http://storify.com/UGroove_TV/instagram-ugroove-and-sennheiser-tour-brazil
Category: Interviews
Kruse and Neurnberg call it a day with their new full length…
The German duo of Kruse and Neurnberg have been enticed by the house culture for over 5 years now and this week sees them drop their first full length ‘Lets call it a day’. They speak to Ugroove about the album and how they both found love for the music industry.
http://www.beatport.com/release/lets-call-it-a-day/965452
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kruse-Nuernberg/153194867440?ref=ts&fref=ts
How did you guys meet? Why did you get on so well?
We first met about 10 years ago on a private birthday party of a friend we have in common. While having a few beers we were talking about music and found out that we both listen to the same stuff. We started producing together and to make the story short we finally decided to build up a business in 2008 with our label Save Room Recordings. Due to our daily work there wasn’t enough time to focus on the music. After a long day at work there isn’t much energy left for creativity. The whole life is packed with stuff you wanna do. You need time for your girl, time for your friends and time for doing sports. So in 2009 we quitted our jobs, rent a studio together and founded the Kruse & Nuernberg Prod. GbR. Since that we have enough time to produce music and that’s probably why we get on so well!
Why did you decide to start working together?
Well… It just happened and we didn’t really think about it too much.
Maybe because we have the same vision of how to run a studio and how to produce music.
Of course it is essential that you have the same taste of music when it comes to producing together but mainly you have to trust each other.
We are just passionate about what we do.
Does each of you have set roles or do you both do everything in the studio and booth?
We have the same skills and have studied audio engineering. There is not a random scheme we follow when we start producing a track or doing a remix. Sometimes Nils starts something and after a couple of hours Florian is taking over and sometimes its the other way around.
Most of the time we are working together in the studio and sitting right next to each other throwing in comments, listening to music and talking about our ideas. That’s how we make music!
Tell us about the new album, was there a plan for it from the start?
Of course we had the plan of releasing an album one day. It was a dream of both of us.
We are producing club tracks and remixes all the time and really wanted to do something else. Having an excuse to produce something with more persistence guess that was the main impulse of doing the album. We wanted to try out new styles and use different elements, record instruments and vocals. We really hope that people understand the sound of our album cause we wanted to give something that works in different places – At home, in your car, on your ipod and of cause on the dancefloor, too.
Lots of vocals on the album – why is that?
Ha! That’s right! Vocals are giving a special character to the tracks. You have a real story you can listen to, think about it and probably compare it with your own life. Most of the lyrics on the album have a deeper sense and you can feel that the singers are telling something personal.
Are they harder to work with? Where did you find the singers?
We found Nathalie Claude while we were browsing beatport, actually a few years ago. She did this amazing song with Andre Lodemann that caught our attention.
Stee is a friend of Lovebirds and Lovebirds is a friend of ours who also lives with us in the same city (Hamburg)
Miwaki also is a friend of Lovebirds and Florian’s brother Vincenzo. We accidently met her in Berlin last year and decided to work together. Her voice is simply outstanding.
Vocals in general are always a little harder to work with as they give the whole tune a totally different meaning and you always have to work on adjusting the arrangement to the main element, the vocal.
From the technical side of things it is a challenge, too… A good vocal recording needs a proper microfone, a decent recording booth and a good singer… and a good engineer.
You also do plenty of remixes – how differently do you approach those from originals?
Remixing is a totally different task compared to composing your own music. You have stick to a certain path but it still has to sound way different to the original. That’s the main challenge and we really enjoy doing it.
We usually search for the strongest element in the remix kit and build our own ideas around it until we have a rough contruction and then we start building the arrangement which is usually totally different to the original tune.
What is the next project you will work on now?
We have quite a long list of remix requests and labels asking for original tracks, eps, etc… but we are taking it easy for 2012. No stress…
In 2013 we really want to focus on tunes that are more club oriented and where people would probably say that this is the typical Kruse & Nuernberg sound.
Q & A: DJ W!LD Speaks a Different Language
The consistently-prolific Catwash Records boss DJ W!ld takes time out to talk about the French House scene, his residencies at Circo Loco and Cocoon Heroes. We caught up with the Parisian in the build up to his forthcoming UK Gig in Hull at Fruit Warehouse on the 27th October.
http://storify.com/mike_A_white/q-and-a-dj-w-ld
MUSIC: New Jesse Perez Groovecast & Interview
Mr. Nice Guy Records Boss Jesse Perez talks to us about his new UGroove Podcast, Miami and his Mr Nice Guy label.
http://storify.com/mike_A_white/q-n-a-with-mr-nice-guy-jesse-perez
Eddie talks Mint Festival…
Originally picked out as a superstar DJ by Mixmag back in 2003, Eddie Halliwell is never out of the top 20 spaces in the DJ Mag annual DJ poll. He has had his own show on Radio 1 and has carried the electronic baton with pride to clubs all over the world. He also has his own syndicated radio show and is as technically gifted on the decks as anyone in his genre. Having just finished DJ residencies in Croatia and Ibiza, so too has he recently started producing for the first time, as we found out ahead of him playing Mint Festival on September 29th at Lotherton Hall with people like Seth Troxler, Wolf & Lamb, Surgeon, Adam Beyer and more all playing.
Only fairly recently did you produce and release your first track, why is that?
Well I have always been into it, but when I first starting DJ-ing, producing and playing were two separate entities and I never really had the time. Now with the traveling I do I can now produce just on my laptop through Ableton. I have always made loops and drum codes but never really had the time to piece it all together until now.
You have done a lot of remixes, what is the main difference between the two for you?
The remixes tend to be quicker, as I get the stems and work around those. Obviously when I get a track I genuinely have to love it and have the inspiration to work on something that uses the parts. I’ve been really pleased with my previous efforts.
Can you tell us about your phone app?
Yes well basically it’s just so the fans can see my tour dates and if I’m coming to a city near them, you can also stream my radio show and download some of the music on there too.
Are you a massive follower of social media, do you think it’s massively important now?
Totally, everyone today, especially the younger generation, use social media outlets so it’s important that you keep up to date with them, it’s really critical that you connect with your fans and it’s really enjoyable to give something back.
You will play the hugely anticipated Mint Festival this week, are you excited to play the show?
Yes of course – I have played at Lotherton Hall before for Gatecrasher Summer Sound System, which I loved. Leeds itself always has a great crowd and the majority are really into their music, the line up itself is really good. I’ll be playing for the Bitch tent with Michael Woods which will great but I’m looking forward to seeing Jamie Jones and Reboot who are doing great things at the minute.
Do you prefer festivals to club gigs?
Yes definitely especially when it’s hot. I know sometimes this isn’t always the case in the UK but occasionally that makes the audience go for it more. I have had some great festivals out in Brazil and South America in general where the sun has been shining. Amazing.
Onto your ED-IT project, how has that developed since you started it?
We haven’t really done it much this year the team and I have been so busy on tour, but it has provided an exclusive platform for me to do something different with the visuals integrated with special effects and strobes. The equipment and technology keeps improving each time so the project looks slicker every time.
Finally what does the winter have in store?
Well I have just finished off residencies in Ibiza and Croatia which were great this summer, so now I’ll be back on tour in Australia for a couple of weeks then onto South America which will be great too.
Tickets Here - http://bit.ly/MintFest2012TA
REVIEW: wAFF @ DC-10: Hot Creations Presents Paradise
Thursday nights at DC10 this summer have lived up to expectation, showcasing new and current artists from the hugely popular label Hot Creations, along with DJ friends, pioneers and heroes from the industry.
http://storify.com/mike_A_white/waff-dc-10-hot-creations-presents-paradise
Seth chats Mint Festival…
Seth Troxler has become a stalwart figure in Leeds over the years – playing Mint Club, Mint Warehouse and Cocoon in the Park – he nows joins the gang again for the amazing Mint Festivla in two weeks.
How are you? How is life? Life is pretty great right now and I’m feeling on top of the world. The sun is finally shining, at long last and it looks like it’s going to stay this way right through the Olympics. I just got back from THE MOST AMAZING weekend at Secret Garden Party, which is hands down the best festival in the world right now outside of Burning Man (apart from Mint Festival of course !) . It’s unbelievable just how much effort the SGP team put into their festival, from tiny little incidental details all over the place to much larger stuff like daytime fireworks made of multi-colored paint dust and acrobatic airplanes with pyrotechnics strapped to their wings. We are so pleased and honored to have them on board to help produce our Visionquest party at DC10 on Wednesday 1st August!
Can you see yourself doing this for decades, or does your mind ever turn to doing something else? Yeah the whole DJing thing can’t last forever; I don’t want to be doing this every weekend when I’m in my forties. The one thing that I love as much as playing records is grilling meat so the end game is for me to make enough money to open a restaurant (or several if I can) and sit back and watch people enjoying food.
Why so few productions from you in recent years? Would you like to produce more; is it just a time thing? I’ve actually been producing a fair amount recently so expect quite a few tracks from me in coming months. I’ve just remixed ‘Champagne Coast’ by Blood Orange with Subb-an which we’re putting out on limited vinyl soon. We’ve also just done a remix of Dave Aju for Circus company which is pretty big and I’m currently working on a remix of Matt Dear for Spectral and an original track with Deetron.
How is life in Berlin now you have been there a while – again, would you consider moving away? You seem to be a big fan of London… Which is why I have lived in London for the last year and a bit… time to do some research!
What should people expect from you at Mint festival? Bam, Kapow, Splat!!!
You have played Mint many times – and Cocoon in the Park – what makes the brand so good do you think? I’m close friends with Shane, who owns Mint and puts on the Cocoon parties in Leeds
What else have you got coming up/are you looking forward to? Plenty in Ibiza still, then another tour back end of the year – and of course Mint Festival…
60 seconds with John Drysdall from Beacons…
Why should people come to Beacons in 2012?
THE LINE UP IS WITHOUT DOUBT ONE OF THE BEST OF THE YEAR. IT IS VALUE FOR MONEY @ £84.50. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS VERY HIGH, THE ART WILL BE STUNNING & THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE IS BEAUTIFUL.
Are there unique elements to the festival that we should know about?
THIS YEAR ALL OUR DECOR HAS BEEN HAND MADE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WE FEEL ITS REALLY GOING TO EXCITE PEOPLE. WE HAVE THE THEREMIN BOLLARD BALLROOM WHICH IS BEING PREMIERED AT THE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR…WE HAVE A NORTHERN FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE FROM WILD BEASTS.
If you had to pick an act you were most looking forward to seeing then who would it be?
IM A GREAT ADMIRER OF ANDREW WEATHERALL THE WAY HE KEEPS AHEAD OF THE PACK..ALFOS WILL BE A BIG HIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT
As a festival organiser, what are your thoughts on the current climate with Bloc recently going into administration?
IT WAS SAD WHAT HAPPENED TO BLOC, IT SEEMS THINGS CONSPIRED AGAINST THEM AND OF COURSE WE CAN ALL BE THE BEST EVENT ORGANISERS IN HINDSIGHT, THE FACTS ARE THAT THIS IS THE YEAR WHEN MISTAKES ARE BEING PUNISHED, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SHODDY FESTIVALS ANYMORE, THE BUBBLE HAS BURST AND THE CLIENTELE ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY SELECTIVE ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND THEIR WELL EARNED MONEY. I DONT THINK ITS A PROBLEM IF YOU HAVE YOUR GAME ON, ITS A NATURAL CLEARING TIME, WELL OVERDUE IN MY BOOK, TOO MANY FESTIVALS FOR FESTIVALS SAKE. YOU WILL SEE MORE NICHE FESTIVALS SURVIVING, WITH THE EMPHASIS GOING BACK TO BEING A MUSIC LOVING AUDIENCE RATHER THAN DEDICATED FOLLOWERS OF FASHION..
What would your top five tips be for anyone attending Beacons this summer?
CHECK OUT THE THERAMIN BOLLARD BALLROOM, TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, THE WHITELOCKS REAL
Nu Groover | Antonio Colantuoni
Hi, my name is Antonio Colantuoni
My friends call me Antonio or Tboy
I am from Rome
I live in London
A track you would recognise me for is To be. It all came from an older project of mine. The bass and part of the drums were put together before I started working it with Wildkats and then all the vocals edits and a more funk intention came out pretty naturally. We all felt the track and its potential! I was very happy when Lee Foss charted it on his RA Chart and Richy Ahmed played it in his Fabric Podcast for Hot Creations.
Labels I have released on are… Neim, Akbal Music, Suruba
I am going to tell you a bit about myself because…I really like U!
I was knew I wanted to work in music when…..as soon as I finished High School I chose to go and work for a recording studio because I was fascinated by the concept of recording and mixing and wanted to learn more about it.
I got into dance music…when I was in my teens and started going clubbing.
I got into making dance music when… I got hooked up with the first DAWs and Drum machines about a decade ago!
I prefer to…mmm…I love producing as there is no better satisfaction than creating the music and vibes you like, but when you can share those vibes with a crowd it’s definitely amazing! So I love both really.
My favourite studio snack is…Kinder Bueno – I just love it! And Haribooooos!
My best moment out DJing so far is …Well definitely playing for WYS in room 1 at Fabric – the sound there is just amazing and for me it cannot get better than that
The funniest recently was playing in Oslo in May on the Norwegian National Day when everyone was dressed up in the national costume – and very drunk!!! It felt surreal and the venue (Skaugum) it’s a little gem.
A remix you would recognise me for is… The remix I recently did of the hit Mantis from Los Suruba (on Suruba).
Artists who have remixed my work include…. Louie Fresco, Miguel Puente, The Midnight Perverts, Sean Roman
Artists who I have remixed include…Alexis Raphael, Los Suruba and now Sasch BBC and Caspar, Death House Squad (Hugo & Sammy) and Ziggy Kinder.
My music has been featured on… The Space Ibiza 2012 (Official Deluxe Edition) mixed by MYNC and Edu Imbernon and Amnesia Ibiza Electronica (Mixed by Mar-T)
I have collaborated with…Wildkats.
I have played… For WYS! (@ Fabric London), Café 1001, Magna Carta, Egg, a few warehouses, in Lisbon and at the infamous Industria in Porto, in Oslo in Sardinia at The June Festival 2011.
My sound is… a fusion of deep and disco vibes with influences from house and garage.
My next release is…? the remix for Death House Squad (1st of August 2012); the remix for Sasch BBC and Caspar (due end of Summer 2012); an EP on Miguel Campbell’s Outcross (The People Love U – Autumn 2012), one track on Hot Waves with Wildkats (Autumn 2012); and I’m currently working on an EP for Suruba.
http://soundcloud.com/tboy/gvr010_death-house
I am next playing at… WYS! @ Fabric on the 29th of July.
In 10 years time I see myself…fishing somewhere in Guatemala…
Showing my work big love at the moment is… Miguel Campbell that took me in the Outcross family; and definitely Suruba and Neim.
My favourite producer at the moment is… From the UK – Miguel Campbell and Waifs & Strays; internationally – the Mexicans Balcazar & Sordo and Climbers.
My favourite DJ at the moment is… mmm…there are a few, but to mention one I’m quite hooked with Julio Bashmore
Quirky musical talents of mine include… vocal samples recorded at home and that you can also find in To Be and the upcoming Eye Of The Tiger (Outcross).
The strangest thing about me is…some of my friends say I’m a bit of a hurricane when I’m in party mood while when in the studio I’m very focused and demanding (almost serious!)
The worst day I ever had musically was… When I heard Justin Bieber on the radio.
The best day I ever had musically was…when Lee Foss charted To Be J
My first club memory is…gone!
We should keep an eye on you because… I’m short and easy to lose…
My famous last words are… “from Monday I’ll start going to the Gym” and / or “Next week I’ll get a tan”
Where can we find out more about you?
Thank you!
Lee M Kelsall talks Transitions
Lee M Kelsall is a fast rising producer who has recorded for labels like Hot Waves in the past. His creamy house and disco sound is a long way from the gritty Northern town he grew up in, but already the man’s sounds are picking up plenty of support. Now finding himself on Lucid Dreaming Records, he turns in Transitions, a slo-mo house groove that shines with bright disco synths and floats an airy female vocal right up top. We caught up with I’m for more…
Tell us about your recent Transitions single…
The sound of Transition came from nowhere … I popped into a friends Studio one afternoon and we just started playing with a few sounds etc. I created a moody beat that I liked and from there found an amazing vocal that at the time had so much meaning to me personally that I loved it . I’ve had so many people contact me saying they listened to the words and could relate to the track …. Moving on , Starting Fresh – Making that Transition.
And how did you hook up with Thabo for vocals?
Thabo is in a band called Extra Curricular who are signed to an Electro DJ called Doorly. Doorly and I worked together years and years ago when we both ran club events in the UK. Anyways I dropped Thabo a message saying I think his voice would suit House Music … He replied and we hooked up in the studio and created some amazing stuff together . This guy is a true professional and has an unbelievable voice!
How is it working with vocalists? Harder or…?
All depends on who the vocalist is … Unlike many producers 95% of my productions all use live vocalists – So the last 3 tracks I have worked on have included Maria Luisa, Thabo and Flex Cop vocals. It can be time consuming but you know your product is original . I’ve recently had a vocalist called Lana in the studio , I originally saw a youtube video of this girl singing Miguel Campbell’s ‘Something Special’ track just her and a piano and I loved it. I got in touch shortly afterwards and when I last visited Leeds met up and invited her into the studio …. Expect a big 90s inspired track very soon !!
Do you set long term goals for yourself, or take things day by day?
I try and not plan things in life then if something happens that’s good, it’s a bonus, however I have set myself some goals … Number 1 is to play at Miami Music Conference in 2013 and it looks like that is almost 100% confirmed so I’m over the moon plus to make sure my new releases cause some havoc in the download charts.
I have a management team now that looks after the business side of things and for me as an Artist and I couldn’t have really asked for a team more experienced. At the beginning of 2012 I received an email from Nervous Records (NYC) saying that they wanted to manage me as an Artist. Nurvous only look after 8 Artists worldwide so this was an opportunity I could not turn down and so far its been great, they look after all the contracts , negotiations etc as well as giving advice, feedback and contacting labels so my stuff is getting signed to the more established labels to boost me as an artist. I’ve got some amazing new material out on Nervous also in the coming months.
Any more releases line-up?
Yeah its non stop this Summer … My Something EP came out on Louie Fresco and Climbers MEXA Records label last month. This month my Transition EP on Australian Label Lucid Dreaming drops, followed by my NY Shuffle EP on Nervous Records beginning of August. Finally 2 Remixes to end the Summer are being released on Love Not Money & Lucid Dreaming.
So yeah 5 Tracks over Summer is busy but I’ve been holding onto these for a while and wanted them all to drop whilst I was in the middle of my European Tour …. I’m currently sat in a hotel in Amsterdam answering these questions … I have 2 gigs today alone – I’ve DJ’d in 8 countries in the last 3 weeks - It has been very busy but wouldn’t change it for the world. I love music!
What’s most important when producing, the production itself, a feeling, a groove, or making people dance?
I make music I like … So if you look at my releases and future releases , I don’t stick to one genre. If I wake up and feel like I was to make funk I will do (Watch this space by the way … big collab coming up .. we are almost finished – funk ep with a well known French House DJ) Or Garage or Disco or House . As long as the production is tight and sounds great i’m a happy person. Then its up to the remixers if the label wants a deep house / nu disco track adding to what they originally signed.
Who or what inspires of influences you the most?
My biggest inspiration as a producer is MK … I don’t think anyone can compare to 15+ years of consistency – One unique sound that formed 90s house/garage and so on. I listened to a mix of his before finishing a remix for Lucid Dreaming .. The track is by a guy from Brisbane, Australia called Flex Cop he does his own vocal and I was sent the original and asked if I would be interested in doing the remix , after listening I had so much confidence it would do well I agreed and it sounds great … Very MK inspired check it out here http://soundcloud.com/spacetoast/been-looking-lee-m-kelsall-mix
What are your top 3 records of the moment?
1) Cameo Culture – Night Swimming (No.19 Music) – TUNE OF THE SUMMER !!!
2) Newbie Nerds – Third of Sept (Dialtone Recs)
3) Tough Love – Night is Calling (Unreleased)
