12/03/2007

Simian Mobile Disco are the superb DJ/producer combo offshoot of the self-proclaim ?electronically enhanced psychedelic folk band from England? Simian. The past few years have seen them knock out huge slabs of electro/indie crossover gear like the awesome ?The Hustler? on Kitsun? and ?Tits & Acid? alongside highly acclaimed, fresh-sounding remixes for the likes of Peaches, Go! Team and Air. All the while they have been rinsing out raucuous DJ sets at some of the world?s finest clubs such as Fabric and Turnmills. Next up for them ? a headline-grabbing set at Issst?s NYE Warehouse Party in London alongside Tiefschwarz and The Klaxons. We roped Jason from SMD in ahead of the party to get the lowdown from him?

How did the Simian lot all meet in the first place? Chance happening or destiny?

I don't believe in destiny. We hooked up in Manchester and I guess it was likely to happen as we all chose to go there due to its strong musical background. Being smaller than London, Manchester is a great place to go if you want to form a band as the scene is much closer.

Were you DJs before you were in the band or was it something you picked up along the way?

I had decks before the band and we were really into electronic music, in fact James and I were working on an electronic project before Simian.



Did you have grand ambitions for Simian Mobile Disco when you first started DJing out or was it just supposed to be a bit of fun?

It was, and still is, fun. While we were in the band it was a good way to get taken to the good clubs and fed booze.

You have been at the forefront of the dance/indie crossover phenomenon of the last couple of years, following on from the trend that was started with the whole ?electroclash? movement several years ago. Have you always been had one foot in each camp or did you go through phases of being more devoted to rock than electronic music, for example?

I have always thought that the most interesting area of music is where live stuff meets electronic stuff. It's also the most dangerous area as you can go really wrong. I think that we were always the electronic edge of live stuff with Simian, and we are now on the live edge of electronic stuff with SMD.

2006 has seen the rise and rise of crossover clubs in this vein in London such as The Insomniacs Ball and Adventures In The Beetroot Field. Have you seen much evidence of the trend spreading across the country or further afield?

Everywhere we go it's getting easier and easier to play a varied set. People don't expect just one type of music all night now which is great for us and probably great for the new music that is appearing.

Do you think this all shows that people are becoming less narrow-minded in their musical tastes? There certainly seems to be less and less segregation in music these days...

The days of going to a record shop and heading to the "rock" or "dance" section are really over - those divisions don't reflect music these days. People are certainly much more open to different types of music.

Let?s talk about your studio habits. Do you find it relatively easy to knock out a decent tune? Does putting together a catchy melody come to you naturally or is it something you have to work hard at to perfect?

We work really fast so we tend to make loads of tunes and choose the ones that stand out and that get a good reaction when we play them out. It's all very instinctive and fun.

Tell us about the whole Kanye West incident for the benefit of those who don?t know. Has it been quite a surreal situation to be in?

Poor old Kanye has got a real beating for this. He was really drunk and thought that he had won the best video award and ran onto the stage while the directors of the ?We Are Your Friends? video were up there picking up the award. He starting ranting about how much his video cost and the guys were taking the piss out of him. Very funny.

NYE sees you playing at a rather nifty-looking Issst Warehouse party in East London. You will be joined by the likes of Tiefschwarz and The Klaxons behind the decks. Why is raving it up in a warehouse the sensible NYE option?

Start the New Year the way you mean to go on - get messy in front of the big speakers. If we are playing late I can't vouch for how tight our set is going to be. It should be fun though.

Will you be cooking up any special edits or tracks especially for the event? NYE sets always seem to be expected to deliver something really big...

NYE always makes you look at the record box in a different way - people are usually ready to have it so you can really hammer them - and get away with some stupid stuff too.

And finally, when are we going to get this LP from you? Thousands of fans worldwide wait with baited breath!

Early next year, it's taken a while I know, but it's gonna be good!