Western star

The saying: ‘life’s a beach’ easily applies to Nick Warren DJ producer of one of the UK’s top progressive music acts – Way Out West. He’s lucky enough to have enjoyed longevity in a musical landscape which changes it’s allegiance like people change their hairstyles.

He’s probably best known for his early career-makings as tour-dj to the seminal trip-hopsters (from the early 90s) Massive Attack. He has since carved his niche as a producer/dj under the guise of Way Out West. Along with his buddy in producing Jody Wisternoff they are now enjoying their sixteenth year of success which he attributes to the nature of their relationship.

“We don’t see that much of each other outside of the studio, so we don’t sort of go to the pub together or have nights out together and wake up feeling like shit, so it works really well. We’ve lasted longer than most marriages, he laughs.

“People have asked me before if I’d like to work with someone else it’s kind of like asking me if I’d like to sleep with someone else if I was with my wife, you don’t do that do you? So no, I’m more than happy with Jody, so while it works well we’ll stay together. “

On the eve of their imminent tour to Australia (where they’ll play as headliners for the Future Music Festival) Warren is mindful that a resurgence in progressive – house and trance is well and truly underway and thinks it’s got everything to do with the fact they play their own music live but also the crowds are more discerning these days.

“I think it’s a Backlash to the whole minimal sound which appeared. I think people wanted some melodies, some bass-lines and some energy back into it without it being cheesy,” he concludes.

Currently reaping the rewards of their latest offering, We love Machine (Warren believes has been received really well and is reflected in sales) the duo have decided to get the whole album remixed which promises some surprises in itself.
“I think we’ve got something like 15 remixes coming out in either March or April, as well our track The Gift – Sony is re-releasing that I think in April so there is some new mixes, some new dub-step mixes, Logistics (producers) have done an amazing drum and bass remix.”

Warren eludes to more studio time once the European summer is behind them because there’s no point waiting another three years in his mind if you’re inspired right this minute.

“I think we’ll make some singles, which will take like two tracks and much less time to do, we’re going to do some movie stuff, I’ve got some best-ever solo material this year to release and, Jodie’s got some solo stuff coming out also.”

Returning to the opening statement ‘life’s a beach’ if you’re perplexed because Warren appears too busy to be relaxing beach side, fear not he’s found the best blend of both worlds.

He’s recently completed a deep-sea fishing expedition (his other love) at the base of Argentina (near Antarctica) but manages to combine this r and r with work, hardly hard work, a show in Buenos Aires on his way home and he’s not in any hurry to give up his current lifestyle.

“Music has been my career for so long, I think I’m a better dj now than I was ten years ago.

“So while I’m still enjoying, while I think I’m on top of my game, I’ll keep going. I think that’s when I realise that my interest is waning that I’ll stop but I still love it at the moment.”

Way out West play Future Music dates throughout March visit: www.futureentertainment.com.au for details.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: March 15th, 2010 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS, international.
Comments: 2

No offence intended

Dan Coop and his best friend James Rushent are two stalwart members to five piece British electro-rock outfit Does it Offend You, Yeah?  They found their beginnings uploading bedroom produced songs, from their Reading home, via Myspace. The group whose name was borne from scribbling on the table after being signed to their current label, never even contemplated the idea of being successful and playing as part of a band seemed, distant.

“We just thought we were a couple of guys messing around when we got signed we wrote that on the studio table saying we could go anywhere from this, we could become really famous or we could fade into obscurity or we could be doing what we’re doing now, we could hover somewhere in the top middle echelons – playing festivals. We’re not exactly headlining yet, but hopefully we’ll sort of step up,” says Coop from his base in London.

And step it up they have. They’ve been chosen not only to play as part of the Future Music Festival line-up but they’re well chuffed with their choice to support other main headliners – The Prodigy on their round of sideshows nationally.

“James did some production on their last album, he did Omen and Raiders must die and we’ve done about five gigs with them so far – they’re all really nice guys so we’re kind of looking forward to spending a lot more time with them, when we’re in Australia we’ve got about 12 gigs and we’re really looking forward to it cos we’re massive fans.”

Drawing inspiration from The Prodigy’s own style of music, edgy rock, with synthesisers and electronic drums Does it Offend You, Yeah? are as Dan speaks putting the finishing touches on their own second album, aptly titled: You don’t know what you’re getting yourself in for.

“We’re a very electronic band, if we didn’t have synthesisers we’d sound quite grungy I suppose, especially on this new album, I mean synths and electronic drums, make up a whole lot of our sound really.

“We just love dance music, then we gradually faded into doing band stuff as well without the synthesiser we wouldn’t have really existed really,” he ponders.

The band are friends Matt, Chloe, James Rob and of course Dan and according to Coop they’ve always been dance music fiends. In fact he places touring partners The Prodigy as top of mind for their influence in shaping their sound because of the act’s tendency towards cross-over tracks rave tracks. Heavy electronic rock and a full-blown band grew out of their ideas around what would work well live.

“When we got the chance we thought well we might as well make a sort of whole band, just having two guys in front of laptops on stage, can be a bit stale unless you’ve got like amazing visuals and million dollar light show, which we can’t afford we thought we’d just go down the band route, just ah have fun that way and people have latched on, so all the better really.”

Coop believes Australian fans will dance harder than they ever have with Does it Offend You Yeah before.

“A lot harder than they’re used to, cos we’ve just sort of stepped up everything especially as we’re playing a dance music festival, going to play more of the dance-y type stuff so get a really full on type of assault, quite a lot of loud music, especially cos the new album has a few heavier dance tracks on there so we’re going to be playing quite a few of those as well.

In fact the dynamic duo James and Dan even decided to split the preparation of both the live show and the album release.

“I was in the studio today, in London and James was in the studio in Reading. I was with a guy laying out the samples of what we’ll use in the live show and laying out all the live tracks and stuff and James was in the studio finishing off final bits of the album and doing mixes and stuff like that and making sure everything is ok before the record goes to mastering next week. “

Whilst Dan gives the impression this gig is everything he’s dreamed of and more, there is one thing he thinks could improve his rock-star image: crazed fans.

“Two or three crazy fans, we’ve kind of sort of had to avoid them, but we don’t live in places where people can really recognise us, no one is really that sort of insane to recognise us that much, everyone seems pretty friendly but I wouldn’t mind having a couple of stalkers to be honest. Laughing…”

Does It Offend You, Yeah?’s latest album: Don’t say we didn’t warn you is available through EMI Music.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: March 15th, 2010 under INTERVIEWS, international.
Comments: 1

A Life of lies

Ask Harry McVeigh, lead singer of hit UK act White Lies, what he’d be doing if he weren’t playing in a widely successful indie-rock band, and his answer is likely to surprise.

“I’d be studying history of art and probably failing miserably.

“I’m quite a lazy person actually if I’m not doing something I really love, I’m not motivated at all.” He says earnestly.

Motivated is what he and his band mates, Charles Cave and Jack Brown will have to be if they’re to make it through the next few months. Spain’s Benacassim, B’est Fest in Bucharest, T in the Park, in Scotland, Roskilde in Denmark you name it they’ve managed to secure spots in all of the major European festivals. As well, the very recent announcement of their inclusion to this year’s Glastonbury line-up means life is looking pretty sweet for this newly turned 21 year-old London lad. But for all his youthfulness he’s not going to be rattled by the lure of stardom, claiming musicians are just people too.

“Through being in a band and meeting a lot of bands I’ve realised they’re people who you really like, whose job happens to be being a musician and playing music.

“I’ve got a lot of love for them (other bands) and have a lot of love for their music but they’re just normal guys really.”

Still there’s no denying this band have earned their own smidge of fame and glory. 2009 alone has already seen them do a small headline tour of the UK, they’ve toured in the United States with band counterparts Friendly Fires and soon enough they’ll be making their way down under.

Whilst in Oz, their travails will see them make a stop off in sunny Byron Bay for a spot of Splendour in the Grass, as well as a couple more dates in Sydney and Melbourne. But for Harry who assures there is beauty in every country Australia and indeed Splendour in the Grass holds the most appeal.

“I’ve heard that it’s an amazing festival and that it’s the thing to do when you go to Australia – I’m looking forward to the weather and I’m looking forward to meeting the Australian fans definitely.”

The band has made their mark with somber, maudlin undercurrents to lyrics overlayed on edgy, electro-rock. It’s easy to group them alongside bands like The Bravery, or even some might say Joy Division. Don’t let Harry hear you say this though, he’s more inclined to mention that the band reference Scott Walker and their all time favourite Secret Machines, not an ounce of Joy Division similarity aside from his vocal stylings in him.

Whatever it is that’s helped them arrive at the dark and brooding lyrics and melancholic musing that their latest album: To lose my life, weaves throughout, the crowds worldwide dig something about them.

Harry is adamant that the band themselves don’t possess one single ounce of depression instead they’ve tapped an emotional outlet to avoid this in their daily lives and that’s perhaps what the fans relate to, too.

“We just wanted to write music that we really felt the emotion and the power of and we found it very easy to write songs about that side of life.” Harry says.

“These are very powerful emotions the more darker emotions in life and they connect with a lot of people just in the same way I think they connect with us,” he adds.

Come July when they hit our shores I’ve no doubt it will be their song ‘Death’ that will mesmerise crowds and that funnily enough is Harry’s favourite song to
play in the set.

“The reaction that it gets all over the world, in the UK it wasn’t like a huge hit single or anything it’s just a song that everyone seems to know.

“It’s like the hit single that never was, it’s really cool – it’s really great to play that song live and the reaction that we get is just sort of amazing,” he marvels.

Until then though time for the band will be spent either on a festival tour bus or perhaps as guests at various UK awards gigs.

Nominated against some tough competition in the form of School of Seven Bells and Glasvegas for ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ at this year’s Mojo Awards, according
to Harry the lads have a fair but not huge chance to take line honours. However it’s an award show that they’re really looking forward to, but not so they can live up to a post-punk persona.

“Well you know we’ll have a few drinks, we enjoy having a few drinks but I’m sure we’re not going to get horrendously drunk and go out and make fools of ourselves, cos that’s not the
type of people we are.”

White Lies play the following dates:

Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay – 25/26 July (SOLD OUT)

The Metro, Sydney - 28 July

Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne - 30 July

Visit www.myspace.com/whitelies or www.whitelies.com. Their album To Lose my Life is out through Universal Music www.getmusic.com

Ruth Bailey

Posted: June 1st, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS, international.
Comments: none