Music News

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.

Where are you currently based?

First of all, thanks for interview! My studio is based in Amsterdam, I live in the city center next to the canals and I really like it there. Walking around in this neighborhood in the evening, for me is the perfect setting to get inspiration from.

How did you first start playing music?

I started DJing at local clubs very long ago, learning how to beat match and playing with vinyl. Just at the moment I got that under control, the technology had evolved and the CDJs came with a sync button, which made the art of beatmatching less relevant. To be able to stand out again I thought it was the right time to start making my own music and so bought FL Studio (this was in 2007), which after a while I switched for Logic Pro.  

What’s been happening recently?

I spent a lot of time in my studio developing my own sound, as want to explore the space in-between indie bands and electronic club music. I just released my album called ‘Enroute’.

Your album Enroute which is a collection of single releases dating back to 2017 is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting over this period?

After we parted Volt & State in 2016, I wanted to focus on making music without looking at what label to release on, or what would be right to do career-wise. Also with Volt & State we did lots of shows, what made me adjust all music we made, into playable version for the crowd to enjoy live. The music I make now, still has the progressive house melodies but is not 100% for clubs or festivals, but also very suitable for listening. 

How did you go about writing the music?

When I’m in the studio I always start with writing a melody as a base, and I’m super picky about that. Sometimes I can spend 3 months straight, only writing melodies on a piano preset. If they don’t completely blow me away, I don’t finish them and just continue searching for perfect loop that exactly brings me the emotions I’m looking for. 

Where and when did you record/produce/master?

The melodies of the first records, such as Moving On, Arrive, On Your Mind, Higher and Hold You Now, were made in Paris (France) and in Arnhem (The Netherlands) where I lived during the Volt & State era. The other tracks mostly from Amsterdam as I currently live there.

What programs/equipment did you use?

Logic Pro, Dynaudio bm5a mk2 speakers, Apogee soundcard, Korg MS 10 and a basic keyboard.

Josha Daniel is featuring artist on 4 tracks, how did you come to work together and what do you like most about his voice?

A few years ago, we (Volt & State) were working on a track with Devi from NEW_ID, when he invited us to come along to a live show of the band where his brother was playing in. I really liked that show, and later in the Armada studios we met again and found out we shared the same taste and ideas about music. Josha is also working in that crossover field between dreamy energetic electronic music mixed with indie band influences, which I think is really unique. Also I was blown away by his songwriting and voice. The fact that he can write, sing but also is a super talented producer, having his own style, I think is really special.

What’s your vision for the Quentyn project and your label Enroute Records?
With Quentyn (and my label Enroute Records) I focus on music that makes you feel you’re in a movie, cruising at night or daydreaming at a party. It’s right in that space between indie-bands and electronic club music – often influenced by the 80’s. What I used as inspiration for my album Enroute, soundwise would be if Swedish House Mafia or Avicii would meet Justice, Roosevelt, M83 or Metronomy. Also CHVRCHES, Miike Snow and Eric Prydz have been great influences for me.

With Enroute Records I want to build that bridge between Indie bands and EDM, genre wise it could be described as Synthpop, Indietronica, Electropop, Indie Dance but I’m not sure there really is a name for this genre yet.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Currently to Cobra Man, Metronomy, Roosevelt, Still Corners, Vargas & Lagola, Thomas Azier, Luttrell, Solomon Grey, Apparat, Justice, Klahr, problem solved and M83. Most of the time tho, I’m listening to the ‘work in progress’ Soundcloud playlist of Josha Daniel’s second album, it’s almost finished and the tracks are insane!  

What do you like to do away from music?

I think about music way too much so mostly it would be chilling with friends, while talking about music haha. I love to take my little boat and go on the Amsterdam canals with my friends or chill in the parks. I love walking or running at night to get inspiration. My family lives in Norway and also really love to visit them over there. 

How has your musical style changed since your previous alias Volt & State which you parted ways in 2016?

More freedom, which feels great!

What’s planned for 2021?

First we’re going to release remixes from my album tracks. I’m very excited about this as the remixers will be J.Laser (toured and collaborated with M83), Big Data, Roisto and Anoraak. After this I have some collaborations lines up with Lodola, Pikes, Antoine Larsen, Kashika and Andrew Shier. Some of these tracks will even be more indie band influenced. Also super excited we’re going to release Josha Daniel’s second album on Enroute Records, I think this really outstanding!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Eating pizza near the Amstel during the summer, would be my favorite spot and food combination. Already looking forward to that!

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Where are you currently based?

I live in Sydney, Australia. I’m from Tasmania originally, and I moved here just over a year ago now.

 How did you first start playing music?

I have always been a singer, but it was when I got my first guitar that I started properly playing music. I taught myself from YouTube, and started turning my poetry into songs.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve just started rehearsing with my band! It’s really fun and exciting. We will be doing more stripped back versions and we have Harpist too, which will be so amazing to perform with! It sounds very dreamy. All of the band are female too. There will be some epic acapella vocal harmonies happening haha.

Your new single ’10:45′ will be released on Friday April 16th, what influenced the sound and song-writing?

I was listening to a lot of Roy Orbison and Perfume Genius around the time “10:45” was written, and it was during COVID last year too! It’s original title was actually “Sun Dial”, and I wanted the song to sound bright and happy… like the sun! But, then my lyrics took a sad turn haha, and I started singing about how all of these amazing things were “Too Good to be True”, which is the pre-chorus. So “10:45” really took on a life of its own throughout the writing process. I love that though.

 How did you go about writing 10:45?

The process of this song was pretty organic. I co-wrote and co-produced this with my partner Tim McArtney, and we wrote the song on the grand piano, with just vocals, recording sections at a time. Most of the song was written within the first 2 days, by the third day we were deeeep in production land! I don’t like forcing anything whilst writing, so I just let the song take on a life of its own. The chords itself are quite bright and “happy” sounding, but then the vocal melody is super melancholic. I love this contrast.

What does 10:45 mean to you?

The meaning behind “10:45” to me, is recognising when you’re in a really good place in your life with someone, where everything seems to be going smoothly, and you so start to doubt. The chorus repeats “Don’t tell me it’s too good, Don’t tell me it’s too good, to be true”, and I feel like it’s that point in time, where you’re freaking out a bit, cause you’re waiting for something bad to happen?! Yet, when you’re in that good place, you’re wearing rose-tinted glasses, so you don’t really want to know the truth. Then I sing “Tell me, Tell me, Tell me” in the backing vocals, which is my subconscious almost anticipating and waiting for something bad to happen. So there’s this push and pull in “10:45”, of wanting to know the truth but trying to live in the moment.

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

I recorded, co-produce and co-wrote “10:45” with my producer, and partner Tim McArtney. The song writing itself only took a couple of days. We spent a LOT of time together adding a lot of production to this track, particularly lots of vocal harmonies, and even got our friend Dora to come play violin throughout the track! I always get my music mastered with Little Wing Sound, George Georgiadis is fantastic.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

As always, very organically! I love using a lot of midi strings layered with real strings, to create a really lush and buzzy effect. I also love trap drums mixed with layers and layers of vocal harmonies and strings. Tim and I also find ourselves sifting through fun atmospheric soundscapes, or using plug-ins like Crystallizer or Tremolator (Soundtoys), on strings and voice, and speeding up time/momentum of the effect! My favourite plug-in by far is probably Tremolator. I’m obsessed with it. I love putting it on my vocals.

What programs/equipment were used? 

Instruments used in “10:45” were the Yamaha C7 grand piano, Fender 1971 Tele, Moog Sub 37 anddd we even recorded our own snare sample on a Black Beauty snare drum (they sound amazing). Used a bunch of plug-ins, mainly Valhalla reverbs and Kush Audio plug-ins.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

I wanted to create something visually bold, yet beautiful and surreal. I am obsessed with surrealist style movies, with clever use of colour and intense/confusing storylines. I was inspired by my favourite directors David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Mother!) and Stanley Kubrick (The Shining).

Where and when did you film and who did you work with?

We shot the “10:45” film clip in Stanwell Park and Avalon Beach, haha! There were some studio scenes, beach scenes, and underwater swimming scenes. I was swimming in a sea pool in Stanwell Park at 10:45pm ironically hahaha. It was absolutely freezing. For the second part, we had to shoot in Avalon because I borrowed this amazing old vintage Harvester Scout truck. The truck is a heritage listed vehicle, so you could only drive it in a registered area. It was also very old… You probably wouldn’t want to drive it very far, or for very long. Haha.

I worked with Sam Brumby for this film clip, and it was just the two of us brainstorming ideas, based on the surreal movies and directors that I really love – David Lynch, Darren Aronofsky, Stanley Kubrick. Sam Brumby is a really talented and amazing director, and such a great guy to work with in general.

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

I really loved absolutely every aspect of it!

The hardest part was definitely trying to swim underwater for long periods of time.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 Zella Day & Weyes Blood. They just released a song together called ‘Holocene’ . It’s beautiful.

What do you like to do away from music?

Painting and Ice-Skating.

What’s planned for 2021?

To try and release as much music as possible, and finally play gigs! Fingers crossed.

Favourite food and place to hang-out?

I adore this cute café in the middle of Surry Hills called ‘Kawa’. Great coffee, hash browns and vibe.

“10:45” Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRYhW_Ul20

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

Spotify: https://linktr.ee/bambiohara