Hey Up – Where are you right now?

I’m in London right now looking out my window drawing some inspiration from the world and what I see and feel to write more material.

What are you early experiences with music? How have they led you to where you are now?

The first time I ever sang was in a church when I was 14 for a couple school friends who played in a band at their local church in South London. I was handed a mic and was told to just sing and freestyle over the soulful jazzy R&B-type vibe they were playing at the time and yeah, I’ve been singing ever since. After some time, I went on to sing in an R&B group inspired by Jodeci, Dru Hill, H-Town and a lot of 90’s HipHop & R&B artists. After that, I went on to sing in multiple electronic bands which is a style of music I love, having grown up in London where electronic music was always big over here. Everything from drum n bass to house music was always around when I was young. To this day I’m inspired by old school garage and based my early style on Groove Chronicles who made both of my favourite garage tunes back in the day: ‘Stonecold’ and ‘We Get Down’. When I heard them sample Aaliyah or Mariah Carey over that London sound that Groove Chronicles had back then, I knew that soulful 90’s vocals work smooth over electronic music – like ‘Talk to Me You’ll Understand’ by Ross From Friends.

You’ve now released singles ‘Better Tomorrow’ and ‘Songbird’, what influenced the sound and song writing here?

My writing as well as producing comes from nothing but feeling and deep emotions that are sometimes buried deep at the back of my heart and mind. ‘Better Tomorrow’ was written on the basis of the title, wishing everyone and everything a brighter future through the dark times we go through in life. ‘Songbird’ is about love of course and sharing that special moment with the one you truly love. For me there is no better feeling than true love.

What does it mean to you to be able to share your music since your debut?

Through my previous experiences in music being in bands and groups it’s quite scary at first releasing anything because I’m solo now. But through the love I’ve been receiving and the support… it’s a beautiful feeling.

Can you tell us a bit more about your recording and production process?

I use Ableton Live to produce and usually base my production around a warm pad or melody that makes me feel like I’m flying. Ha! Growing up my favourite superhero was Silver Surfer so whenever I’m producing music, If, it makes me feel like I’m Silver Surfer and I’m gliding through the galaxy across the universe I know I’m on the right track. Then yeah, I punch it all in and then the drums come last for me. Same for recording vocals, I like to sit and be relaxed with dimmed lights to set the mood while I record. 

Who are your influences and who are you currently listening to? Is there anybody you aspire to?

I’ve been inspired by early N.E.R.D., Tyler the Creator, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Curtis Mayfield. From Roy Ayers to Sampha, from James Blake to Frank Ocean, I can go on and on… I’m currently listening to a lot of Sade, as well as Janet Jackson, Saba and a new artist called Jenevieve… her track ‘Medallion’ is my favourite song of hers. Oh, and just a lot of early 90’s hip hop, that stuff is always on rotation. 

Is there anything else you like to do away from music?

Outside of music I love to skateboard… I mean street skate, no skate parks just yet, I can’t do tricks and all that. I just like to cruise the streets. 

What’s your plans for the rest of the year?

My plan for the rest of the year is to continue writing new material for my first full-length album for next year. I make music every day and also do a bit of writing for other artists. I’m forever working on my craft and trying to evolve into the artist I’ve always envisioned myself as.

Tell us something interesting about yourself, that people wouldn’t know.

I was an academy football player when I was a kid. I played for Watford for 3 years and Fulham for 2. I got released after 5 years of some great memories of my life and now I still coach kids and teach them everything I know and learned when I was playing.

Anything else you’d like to share?

In addition to the singles, I’m releasing on streaming platforms, I finished a 14-song mixtape called ‘The VagueTape’ that I’ve been drip-releasing on my YouTube and Soundcloud channels, one track every 3-4 weeks. The Tape is all new songs I wrote over some of my favourite Hip Hop & Lo Fi House beats spanning the past 20 years. It actually started out as a kinda joke, but I wound up vibing out 75% of the songs in one evening. I just dropped the latest instalment ‘Trust In You (Aquamarine)’ last Friday.

Where are you currently based?

I live in Melbourne. 

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing Violin when I was 3 years old and then picked up piano when I was 4 (my parents are musicians).

What’s been happening recently?

Well I’ve just been really focusing on releasing this single for the last couple of weeks. But prior to that my other band Juno Disco just put out a new song called ‘Dreamin’, and now the film I’ve been working on is in post-production so I’ll be working on finishing up the score. So a lot to keep me busy! 

Your new single ‘Think It’s Time To Get A Job’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The song is primarily influenced by the Aphex Twin track ‘Iz-Us’ and ‘Older’ by Australian band Parcels. I was playing around on this synth and found a sound very similar to the one used by Aphex Twin. Once I found the sound, the chord progression of the song just wrote itself and I’d finished it in five minutes. I often find that a particular sound will really inspire me and is generally the basis of how I write music. 

I had been really into Parcels earlier this year and loved their vocal harmonies and found they were very influenced by one of my favourite bands ‘The Whitest Boy Alive’ (who are sadly no longer around). You can definitely hear the Parcels influence in the ‘What Changed, Just Stay The Same” response in the chorus.

How did you go about writing the track?

Lyrically I was a bit intimidated by my previous record as the lyrics were super revealing and I was unsure how to follow that up. I found that being super revealing worked really well and I had produced my best work by doing that. So I decided to dig a bit deeper into my past, to a time where I wasn’t releasing Albert Salt music and decided to get a full time job. This really crippled me artistically. I found having so much free time and putting out a record again last year completely re energised me and gave me focus on what I should be doing. But yeah the core of the song is really about that moment that so many people have where they question their dreams and think to themselves “Maybe it’s time to get a real job?”

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

I track everything at home in my studio, then I send it to my Juno Disco bandmate/production wizard Nick Bond to mix and play around with. He then sends the mix back and then it goes to industry legend Joseph Carra to be mastered. And while that’s all happening my stupidly talented filmmaker/photographer/artist/writer friend James Vinson creates the artwork. James has also done all of my press photos for the last few years and is directing the film I’m working on. 

It’s the same approach as what I did with ’25 Not Doing Alright’ and I just love how it works. I’m extremely fortunate to work with these incredibly talented people that elevate the material to another level. 

How did you approach the recording process?

A little bit differently, I don’t do this very often but I wrote the core of the song before recording it. Like a real songwriter. It’s always fun to mix up songwriting and recording processes as it generally gives you an alternate perspective on things. 

What programs/equipment did you use?

I use Logic as my DAW to record everything. I use a Neumann TLM 103 into either a Scarlett 6i6 or Apogee Duet interface to record Vocals, Violin, Percussion. The Aphex Twin synth was done on the Arturia V Collection CZ V (I actually have the synth that this is based on but needs to be serviced). And then most of the other synth parts were recorded on my trusty Prophet 08 and the bass was done on the Behringer Model-D (controversial). Oh and there’s a bit of Juno-106 in there at the end and some Arturia V mellotron pianos and clav thrown in there as well. The drum parts are all done with Sequential Circuits Drumtrax samples. And I think that’s pretty much it. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

One of my favourite Australian band’s I’lls have reunited with a different project called Armlock. They’ve put 2 tracks so far ‘Power Of A Waterfall’ and ‘Turf War’ which are amazing and I’d highly recommend checking out. Let me have a look at my Spotify history. MF DOOM, Ravyn, Lenae, Boards Of Canada, PJ Harvey, Bibio, Beastie Boys, Steely Dan, Tribe Called Quest, Kings Of Convenience and of course my favourite podcast ‘The Weekly Planet’.

What do you like to do away from music?

Watching movies, cooking, having a bloody beer and going for a run. 

Please tell us about working across both your solo project, side-project Juno Disco and scoring your first feature film:

A lot of work! It’s really great being able to do so many different things musically.

You produce your own film clips, how did this come about?

I started doing this in lockdown last year, making videos for covers I was doing and then eventually videoclips and ads for my music. 

I absolutely love it! I approach it very similarly to how I make music and the fact that filmmaking tech has advanced so much means I can kind of experiment and shoot things and just airdrop it to my computer in a second and play around with it in Final Cut while I’m still shooting. I find it an extremely creative process almost like painting or something as it’s all kind of happening at the same time there’s no traditional pre-production/production/post-production period.

What’s planned for 2021?

Finishing the film is next on the Agenda, there’s a Juno EP on the cards and of course put out more Salty music!!!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Leonard’s House Of Love hands down.

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Where are you currently based?

I live in London now. I grew up in India and moved here at the age of 18. 

How did you first start playing music?

I’ve been singing ever since I was a little girl. Being able to write music and sing is a way I can express myself. I can create a whole other world in my head to escape to – which was very handy in lockdown?

Your new single ‘Parallel’ which follows your previous single ‘Tastes Like Anarchy’. What influenced the sound?

‘Parallel’ has a really abstract vibe. It means something slightly different every time I listen to it- the good and bad side in a person living in parallel, always aware of each other but never meeting. Or two soulmates who were meant to be but who never quite got together. 

The idea for the video is likewise very surreal. I worked with Stevie Coales who is an amazing director to come up with the concept and we filmed the whole thing in his flat (though you’d never know it!). The idea behind the video was to paint a picture of all the different sides to a person that live in harmony- it’s really quirky and fun- we used different lights, colours, textures etc to create completely different “worlds”. The song and video are really intended to spark the imagination and I hope people love it!

What does this track mean to you?

My mother is an artist and does a lot of abstract paintings. She uses beautiful vibrant colours and I love immersing myself in what she paints. I can stare at her work and disappear into it.

For me, my song ‘Parallel’ evokes images and shapes and colours in the same way that my mother’s art does. It transports me to a parallel world!

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

The track was recorded a while back in London. It was produced by One Bit (Stormzy, JP Cooper) and Haj (Sigma, Becky Hill).

You run London-based foundation ‘Discover2Dream’ which is aimed at connecting students with female role models in a variety of sectors, how did Discover2Dream come about and how has the experience been so far?

I’ve always loved speaking and engaging with school kids. I think it’s so important that as a youngster you’re exposed to people from different careers and backgrounds- it helps inspire you and I think increases aspirations. My sister and I set up Discover2Dream because we wanted to make sure that kids from ethnic minority backgrounds have access to female role models from different careers and sectors.

I have to also say that being able to perform my music for students is just amazing- they are always so honest and when they like a track you know it’s good!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have Becky Hill on replay at the moment – I think she has such a fierce voice.

What do you like to do away from music?

This is going to sound weird but I love to play pranks on my friends!

What else is planned for 2021?

I want to be as creative as possible and build on what I managed to do last year. My last track ‘Tastes Like Anarchy’ had been recorded a while back and we were due to release it just as the pandemic hit. The initial idea for the video just wasn’t going to work and we had to adapt quickly- we decided to release a Zoom-inspired music video, featuring female dancers from a number of countries.

We never thought we’d get the reception we did but everyone loved the idea and the fact that we had managed to draw inspiration in a very difficult time. The video actually ended up winning the NeXtup Global Indie Music Competition (judged by Zhavia and Mally Mall) – which was just amazing.

I want to continue drawing inspiration for the simple things in life and unlikely sources to create something positive and beautiful.

I have a load of more great music in the pipeline! Next up will be a track with Tom Ferry who is an amazing Dance DJ. So definitely watch this space?

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love food, especially Indian food. 

I’ve spent most of this year hanging out in my flat. My favourite room at the moment is my living room – I’ve had to refashion it a bit. I’ve installed a cool light system which completely transforms what is a boring room by day into a different world at night!

Segiri ‘Parallel’ is out now. Buy / Stream at https://ffm.to/xxbdvxl. A Tom Ferry remix of ‘Parallel’ will be released on 4 June. 

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What is your name and role within the band?

CC aka Chris Constantinou – Co-Writer/Producer – Bass Guitar/Guitar

Where are you currently based?

London

How did you first start playing music?

I was in and out of trouble all the time as a kid and music gave me a way out.

‘CC’ (aka Chris Constantinou) started out as Adam Ant’s bassist, and has gone on to work with a host of big names, including Lou Reed and Sinead O’Connor, and RudeGRL (aka Jenna Dickens) has worked with The Basement Jaxx, Sub Focus, and more. How did the trio form?

Jenna and I met many years ago when we were both signed to Sony but reconnected when I texted Jenna at 3 am saying I had an idea for a  live punk/rock music-meets-hip-hop concept, based on a band I had seen play in Finsbury Park years ago. I then met Jenna’s partner Bunni Morretto who is an award-winning Burlesque dancer and we clicked. I remembered Hawkwind had a dancer / character Stacia on stage which really made the show, and also the fun Bez brought to The Happy Mondays live with his crazy dancing / vibe, so I asked if Bunni would join us on stage and that’s how it all started. We’ll start shows in September.

What have you guys been up to recently?

Writing new material for the next album…preparing for photoshoots…live stuff.

Your new EP ‘Killer 16’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Music wise…Nicholas De Carlo sent us some beats, I jammed some bass and guitars and Jenna AKA RudeGRL started doing her thing and we had it written and recorded in an hour.

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

We recorded at my studio and Nick mixed it at his studio in Ramsgate. It was mastered in America.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding about the writing/recording process?

The most rewarding thing about it was being able to work so quickly. An hour a song and ending up with something we loved and also that people are now digging.

The band includes burlesque star Bunni Morretto, will you be incorporating Bunni into the live show more regularly over time?

Yes for sure 100%!!!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

The guy next door Adrian banging a hammer really loudly probably punishing me for the loud sessions we have in the studio.

What do you like to do away from music?

Good food / Yoga / Wine / Travelling / Sex / Driving around in ELLA my 1969 fastback playing loud music through the Rockford Fosgate mega sound system / Reading / Movies

What’s planned for the rest of 2021?

A new album and live work!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Curry / Agonda – South Goa – India

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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!!

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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 

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4R6Kb1sbHUPXcsLTSHdrzN?si=LQMqmBeIR9-FU4mS9u0InQ 

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.

www.laurenday.net

Instagram – Lauren Day

Spotify – Lauren Day

Photography: Billie-Jean Bullard @billiejeanbullard

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.

Instagram.com/lulleaux

Facebook.com/lulleauxmusic

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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