The Kids Want Electro Interview

Each year a certain amount of DJ’s break thru on to the scene and make the rest of the industry stand up and pay attention, this is exactly what these guys are doing. Meet Will Bailey, Ed Kane, Kim Fai, Chad Lewis, Duncan Murray and Sam Russo. With big brands such as Godskitchen, Toolroom Records, Kidolgy, Gusto, Ministry of Sound as well as some of the biggest promotion in the country all wanting a piece of what these Kids have to offer. Leaders of a new generation of Electro they certainly are with their amazing mixing and their shit hot production. On Sunday July 1st Jukebox Media will be presenting the outstanding talents of the kids all in one room in Birmingham. Soon to be household names we caught up with Will Bailey, Ed Kane, Kim Fai, Chad Lewis, Duncan Murray and Sam Russo to find out what’s going down and what’s it like being the new kids of the block…………

Will Bailey

What’s it like to be called one of the leader of the new generation of house music?

It’s a big compliment and a big statement. It feels great and I just hope I can keep making the music which has brought about people labelling me as one of the leaders of the new school.

What have you been up to recently and what can we expect over the next couple of months ?

Ive been hard at work in the studio working on my own sound and with my fellow producer Calvertron. Ive been concentrating a lot on developing my sound and my production in general. There is a lot of material forthcoming on my label Simma and remixes on other labels. My track with Calvertron titled ‘Hookin’ is one I’m especially excited about, already getting support from Micky Slim, Noir and Nick Bridges. I have also just done a new remix to the Prodigy track ‘Poison’ which is I hope will be massive and you can check it out on my myspace page

You have just done a remix of Mark Knight’s ‘Drug Music’, What’s it like to be releasing tracks on labels such as Toolroom ?

Its something I’ve wanted for a long time. Remixing Mark’s track was a lot of fun and to find out that the label wanted it was amazing for me.

Ed Kane

You have a lot of success with your production, what’s your favourite track you have made ?

Prok + Fitch -The Chant (Ed Kane’s Dirtbag remix). It sounds fresh and still rocks a floor. A Double whammy of joy.

How would you describe your sound?

Stripped Back Techy Electro Filth

Your starting to play at some of the massive promotions and nightclubs around the UK, What has been your favourite gig so far and where would you love to play?

I think doing Dirtbag in the main room of ‘The Cross’ was pretty special. Id wanted to play there since before I even liked house. If I could play anywhere in the UK it would be ‘The End’ main room or ‘Fabric’ room 1 or 2. If could play anywhere in the world it would be the new indoor terrace at Space.

What’s next in the world of Ed Kane?

Iv got about loads of forthcoming tunes/remixes, so keep your eyes peeled. Mr Bailey and I are

due to make a tune soon too, so watch out for that also.

Kim Fai

You have had a big remix on Toolroom, tell us how that came about ?

Well ive always been a big fan of the label since the beginning and to be asked to do an official remix was an honour. Funkagenda has been my sort of mentor for the past few years and he showed Mark Knight a few of my recent tracks when he was in the studio. So when funkagenda had his first solo release on the label “San Francisco” they decided to let me do a remix for the package. Thankful they both really liked the track and released it as part of the package which was fantastic. To have a remix of my own on such a huge worldwide label is.... well F*&^&*” WICKED!

Your signed to record label Groovedigital, what ‘s the next instalment from Kim Fai and Groovedigital?

The next instalment by me will be my E.P. It will be release in July which im really looking forward to as u can imagine. For such a well respected label like Groovedigital to dedicate a whole release to 1 artist shows they have great confidence in my ability as a producer/engineer.

The E.P itself caters for a wide range of taste in electronic music from Uplifting piano riffs to dark glitchy bleeps and deep basslines. I wanted to create an E.P. that reflects all sides of my production personality which i feel i've fulfilled. Most E.P.'s have 1 strong track and the rest just fill in the space but i wanted 3 tracks that as a DJ, i would grab straight away in different circumstances.

Groovedigitals next release is DJ Adrian “No side effects” which is set to be a huge summer anthem and i also had the pleasure of remixing for that releases aswell so keep a sharp eye out!

Your playing back to back with Chad Lewis on July 1st at The Kids Want Electro but what DJ would you love to play back to back with ?

Mmm that's a difficult one. Probably someone like Claude Von Stroke, just to see what crazy sounds we could come up with :)

Chad Lewis

You run record label Groovedigital, tell us a bit about the label ?

Groovedigital has a huge year planned; starting with the next release ADRIAN EFTIMIE ‘No side effects’ with a great remix package including Wordkidz – Belocca – Kim Fai – Nils Noa and of course my self. After that we have the next release from our youngest signing Kim Fai, we have given him the chance to do his own E,P and he has come up trumps, its amazing and then after that yours truly with a great big room house track with a euphoric edge and last but not least for this year there will be a Nu Skool house heroes release from myself – Funkagenda – Micky Slim and Kim Fai and a ten date limited tour to showcase and promote this release between Oct and Dec, all dates are already confirmed Finishing off with our N.Y.E party, this ones under wraps sorry guys. Don’t even start me about next year because that’s going to be even better!

You have been bubblin under for the last year now, what’s next for Chad Lewis?

Well…… As above I’m going to be pretty busy with GD for the rest of this year, I’m also in the studio loads trying to meet deadlines for labels and concentrate on my own productions, as you may or may not know I also run club DV8 in Birmingham and we are busier than ever right now so all that on top of my djing commitments week in week out Its pretty full on. I could do with an extra day in the week, couldn’t we all : )

Where can we catch you this summer ?

This summer sees our introduction to the crazy world that is Ibiza, we are doing the second room at Es Paradis throughout the summer showcasing our artists along side Immaculate touch from London, we are also in conjuction with Ministry of Sound world wide tours where our very own Funkagenda will be Djing.

Duncan Murray

What’s it like to play at Godskitchen every month?

Mental! The thing I love about Gods is you know everyone is there for the music, the crowd is always really responsive and you can always create a wicked atmosphere, I have been a resident for 2 years now and the club is definitely moving forward and pushing new talent. Also I get to DJ dressed as a pirate, which is also nice! Av it!

Your playing at the massive Global Gathering, what can we expect?

I’m really looking forward to Global, Can’t believe how quickly it has come around! I am playing quite early on the Friday so I wont be going to hard but expect some upfront house and electro, Il be pushing my own sound along with productions from a lot of the lads who are pushing the boundaries at the moment!

You have been one of the leaders of electro music in Birmingham for the last year or so, how would you describe your sound and what influences you?

I take a lot of influence from the people around me, lads such as Micky Slim and Will Bailey have inspired me to push more with my production and create my own sound, A new sound starting to come through at the moment which everyone is going mad for, people are just loving the skippy beats and wobbly basslines at the moment and that’s the sound I’m pushing, wobbly, wonky, and filthy! There are a lot of talent in Birmingham and a lot of lads are coming out with there own productions, which is all good for our scene! Get your arse to Gods or Bushwackers and you will see what Brum has to offer!

Sam Russo

You’re the youngest of the guys yet you have been producing for the last 3 years. What can we expect from you this year ?

Just finished a remix of Dave Robertson- The quiet place(Stripped records), along with a few bootlegs and re-edits so the year is looking promising i have a few sneaky pieces i will reveal on the 1st of july.Were currently working on an album under the Technoir guise being released on Cold Tap recordings later on this year so watch this space.....

How would you describe your sound and what can we expect from you on July 1st?

My sound errrrrmmm Naughty Techy House !!!! the 1st will be Wonky.....see you on the dance floor!

For more information on this new breed of electro stars check out there myspaces or catch them at DV8 in Birmingham on July 1st

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The Kids Want Electro Interview