URB: So you never disagree with the direction he takes it in I guess. You just kind of let it go and it just flows freely.
TANNER ROSS: Yeah, it’s a collaborative process, purely. It’s not like a band and I’m the guitar player and so is he and I’m like, “nah man, not a good idea.” It’s more like, “Sure, sounds great. Let’s see how it works out.” If it’s bad, well we’ll go back. But if not, sweet.
Voodeux Studio Tour:
URB: Well I guess you guys will be around for awhile then, seeing as how you don’t let egos get in the way.
TANNER ROSS: Yeah, I mean the whole project is just for fun really. Once it becomes a chore, it’s pointless.
URB: But there will be more Voodeux projects to come, right?
TANNER ROSS: We just did a remix for Airdrop that is out now, and we are doing a remix of a track off of Claude Vonstroke’s new album. In the near future we will begin work on the next EP. In the meantime we will be playing gigs all around including the Decibel Festival in September and this festival in L.A.
URB: What city has the most impressive music/club scene in your opinion?
TANNER ROSS: Personally, from my DJ experience, San Fran hands down. The vibe, the people and the open minds to new fresh music. I have never felt so comfortable DJing anywhere else besides my room. Ya know?
URB: Yea, it’s funny how your music is pretty dark and experimental, yet it plays well in the club. Was it important that you guys remain club-friendly?
TANNER ROSS: Well, we’re constantly trying to expand the sound barrier. But at the same time there is a constant reminder that we are doing it for the dance floor. I mean believe me, we could really take it to outerspace, but the purpose of this project is purely mentally engaging dance music. It’s our mood expressed through our instruments. It may not be for everyone but the people that get it really enjoy it.
URB: I think it’s pretty accessible though. That’s what I like about it. A lot of producers get too bizarre and they end up making music that scares people because they can’t grasp it.
TANNER ROSS: Yeah, there is a little bit of a safety on what we do because we aren’t trying to scare the bejeezus out of people. We are just trying to shake things up a little.
URB: I wouldn’t call it safety. It’s good to introduce something new to a scene where the music has kind of grown stale.
TANNER ROSS: Yes this is very true. Personally I have grown a bit jaded with the music that is being called house and techno today. Not all of it does, but a lot of it sounds like it was made 7 years ago… or more. Aren’t we trying to make progress? That’s what this music is about: the future – to me, maybe not everyone. But what really excites me is progress. I have been listening to electronic music since I was 13. In the states that’s really early, and I have seen a lot of change. Now I feel like there has been a stunt of growth. But to me there is light, people like Martyn and Appleblim from the “dubstep” scene. I put that in quotes because to me that term is very ambiguous. But those guys are pushing it. People like Ben Klock, Shed Moderate, blurring the boundaries. That excites me and I know that excites James.
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