Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Ealing, London! I grew up here.

You grew up between London and Ireland, how did the traveling back and forth affect you?

Travelling back and forth for me was actually super enjoyable. It was like having a life in England and a separate life in Ireland with different friendship groups in both.

How did you first start playing music?

The first music I ever played was Irish music when I was super young. I played the Irish traditional flute and took singing lessons as a kid.

Your debut EP ‘Bedroom Walls’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I’ve always been super passionate about songs that can stand on their own two feet without much production around them. I think there’s something to be said for simplicity. That was the main influence of the sound, letting the songs speak for themselves. Regarding the songwriting, all the songs were inspired by real events and people.

How did you approach the recording/production process and who else did you work with?

For this EP all the songs were approached in a different way really, for the songs Pale Damp Cheeks I literally knew no one in music and cold called the owner of this music studio and he put me in contact with a sound engineer called Michael Biggs who ended up recording the song. The producer for Bedroom Walls was Brad Ellis for I Dare you was Edd Holloway and for For Her was Phil Davidson.

The EP has arrived with the new single ‘For Her’, how did this track come about and what does it mean to you?

I wrote For Her when I was abroad for a few months. I missed home and my friends and all in all felt pretty lost in myself. I wrote it literally at like 2am about the idea of waiting and wondering if you’ll ever get your spark back, missing who you used to be and wondering if she’s gone for good. It’s a super personal song that I was afraid to show anyone for quite a long time as it’s super revealing and covers some stuff that I’ve never covered in any of my songs before.

You’ve achieved over a million streams since launching in January this year, what do you attribute this massive success to?

I’d attribute the success to being surrounded by good people who believe in me, the honesty of the songs and the support of the people listening.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Phoebe Bridgers at the moment.

What do you like to do away from music?

Outside of music I spend a lot of time with my friends, I find a lot of inspiration from that for my songs.

What’s planned for the rest of 2021?

This year I’ll be releasing another EP and I have two headline shows in November!! One in Dublin and one in London.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Fave food has to be chocolate. Every single time. And sweets. Sour ones. I don’t really have a fave place to hang out, anywhere where my friends are!!

PLAY/LISTEN TO ‘BEDROOM WALLS’

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Where are you currently based?

I was born in Sydney, but I live in London now. I’ve been here for 4 years and I love it. No plans on leaving anytime soon. Although I do miss the sun sometimes.

How did you first start playing music?

I got expelled from high school and the only school that would let me in after that was an arts-driven school called Reddam house in Bondi Beach. It was filled with creative opportunities which my school prior hadn’t been, it was the first time I’d seen the popular group be filled with smart and artistic people opposed to the archetypal athlete alpha-male. I somehow managed to con my way into an audition for a new band some of the kids were starting. I had to learn “DamnIt” by Blink 182 in a week, I was a pretty horrible guitar player, and I could only just hold a note with my voice. I somehow managed to live up to my bold claims of being both a great vocalist and guitarist, at least for that song. Hanging out with those guys, I really found my passion for being in a group of people and playing the music you all love. Playing in a group is still to this day my favourite way to write music 

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been writing my next record! Over lock down I set up a studio in my house, so I’ve basically just been writing and recording every day. it’s definitely made the last 6 months much easier. Other than that I’ve just released my debut EP and that was so exciting to finally have out. It’s so nice to know people are listening and hopefully enjoying these songs.

You’ve just released your EP ‘Conversation’ with lead single of the same name, what influenced the sound and songwriting for the EP as a whole and the single Conversation?

To be honest the biggest inspiration were my friends who I wrote and recorded the record with. The bulk of the EP was born actually playing within a group setting or one on one with an instrument and note pad in hand mostly, far away from a computer. A lot of the songs have a plethora  of live components to them which I’m also really proud of. Be that Paris being one whole vocal take, or Conversation having drums, bass and piano recorded simultaneously and one whole take.

How did you go about writing the EP?

I wrote it between my co-writer Charlotte Freud’s house and my producer Pete Hutchings house. The whole process happened really naturally and stemmed from a place of jamming and hanging out opposed to the typical session studio environment.

What does the EP mean to you?

Well, it means enough that I got ‘Conversation’ tattooed on my arm at 4am by some random guy in the back room of a club when I was drunk on Halloween 2019. It’s really a story of my life during the happiest and saddest I’ve ever been. But mostly it’s the time I spent making it with my friends that means the most to me, a lot more than the actual sentiment of the songs if I’m honest.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and how did you approach the process?

We mainly recorded it between my producers living room and RAK Studio 3 in St. Johns Wood. Again, it was just  a lot of playing these songs live and recording what we came up with, just having fun. I guess I didn’t really approach it in any definitive way because I didn’t feel like work or like we had to force art. Everything just happened the way it was meant too. 

Who did you work with during the creation of the EP?

Most of the lyrics and melody I either wrote on my own or with my co-writer Charlotte Freud, and again she’s my best friend so it didn’t really feel like work. Other than that, my producer Pete Hutchings who’s worked with Adele, Royal Blood and Lady Gaga. My drummer Chris Mass who’s Mumford & Sons’ drummer. Kieran Jones who plays bass for Dermot Kennedy and is now my co-producer on the record I’m working on now. And a few other amazing friends who I was lucky enough to get into the studio. 

What did you find most challenging and rewarding?

There wasn’t really anything I found challenging, it all felt really rewarding! I was working in cafes and bars while I recorded the whole thing, so just being able to be in the studio was the part that was most special. Doing what I love with people I love.

You co-directed each of the music video’s for each single, please tell us about this process:

I managed to be mentored by my good friend Liam Clarke while I was in Sydney last year, and he basically taught me everything I know about direction. He co-directed the first two music videos with me and my childhood best mate Em Meades. It was definitely a learning curve, especially doing everything on film. But when I came back to London and came up with the concept of Vinnie Vegas the sad clown, I took everything Liam showed me and put it to work to create the Conversation music video. That song and video are the two things I’m most proud of that I’ve created thus far.

Where and when did you film?

The ‘Conversation’ video was basically all shot in central London near where I live. They say shoot what you know so we used a lot of locations that I walk past every day.  

How did the concepts for the music video’s come about?

Each concept came about very differently. ‘Told you’ stemmed from the lyric “emptying the clouds’, ‘Broke & Criminal’ was a reference to ‘Natural Born Killers’, and ‘Conversation’ I was just really tired of taking myself too seriously so I wanted to do something really silly. And I wanted to do something with my dog who sadly passed away a few weeks after we finished filming. So now the song and video have a whole new meaning to me. 

You were signed at just 17 in Australia before parting ways and moving halfway across the world to London where you’re now based, how was the initial transition and how are you finding living in London now?

The transition wasn’t too jarring actually! I initially got signed in America so all the time I spent between LA and New York prepared me for living overseas. I love London, it’s my favourite place in the world. Every day I wake up feeling blessed that I’m able to live here. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Mostly Tyler, the Creator and Jeff Buckley. I’ve been listening to Childish Gambino’s record that came out in 2020 a lot, it’s amazing. I just discovered Maggie Rogers and her album ‘Notes from the Archive’ is incredible. Carol King is on a never-ending cycle of repeat and a lot of Tribe Called Quest. I’m currently listening to Brockhampton’s new album while writing this and it is really great.

What do you like to do away from music?

I own a clothing label with my sister. It’s a sustainable women’s label and that’s been our little lockdown baby, it’s a really fun way of being creative that I hadn’t explored before. It’s called Cielo Studios, check it if you want to look cool and save the planet while doing it.

What’s planned for 2021?

More music! I wanna put out an 8-song mixtape and drop a video for each song, so between that and Cielo Studios I’m gonna be pretty busy! Hopefully fit some live shows whenever we are allowed to.

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Where are you currently based?

Currently in Monaco. Home will always be London where I hope to go back once vaccinated.

What have you been up to recently?

I have been working on the acoustic version of “Raise a Toast” and the video. Plus recording vocals for my upcoming acoustic EP.

How did you first start playing music?

I started singing before I could walk 🙂

Your new single ‘Raise A Toast’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The biggest influence on the melody and the over-the-top drama of the lyrics has been the music of an Italian icon, Mina Mazzini. She has a dramatic voice similar to mine and I take a lot of inspiration from her music of the ’60s and ’70s. Apart from that lyrically I love Lana Del Rey and the vintage glamour which I try to convey in my songs.

When writing this song I thought that it’s message has a lot of similarities to “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen, famously sung by my favorite 90’s diva Celine Dion. As his song was based on a part of a Rachmaninov’s piano concerto I thought it would be cool to add the actual Rachmaninov recording at the beginning of the track played from vinyl! It also underlines the huge influence of classical music in my creative process.

You co-wrote Raise A Toast with Arrow Benjamin (Beyonce, Alicia Keys), how did this collaboration come about and how was the experience as a whole?

Arrow was introduced to me by an acquaintance of my boyfriend. It was a total coincidence that our paths crossed. We met a few times and decided to give it a shot and work on some music together. I was very excited about the opportunity to work with him as he is incredibly skilled with words. As a young songwriter I can learn a lot from people like Arrow.

Once we started working we understood we are both alfa personalities so there were a lot of fiery discussions, long late-night phone calls, and different visions but in the end, we both found a middle ground and consider the song “our baby”.

Where and when did you record the track and who did you work with?

I recorded the track in the summer of 2020 with some difficulties due to the COVID restrictions. It was recorded in a recording studio in Nice, France.

You’re operatically trained, how does this influence your music and live performance?

I’ve been trained in Speech Level Singing technique since I was 16. This technique built the grounds for me as a vocalist. The biggests benefits I got from my classical training were mainly the development of my musical horizons and knowledge, the expansion of my vocal range, and the experience of singing some of the most difficult pieces of music written for voice, which now gives me an incredible confidence and ease while singing pop music. Not to mention the discipline you have to develop when you study for an Opera Degree, which involves acting, music theory, fencing, ballet and more. All this is very helpful for live performances.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

When shooting the video we were in a lockdown and I decided to take things into my own hands rather than wait for the reopening. I ordered a big Pavlova cake at a patisserie in Monaco, bought a ton of macaroons, and asked my close friend, who is a famous fashion designer in Poland, to lend me some fancy gowns. When writing this song I already had a vision of a Hollywood siren who has it all, dancing by herself to the music in her hotel room, drinking way too much, watching TV at night, and eating fast food. The idea of a modern Marie Antonette mixed with Marylin Monroe. Shooting it was hard work but also sooo much fun. And I got totally tipsy on all the champagne! But seriously, I think the video is such a good contrast to the song, as you can see my joyful side. I wanted it to feel more personal therefore we edited it in an 8mm camera style.

Where and when did you film?

Considering that the music video was shot in January 2021 when we were in full lockdown everything had to be done very simplistically with just me as the director, stylist, makeup artist except for the cameraman. It was filmed in a hotel in Monaco.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the music video?

I guess the biggest challenge was to take care of all the styling, makeup, and hairstyling. It was a lot of work considering I had 5 different looks. I loved that I had total creative control and it was simply fun.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have a very broad spectrum of music I listen to but currently one of my favs is Snoh Aalegra. I’m also in love with the 90’s vibes of the new releases from Bruno Mars.

What do you like to do away from music?

A passion that has definitely helped throughout my teenage years and something I care about a lot is the transformative power of makeup. Together with fashion, makeup has always been my armour and has given me the freedom to choose who I want to be. Every day I choose a different look that makes me feel empowered and brave.

What do you have planned for the rest of 2021?

In June I’m going to release an acoustic EP which has been fun to record as we’ve done it with a great live string quartet. Then I’m hoping to travel and hang out on the beach for the whole of June, July, and August. I’m also gonna have my mini studio set up with me and do remote songwriting sessions with my team. Once September arrives I hope to go back to London and work on my original material there.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Favorite food? Probably Cipriani’s famous meringue cake. I have a horrible sweet tooth.

My favorite place to hang out is George Members Club in Mayfair, London. It feels like home and the staff there are like family to me!

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Melbourne, VIC.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been setting up my new studio and producing for a few local acts.

Your new album ‘Biting The Life Nectar’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting for the album?

The main influences are the experiences that you hear about on the album, it influenced it even more than music I listen to.

How did you go about writing the music?

It took a lot of scrapping and starting again at points, I moved living spaces a few times while making the album so that definitely made it harder to concentrate. But in the end I’m really satisfied with how it turned out.

You’ve done an amazing job of self producing the entire album, where and when did you record/produce/master?

I started working on the beats for the album in late 2019 in my home studio, I recorded around different parts of Victoria as I was moving so much. I ended up making a few really awesome beats that I unfortunately couldn’t write anything on, the ones I wrote on worked for a reason though.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

I started recording the album in a booth in my old apartment but finished it in my bedroom at different apartment about 11 months later. I made every beat on my laptop with no additional gear since I didn’t own any instruments at the time.

What programs/equipment did you use?

I used a 2015 MacBook Pro to record and produce on Logic Pro DAW.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding throughout the period of producing?

The most challenging part by far was having things not work out how I imagined, not being able to play any instruments has its limitations. On the bright side the most rewarding parts of producing were working with so many session musicians and backing singers to bring my ideas to life.

How did you learn to self produce?

Back when I started producing in 2016 I learned the basics from this guy on YouTube called imamusicmogul, and self taught mostly after that. My strongest suit as a producer is building something grand out of a simple starting point.

You also shot your first music video, how did the concept come about?

I worked on the video with Josh Davis from Visionaire Media, it was a very organic collaborative process where some ideas were planned ahead and some we just improvised. I really love how the shots turned out, hoping to release the video some time soon.

You’ve released on vinyl for the first time as well, what are your thoughts on how your music sounds on vinyl and why did you choose to release on vinyl?

Vinyl can be tricky to get write so it was a bit of a process to get it sounding ideal, it sounds like something from 2021 and 1971 at the same time which is kinda trippy to me but I love it. I‘ve always wanted to do a proper vinyl release for an album and this was the perfect opportunity.

Where can we purchase the vinyl?

You can purchase it exclusively on my BandCamp page.

What do you like to do away from music?

Spending time with my partner and watching plenty of movies.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Been bumping a lot of Mac Demarco and I’ve been getting really into The Avalanches.

What’s planned for 2021?

Since I’ve already dropped two projects this year I will probably just work behind the scenes on other peoples music for the rest of the year.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I do love me a classic cheeseburger, I’m on a quest to find the best one in Melbourne. My favourite place to hang out at the moment is Fortress Tavern.

Stream Album: https://fanlink.to/bitingthelifenectar

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Where are you currently based? 

Melbourne, Australia

How did you first start playing music? 

We have both been in the game for a few years now in different capacities, but together we’ve been making music together for about 6 months.

How did Dubbel Drop form? 

Born from a mutual love of disco loops, hot sauce, Belgian beer and of course the sesh!

What’s been happening recently? 

Been booking in some gigs around Melbourne, working on new tunes and keepin’ it spicy on the reg.

What influenced the sound and songwriting of Mighty Knight? 

Too many influences to mention them all, but we definitely tout OGs such as Armand Van Helden, Cassius and Stardust as well as the likes of The Phantom’s Revenge, Duck Sauce, Boys Noize and Boston Bun as big vibes for our musical direction.

How did you go about writing Mighty Knight? 

We found the sample and worked it into a vibe we liked, instantly we felt this was something that would get booties shaking so we finished it off and played it to some trusted homies who all were going nuts about it – from there we knew we were onto something pretty special.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with? 

We worked across Jeremy’s home studio and the label studio for different sessions in production, then our dude Alex Braithwaite went in on the mastering and absolutely nailed the sonics we wanted to a tee!

How did you approach the recording process? 

We didn’t technically record anything on this track, it’s all synths and samples baby!

What programs/equipment did you use? 

Logic Pro.

What do you like to do away from music? 

Fine dining, watch Seinfeld and search for dank memes.

Who are you listening to at the moment? 

Buster: I’ve been bumping the new YSL album ’Slime Language 2’ a lot in the car since it dropped the other week. Also Folamour’s Cover Mix for Mixmag which is very spicy! 

Jeremy: Lately I’ve been bumping a fair bit of Riton and Anti Up and I follow The Magician’s Magic Tapes pretty closely. The recent No. 100 is a banger I’ve thrashed a lot!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021? 

Playing some sick parties and putting out some more bangers, hopefully get an EP release out for Summer 21/22

Favourite food and place to hangout? 

Oh damn this is a hard one!! Gotta give a shout out to the homies at Leonardo’s Pizza Palace in Melbourne, that’s def a slice worth going out out your way for!!

Social links / Website: https://linktr.ee/dubbeldrop 

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dubbeldrop 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dubbeldropdjs/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe2VsHyhta4dmlCFXHdid6Q 

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dubbeldrop 

Where are you currently based?

I’m living in Sydney, Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

When I was young my Uncle would always play the piano and drums and put awesome music on and I loved it and just knew I wanted to make music.

What’s been happening recently?

 I’ve just released my debut EP that I was working on for the past year so I’m so happy to have it out in the world now! I have 2 more music videos for it to release over the next couple of weeks. I’m now working on a few new songs that I plan to release this year. I’m also currently rehearsing for my first gig after releasing my latest music so I’m excited for that!

Your new self-titled three track EP is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

 I drew a lot of influence from some of my favourite artists old and new. Lana Del Rey and Solange are big influences. I also looked to a lot of old favourites of mine such as Massive Attack, Sade, Fleetwood Mac. I listen to their songs daily and I love how easy listening they are. I had just returned from a trip to Europe so I was living for the summertime which you can definitely tell with the songs being so summery haha. Cala Gonone was one of my favourite places I visited in Italy and I wrote that song in like 20mins! It just flowed out of me. On & On was about a break through in my music and self confidence. Summer Lover is literally describing summer when I was a kid with an added romance.

How did you go about writing the EP?

 I wrote about 8-9 songs in my room with basic production to the vibe that I wanted. I took 4 of my favourite ones to my favourite Producers to turn them into what they are today!

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

 I demoed them all in my room toward the end of 2019 to early 2020. On & On was recorded before and after lockdown with Matt Hurt in his Balmain studio. Matt and I have been working together for a long time and he knows me really well so he always gets my vibe. Cala Gonone I took to Alex Preston as we had released a couple of tracks together at the time. We recorded that in his home studio in Dee Why. Summer Lover was the last one to finish and I reached out to Xavier Dunn to work with me on this one as I loved his sound and thought he would do a great job with it and he did! Peter Holz did the mastering for me. He’s also mastered my songs Forever Young and Seeing you again in the past.

How did you approach the recording process?

Firstly it was important for me to work on the sound and vibe that I wanted to put out to the world. I listened to a lot of songs to figure out what I liked most about the songs I loved. Once I had these demos it was simply matching the songs to the most suited Producer and sitting with them through the process making sure the direction stayed on track and also a lot of inspiration came whilst in the production process too.

Your EP features the single On & On, how did this track come about and what does it mean to you?

It was the first song I wrote on the EP and it came at a time when I had decided to stop holding myself back and gain the confidence to produce the demo’s myself and really find who I wanted to be as an artist and so this song just came very naturally with that state of mind and new goal I had set myself. I’ve always struggled with my self confidence and can be very shy. I’d say I’m a bit of an extroverted introvert haha. So this song really resonates with me.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m loving Joy Crookes, Cleo Sol, Snoh Allegra, Clairo, Pip Millet and The Internet to name a few. I think you could definitely hear my songs aligning with these vibes.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love to travel, spend time with my friends and family. I love a night out but also love a day on the couch watching movies! It’s all about balance!

What’s planned for 2021?

More music and more live gigs! I have a couple of songs in the works. My first live performance of my EP is coming up  30th of May and I’m so excited for this! I’m wanting to do more live shows this year!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’m obsessed with Pad Thai and basically all pasta! I love to hang out at the beach or in a bar/restaurant at sunset with the people I love.

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What is your name and role within Run Over Dogs?

My name is Szabolcs Czeglédi and I’m the singer and guitarist of Run Over Dogs.

How did you first start playing music?

 Listened to a lot of Nirvana and Pixies as a teenager and got my first guitar when I was 14.

Where are you currently based?

We’re based in Budapest.

How did the band form?

We’re childhood friends with Máté (Máté Gál – bass) as we’ve been playing in rival bands in a small Hungarian city called Kecskemét. I always knew we’d form a band together once we both moved to Budapest. I met Maxi (Tamás Juhász – drums) and Roni (Áron Vilczek – guitar) when I moved to the capital in 2009, started to play music together in 2011 and were waiting for Máté to move to Budapest and form the band in 2012.

You’ve just released your new album ‘Now Let The Monsters Shine’ what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The sound and songwriting were both influenced by feelings this time.  Looking back over the past five years, it seems like a minute where I’m sitting on a propeller plane during turbulence, the chips bags and other merchandise products are flying in the air like colourful Tetris pieces as they land on top of each other in the wrong order so every second is game over and a new game starts. What’s even worse is that while I was sitting on this plane, a series of events – incomprehensible to common sense – shook the world. I got stuck in the room for weeks during the first months of pandemic, sometimes I walked in random forests and for the first time in my life I’ve been thinking soberly and realistically about what had happened to me in the last 30 years and especially in the last 5. Then we’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with the sounds to make sure we’ll express these feelings the best way we can.

How did you go about writing the album?

Most of the songs were written on an acoustic guitar and got their final forms later in the studio. I felt much stronger after composing the songs, I became addicted to writing for weeks and it might even be perceptible that the last songs were written by a more balanced person than the ones before.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

The album was made in the RH studio – that is also the rehearsal room of the band – so the calming work pace and environment were ensured. Máté Gál, the band’s bassist was the album’s sound engineer, he was responsible for record / mix / master and Soma Nóvé (Middlemist Red, Mordái, Samurai Drive) was the producer of the album. Soma has a prominent role in the orchestration, the dramaturgy and the structure of the songs, and he also brought a new approach with striving for perfection in all details, which was less typical of the band before.

It’s been a while since the last release, any reason for the break?

We’ve had very intense writing and touring periods between 2012 and 2017 and we burnt out quickly. I didn’t find my place on the stage in the last three years whilst I also lost my self-confidence as a composer.

How did it feel to be writing and recording again?

After each recorded track, I felt like I was taking a brick out of my bag and walking home more and more lightly from the studio.

What do this album mean to you?

Now I really think I asked for my first guitar as a teenager to write this album because it made me realize how important it is to me to express my feelings through lyrics and music.

Please tell us about the connection with trauma processing and the creation of this album:

Every track on this album is a monster that for thirty years I raised in silence until they took control over me and forced me into living my life as a monster with them. For the past five years – since I began to reveal my secrets that guarded them – they have grown into giants and delivered coordinated blows against me at the most unexpected times. Writing this album exorcised my demons, my monsters.

If Covid permits do you have any plans to tour?

We’d love to play an album release show early fall 2021 in Budapest, fingers crossed. Our second US tour is also planned for fall 2022.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I think Big Thief, Amen Dunes and Perfume Genius are my top 3 favorite artists these days.

What do you like to do away from music?

 Exploring cozy restaurants while traveling with my wife! And playing tennis!

What’s planned for 2021?

 Finding the smoothest way to get back to the circle of life.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favorites are the tapas plates of Pata Negra Budapest, especially the Chorizo Al Vino Tinto and the Jamon Con Espinaces Chorizo.

All PLATFORMS

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Where are you currently based?

In Rotterdam, The Netherlands

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing piano as a kid, but I decided to quit when things turned out too much into classical music.

What’s been happening recently, and how has your Covid experience been?

Much of the stuff that I was doing before COVID was already digital, so nothing changed too much. But of course, I had no shows, no real-life writing camps, and parties to visit. It was much more me, myself, and the computer. 

Aukoustics, Anna Graceman, and yourself have just released ‘Stars In My Eyes’; how did the three of you come to work together?

The first unofficial remix that I dropped online was from a track of Anna called ‘words’. It was just my first result of experimenting with producing software. Surprisingly, it turned out exceptionally well. It got many streams in a few weeks, got supported by big names, and most importantly, I got noticed by a few big labels. When my manager dropped a vocal by Anna a few years later, it was easy to jump on it and start working on it. 

In the meantime, Aukoustics approached me on Instagram, telling me that he loved my work and wanted to do something together. When I discovered that he worked on some big dance records, I was willing to give it a try, and as I just started with a first demo for Stars In My Eyes, it was easy for him to step in.  

What influenced the sound and songwriting?

Anna took care of the songwriting part, and we just did what felt right. We didn’t have any specific reference track or sound in mind. 

How did the songwriting process take place?

During these COVID times, it was all through the internet, sending stuff back and forth and placing it into one project. When everyone was happy, we did a final analog mixdown in the studio.

Where and when did you record/produce/master, and who did you work with?

Aukoustics did his part in Boston, Anna in Nashville, and I produced in Rotterdam. The stems went back and forth, and the master was done in Belgium (external).

How did you approach the recording process?

We just listened with our ears and did what felt right. 

What programs/equipment did you use?

We use Ableton and Logic.

How are you holding up as a DJ in the current climate?

It’s just keeping calm before this storm is over. It makes no sense to feel frustrated. It doesn’t only bring bad stuff. It also brings a lot of time to work on new music.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’m currently listening to a lot of Roosevelt. It’s good in so many circumstances. 

What do you like to do away from music?

I like to go to the beach, hang out with friends, eat good food and read a good book from time to time.

What’s planned for 2021?

I got a lot of music prepared that will come out!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I’m a big fan of Tuna. As long as it is well prepared, I can eat it everywhere, but it would be nice to enjoy it abroad once COVID is over.

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Where are you currently based?

Amsterdam.

How did you first start playing music?

During an internship when I was still in fashion school my supervisor was a DJ in the weekends.

He sold me his turntables that’s when I started collecting vinyl and dj-ing.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Well, I’m in quarantine right now. Tested positive 2 days ago. Luckily the symptoms are mild, I’m taking it slow now just hoping I can get back to the studio asap again!

You’ve recently produced workout music under the name BODYWORX for fitness app “CABAU LIFESTYLE” from the Dutch actress and influencer Yolanthe Cabau, how did the idea/concept first come about?

It started off with my track “work”. At that point it was just an experiment but it got so much positive support from the fitness playlists and communities I decided to dedicate a whole new project to fitness music!

How did you come to work with Yolanthe for her app?

Through my friend Jennifer Cooke. Jennifer is a good friend of mine and also featured on some of my songs.

Jennifer knows Yolanthe very well and when Yolanthe was looking for music Jennifer recommended me because she knew I was working on a music project that would fit the app.

What influenced the sound and production process?

The BODYWORX sound stands for energetic beats in combination with motivating vocals.

Since the lockdown and all the gyms closing, I found it hard to find the motivation to do my home workout routines.

I just needed something to get me hyped and excited and that’s what i tried to do with the music.

How did you go about writing the music?

I write down gym related tag words and try to make cool short hooks out of it.

Most of the times I record 10 to 15 hooks in less than a hour.

After recording I select the best ones and think of concepts for the production.

Where did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

I recorded and produced everything in my own studio at the ZERO COOL STUDIOS and mastering is done by “onemix mastering”.

Some of the older BODYWORX tracks still contain royalty free vocal samples instead of new original ones.

Right now, I’m working on a few featuring artists on BODYWORX tracks but to be honest I prefer to not get to many people involved in the BODYWORX tracks.

How did you approach the production process?

I start with the vocal and the chords for the breakdown once that feels right, I start chopping up the vocal and try to find a hook that will sound cool for a drop.

Once I’ve the edited vocal chop I play a counter bass melody to the vocal to make it bounce for the drop!

When I have these elements, I use them as building blocks until the track makes sense.

What programs/equipment did you use?

– Logic Pro X

– UAD quad core

– A lot of UAD plugins

Will BODYWORX be a staple of yours?

Who knows! BODYWORX is a project I’m very proud of and enjoy doing!

You run the label ZERO COOL, how did the label first start and why?

The dance music market got over saturated very quick. It became hard to get my tracks signed or to get any commitment from labels when I signed a track at their label.

At that point it didn’t make sense for me anymore to not do it myself. I can release as much as I want and I can decide which tracks are my priority.

You also learn a lot about the music industry by finding your own team and doing everything together with your team instead of working with external parties who have their own priorities.

What’s been happening with ZERO COOL and what’s coming up for 2021?

So much happened since I started with ZERO COOL! It was a bit scary at first but within the first year we did over 100 million streams.

This was a confirmation for me that I made the right choice starting my own label. The first year was a year to gain attention for the label.

We did this by releasing a MOTi single almost weekly, this stood out for a lot of people and gave us the attention we needed to make it work.

In the second year we starting analyzing statistics and polishing our strategy, right now in 2021 we have 2 labels: ZERO COOL & ZERO DEEP.

We receive so many good demo’s that we release 4 tracks a week from other artist spread out over the 2 labels and I try to do 1 MOTi release a month and 1 BODYWORX release.

How’s it been being a DJ and in the music industry since Covid started and how have you been dealing with it?

For me it’s okay. I love being in the studio, I work with my family and friends so I get to see them every day at the office, we build a gym in the office so I get to work out.

I miss touring and dj-ing but I’ve also realized I’ve really missed being with my family in the weekends. It feels great to go to the forest or beach with my kids I really missed that.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Bad Bunny.

What do you like to do away from music?

Hang-out with friends. Eat drink chat.

What’s yourself MOTi been working on and what do you have planned for 2021?

I’m learning to take things slower. I don’t have to work 12 hours a day, I can chill in the weekends instead of working over-time.

You know just enjoying life next to my career. Don’t get me wrong I still work hard but between working hours now lol.

2021 will be another year full of releases. I’m experimenting a bit more this year on production side but also on features etc.

You’ll see I’m excited :-D!!!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

If you’re in Amsterdam and you love meat you should check out “Wagyu Yakiniku Kanata”.

One of the hidden gems in Amsterdam. A5 wagyu meat and more for a decent price.

The location is not very luxurious but the staff and food is amazing!

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https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vo8zHmO1KzkuU9Xxh6J7W?si=LfbdpYpyTAu2g8yCutKgWA&nd=1

http://www.motiofficial.com/?fbclid=IwAR0LAvi4F3zYkV7YefXKRUWAEfeCKxQzxc-aDwwzNYzSG5ubencdrC-MOms

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Where are you currently based?

Right now in Stockholm! I’m born here so it’s a great place to write from, but perhaps looking to move after corona! I lived in Berlin for 2 years and might want to come back soon.

How did you first start playing music?

It all started with my sister. She was drumming and was really good at it. She had friends by the house who I thought were really cool at the time and I got to carry batteries for their pedals when they were playing at the house. Later on, I sneaked into her room when she was out and played on the drumset. Eventually, I got my own and she taught me how to play. Later on, I had some really heavy years mentally and struggled with depression but always had music. I sat late nights in my high school studio and learned how to produce because I didn’t want to be at home feeling down.

What’s been happening recently?

2020 LOL. But I also just released my new EP ‘Once We Were Present’ which I recorded together with Chris Zane in London in late Feb last year. I’ve also been writing a bunch of new songs that I can’t wait to drop.

Your new EP ‘Once We Were Present’ is out now, the EP is all about mankind’s (often unhealthy) relationship with technology, particularly through social media, with each track looking at a different facet of our relationship with it, please talk us through the songwriting process and influences:

I sat down and wrote everything from start to finish on a piano in Stockholm, which is the first time I’ve taken that kind of approach. Then when I had the sketches I rented a studio in Stockholm to start to work on the demo productions. 4 months later I sent it to my label and got hooked up with the lovely Chris Zane to finalize it! So I spent 2 weeks in Brixton, London and sang my heart out. I also went to the cinema by myself whilst I was there and drank some beer whilst watching the movie, which was amazing since it’s not allowed in Stockholm. Booo 🙁

What programs/equipment did you use?

Personally, I always work in Logic! Been doing so for over 10 years now. I wrote it all on piano then I used a bunch of different software and hardware synths. A lot of Chris’s Prophet is on there. Chris works in pro tools 🙂 But mostly my brain is the most important equipment lol, I’m trying hard to not be dependent on any particular gear.

You co-directed each of the EP track’s accompanying music videos which also hone in on the EP’s themes, please tell us about the music video creative process:

I write all my videos together with my splendid friend Erik Ögnelooh. We wanted to discuss social media and the internet in its entirety to tie in with the music of the EP. I’m also a huge fan of the visuals of Black Mirror so we took a lot of inspiration from that series. We often have the same crazy vision of things but he can make it a reality since he works full time with film. We traveled around to a bunch of different locations and set up lights and cameras with the team both in his own studio and outside in Stockholm. I also wanted to act more so that was a big part of the planning.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Elderbrook, Bonobo, Khushi, Jungle, Joe Goddard, and lots of podcasts.

What do you like to do away from music?

Corona made me poor since I can’t DJ or have live shows with MB so I’m working in a craft beer bar in Stockholm. Stigberget. So that’s what I do away from music! But it’s still kind of creative since I get to pick the music and the vibe for the place. Other than that I run a lot and also wood craft. I just built myself a studio table and now I want to fix up the balcony! I also like driving! I’m taking my driving test in August.

What’s planned for 2021?

We’re going to release some exciting remixes with great people! And I’m also going to work and produce the new tracks and hopefully get to release something from that!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Stigberget, my bar, we have the best coolest beer in Stockholm with over 30 taps!

Long-standing residents of Glasgow’s prolific underground club scene Co-Accused have launched their new techno and electro orientated label Co-Accused Records. Debuting with a digital and vinyl 4 track Psychonaut EP from them on 14th May and featuring a remix from Jensen Interceptor, the release is permeated with the same infectious energy and driving, futuristic techno that fuels their live sets.

As well as gifting fans with vinyl manifestations of their notorious basement parties, the new label is also the husband and wife duo’s way of showcasing some of the extraordinary talent that has been bubbling under the surface of the country’s empty dancefloors. 

The new EP is a reflection of the promising underground talent they have supported over the years in their club night in Paisley’s Club 69 in the West of Glasgow. The locally adored parties have accumulated an impressive roster of artists over the years. Alongside some of the most exciting emerging names, as well as time-honoured leaders of the scene like Slam and Leftfield, Co-Accused have consistently provided an authentic haven for underground dance fans in the city’s rapidly changing club scene. 

We caught up with them to hear more and you can check out their epic ‘Sonic Assault’ mix here that has gone live to celebrate the new label news.

Where are you based? 

We live in a town called Paisley which is just outside of Glasgow in Scotland.

Co-Accused Records launches this Spring. What was behind the decision to launch your own label? 

It’s something we’ve always wanted to do. Our music was going down really well in our DJ sets so we felt like now was the time to get it out there to like-minded music lovers 🙂

What kind of artists and sounds will the label embody? 

We love underground electro & techno. Over the years, artists like Sync 24, Anthony Rother, Dave Clarke, Gary Beck, Luke Slater and The Hacker have influenced our sound. It would be amazing to get them involved. We’re very keen to release music from up and coming relatively unknown producers too.

The label’s debut release, Psychonaut Society, is dropping in May. What can we expect to hear? 

Sonic grooves from another galaxy! 

What inspired the title of the EP? 

The title felt fitting with the vibe of the EP. We’ve been on a few Psychonaut journey’s ourselves that felt like we were travelling through space. If you haven’t been on one before, give it a go. We highly recommend it 😉 

Australian producer Jensen Interceptor is behind a huge remix of the EPs title track – how did this come about? 

Mikey played at one of our parties in 2019. We really hit it off and were delighted when he said he would be up for doing something on the label. We’ve always loved his sound and couldn’t be happier with the remix.

How long have Co-Accused been making records together for? 

We’ve been producing together for about 5 years.

What is your creative process like? 

We love to jam on our synths with some basic beats and build from there. Our current set up is the Bass Station II, Minilogue, Micro Korg, TR-8 and the TT-303 Bass Bot. We enjoy using hardware as it’s more hands on approach and have fun twiddling knobs to create our sound.

What labels inspire you? 

Cultivated Electronics, Soma, UR, Brokntoys, R&S, Gigolo, Bek Audio, Bass Agenda, Rotation and Mechatronica have been a big influence. 

Once the world can dance together again, where are you each most excited to play? 

We’re buzzing to get back to our residency in Club 69. It’s a proper underground club and the vibe is always amazing! We’ve also got the Riverside Festival in Glasgow to look forward to in September. Yasss 🙂

As stalwarts of Scotland’s underground electronic music scene, what artist are you most excited about right now? 

Fear-E is a wicked producer and DJ. We love his sound and there’s always a few of his tunes in our playlist. 

What can we expect next from Co-Accused Records? 

All going well, A VA compilation of Electro & Techno from established Artists and unknown producers who we think are wicked. 

You can connect with them on Facebook and check out their latest mix ‘Sonic Assault’ to celebrate their new label news here.