ESKIMO TWINS INTERVIEW
So for those who don’t know the Eskimo Twins, how would you introduce yourselves?
We are producers who also DJ. We mainly like to make electronic music.
And what would best describe your sound?
Analogtechnoelectrodiscometalacidhousepop
Tell us a bit more about your experience in the music industry – where did it all begin and what have been the highs and lows?
We’ve both been doing music for years in various forms and guises. We’ve had some moderate success in other genres so have had a bit of previous experience of the industry. We’re still learning new things about it every day, but like to think we’re a bit more savvy than, say, a year ago. It all began for us at music college really which is where we decided we wanted to make electronic music. Separately at that time though, it wasn’t until later that we got together and formed Eskimo Twins. We were both doing other projects that came to end for one reason or another and, since we shared a passion for this kind of music, we decided to hook up and make some tracks. There’s been plenty of highs so far; playing in Ibiza was amazing, and we’ve done some awesome shows for Afterparty in Huddersfield and Wax:On with some of our favourite acts, plus having some quite nice things said about us and our productions by people we have a huge amount of respect for. Not really had many lows, I guess just learned when to speak up, when not not and worked out a few people to avoid.
So straight to the nitty gritty….what’s happening with the Eskimo Twins over the next few weeks?
Well we are continuing to support the Horror EP with DJ sets up and down the country, you can catch us in Birmingham, London, Leeds, Newcastle etc. So we’re pretty busy with those shows. We’re currently remixing a Streetlife DJ’s record, finishing our 3rd EP and writing new tracks. Check our myspace page for all the info
Your highly anticipated second release, the Horror EP, has been getting rave reviews within the industry. Was their a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into it?
Yes, a hell of a lot. We spent a LONG time getting Horror to the final version that’s on the record, we went through a lot of ideas! We’re incredibly anal when it comes to producing records, everything has to be as perfect as we can possibly make it. We’ve spent days upon days getting the right kick drum sound for tune before and we always go into minute details on every waveform of every sound we use to make sure it’s ok. Combined with the fact that we’re that we’re exceptionally indecisive, making a track can sometimes take a while.
We’re forever getting a tune together then deciding it could be better, so pull it apart completely, re-structure it and go over it again. We also have a big, BIG thing for classic synths, particularly of the analogue variety. We could spend hours boring you on the subject of subtractive synthesis, but we’ll spare you! It really helps define ‘our sound’ as we have a few synths we always use; our favourite probably being the Moog. That’s been on every tune we’ve written. ‘Horror’ was the fourth track we ever did together so we were still finding our feet while producing it. It was written and re- written countless times. You could also technically class it as our first ‘duet’! We recorded ourselves using the talk box the layered up some live vocals with it to give it a fuller sound.
What do you think about the scene that’s evolved where anything goes – kids are just as likely to play a guitar and be in a band as they are going out clubbing?
For us, the ‘anything goes’ attitude that many people have to music these days is great. We try and incorporate pop, metal and disco into our sound alongside techno, acid, house, electro etc. so ‘songs’ and ‘bands’ are as important to us as ‘DJ/Producers’ and ‘Dance Tracks’.
‘The Scene’ means lots of different things to different people but blogs and the internet are an amazing promotional tool for new artists, and have worked well for us. We try not to get bogged down in the bitchy blog/forum negativity that’s around but giving away some of your material alongside conventional releases really helps spread the word.
The difference between clubbing and watching a gig is a fine line which we hope to straddle when we play our live show, so we don’t really see them as opposing sides.
Why do you think a night such as Wax:On has been as successful as it is?
Wax:On’s strength has always been in it’s line-ups. For the past five years it’s always had the best acts on. We’ve both been going to Wax:On for a few years and although we met at university, it was attending Wax:On and other similar nights that helped us bond over the music and subsequently form Eskimo Twins. It’s a real honour for us to be resident DJ’s there now. Also, we get to see all the behind the scenes stuff these days and much more work and attention to detail goes into it than we would have thought! The promoter really knows what makes a good night for clubbers and ‘makes’ the whole experience – we’ve never, ever had a bad night at Wax:On.
What should people expect from the Wax:On birthday parties?
The same spirit of good music that underpins all Wax:On nights but with the added bonus of having some huge influential names on the bills. Erol Alkan, Cassius and Sveth Vath – all huge names backed up with the best new and emerging acts in electronic music like Jack Beats, Areoplane and Brodinski. We’re looking forward to Newcastle where we’ll be warming up for Erol and to the Leeds event which doubles up as our release party for the Horror EP.
Your known for you’re your amazing live shows and DJ Sets. Which do you get more of a buzz out of? The DJ set’s or live shows?
We get a buzz out of both, though they do differ slightly. Live shows are incredibly satisfying because we get to play all our own tunes to a crowd of people, so if it goes down well it’s quite gratifying. We have to be totally alert and on top of exactly what we’re doing when we play live though, the way do it is much more complicated than DJ’ing. We have loads of synths, samples, laptops, MIDI controllers, mixing desks and outboard gear all sync’ed together and we try and play everything we can live. It’s always a very energetic show, we have to run around onstage to get everything done anyway but we try to fit in as much bad dancing as we can in-between. We try not just hide behind our laptops, tweaking software too much and get out front and connect with audience as much as possible. It’s more of a traditional band set-up with electronic instruments than anything else.
When we DJ we can let ourselves go a bit more and get even more involved with the audience, without worrying about whether we’re playing the right synth line in time. It’s still pretty technical when we DJ but there’s a bit more room for maneuver.
And what do you think of certain “superstar” dj’s who turn up, play a few tunes, collect their cheque’s and then leave for their next gig without even raising a smile?
To be honest, even the high profile names we have played are generally really freindly and down to earth. They’re just people who happen to have had more commercial success that you but they all love music and are passionate about playing out so it’s always easy to get on with them. I guess some of the more commercial big name DJ are just cash collectors but most of the people we play alongside are just happy to be there and play.
You’ve played alongside such talented names as Annie Mac, DJ Mehdi, Erol Alkan, Boys Noize and Simian Mobile Disco to name a few. Who would you say has been a major influence musically?
Oh loads of people! We don’t just take influence from electronic music, we’ve both played in bands from an early age – rock, metal, punk, electro- pop, electronica etc, and we got into producing the bands we were in and our friends bands. That’s how our love for electronic music equipment started! This has kind of been an obsession since then. Musical eclecticism has stood us in good stead too, we tend to take a more ‘live’ and band orientated approach to producing. We like to play most our synth lines ourselves to give it a live, human feel. We try and incorporate all our musical tastes in the approach we take to creating music, not just stick to influences from the ‘dance’ realm. It has been really excellent to play with Simian Mobile Disco, Boys Noize and James Lavelle though. Those guys have been absolutely paramount; not only in how we’ve evolved (and continue to develop) as producers, but also got us into electronic music in the first place.
You’ve also been asked to do remixes for the likes of People Get Real, Cassette Jam and The Streetlife DJ’s, as well as writing new material and playing DJ sets around the UK and Europe. Sounds like it’s been a busy year!
We’ve run ourselves into the ground but loved every second of it. The shows we’ve played have gone from awful to amazing and we’ve had the chance to remixes some great acts. The progression has been really natural and smooth one and one we hope will give us a decent foundation to move forward with our work in 2010.
The year’s nearly coming to a close. How’s it been so far for the Eskimo Twins?
Absolutely amazing year for us, couldn’t have asked for more really. If you’d have told us this time last year that we’d be Wax:On residents, playing in Ibiza, have two EP’s out, be DJ’ing alongside our heroes and have some of our favourite producer’s remixing our tracks, we wouldn’t have believed it at all. We’re just really happy to be given the opportunity to make some records and play some amazing shows.
And what can everyone expect from you for the remainder of the year and into 2010?
For the rest of the year it’ll be DJ sets, finishing new tracks and a couple of remixes. Next year we’re hoping to have 2 EP’s out before the summer, then develop and tour our live show, play some festivals, start work on our album and do more remixes.
OK chaps…..now time for the quick fire round:
Favourite venue?:
Tough one, that. Between Mint Club in Leeds and Digital in Newcastle. Both have amazing Funktion 1 sound systems and great atmospheres. Mint is nice and small, very intimate, so when it goes off you really feel you’re involved. Digital is just an amazing space to put a club, he layout really works. Both always have great crowds too. Erm…. I guess Mint might just pip it with the disco light ceiling…
Best crowd?:
EIther Afterpaty in Huddersfield, or Fuse in Edinburgh
CDJ’s or turntables?:
CDJ’s. Not that there’s anything wrong with turntables, they’re just not for us. CDJ’s open up far more possibilities for effects and quick mixing. We love the sound of vinyl though.
DJ’ing or Producing?:
Both. DJ’ing for pleasure, Production for creativity and satisfaction
Ableton or cdj’s?:
Again Both. We incorporate a lot of effects, a cappella’s and quick re-edits when we DJ, so we use CDJ’s and Abelton, Ableton does provide the backbone of our live show though.
Where did the name come from?:
Out of the ether, after a long time thinking…
If you get a beer belly by drinking beer….do you get a pot belly by smoking pot?
Probably. We wouldn’t know.
If you choked a smurf what colour would it turn?
White?
Whats your top 5 tunes of all time:?
Tim
Little dragon – Twice
Lightning Bolt – Crown of Storms
Nirvana – Scentless Apprentice
Soulwax – I Love Techno
CLOUDDEAD – Dead Dogs Two (Boards Of Canada Remix)
Nath
Crosby, Stills and Nash – Judy Blue Eyes Suite
UNKLE – Celestial Annihilation
The Beatles – Drive My Car
Kraftwerk – The Robots
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
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Event: WAX:ON 5TH BIRTHDAY – CASSIUS AEROPLANE BRODINSKI & LOADS MORE
What: Club Party
Start Time: Saturday, November 28 at 10:30pm
End Time: Sunday, November 29 at 5:00am
Where: CASSIUS / AEROPLANE / BRODINSKI / THE COUNT & SINDEN / JACK
BEATS / MUMDANCE / ONEMAN / TEK-ONE / PEOPLE GET REAL / DOORLY /
ESKIMO TWINS
