitting back and retrospectively listening to finished releases as well as hearing feedback from people I trust.  I feel like over the years I have learned to take things that I enjoyed making, and present them in a way that is digestible to a wide audience.  I used to have unfair expectations for people when seeing my music in a live setting, I also try not to make people feel awkward by singling them out and speaking to them in a homo erotic southern accents at shows for my own amusement. As a producer I have tried to develop a signature sound or style that is identifiable but not predictable. I still have much to learn but I am having a great time doing it. 

DD Last words? 

IG My last words would most likely be me slowly bleeding out on a distant medieval battle field, clutching a blood stained medallion that I want you to deliver to my beautiful wife carrying our unborn child.  My greasy battle stained hair would smell of ashes and morning dew.  Considering the amount of broken arrows protruding from my body it takes an unrealistic amount of time for me to finally pass away.  

IG88: Soundcloud Facebook Twitter 

Enjoy the sun

– Jimi Jaxon 

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