Last week I caught up with Dirtyphonics one of France’s biggest driving forces in the bass scene. With their Irreverence Tour well under way in the US and a huge festival season coming up. During our exclusive interview with Charly one of the groups founding members we talk about collaborating with ghosts, their roots, and finally what the driving force was behind their first full length album Irreverence.

WS: Where are you guys originally from?

Charly: We are all born and raised in Paris.

WS: When did you guys first meet and when did you guys figure out that you guys wanted to start making music together? Did you guys come from different musical backgrounds?

Charly: I met Thomas back in 1999 or 2000 we were in school. We went to school during the day and made music at night. Then one day this girl in one of our classes said that we should meet her brother because he made music like us so we decided to check him out and we talked and shortly after started making music together with Julien. That’s was in 2004 when Dirtyphonics was really born. Then a few years later Pitchin joined the group.

We all have different musical backgrounds but at the same time three of us played in metal bands as kids growing up. We then went into the house and techno arena. One day we heard Drum & Bass and we instantly fell in love with that sound. It had the same energy as metal but in an electronic format. Having said that I love Disco and Thomas loves hip-hop.

WS: Who would you guys say are some of your biggest musical influences are? Do you guys have any non-musical influences that you guys would consider influence your work?

Charly: Some of our biggest musical influences would be Daft Punk, Metallica, and Wu Tang. We were in the graffiti scene back in the day but no longer even though it still influences us. Movies architecture and every other form of art does influence our work as well. What really does influence us is seeing people that good at something for example the TED Talks it give us pure inspiration.

WS: What’s your current set in the studio and on the road? What is the production software you guys use and your go to plugin?

We have an insane amount of instruments in our studio from guitars to synths. We have all the computers and gadgets. Our main tools would be the Virus TI, MS20 Korg, Turntables, Native Instrument Machine, and a MPC. We keep collecting stuff from $10,000 synths to $20 instruments that I have been primarily collecting as we have toured the world. Nowadays since everything is synthetic using the hand made instruments adds a more analog human feel to the tracks we make.

On the road we have a small setup with Cubase with all the plugins we use and we always have the Virus TI with us since it’s super portable.

WS: You guys have done an insane amount remixes what’s the process like?

Well for remixes the main track doesn’t come from you. It’s about choosing a vibe that works with your sound and translating it into something that works with respect to the original but it’s still your own creation. It’s like doing collaboration with a ghost.

WS: What was the inspiration behind your first full-length album Irreverence? What gave you guys the idea for the title?

Charly: We have wanted to do it for years. We believe people don’t do it anymore instead they release a lot more EP’s. Through an album you can tell a story from A-Z and it’s not just a compilation but a full on story through the album. It helps us think deeper and experiment with different things. Our album is 10 tracks long and it was a hard process but we were able to put a majority of our influences in it. We worked on it for a year and it’s our baby. It came together pretty naturally and it made sense at some point that it came together.

We wanted to make an album that represents who we are and what we like. It’s a statement. Opening up with a classical piano track because we wanted to open people eyes and ears to different things. We wanted to surprise people and ourselves with what we were going to do. It was a wave at the surprise. In France it pretty typical that people do what they’re told and ever since we started Dirtyphonics we do what whatever.

WS: How is it playing live since there are four of you?

Charly: It’s pretty good. We have everything set up so me an Pitchin are the guys on the decks. Julien and Thomas are the guys on the beat machine. We have everything chopped up so that we can play everything on the fly. When we are playing new tracks we are still able to bring in different vibes like hip-hop or rock which keep our sets really original and unique.

WS: What would you guys say is your favorite track you guys have done? Either remix or original?

Charly: Their all our babies. But one that we really wanted to do was “Walk In Fire” since we come from a metal background. Its where we came from and a sound we like.

WS What are you guys planning on doing next after this tour?

Charly: After the tour we are going to be going back and forth between the US and Europe we have Orion, Tomorrowland, EDC and Shambala. Then we are doing a full on European Tour for the album then we are off for Australia and Asia to tour for the winter. The next big thing we also have coming out is a fashion line which will be out in 2014 .

WS: What you say your favorite track or album that’s out right now?

Charly: This month is going to be all about the new Daft Punk album.

WS: What’s been your favorite place to play at?

Charly: Puerto Rico was an awesome place that’s where we began the tour. LA is always a great place to be at. We are playing New York Friday night its always awesome and so is Denver. Paris, France is home so family and friends always come to the shows, which makes the experience so much better. Tokyo is awesome.

WS: Pulp Fiction or Trainspotting?

Charly: Pulp Fiction

WS: Jack Daniels or Grey Goose?

Charly: Grey Goose

WS: Words of wisdom for the upcoming producers and DJs?

Charly: Do your thing make your own music there is so much more to be made don’t try to imitate other peoples sounds.

I want to send a big shout to Charly and the whole Dirtyphonics crew for doing the interview and also MSOPR for setting this up!!!!!

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Chicago duo Sephano & Torio have finally returned after their remix of “Know Your Name” and this time they have created a track that is a sure fire hit just in time for the summer. “Simon Says” is in my opinion as well as theirs their best track to date mixing elements of Big Room and Electro House to make a WHOMPING track whose drop will take any dance floor be it at a club or festival to the next level. This track was released on Vendetta Records and can be grabbed below on Beatport.

Purchase: Sephano & Torio – Simon Says (Extended Mix) on Beatport

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This Saturday night May 18th Chicago is going to have one of the founding fathers of the Dutch House scene Sidney Samson playing at The MID. Sidney has had a pretty busy 2013 with releases like “Chase The Trap”, “Go”, “Move” and an unforgettable set at Ultra. This show is one that you will not want to miss and it is brought together by Chicago #1 event promotion company React Presents.

Rsvp: Sidney Samson – Nathan Scott @ The MID 5/18 on Clubtix.com

The Mid
306 N Halsted
Chicago, IL. 60661
10pm-5am | 21+
312.265.3990 (info/table reservations)
www.themidchicago.com

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I think Hardwell might just be one of the biggest forces to be messed with in 2013 especially in terms of progressive house. Not only does Robert already have a record label of his own that releases some of the biggest tracks in progressive and electro house he has some of the gnarliest production skills that I have ever heard. His newest endeavor a remix of Krewella’s banging track “Alive” dubbed “The Final Remix” is has taken the track into a whole new ball park I don’t even think Krewella saw this track being given the ANTHEM treatment. This remix is a perfect example of skills and the buildup doesn’t even hint at what is to come at the drop just pure drum madness. This track was released on Columbia Records and can be copped below on Beatport!

Purchase: Krewella – Alive (Hardwell “The Final” Remix) on Beatport

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For those of you that were lucky enough to see Benny Benassi at Coachella last month then you able were to see a spectacular surprise performance by John Legend who joined Benny on stage during his set at the Sahara tent. The two joined forces for Benassi’s newest track “Dance The Pain Away” which is another great vocally driven electro house track, which is set to be released on Ultra Music this summer. Benny Benassi decided to work with Coachella to release a teaser video of the track which features snippets from the music video which is soon to be out along with pieces from one of Coachella’s most memorable sets at the Sahara tent. Hope you guys enjoy the teaser. And stay tuned for more info on Benassi’s upcoming releases.

For you die hard Benny Benassi fan’s here are some of his upcoming tour dates

DATE CITY VENUE
Thu 5/16 Gulf Shore, AL Hangout Festival
Fri 5/17 Atlanta, GA Opera Nightclub
Sat 5/18 Las Vegas, NV Marquee Dayclub
Sat 5/18 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
Sun 5/19 Atlantic City, NJ HQ Nightclub
Fri 5/24 Minneapolis, MI Epic
Sat 5/25 Chicago, IL Electric Daisy Carnival Chicago
Sun 5/26 Las Vegas, NV Marquee
Fri 6/21-Sun 6/23 Las Vegas, NV Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas
Sat 6/29 Gibbons, AB Boonstock Music & Arts Festival

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Axwell returns to solo productions with his newest work since the breakup of Swedish House Mafia. “Center Of The Universe” brings a good tech meet’s progressive house sound that is sure going to be a hit especially with the summer season as well as the festival season coming up. I think that Axwell’s upcoming solo career is going to be massive even bigger than before and I feel that it will be the same for all of the SHM members since they have gained so much talent together and now it’s time that they properly unleash it on their own. This track is due out very soon on Axtone Music and was premiered on Pete Tong’s Radio 1 show this past weekend with an official music video due on May 21st.

Axwell has also recently teamed up with Carlsberg for their new “Where’s The Party?” campaign and have released an interactive video for his newest track “Center Of The Universe”. This will also be in support of his upcoming show at the Swedish Maritime Museum!

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PANTyRAID’s third free download in anticipation of their PillowTalk album which releases on May 28th is a true tribute to both the trance & 808 lovers out there. Their “Dance On” remix really pushes their creative abilities by clashing two opposing genres but making them work so flawlessly that I can see it working in all different types of sets. I will say that this is hand’s down the best TRAP remix that I have heard of a trance track in a hot minute. Their upcoming album PillowTalk will feature a slew of originals that will span different genres but will keep you in the PANTyRAID realm ready to get you WHOMPING!

Be sure to catch these guys at Spring Awakening next month here in Chicago tearing it up at Soldier Field! You can purchase tickets below on Clubtix.com

Purchase: Tickets to SPRING AWAKENING MUSIC FESTIVAL 2013

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Zedd is finally back with one wickedly good electro house remix of Empire Of The Sun’s track “Alive” off of their new album Ice On The Dune. This remix comes after Zedd’s been gaining all types of momentum to the top with appearances on David Letterman and releases like ‘Clarity” and “Spectrum” which have definitely made him a staple in the scene. Zedd’s new remix will be released on EMI on May 21st.

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When I first heard this track last week I instantly knew that “Thunder” would be W&W’s next big hit and it seems that as of lately that’s all they have been producing with tracks like “D# Fat”, “The Code” and “Lift Off!” already under their belts for 2013. ‘Thunder” starts with really high pitched synths that build up into one hectic drop that changes the tracks whole tone. You can clearly hear their trance roots in this progressive house banger that has gotten the support of countless artists like Steve Aoki and Armin Van Burren. This remix will be released on May 20th on Armada Music.

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With 54,000 plays in one day on Soundcloud Flux Pavilion’s new mix from Diplo & Friends on BBC Radio One/1Xtra is out of this world nasty. I have to say that Diplo sounds pretty stoned in his intro but he is freaking hilarious his comment “rats riding bicycles around the neighborhood” is the funniest shit I’ve heard this week. But back to this mix though Flux throws in some really dialed and new tunes in as well as some dope mashups in there as well. Diplo is 100% right about Flux being a really interesting melody maker because his tracks have been destroying clubs and festivals globally this year especially with his new Blow The Roof EP which released earlier this year which took all of us dubsteppers by storm. The highlight tracks of this mix are Doctor P’s “Champagne Bop” which is still unreleased and Antiserum and Mayhem’s “Trippy”. If your a Flux or dubstep fan you definitely should give this a listen. Turn up your bass before playing this and WHOMP away!!

Tracklisting:

Odjbox and Pierre – L.A.L – Circus Records
Flux Pavilion – OneTwoThree (Make Your Body Wanna) – Circus/Atlantic
Doctor P – Champagne Bop – Circus/Atlantic
Brown and Gammon – Dark Matter (Doctor P and Mizuki Remix) – Circus Records
Flux Pavilion – Starlight – Circus/Atlantic
Funtcase – Out For Da Milli – Circus Records
Cookie Monsta – Come Find Me feat Flux Pavilion – Circus Records
Flux Pavilion – Do Or Die feat Childish Gambino – Circus Records
Savant – Ghetto Blastah – SectionZ Records
Funtcase – Voodew – Circus Records
Flux Pavilion – Blow The Roof – Circus/Atlantic
Major Lazer – Watch out For This (Bumaye) – (Major Lazer)
Flux Pavilion – Double Edge feat Sway and P money – Circus/Atlantic
Mizuki – Block Party – Circus Records / Dj Snake – Bird Machine – Mad Decent
Doctor P – Flying Spaghetti Monster – Circus/Atlantic
AutoErotique and Felix Cartel – The Alarm – Dim Mak
Flux Pavilion – I Feel It – Circus/Atlantic
Skream – Sticky – Ammunition
Major Lazer and Flux Pavilion – Jah No Partial (Jack Beats Remix) – (Lazer Strikes Back)
Major Lazer and Flux Pavilion – Jah No Partial – Dowtown
Major Lazer and Flux Pavilion – Jah No Partial (Nonsens Remix) – (Dub)
Funtcase – Stomptown – Circus Records
Funtcase and Cookie Monsta – Atom Bomb – Circus Records / Caspa – Marmite (Doctor P Remix) – Dub Police
Skream – Scrooge’s Revenge – Ammunition
Cookie Monsta – Cave Of Gold – Circus Records
Roksonix – 2 Bad (VIP) – Circus Records
Flux Pavilion and Skism – Jump Back feat Foreign Beggars (VIP) – Circus Records
Dillon Francis – Bootleg Fireworks (REBIRTH) – Fly Eye
Skism – Killer – Never Say Die
Three Loco – Neato – Mad Decent
Funtcase – Predator – Circus Records
Candyland – Bring The Rain (Brown and Gammon Remix) – Spinninrecords
TC – Get Down Low – Don’t Play
Posij – Empty Lungs – Division
TNGHT – Higher Ground – Warp
Antiserum and Mayhem – Trippy – Firepower Records
Dj Snake – Together – Mad Decent
Flux Pavilion – The Scientist – Circus/Atlantic
Roksonix – Dogfight – Circus Records
Flux Pavilion – I Still Can’t Stop – Circus/Atlantic

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