This week i interviewed Nadisko, a name that has been featured on the blog a few times with their tracks. Nadisko are based in Sydney, Australia and with a few releases out there already, originals and remixes, they’ve been making quite some noise! The last few months especially, they seem to be taking things to the next level with some stunning original tracks and remixes. So, let’s try to find out what they are currently working on and what we should be expecting by them in 2012.
01. Hi guys! Would you mind introducing Nadisko?
We are Alex Hopkins and Blake Wood from Sydney, Australia! We have released two EPs since 2009 and are constantly creating originals and remixes to create what we like to call a mixture between electro and techno or ‘techlectro’ if you please.
02. You grabbed our attention with your “Nebula” EP, released about a year ago on Tuff Em Up Records. What feedback did you get for this EP and are you happy with the result?
The EP had very strong backing from many areas of the underground dance scene. We were pleased with the release although we were still in the process of refining our sound, hence the range of the songs on it! It was a very exciting EP with remixes from Tom Deluxx, The S and X-Ettl.
03. What are your influences/music backgrounds and what or who might have played a role in shaping your sound?
A: I’ve been producing from 12 years old and grew up listening to Fat Boy Slim, Tangerine Dream and many other heavyweights of dance to draw inspiration.
B: We are heavily influenced by the sounds of Boys Noize, Tiga, Oizo and Soulwax, although we use this to create what we think will be enjoyable to listen to!
04. You have been doing quite a few remixes and some really great ones, with “We Kiss You – Love Addiction” being one of my favorites, as well as originals. Do you prefer writing original tracks or remixing and why?
We honestly love both, remixing is a process of re-arranging and adding our own sounds to an already tight production which is always fun. But we tend to make a remix focusing on one outstanding instrument of the original song and bring attention to it. As for originals, there is nothing more pleasing than creating a track that will get people dancing!
05. Apparently after the release of the “Nebula” EP you haven’t released another EP and you’ve been mostly working on some remixes if I’m not mistaken, should we expect a new EP/LP anytime soon?
That’s right! We haven’t released another EP as of yet, although we do have a few songs that will definitely be refined for a new release. At the moment we have quite a few remixes on the table for Autodidakt, Rob De Large, Roevy, Dandy Riots and a few more that will all be out soon enough 🙂
06. Speaking about your most recent remixes and tracks in general your latest original “Flip” had quite a techno or “techelectro” sound and vibe into it. Was this just an experiment for Nadisko and you’ll be returning to more electro stuff or is it the new Nadisko sound & style? New year – new sound kind of thing?
Definitely! The sound of “future techno” is very attractive to us but we want to retain the Nadisko sound while still evolving. Our newest songs “Abyss” and “Event Horizon” contain electro and techno sounds in them. Not to say we won’t do straight electro or techno remixes or originals in the future though!
07. What would you say is your biggest music achievement/highlight so far?
Our biggest highlight would have to be “Flip” and our remix of F.O.O.L.‘s “Krieg”, we are very happy with these two! In terms of touring maybe playing New Zealands’ Soundscape Festival last year.
08. Did you ever play in a rock/metal band and were you ever into heavy metal/rock music?
B: Indeed in my earlier years, Rage Against The Machine, Deftones and Queens of the Stone Age had a massive influence on my appreciation for the structure of music and ‘drops’. You can draw many similarities between hard electro and the drops in heavier rock songs.
09. Do you prefer working only with computers/sequencers or do you get your hands dirty playing and recording instruments? Do you use samples and what’s your opinion on sampling and copyright?
A: In the studio I have a Moog ‘Little Phatty’ which is great for a baseline and also a few midi controllers that help in arrangement although we try not to use samples. Sampling is good and bad at the same time. If an old song is revamped (using blatant samples) the positives are that it can be enjoyed in various new ways but the negative is that it is completely unoriginal.
10. If your studio was on fire what would be the first thing to save?
Protools!
11. What is music for you and what do you think about the way the music industry is changing?
There is nothing better than creating, finding and enjoying new music. The industry is definitely changing for better and worse, the way in which music is discovered and obtained is going to be a main point of argument for some time. In reality for the underground scene most money is made from tours and gigs!
12. What do you think about today’s mainstream music? Would you agree with Haezer’s “Commercial music is dead”?
To a degree commercial music is dead although it is taking some time for the majority to realise this. A great example of this is that shitty ‘One Direction’ band. You can’t get more manufactured than that. It is the fast food of music, no substance or longevity attached whatsoever.
13. Do you believe that an electronic music artist can earn his/her living from music nowadays?
Only with talent, skill and tenacity is it achievable.
14. You’ve been playing a few live performances, especially in Australia, any interesting backstage or on-stage stories to share with us? If you could pick any artist to share the stage with whom would you pick?
B: We were playing in Brisbane and most of the girls on the dance floor left for no reason! We didn’t think it was that bad a song we had just mixed! And luckily it wasn’t. It turned out that Usher had come to the club and was in the VIP. His bodyguards had done a lineup of girls to pick to party with him. I guess that’s how he rolls!
Oh and Alex slipping on a spilt drink and landing flat on his back during a set! Hahaha!
15. What’s the best and worst thing about working with each other?
A: Blake drinks too much and works full-time.
B: Alex can’t handle his alcohol and is scared of planes which doesn’t really help.
16. Any other plans for 2012?
Touring in New Zealand shortly and somewhere in the northern hemisphere is on the horizon. Our next EP will be out in 2012 sometime but we are focusing on remixes mainly at the moment so it should be a pretty large year!
17. What are you listening to lately? Any tracks/artists you recommend?
Crumps, Ado, I Need?, The Sneekers, Roevy and Rob De Large to name a few!
18. What do you like to do when not in the studio producing music?
A: Skyrim! It’s love.
B: Im big on my movies, if not Game Of Thrones!
19. What do you think about the Metalectro blog and the music featured on it?
We are regular visitors of Metalectro and have loved the blog ever since it started. Metalectro are always on the ball and it’s great for the harder tunes that people really go off to!
20. Something else you’d like to mention and we forgot to ask?
Video clip in the works! This year also 😉