TAG: Interview

May13

URB Spotlight: Six of New York City’s Best Studio Engineers [Exclusive Interview]

 

To quote my homie Chico Mann, “Sound Is Everything” and, in my opinion, has everything to do with music. It’s been years since I’ve listened to music through an iPod, preferring to feel the pulse of the beat whether speaker freaking or writhing in my seat in front of a pair of bottom heavy monitors.

And while I could go on for a hot minute expressing my disdain for Steve Jobs and the decline of quality sound leading to the popularity of a compressed mess, I’d rather tout the praises of URB’s six best engineers in New York City. These are the people who pronounce the bounce. And their work graces the grooves of the world’s best records, from Madonna to A-Trak, Busta Rhymes to Oakenfold and tons in-between. These engineers have devoted their time to help up-and-coming producers achieve new levels of success. And as home based and portable production techniques try to rule the music scene — with more and more music producers doing everything from mixing and mastering all by themselves — I offer you a peek inside the minds of these forward thinking sonic soldiers…

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Apr30

Miss Kittin Interview

Long before DJs became megastars, Caroline Hervé (aka Miss Kittin) was one of the first performers whose celebrity shined on a scene mired in anonymity. Starting in the early ’00s with hit songs “Frank Sinitra” and “1982,” her career has ridden the waves of success over four albums of electronic-driven pop that always remain fueled by the dance floor.

Her latest, Falling From The Stars, offers yet another look at Hervé. The double disc set feature classic Kittin tunes on disc one, while disc two focuses on moody instrumental electronica — a sound one might only recognize from her tendency to toss an odd Autechre tune in the middle of a blazing techno DJ set. URB asked Miss Kittin to decode her many lives.

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Dec04

Fetish Authentic Presents Dennis Ferrer (Objektivity) 12/12/12 in NYC: Exclusive Interview (Video)

Photo Credit: Sensation NYC

You know him from “Hey Hey” or “Red Room.” I know him from kicking it backstage at Sensation in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center back in October. Dennis Ferrer‘s infectious personality won me over instantly. A wide grin graced his face, while genuine eyes let me know he was present, focused in the moment. Grateful and aware, he spoke unabashedly with passion and eloquence between bursts of laughter. 

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Jul23

Quickie – A Three Minute Chat With Above & Beyond

The media room at Chicago’s Paris Club was abuzz with photographers. Amid a perfectly styled actress from Twilight, champagne liberally being passed around and a corner jammed with journalists, Tony McGuinness of iconic trance trio Above & Beyond quietly slipped in, unassuming, and took a seat against the wall. After being told we each only had three minutes with him, I hurriedly narrowed down my list of questions. Three minutes to speak with someone from a group that founded Anjunabeats, played to one million people in Rio de Janeiro and won BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix of the year twice? How? Turned out there was no reason to worry – well spoken and thoughtful, Tony and I turned three minutes into a discussion on vinyl memories, staying …

May16

Interview :: Claude VonStroke vs. Justin Martin

In today’s dance music world, it seems like every label is it’s own posse; releasing records, playing parties and overall just hanging tough while traveling the globe. San Francisco house-heads dirtybird Records is no exception. While the group of Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, Christian Martin, Worthy and J Phlip might not be the first dance music collective to come out of the Bay Area (what up Wicked Crew!), they are certainly the most visible in 2012.

2012 also marks the release of Justin’s debut LP, Ghettos & Gardens, which is chocked full of the sort of fun and quirky house tunes db is best known for. We thought it would be cool to ask his label-mate/partner-in-crime Claude VonStroke to ask Justin a few questions about his new album, but like all friendships, what could have been a one-sided conversation turned into an even and interesting exchange. …MORE