NYE 2K12 @ SAT

NOUVEL AN @ SAT from Society for Arts and Technology on Vimeo.

SLOW HANDS (Wolf & Lamb) @ Grenier de L'auberge Saint-Gabriel ! Dec. 23rd

(interview by: Omar Diouf, for Duke of Swabia.com) 


Hello Ryan , so first of all, let me tell you we are really excited to have you in Montreal !

Is it your first time coming here? How do you feel about our city?


It is my first time! which is absolutely mental, as i grew up in Vermont, only a five or so hours away! I just never really had the opportunity for some reason, but i am very excited. I have played for the same promoter (Ahmed) in Tunisia, and it was maybe the best party i have ever played my life! so my expectations are high ;) (Not to mention that i have heard you harbor some of the most beautiful women in the world! :)


I (Omar) really enjoyed your EP with Benoit & Sergio - Covers, can u tell us more about it ? And how the collaboration went down?

Haha, it was actually a birthday present i did for Gadi (w+l) a few years ago when we first met. It was a song that he loved and was playing a lot at the time, so i thought it appropriate to cover for him to play if he needed. He was so appreciative that it took him nearly two years to find a song he thought would fit, and, obviously, Benoit & Sergio provided the perfect (amazing) cover to go with it!


I was lucky to live in NYC when the Wolf & Lamb phenomenon started around 2008. How do you feel about what the label achieved in the past few years?

Wow, they have achieved an amazing amount! I mean, they hold a roster/found of some of the most successful talent of present. I just feel so fortunate to call all of those guys friends and family, and look back on all of our achievements and work towards them with an amazing amount of pride.


Can you tell us a bit more about your background? When did u start producing, why ?

I grew up in Vermont, moved to Philadelphia to attend school for classical and jazz guitar and composition. Left after a year, moved to NYC, shortly followed by Tom Croose (the other eventual half of Worst Friends), and just made music together, and solo until i met Gadi and Zev from W+L. The rest speaks for itself i think.

I began making music because it felt natural, it's really all i know how to do (aside from bartending). I am just happy people have taken a bit of notice and allow me to do this for a living now.

Which upcoming artists should we pay attention to for the upcoming year in your humble opinion? :)

Ooof! Hmmm. . . . Tom Croose, Pional, Mano Le Tough, No Regular Play, Perseus, Eddie Mars, Goldroom, Cosmic Kids, Beg To Differ, Soho 808, Alexander Holland, Pink Stallone, Turbotito, Cosmonauts . . . to name a few (and some of these boys are already quite well established)


Last but not least, anything new coming up for Slow Hands?

Lots of forthcoming remixes, originals, Worst Friends and Male Madame work . . . . time off maybe ? ;)



Thank you so much ! SEE YOU ON THE DANCEFLOOR :)



You guys know what to do :)

RSVP HERE ======> https://www.facebook.com/events/128274850619191/?ref=ts

Finger Lickin' Gold

Oh this is a MUST-attend, a do-NOT-miss, a be-there-EARLY! It is also an early candidate for Booking of the Year for this year's Duke Awards, going down at perhaps the Venue of the Year: Le Belmont.


Elephant & Castle and Black Tiger Sex Machine present :

TREASURE FINGERS [Fool’s Gold, Defected]

Throw a predrink on your terrace, wear those Ray Bans past sundown and come celebrate the start of the summer season. Because in this city, we don’t wait for snow to melt to take our shirts off and enjoy a cold one among friends. And with no exams in sight, your only worry is to decide who’s got the first round.
...
On April 29th, because we know you’re going big, we’re stepping up. After a successful rehearsal at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Treasure Fingers will team up with hometown heroes Black Tiger Sex Machine, Seb Diamond and Flash Decks to boombox your face.


Skirts & Rollerblades
Ray Bans & Cherry Cokes
Monaco Disco Swag & Poolside Love Affair

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BUY TICKETS HERE: http://www.wantickets.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?eventId=88415

IN STORES:
Off The Hook (1021 Ste-Catherine W)
Moog Audio (3828 St-Laurent)
Alibi Boutique (506 Rachel E.)

OR CALL:
Guillaume Drouin Garneau (514-249-6459)
Phil Vézina (514-568-9936)
Amine Ouadahi (514-712-7763)

PRESALE $15
DOOR $20

DORIAN CONCEPT @ CFC

Your Friends on Clark Street Present:

TONIGHT! Thursday, April 7th

DORIAN CONCEPT (LIVE - Kindred Spirits, Austria)
www.myspace.com/dorianconcept

Dorian Concept is a Vienna based composer and musician, a child piano prodigy who went onto study music composition in Salzburg. His fusion of jazz, electronics and club music is as exciting as it is unique.

Dorian, aka Oliver Johnson, has released a string of extraordinary singles and EPs on Affine Records, Ninja Tune and Kindred Sprits, most notably the 'Trilingual Dance Sexperience' release in 2009, and is somewhat of a YouTube star (his online tweaks get over 200,000 hits). He was asked by Flying Lotus to play at his Brainfeeder Event in London in 2009 and joined his band on keyboards for his latest shows. Next to touring through Europe, Asia and Australia, he has gotten support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Mary Anne Hobbs, Benji B and many more.

+

Jacques Greene (Night Slugs, LuckyMe)
Joe Shabadu (LuckyMe, Bauce Networks)
Rilly Guilty (Lookout)
Seb Diamond (Night Trackin')


@ CFC (formerly Zoobizarre), 6388 St-Hubert

PRESALE TICKETS @ http://bit.ly/gKt4Jo
10$ at the door

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FACEBOOK EVENT

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Check out:

Interview: TOM ELLIS (UK, Trimsound)

Introduced to the scene in 2003, with releases on Mindtours and Morris/Audio citysport, he enveloped himself in the world of electronic music and embraced the technology behind it.

His recent live project with Leif, co-founder of his label Trimsound, has taken him all over the world headlining some high profile club nights in Tokyo, Cologne, Munich, Budapest, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leeds, Bristol and more.

His unique blend of funked-up, jazz-inspired house and techno can be found on such labels as Logistic Records, Hartchef Discos, Floppy Funk, Mindtours, Frankie, True to Form and many more, including a lot of the growing underground netlabels. (source: trimsound.co.uk)

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Interview: (by Omar Diouf + Alexander Leblanc)

DUKES: When and how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today?

Tom Ellis: I think I was about 16 when I got my first sampler. I've been completely obsessed with the idea of making music ever since. My dad used to put on big parties up in the woods around north Wales, so I'd sometimes get the chance to play a few records in some crazy settings. It all grew from those experiences and a kind of never ending quest to try and improve my work.

Interview: MOWGLI

Italian born DJ and producer Mowgli began his career humbly in the north Italian village where he grew up. With few nightclubs to really get lost in and no happening music scene to speak of, Mowgli felt compelled to make his own sounds and made do with a cheap keyboard and sampler. It wasn’t long before he discovered hip-hop, immersing himself in the lifestyle and culture before moving to pastures new in Bologna. Once there, Mowgli indulged in all manner of illegal rave diversions until fixing up and making the move to the London in 2006.

Mowgli has spent the past four years consistently creating high level quality productions spanning many different genres of electronic dance music. His own distinctively groovy sound stands out from the rest, making him one of most sought after producers worldwide - with remix requests and releases from artists including X-Press 2, Santogold, Martin Solveig, Armand Van Helden, Tommy Sparks and Tricky amongst many others.

After starting his own label "DeadFish" back in 2008, the label has gone from strength to strength. Releases like “London To Paris”, “I Want Everything”, “We Think Its Cool” and “Caraibi” have really pricked the ears of the industry and grabbed the attention of the underground house scene.

Supported by radio play from the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Xfm and Kiss, releases from the label have commanded attention the world over.

Back on the DJ front, tours of Europe have seen Mowgli grace the decks regularly in the best European clubs and festivals. As well as this, tours of Australia, South and North America, South Africa and Asia where always an enormous success and other visits in these countries are planned in the coming year.

2011 will see Mowgli immersing himself in deeper shades of house and techno, whilst still retaining his unique sound and sense of fun that he and the Deadfish label have become known for.
(source: Mainstage Artists)


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Interview: (by Omar Diouf + Alexander Leblanc)


DUKES: When and how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today ?

I started doing hip hop beats when I was around 15-16 years old with an old sampler and a keyboard. The result wasn't that great of course, but I really loved being in studio and experiment with sounds and I guess its what motivate me still today... I simply need to make music to be happy


DUKES: Who were your early musical influences?

Interview: Masomenos (WTM, Cocoon)

BIO:
The so funky duo Masomenos is a productive partnership between Joan Costes, graphic designer and DJ, and Adrien de Maublanc, music producer and AD. When they met in 2006, they almost immediately started working together, expressing themselves throughout different medias such as image, videos, and sound, finding in Masomenos a great playground for their creativity.

Bon Voyage was the perfect first project as it was a combination of both their specialty (half selection/half production). It ended up being a one hour bootlegged musical journey that brought them enough positive feedback to keep on this path.

Though, they both kept on doing what they were doing before they met: As Joan was digging records and spending time behind the decks, Adrien was building up his studio, and defining his production style.

The next step was to create their own label, as they understood it would be the best way to fully express themselves musically to the universe, but also visually, as this was also important part of their work. They continue to develop this side of their musical activities.

Eventually, Masomenos began getting requests for gigs, and naturally they proposed 2 acts under the same name, Joan doing a dj set, and Adrien playing live.

Though it was a bit complicated in the beginning, they insisted, as it was for them the only way to present what Masomenos IS: 2 individual personalities, inspiring each other with their work, and looking in the same direction.

This duo has given birth to 3 albums, and over 25 eps, opened a shop, and made lots of design collaborations, but that's another part of the story...

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Interview: (by Omar Diouf + Alexander Leblanc)

DUKES: When and how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today?

Joan: i was working as a graphic designer, doing artwork for a label. Bettino, who owned the label, also owned a record shop, and payed my work with vinyls…i eventually got some decks home and started to play around with my few records. took a while before i could start sharing it. When i met Adrien, we both got in a more clubby direction with our sound. We are now very lucky to play in really great place, and this is what keep us motivated also. When you have the first time this communion with the crowd it becomes pretty addictiv :)

Adrien: I bought my first sampler in 1999. music then was just like going to sport or a psy :)


DUKES: Who were your early musical influences?

Interview: TEKI LATEX (Sound Pellegrino)

Saturday, March 19th. Mark your calendars. Day 2 of the I Love Neon + Highfood Festival, starring Jesse Rose, and SOUND PELLEGRINO THERMAL TEAM (Teki Latex + Orgasmic).

Duke of Swabia is super excited and looking forward to that night! We had a few questions for Teki Latex before he takes over the S.A.T alongside his partner DJ Orgasmic.
Check out the exclusive Duke of Swabia interview below.

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Bio: (source: Resident Advisor)

It doesn't take an expert in musical genres and movements to find out that since the last few months, a new musical family has built itself on the ruins of loud big-beat-like fidget and overly distorted washing machine electro. Inspired by the "less is more" ethics of minimal techno as much as the DIY/sample-anything-as-long-as-it's-got-attitude" philosophy of hip-hop, this new un-named form of groovy and refreshing house music is rising and Institubes' new "little brother label" Sound Pellegrino is proud to be on the forefront of such an exciting phenomenon.

Curated by renowned DJs and taste makers Orgasmic and Teki Latex, (from pioneer electronic hip hop outfit TTC - Teki also happens to be one of the founders of Institubes), Sound Pellegrino has quickly established itself as one of the labels to look out for in 2009, releasing singles by Renaissance man, Zombie Disco Squad, Harvard Bass, Momma's Boy and Douster and generating interest by A-List DJs from all ends of the dance music spectrum such as Laidback luke, Mowgli, A-Trak, Bart B more, Sinden, Pete tong, Riva starr, Chloé to name a few.

Today Orgasmic and Teki latex, the two public faces of the label, unite to form the Sound Pellegrino Thermal Team and they are ready to take that movement to a club near you. Even though their teaming up behind the turntables is rather recent, these two have known each other for 15 years and have released countless collaborations. Going through various musical phases, they have always kept a will to explore forward-thinking dance music that will make the crowd go crazy without sounding stale and outdated. Mixing ingredients ranging from tribal rhythms, pumping tech house and mini baltimore to warped funky sounds with a slice of club rap thrown in for good mesure, the Thermal Team's mineral cocktail promises to bring something refreshing and bubbly to the table. With already 3 mixes acclaimed by the blogosphere under their belt, as well as remixes and original productions as the SP Thermal Team in the works, this new combination of already well established forces is ready to take the house music world by storm.

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Interview: (by Alexander Leblanc)

Duke: When/How did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today?

Teki: My "production" skills are limited to sitting in the studio with Orgasmic, Para one, or anyone of my collaborators, and telling him i want my drums to sound more this way or that way, and i want the melody to go "da da da di" instead of "da da da da"... i'm not really touching the hardware and i don't know how to use abelton or anything. I just know what i want and i learned that by hanging with talented producers for hours and hours in studios since my TTC days.
When it comes to deejaying i was always fiddling around with the turntables before and after ttc shows or during the parties we used to throw, but i bought a pair of CDJs 3 and a half years ago so i guess that's when i started taking the art of DJing very seriously.

Basically it was around the time when my solo album dropped. It was very different from what i was doing with my rap group TTC, it was a pop album made by a guy who wished he was a pop singer, but who really kind of wasn't? Anyway I wasn't really comfortable with the idea of going on tour and giving people a live version of my album, because it meant forming a new band with actual instruments and rehearsing with that band, starting from scratch, doing all the shitty venues we had already played with TTC (a nightmare i didn't want to go through again), being the only vocalist on stage and all sorts of things i wasn't ready to do. So i never got around to putting together this version of my solo live show, yet people still wanted to see me perform and promote my album in a "live" context. So i started doing DJ sets instead, and people loved it and kept asking for it.

Obviously i sucked at first but it soon became a real passion and something i would take really seriously. I didn't want to be that singer/rapper/entertainer guy who was pretending to be a DJ and who would just play random songs without beat-matching or anything. I've been hanging out with DJs all my life and i always was a real lover of dance music, so that kind of set a standard for me.


Duke: Who were your early musical influences?

Teki: My early early influences were things i saw on TV as a child, 80's synth pop, cheesy french and italo disco, tv show themes, Michael Jackson, Talk Talk, Teenage mutant ninja turtles, Technotronic, whatever. Then came Hip hop and later on, house music, even though it was always kind of present in the background... more or less consciously.


Duke: How did you meet your partner in crime DJ Orgasmic?

INTERVIEW: BAREM [M_NUS]

Hello MTLiens ! I think we all noticed that Montreal has been on fire lately , bringing us all kinds of international artists not only monthly but WEEKLY ! A huge step for the scene ! With igloofest, the boys at Microzoo and Safari @ Salon Daomé I can honestly say that 2011 is going to be a sweet journey into the international sounds of electronic music …which is obviously great ! On March 8th , the Safari crew will take us to the next level with non other than Minus artist BAREM ! For the occasion, I (Omar Diouf) and the rest of the Duke crew prepared a little interview and information about the Argentinean beat maker/DJ !

ENJOY ;)

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BIO : (source : www.residentadvisor.net)

‘Everything you do in life affects your music if you do music with passion. It's YOU in there, with everything good or bad inside’.
Barem

Mauricio Barembuem (aka Barem) perfectly personifies the new breed of electronic musician who has grown up in the digital age, using intuitive software programs like Reason and Ableton to spontaneously express ideas and emotions. On-line distribution has also made it possible for them to reach out and connect with audiences across the globe, no matter where they are - Buenos Aires for example, where Barem grew up amid the hustle and bustle of a city on the edge.

His teenage years were spent playing blues and rock guitar in bands but this always meant compromise. He longed for a purer form of self expression and eventually found it through electronic music, fascinated in particular by the way some DJs could impose their own personal vision onto the music they played, elevating it to an art form. It was exactly the inspiration he needed and Barem was soon experimenting with sampled loops and buying records (7th City, Spectral, Perlon and of course Minus). However, becoming a techno producer/DJ in Buenos Aires was easier said than done with gigs were few and far between. He was close to quitting a few times but found the right people at the right time and the solid advice they gave kept him motivated and focussed on his goal.

It was to be a defining moment and from that point on his induction into the scene was fast and frenetic. He released the Kleine EP on the free net label Unfoundsound in July 2005 with the track Suki grabbing the attention of many prominent DJs, before graduating to Foundsound with his first vinyl EP - Campo Madness in May 2006. Meanwhile, his relationship with Minus was already taking root. Richie Hawtin encouraged him to submit some demos after hooking up in Buenos Aires, one of which – Opal, appeared on the Min2Max LP which kick-started a period of non-stop touring across the US and Europe as demand for his live performances grew. Two Minus releases then followed in quick succession. 2007 saw the release of his Never Better Than Late EP before 2008’s superb Kolimar EP signalled a distinctive evolution of his sound, adding organic, house inflected grooves to his repertoire. Listening to both EPs, it’s clear Barem concentrates most energy into creating the powerful bass lines that underpin his work. His expansive use of reverb and delay create space for subtle percussive elements to skip and snake while distant, sometimes eerie melodies occur on random, secondary levels as a result of these interacting elements.

Some tracks just sound right from the first moment you experience them to the point where it’s often hard to appreciate the intricacies that lie within. Whether on outstanding remixes like Fuse’s Substance Abuse from last year’s Plus8100 retrospective or his recent outing on Foundsound with the epic Heyday, it’s all about keeping things simple and staying true to the old school, minimalist approach that first got him hooked, his definition of which is both insightful and considered:

‘’...Minimal is not really a sound... it's just a way of making music. It represents good taste, stylish sounds, the underground, afterhours... Whatever native roots you have, whatever music you like or liked in the past, it all fits in there and it's not dying in my opinion. It's just arrived at the point where we’ve rediscovered how free and amazing the concept and the reasons behind it are...’’
Which goes some way to explain his decision in 2008 to step back from performing live to once again concentrate on DJing, infusing his sets with warm, Latin rhythms as he blends his favorite tunes from a cross section of electronic genres past and present. His sets have graced some of the biggest events around – the Detroit Music Festival, Time warp, Miami, Ibiza, ADE...not to mention 2009’s Contakt special at Brixton Academy and the Minus North American bus tour.

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INTERVIEW: (by Omar Diouf)

DUKES: Hello Mauricio ! first of all…we are here to talk about Music, a passion we all share so what I want to ask you is, how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today ? 

JUAN MACLEAN (DFA Records, USA)

Hello readers! As you know Juan Maclean will be performing (DJ SET) alongside Simian Mobile Disco For the NEON festival this March 18^th! We asked him a couple of questions about Montreal and also his gig at SAT.

Just for you ;) !

Dukes.

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BIOGRAPHY

"It's been a bit of a sore spot., laughs Juan Maclean, "sitting on this album and seeing this robot stuff pop up all over the place. I have serious robot credentials that go back years and years. Like, a decade! But Daft Punk beat me to the punch." He may be joking, but the man's right. If anyone's earned the right to call their debut album 'Less Than Human' and imagine a love triangle consisting of a man, a woman and the man's gay robot friend (as in 'Shining Skinned Friend'), it's Maclean.

He was guitarist and synth player with acclaimed but obscure, gonzo electro-punk band Six Finger Satellite, who began formulating their blend of rigidly mechanised disco beats, oddly sumptuous synth melodies and razor-shredded guitar work in the early 90s. The brutish but groovy result suggested a cross between Devo, Kraftwerk and Big Black. Then, America was mired in grunge, the famous French robots were still in short pants and the 'punk-funk revival' was in the unimaginable future. Six Finger Satellite were just too far ahead of their time and perished accordingly.

As a result, Juan MacLean nearly gave up. Not just on music, but on life itself. Creative disillusionment and personal despair aggravated by years of drug addiction (he started shooting coke at an early age, then moved on to heroin) had, toward the end of last century, brought him to his knees. Then, as the world prepared to party at the millenium's turn, two shifts occurred. First, he quit Six Finger Satellite, got the hell out of New York City and decided to try doing something rather more socially constructive with his life than just playing in a band. Secondly, he found himself being bugged by Six Finger Satellite's former live soundman. But this guy wasn’t after money or the return of borrowed gear or any one of the countless other things that usually prompt such reconnections. MacLean was being hassled by his old friend James Murphy to start making music again.

"From the very beginning," explains Maclean, "I always made a promise to myself that when I thought the time for Six Finger Satellite was up in terms of creativity, then I would just quit. I thought it was better to go out in a blaze of glory, rather than make five more albums nobody cared about. ” Maclean quit in 1988, just one month before their final LP, 'Law of Ruins' (produced by Murphy) was due to be released. "I was just so sick of it," he claims. "I was burned out from going on tour, plus it had just stopped being interesting, so I sold all my equipment. I thought I'd never have anything to do with making music again."

With that in mind MacLean moved to New Hampshire, where he lives now. He cleaned up, studied for a degree and began teaching English in a young offenders' institute (he spent time in such places as a kid), which he does still and describes as "pretty fun." Meanwhile, his enthusiasm for music had been reignited by (a pre-DFA) Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy. "They'd mail me CD's of things they thought were good," recalls Maclean, "and the three of us started having this dialogue again about older dance music that we'd always liked - Kraftwerk, house and techno." Goldsworthy also introduced Maclean to music that we’d always liked – Kraftwerk, house and techno.” Goldsworthy also introduced MacLean to the work of experimentalists like Autechre and, although he found it “very calculated and intellectualised,” it did help get him excited about music again. So much so, that in 2000 he bought a computer and sampler. “The real breakthrough,” according to MacLean, “came when I took Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rockit’ – which was one of my favourite records when I was like, 13 – and attempted to rip it off. The result was ‘By The Time I Get To Venus,’ because at the time, I just wasn’t good enough to get that close!” That track became the debut 12-inch by The Juan MacLean and one of the first singles released by DFA.

‘Less Than Human’ refines what that tentative first effort only hinted at. It’s a precision-tuned rekindling of MacLean’s love affair with everything from Kraftwerk to Juan Atkins and Derrick May, Funkadelic to Giorgio Moroder and Lipps Inc, DAF to Talking Heads and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. It’s full of tics (sin drums, cow bells, Bootsy Collins bass lines, Moog Liberation motifs) borrowed from dance music history, but refuses to engage with retroism, nostalgia or any notion of ‘the classic.’ Opener ‘AD2003’ tracks back to Kraftwerk via Orbital, buoyed up by bubbles of percolating glitch. ‘Give Me Every Little Thing’ rewinds through Underworld and Talking Heads en route to Studio 54. ‘Tito’s Way’ contrasts acid-house synth squelches and rave whistles with clattering, tribal percussion. There’s a constant, though. Even the LP’s euphoric epic – 14-minute, piano-decorated closer ‘Dance With Me’, sung by LCD Soundsystem’s Nancy Whang – is poignantly subdued, touched by a melancholy that reflects MacLean’s own world view. “It doesn’t seem incongruous to me to have a lot of that stuff in there,” he says of the album’s sadness, “because I made a big effort to make an album, rather than a collection of tunes with just one good track that everybody knows. So I never really set out to say, ‘this is a song that will played for the dance floor,’ or whatever.

“When I started on it, I don’t think I had any pre-conceived notions at all, except that I knew I’d always be operating under the same aesthetic principles that I’d held in making music my whole life. For example, I started taking old multi-track, Six Finger Satellite recording tapes and I sampled all the drums from them – that’s most of the drum tracks you hear.” For the rest, there’s a live drummer, flute, guitar, synths, piano and vocals – no samples. “I might spend months and months on one track,” MacLean explains, “and we have a lot of live instrumentation on it, so a lot of things that sound like samples are actually me playing.”

As to the DFA connection, MacLean declares that working without Murphy and Goldsworthy was never an option. “Even now, if I weren’t going to work with James and Tim, I just wouldn’t be doing this at all. The thing that James does is something that he and I had been formulating for years and years, when I was in Six Finger Satellite – his recording techniques, his approach, the determination that he was going to put out the best thing he could possibly put out, or else it just wasn’t going to be put out. . . we spent every day and night together on tour for years, talking about recording – there was never a question of doing it with anyone else. I don’t need to be working with James because, in an engineering sense, we both do the same thing, but working with both James and Tim, it’s three people sitting there going, ‘that’s no good, that’s no good,’ and maybe one in three things will be passed by all three of us. It’s a really tough jury – the toughest – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
(Source: www.residentadvisor.net)

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INTERVIEW: Juan Maclean (by Omar Diouf + Alexander Leblanc)

DUKES: Hello Juan! First of all…we are here to talk about Music, a passion we all share so what I want to ask you is, how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today?

I have been involved in production since I was about 19 years old. I became interested in recording at a young age, and opened a recording studio in the early 90's with my first band, Six Finger Satellite. At some point I became pretty burned out with it and left music altogether for a few years.

One thing that enticed me back into production was that with dance music I could work alone and work at any time I wanted, without the hassles of dealing with a bunch of other people. After my first 12," By The Time I Get To Venus, came out, I immediately starting getting offers to DJ, so that is when I starting taking it seriously and playing outside the confines of my bedroom, around 2002.

I am still as excited about it today as I ever have been. Though I grew up with rock music, the limitations of a rock band setup make it inherently limited in terms of creativity. At some point, if you stick around too long, you start trying to branch out and make things more complicated. This is the death of a good rock band. For example, I seem to be in the extreme minority of people who don't give a shit about Radiohead. It just sounds like pedestrian electronic music to me, rock guys being impressed by production stuff that sounds very 10-years-ago to me.

INTERVIEW: SHONKY ( Freak n Chic)

BIOGRAPHY :

In music, one hit record is lucky. Two? That’s talent. And the talent everyone is talking about at the moment is fresh-faced Frenchman Shonky. But with over 50,000 tracks in the Beatport database, how does a modern electronic music artist distinguish himself? For Parisian techno and house producer, DJ and remixer, Shonky the answer is simple. He took his profound passion for making music and created a signature sound, delivered a few solid EPs, topped the charts, landed a nice place with a “few” big labels, moved to Berlin, & spun in the hottest euro Tech clubs and . . . Voila !

Indeed His natural aptitude for producing was immediately evident with releases like Let Me Ask U, his remix of Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia’s Far Away.. Back in 2007 every underground club was echoing to the sounds of Olympia – a slab of panoramic techno that seemed to have been custom-engineered at the bottom of the sea; Or dancing to his massive remix of Danton Eeprom’s All I Can Say, and he was piling up serious air miles with his increasingly hectic DJ schedule. In 2008, Shonky took another bold leap forward by releasing his first full-length album Time Zero. More than a haphazard assortment of tracks, Time Zero is blended together with a common theme: getting your groove on at a party and the art of celebrating life.

Incredibly, music was a second-choice career for the 26-year-old. “I studied mathematics and statistics for five years. I was supposed to get a job in a bank,” he grins. But as a dedicated clubber since his teens the lure of electronic music and culture proved too strong. Shonky bought a pair of decks though he admits he had no idea what to do with them at first. He picked up many of his tips at Dan Ghenacia’s infamous Batofar after-parties, where he struck up a friendship with Dan, Dyed, and the rest of the Freak n’ Chic crew.

Immersing himself in the rave scene in Paris, Shonky’s musical roots were then found at the “Batofar club”. More so, it was the deep house, soul and funk infused sounds hailing from the mid-90s West Coast house scene (namely San Francisco and San Diego) and the historical Chicago house movement that left an everlasting impression on his future. Inspired by pioneering deep house figures such as Gemini and Kerri Chandler, Shonky has dubbed his own innovative style of mixing, writing and producing.

Shonky’s was to be one of the hottest young stars of 2008 and simply a star in 2009 with still big releases, on Freak n’Chic and Contexterrior his home labels. Shonky’s hit tracks “Carnage” & “Coco Feel and Love Shonk,” unmistakably portray this development and expansion within his production, marking a musical crossroads in his passage towards a new sound –one that revealed sonically groovier house dimensions infused with stronger vocal representation. At this time, Critics and fans alike celebrated the new direction with admiration and enthusiasm. The result was a lighter feeling, less minimal with the same hypnotic overtones.. “He’s a natural talent,” raves Ghenacia. “I know when he does something it’s going to be perfect.” And 2010 shows no sign of slowing down, as Shonky delivered the summer Bomb Cluborama (FNC051) and Les shonkettes, contexterrior’s autumnal anthem.

We may never know what Shonky’s moniker means, but we certainly know the sound.. and Among those clamoring for his services, are clubs like.. DC10, Space, Zoo project in Ibiza; Goa, Madrid, Mac arena Beach Bbarcelona; Techno parade, Rex Club, Paris; mulletover and Fabric London, Bar27 Amsterdam, Berliner clubs Panoramabar, Der visionnaer & Watergate, Pollerwiesen Düsseldorf, Harry Klein München; Arma 17 Moscow; Kazantip Festival; Australian Ambar; La huaka Peru; Playa Del Carmen’s festival in Mexico & Hollywood’s famous Avalon Club to name but a few !

We caught up with Shonky as he continues his North American Tour ! He will be playing @ Salon Daomé

on March 1st ! Remember the date ! He is unbelievable :)

-------------------------

INTERVIEW: (By Omar Diouf)

DUKES: Hello Olivier! First of all…we are here to talk about Music, a passion we all share so what I want to ask you is, how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today ?

My first approach to production went through a sampler and that classic TB303. That’s all I could afford at this time. Then I wouldn’t talk of “a start in production” yet, I was 16, but it was a matter of getting familiar with the machine and the process at the time. I started in a proper way in 1999. I was working also with a friend of mine who helped to understand better logic audio and then in 2005 I was releasing my first EP on Freak n’Chic.

INTERVIEW : GUIDO SCHNEIDER @ U.N

«Guido Schneider has been producing electronic music for more than 10 years now. Strongly influenced by EBM he started his first project in 1991 with a friend; his first records released on SPV.

Changes marked the beginning of the new millennium: Guido closed down his label Neue Welten and met vocalist Florian Schirmacher. After their first joint studio session it became obvious that Guido‘s production and Florian‘s vocal skills would complement each other perfectly, and together they founded the project Glowing Glisses, under whose pseudonym they released 3 singles and the album 'Silver Surfer' on Poker Flat.

In 2002 Guido and Glowing Glisses joined Steve Bug, the Märtini Brös and Martin Landsky on the Poker Flat World Tour. Back in Germany, highly inspired, Guido began focusing on his solo project. His first Poker Flat single 'Triple Bolted' (pfr35) and the track 'Moved' showed Guido’s huge potential. Two 12"s followed in 2004: 'Unterwegs mit Guido Schneider' (pfr47) and 'Oh My Buffer' (pfr53). These two 12 inches finally put Guido on the map of internationally acclaimed producers.

Guido was also Steve Bug‘s first choice to remix his unstoppable classic 'Loverboy' for Poker Flat‘s 50th anniversary release. In 2005 Guido contributed the exclusive track 'Las Cuerdas de Las Canarias' to the 'Poker Flat Volume Four' album, alongside artists such as Steve Bug, Donnacha Costello, Argy and Jeff Samuel.

Recently, Gudio joined forces with his old friend Sammy Dee (Pantytec) again, with whom he had worked years ago as Schneider & Radecki. The result of this reunion was the Poker Flat 12" 'Styleways' (pfr63), which also was licensed to Richie Hawtin’s 'DE9: Transitions' album.

As a DJ and producer of international demand, Guido Schneider currently tours top clubs around the world. The new album 'Focus On: Guido Schneider' is the next milestone in Guido’s carreer. It includes some of his best released tracks and mixes as well as some brand new songs and gives an excting overview of his capabilities.»

(source: www.residentadvisor.net)

------------------

The Dukes catched up with Guido before his Flight to Montreal !

In all Exclusivity Guido tells us a little more about himself and his gig at Stereo Nightclub

this Friday February 18^th !

DOSSIER: Maher Daniel jacks the house !

Photo by Leif Tiltins

Maher Daniel has been moving masses lately ! The Get Physical artists Talks to Duke of Swabia in all Exclusivity ;)

«Where do we start with a name like Maher Daniel. "Maher" in his native tongue strings form the word excellence, and excellent is exactly what 2009 has been to jump start his career forward. Releasing records on top labels in the dance industry such as Get Physical Music/ Souvenir Music and Bedrock Records.

His remix of Tone Depth's 2001 classic Rumblefish saw him sitting at the #1 position of the Techno Charts for a solid 2 and a half months. His Music has reached out to the top players in the industry receiving immense support.

2010 sees a continuos rise with his musical journey,

Nominated this year as the world's biggest hot spot, renowned for its Analogue based sound system, this year's 14th best club in the world Stereo Montreal. We find Maher warming things up for the biggest names in the industry such as Lee Buridge, Clive Henry, Audiofly, Adam Beyer and Josh wink to Name a few.

Playing Festivals such as Creamfields Abu Dhabi, Piknic Electronik and Igloo Fest his sound travels across sound scapes of Deep house, Tech house, Techno and House as he never likes to pigeon whole himself with one specific musical genre.

This summer saw Maher's debut in Berlin and Europe where he has played at clubs such as Watergate, Bar25, Golden Gate, Cute Club Poland and Vozduh Moscow sharing his musical taste and energy.

The passion projected from this energetic character shows the perseverance and stone setting stature of someone who is not going anywhere anytime soon. Keep your eyes peeled as his passions and dream are transformed into reality.»

(Source:www.residentadvisor.net)

--------------------------

INTERVIEW: (by Omar Diouf)

« DUKES: Hello Maher ! first of all…we are here to talk about Music, a passion we all share so what I want to ask you is, how did you first get into production/DJ and what still motivates you to do it today ?

i guess i was always passionate about playing music and being a musician i used to be in a band when i was younger i played the guitar until my brother introduced me to electronic music and then i got hooked 5 years later i started producing and djing i can't sleep drink eat without thinking of producing or djing and thats how it all started . The biggest thing that motivates me is the reaction i see on people faces when they hear my records being played its really inspiring and keeps me wanted to give them more.

DUKES: Montreal is a hard place to break through , how did you do it ? and how did your life change lately ?

Trick, or Treat?

It's Halloween week and the night-time festivities are in full swing in Montreal. The weekend is just around the corner, and the horror kicks off early this Thursday, at Belmont. I Love Neon + High Food + Turbo have got a terrifyingly huge night planned for you guys (and girls). Monsieur IVAN SMAGGHE will be in town, headlining a lineup completed by none other than Thomas Von Party, Mike Mind and a very SECRET GUEST!? I've got chills... Trick? or Treat?

Ivan Smagghe, if you haven't heard of him, is scary good and bloody brilliant. He formed Black Strobe with Arnaud Rebotini in 1997, before leaving in 2006, and is now France's most wanted radio host and selector, standing at the crossroads between glamorous parisian hype and musical integrity. His Test radio show and compilations imposed a new vision of leftfield electronica on Radio Nova and his programming for the two past years has been a faultless example of quality eclecticness. Though Smagghe hails from the early days of the Parisian underground - both through his connection with the defunct Rough Trade record shop and remixing contributions on various formats - he just recently came back to music production by launching his own Set imprint in early 2001.

As for Thomas Von Party and Mike Mind, they need no introduction as DJ's in Montreal, as they have been making us dance and feel music for a while now. With Turbo Recordings attached to their names, they are presently heavily focused on, and immersed in, music production; developing their unique sound to share with us and the rest of the world.

But what about that "SECRET GUEST"? A Trick, or a Treat? All I can tell you is that it's a big big internationally-renowned name, a legit music heavyweight, which you have definitely heard of. I can assure you that you will hate yourself if you miss out on this one... Trick, or Treat? You'll find out Thursday night.

Facebook Event

See you there! Can't say I didn't warn you ;)

Kill Halloween Ticket Giveaway

Ladies and Germs,

Duke of Swabia.com has TWO FREE TICKETS to give away for this year's annual Kill Halloween Party on October 30th, brought to you by SAINTWOODS, Hype Productions and Bouddha Slinky.

It's going to be one hell of a night! You do NOT want to miss out, believe me.

For info regarding the event: http://dukeofswabia.blogspot.com/2010/10/kill-halloween-2010.html

So, "What am I supposed to do to win a free ticket?" I hear you say.

It's quite simple. Follow these few steps:

1. Choose your favorite photo of last year's Kill Halloween Party (with The Bloody Beetroots) from the Duke of Swabia album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=121195&id=135766949272

2. Copy its URL link

3. Paste it on the wall of the Duke of Swabia Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duke-of-Swabia/135766949272

Two people will be chosen at random, in 1 week, October 27th, to win 1 free ticket to the October 30th show at Metropolis.

Good luck!

KILL HALLOWEEN 2010

SAINTWOODS.COM PRESENTS...

w/ Hype Productions & Bouddha Slinky

KILL HALLOWEEN

(Canada's Biggest Halloween Party)

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE: 

http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/1000453EA73B93B5?lang=en-ca&camefrom=CFC_SPECTRAEN

-------------------------

THE PARTY

At Kill Halloween you will experience much more than just music. Don’t get us wrong, you are going to see some of the best live acts that the world has too offer, but just as important to us is our promise to annihilate all your senses with a freakish full-on sensory overload. The atmosphere at Kill Halloween is just as important to us as the headlining acts. Last year our headliners the Bloody Beetroots absolutely murdered it, but what had people talking just as much were the fire breathers, the visuals, the blood, the gore, the over the top spectacle that no other party in Canada goes to the length to conjure. You will be taken down an epic adventure where reality will be twisted into nightmare as your senses are bombarded by ghoulish performances, twisted lightshows and an all out over-the top adventure that will take all you party monsters down the rabbit hole and into the freak-show that is Kill Halloween. The second annual Kill Halloween will bring you the world’s best DJs and performances amplified by state-of-the-art lighting design, interactive circus and theatrical performances, art installations and audience participation that PROMISES TO PUSH THE LIMITS OF THE LIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE. For anyone who came last year... You know exactly what we are talking about!

And don't just take our word for it, here are a few examples of what you guys told us about last year's "Kill Halloween"

“fuck off, im dead.”
“best night of my life”
“MENTALLL PARTY”
“This show was so fucking amazing, im am corpse now.”
“CRAZZIESTT FKN SHOWWWWWWWW”
“Best Halloween ever.”

-------------------------

THE ACTS

EROL ALKAN

This years headliner at HARD HAUNTED mansion (and every other major music festival around the world), the man, the legend, Erol Alkan. Perhaps no one inspires as much loyalty as England’s premiere electronic God, Mr Alkan. By his fanatic fans he is considered the greatest live Dj in the world, by critics and bands alike he is acclaimed as one of the most groundbreaking producers on the planet. He has been voted best Breakthrough DJ' by Muzik magazine, "DJ of the Year" by Mixmag 2006 and Datatransmissions 'DJ Of The Year' in both 2008 and 2009. As one of the most revered promoters in England Erol was the man behind the infamous Trash nights in London, widely considered one of the most influential club nights in history. As an indie producer he has worked on the Klaxons albums and produced the entire second mystery jets album. In dance music he has pumped out some of this year’s biggest bangers, alongside BOYS NOIZE, with Wavves, Avalanche and the massive festival anthem -- widely mistaken at first to be new Justice music -- Lemonade. You do not want to miss out on this very rare chance to witness the biggest cult producer and DJ in dance music today, perform in Canada for the first time in over 2 and a half years.

/

LA RIOTS

If there is anyone in North America whose live performance draws the same cult status as Erol’s its Daniel LeDisko from the LA Riots. His revolutionary approach to party rockin has earned him the respect and fear of the worlds biggest names in electronic dance music. JFK of MSTRKRFT has said that he is the only DJ in the world he is scared to go on after. And since our last event with LA Riots was so insane that La Policia decided to shut us down, we thought we would bring him back to the biggest venue MTL has to offer on the craziest night of the year. The driving force behind Kill Halloween is bringing you the absolute best f*cking party we can imagine and we have scoured the Earth to find you the absolute best headlining duo! And with Erol Alkan and LA Riots you have the absolute best the world has to offer. And as if these 2 weren't enough we have assembled the biggest All-Star cast of opening acts known to man (seriously any one of these guys headline major events every week). All I can say is WOW... Good thing you all have the next day off!

/

JOHN ROMAN

/

LOVE THY BROTHER

/

PRINCE CLUB

/

VILIFY & CONSTRUCT

/

DOOZE JACKERS

/

VICTOR HACALA

/

KID ALOHA


TICKETS - $25 + Service

AVAILABLE:

Online: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/1000453EA73B93B5?lang=en-ca&camefrom=CFC_SPECTRAEN

Metropolis Box Office (59 St. Catherine E.)

Off The Hook (1021a St. Catherine W.)

Moog Audio (3828 St. Laurent)

Atom Heart (364 Sherbrooke E.)

18+ EVENT

Facebook Event

Or Call (514) 467-2177 for Tickets, Reservations and Info

RAS G @ Belmont

RAS G (Los Angeles, BrainFeeder)

"Somewhere at the interstellar crossroads of Sun Ra, DJ Spooky, Strata East, and Lee “Scratch” Perry lies the incomparable musical mind of L.A. native Ras G (born Gregory Shorter, Jr.). Though he often affixes the group moniker “The Alkebulan (or Afrikan) Space Program” to his name, Ras G (a composite of his first initial and a testament to his belief in Rastafari) is the sole captain and crew of this spacecraft. Along with a 21st-century moxie, his collective influences make up what he describes as ghetto sci-fi—an extraterrestrial soundwave transmission of dub, white noise, glitch, off-kilter boom-bap, and sound bites."

(via BTSradio) To take a peak into RAS G's musical mind, check out the mix he did for BTS Radio below:

DOWNLOAD HERE

"A brief, brutal blend of illbient-flavored dubstep and ominous hiphop..." - The Stranger

"Ras G and artists he's mixing are like kids who take apart their favorite toys just to see how many different ways they can find to put them back together." - Chicago Reader

"Ras G is a commanding force in Los Angeles and a classic example of what artistry is. Always pushing his production limits and bending his sound to a point that really make you believe he's from outer space. His live shows have a reputation of blowing out sound systems and shaking walls to the point of deterioration.

Ras G, a defining figure of a new movement while in a class/world all on his own.

This exclusive set for BTS is only a taste of the destruction he can bring to speakers...Take cover."

+

Hovatron
(MTL, Lucky Me)

+

Rilly Guilty
(MTL)

+

Lexis
(MTL, MusicIsMySanctuary.com)

+

MC/Host: BluRum 13 (Ninja Tune)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 22nd, 2010

6$ before 11pm, 8$ after.

Le Belmont

4483 Saint Laurent Boulevard

Facebook Event

The BBDC77

The Bloody Beetroots DeathCrew 77 kick off their first extended North American tour this week, and will be performing in front of a sold-out crowd at Telus Theater this Friday, October 16.

"On the eve of The Bloody Beetroots’ first extended North American tour as The Bloody Beetroots DeathCrew 77, Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo has released his remix of The Chemical Brothers’ “Dissolve”. Bob has turned The Chemical Brothers’ shimmering, psychedelic epic into a grinding club-ready track with explosive buildups and orchestral explosions.

Download: The Chemical Brothers- Dissolve (The Bloody Beetroots remix)

For the first time, Italian producer and polymath Sir Bob will be joined for the extended tour by a full band: The Bloody Beetroots DeathCrew 77. Stepping out from behind the mixers, Rifo now plays guitar, bass, and synths and is joined on stage by Tommy Tea on controllers and the Beetroots’ newest member Edward Grinch on drums.

The new live setup is a dramatic reinterpretation of the Beetroots’ music and the ultimate marriage of the band’s love of grinding electronic melodies, aggressive hardcore punk, and elaborate compositions. Check out the band Live at La Cigale as well as their new video for “Domino” for a sample of The Bloody Beetroots DeathCrew 77 below:

EXILE @ Blizzarts

EXILE
LIVE SET!

with RILLY GUILTY

Friday October 1, 2010 @ 10pm

@ BLIZZARTS, 3956 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC

5$ at the door

(source: M. Steiker)

"L.A. based virtuoso DJ and producer Exile will be performing a very special live MPC set in Montreal on Friday, October 1st at Blizzarts in support of his latest release AM/FM – a collection of original material directly inspired by his hometown's radio airwaves.

Exile’s early exposure to hip hop grew into the desire to create the music he loved himself. At the age of 18, Exile met up with rapper, Aloe Blacc, 16 years old at the time. With a one-button sampler and a four-track they formed Emanon and started making their own albums. Exile, then met 19 year old rapper Blu and together started work on his solo effort Dirty Science, featuring Slum Village, MED and Ghostface Killa. Together they also made the critically acclaimed classic, Blu and Exile -Below The Heavens. After producing tracks for artists such as Mobb Deep, Jurassic 5, Akon and Snoop Dogg; he continues to excel in the art of creating music with his first instrumental album entitled Radio. Radio immediately made an impact, and now we bring you AM/FM.

"Easy- Heatshock" Remix Comp

Saintwoods/Digital and MOOG AUDIO are proud to present: 

"EASY – HEATSHOCK" 

The Remix Competition

In support of their latest release, Saintwoods/Digital is giving you the stems to this epic electro rock anthem and asking you to put your unique spin on it.

The winner will get a free copy of Ableton Intro courtesy of our pals over at MOOG AUDIO as well as their winning track featured on the full EP release and all related marketing materials.

Three runners up will also have their tracks featured on the release which will include remixes by Canada’s Barletta, Paul David, Love Thy Brother and Ireland’s Two Charming Men

Remixers have 1 month to do some damage after which the panel of judges, which will include Barletta, Paul David, the Saintwoods team and Moog Audio, will make their announcements at the end of August.