NCS Interview with the Shapeshifters
Ok the clock has gone forward so we are officially in British summertime!! At last, I thought it would never come along. I’ve enjoyed two barbeques on one weekend and actually wore shorts for thirty minutes without feeling chilly.
There’s also that fact that we have bank holidays back to back and ever so many parties to enjoy such as Superstylin at Timbuk2. I tell you this for free, I haven’t had that much of a good time since my sixth birthday party. I also attended New City Sound Presents the Shapeshifters on the first BH weekend...
Wow, what a night, so much of a night that I had to get an interview with them for a big catch up on their world. Since buying “Lola’s theme” on vinyl It’s an honour getting to talk to these guys…
Renny C: Since Lolas Theme have you considered trying to get back to the number one spot?
ShapeShifters: Even with Lola’s Theme we didn’t think it was going to be a number one record and it’s the same way we think today when making a records.
RC: What do you think of the current trend of reality based singers/musicians?
SS: I don’t really mind it that much as some great talents such as Leona Lewis and Will Young have been found this way, we’ve actually been working with Will on a new track called “Crazy” and he’s amazing on it so can’t be all bad.
RC: Tell us a bit about yourselves and how you feel about music today?
SS: You’ll always have a few moments when you feel its hard to keep up with the touring and making music but you just need to take two steps back and see how lucky we are to be able to do what we love and still be so passionate about it even after all these years.
RC: What is your view on the current technology that is being used by dj’s & producers..?
SS: The technology have indeed changed the way we both DJ and produce music today, compared how it was when I started making records in the early 90’s when you had to have the big mixing desk, several synths, samplers, drum machines and so on. You really had to have quite a lot of money to be able to afford all this equipment. These days you only need a decent laptop what will cost you around 300 quid download illegally some music software, boom, you’re now a DJ and producer so you now have loads of people fighting to become the next big thing oh and having a bit of talent sometimes helps!. Saying that, technology is very important factor in the evolution of music and its making the DJ/Producer much more creative. We’ve just bought the new Pioneer CDJ-2000 where you just organize the tracks on the laptop to then download the playlist on a USB stick where you’ll be playing all the tracks from after its been inserted in the player, a totally new way of thinking when DJing but still have kept the physical elements of touching the plates on the CDJ, definitely the new industry standard.
RC: What are the key things you look for when you’re trying to break a fresh new track when touring?
SS: The best bench mark for a new track we’ve just done is play it out and see the reactions on the crowd, empty dance floor: go back to the studio and rework, hands in the air: you’re on the right track.
RC: Who are your favourite DJ’s Other than yourself?
SS: We don’t get the chance to see may other DJ”s these days as we’re always playing ourselves but we do like, ATFC, MTV, Luciano, Nic Fanciulli, Pookie to name a few.
RC: I’m a bit of a dj myself but spread myself way too thin, are there any tips you can give to the budding dj’s/producers out there?
SS: How I started to build my profile was to organize my own events self-promoting myself as a DJ and live act then when I though I had strong enough music I started sending it out to several labels around the globe finally getting signed to a German dance label and it all moved on from there on, you need to be very productive and motivated to be able to achieve your goals.
RC: Did the Djing or did Production come first?
SS: Started DJing first back in 88, and then in 92 I bought my first studio bits, Simon started Djing in 91 and Producing in 96 we first produced together in 2003.
RC: What was the first record you bought?
SS: (Max) Fast Eddie’s “Acid Thunder” on DJ-International (Simon) MJ ‘Off the wall’
RC: So how is the house scene in your eyes at the moment?
SS: The scene here in the UK has dramatically slowed down and many good clubs have now closed down, I think the scene here in the UK is going thru a bad patch and just like many other things it will get better. Where it’s really happening at the moment is over in Eastern Europe, in countries like Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, well any country that ends with “ia”
RC: Funniest thing that ever happened at an event/gig?
SS: We had loads of fun when we played at BonBon in China a few years back where two small Asian girls working for the club had Leather & metal underwear on and they used grinders to create massive sparks just behind us, then some whips and a few other bits all got a bit weird to be honest!
RC: What do you do outside of the dance music scene?
SS: We both love cars, so anything that involves driving fast.
RC: Shapeshifters, thank you!
For more information, to view the original interview and future events please click on to http://www.eyezine.co.uk.
