Datsik, Trolley Snatcha, Kennedy Jones, and Barely Alive Talk In An Exclusive Interview

on 1 February, 2015 at 13:14

No pre text, no notes, no nonsense. Just Datsik, Kennedy Jones, Trolley Snatcha, Barely Alive, and I talking about everything relevant for an hour exclusively on their tour bus.

Canadanightlife: You’ve just embarked on a North American Tour for your latest album and with some serious headliners from Firepower Records. What can your fan base expect for a typical night at any upcoming tour date?

Datsik: My fans can expect a lot of bass and some new cutting-edge music. I have the sickest support acts I could possibly have on a tour. I also have a bunch of new tracks that I’ve been writing over the last few months in the studio. Expect a bunch of new tracks, crazy visuals, and the Vortex 3.0.

CNL: What is new about the third version of the Vortex and how did you come up with the initial idea?

Datsik: I initially thought of the idea on a plane when I sketched it out on a napkin. I was trying to figure out how the concept would work. I had seen projection mapping before, but it was never on a 3D surface. I wanted to try the idea and give the visuals some depth.

Datsik: There were a few things that I had to figure out. When you’re standing in the middle of the Vortex you don’t want to get hit by light, but you’re essentially standing in the middle of all the visuals. I took the idea to a company called V Squared and we figured out that two projectors was the best way. So there is one in front of me that shoots on the walls and another one behind me. They’re flipped in phase so the light show is synced.

CNL: How has Firepower records grown in the last three years?

Datsik: It has taken shape over the music that I’ve been signing really. Everyone on this bus has released music on Firepower Records and essentially it’s the artists that make up the label. I started Firepower to do the opposite of what normal record labels do.

Datsik: There are so many horror stories out there of artists not getting paid and labels taking advantage of the fact that artists don’t see the physical money. That happens so often in this industry. I started the label to make it fair and put power back in the artist’s hands. I want musicians to take creative control and make sure that they’re getting paid.

Datsik: Firepower Records has really grown and we’re coming up on our hundredth release, which is insane!

CNL: Congratulations man! For Trolley Snatcha, who do you draw the most inspiration from of your peers?

Trolley Snatcha: Everyone in their own way. It feels too subjective because it changes every day. Inspiration is always moving.

CNL: For Kennedy Jones, how do you feel your trap sound has worked with the label? Have you learned new production skills with any other artist?

Kennedy Jones: I like the contrast a lot, it’s cool that I can get up there and do what I want. I’ve been a fan of all these guys at one point and still am, so I have a rooted understanding of their music. I think the evolution of all of our sound is going to take place on this tour.

Kennedy Jones: We have a room full of crazy and innovative people in everyone’s own way. I can help work on music even without it being my own track. The biggest thing I’ve picked up on is everyone uses Ableton, so that might be my newest production change. I’m the odd man out here using FL.

Kennedy Jones: We all have such different styles and venues on what we do. We all believe in our music and are not specific to any genre. That’s the biggest part of the tour that sets everybody apart, but we all come at it on the same angle.

Datsik: Agreed, I found it really surprising last night that we didn’t talk about who was playing what and none of us crossed over on the same tracks.

CNL: For Barely Alive, what tour stop are you most looking forward to?

Barely Alive: Probably New York City at Terminal 5. That said, there is a lot of awesome shows coming up on this tour that I’m really excited about. I’ve never done this big of a tour in such a small period of time.

CNL: For Datsik, The majority of your songs on Soundcloud are some sort of collaboration. What do you find are the biggest advantages of working with another producer or singer?

Datsik: I feel that collaborations are the best way to improve and learn new skills. The thing about this industry is that you can never be too good, there is always stuff to learn. I feel like I’m still improving and by collaborating with different artists I’m constantly learning.

Datsik: Collaborations open the doors to creativity and make you not think so much in one way. It provides feedback on your work through a creative process. When you collab you learn stuff.

CNL: Other than the artists on tour with you, what upcoming producers should we have our eyes on for 2015?

Datsik: I’m a big fan of Fox Stevenson right now, the music he’s making is really cool. He does all tempos, all genres, everything. He’s a super musical kid that has insane mix downs and sings all his own vocals. He has a lot of cross over appeal and in my eyes represents the way the industry is going. He has all the necessary skills to do everything and is a smart dude. He’s going to be a big artist this year.

CNL: What extra activity consumes most of your free time when you’re not in the studio?

Datsik: I guess skateboarding; music is basically my life so when I’m not on tour I’m in the studio.

CNL: How did your environment in Kelowna, BC affect your music production growing up?

Datsik: Kelowna was cool because I had a lot of friends who were into breakdancing, spun vinyl, and listened to drum n bass. That’s how I got my foot in the door, I used to go to my friend Fraser’s house to spin records. I was terrible obviously, but that’s how I started.

Datsik: I was also making hip-hop at the time so it felt like a natural progression. The one thing I noticed about hip-hop is that it didn’t have the same copious amount of bass that dubstep did. That’s what I ultimately loved the most, just bass and cool sounds.

Datsik: Excision lived in Kelowna too and I used to go a weekly event he was throwing called ‘Elevation’. All the bass heads would come to check out new dubstep. Eventually I made some stuff that Jeff really liked so he invited me over to work on some tunes. It turned out he lived five houses down from me so I just walked over. I was at his house a lot after that and that’s when our collaborations started.

CNL: Do you think your style of music will ever change in a different direction completely?

Datsik: To keep it interesting and fun you kind of have to switch it up and explore different sounds. It gets boring doing the same thing over and over. The fans will judge you based on what you put out, so if you don’t put out the thing that they fell in love with, they’ll think you’ve fallen off.

Datsik: Ultimately though, if you give them something really good that’s different, they’re going to like that. It’s about not letting your fans dictate what you make, as long as you can remember that you’ll be happy in this industry. It’s better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you aren’t.

CNL: Do you think Canada will see another big wave of musical talent come from the west coast?

Datsik: This industry is just getting bigger and bigger. I’ve gotten a couple of demos from kids in Canada, one in Calgary. There is a ton of talent coming out of Canada, but only time will tell.

CNL: How has the expansion of dubstep in music culture impacted your own career?

Datsik: Its given me a way to make a living off what I love. A lot of people complain that dubstep has gotten too mainstream. Yet wherever there’s a mainstream, there will always be an underground. That’s where new styles emerge from, when people try something completely different.

Datsik: I think it’s a good thing dubstep blew up because it’s creating all these subcultures. Right now garage and deep house are really catching on, but maybe it will speed up from 124 back to 140 where there will be a resurgence of dubstep with deep house elements. It takes change though to make new genres emerge.

CNL: What do you think separates the dubstep community from other subcultures in electronic music?

Datsik: I’ve noticed there isn’t as much ego because it’s all-underground based for the most part. You don’t really come across people who are dicks in the bass music community. Everyone I’ve met so far has been really cool; maybe it’s the music, I don’t know.

CNL: Series of quick questions: Elaborate where necessary.

Canadanightlife: What are you most proud to have accomplished in the industry?

Datsik: Sustainability and the fact I’m able to do what I love for a living.

Kennedy Jones: Keeping it real and pushing that one hundred percent reality to people that we’re all normal. I want to inspire my fans by doing what I love to do.

Barely Alive: Being able to say that you’ve invented your own signature sound or series of sounds.

Trolley Snatcha: Meeting new people and making friends everyday. It’s not necessarily an accomplishment, but it’s the best part of the experience.

CNL: Last show attended but did not perform at?

Datsik: I went to see The Game in LA a week ago. It made me realize why I like electronic shows so much better. The sound was terrible, I couldn’t really see him, too many people there. It made me really love plur.

Kennedy Jones: Oliver Heldens at the Mid in Chicago. He came to hangout and it was a really good time.

Barely Alive: I was staying with Astronaut in LA for a couple of weeks. They had a booking in San Diego so I went with them to their show, about a couple of months ago.

Trolley Snatcha: Mine was honestly years ago and I can’t remember what the fuck it is. It might have been Creed.

CNL: Longest set you’ve ever played?

Datsik: Probably three hours in Budapest, Hungary. Our friend Sad was sending us pictures that night dressed as the Budapest version of Snooki.

Kennedy Jones: A little over three hours, it happened twice in Texas. I get a lot of love in Texas, those people there are incredible. Texas is a great place to play in general. We stayed open tell 6am that night and there were people there tell the very end. It was beautiful.

Barely Alive: A hundred minutes at a show in Seattle.

Trolley Snatcha: Back in my drum n bass days I played a 4-hour set pissed out of my face, don’t remember any of it. I think I played the same songs four or five times. I couldn’t tell you where or when.

CNL: Smallest crowd you’ve ever played in front of?

Trolley Snatcha: I’ve definitely played to one person before. Years ago.

Kennedy Jones: Ookay and I played together to a tiny show of two people. When we got there it was dark, the system is going, the opener is playing, and we were like “what the fuck…” When we came on, these two dudes were front and centre cheering loud as hell. Abe and I looked at each other and said “handle the scandal man!” We played our hearts out as if it was Tomorrowland main stage.

Datsik: One time I was in the UK and I had two shows in one night. I played NASS festival and drove to Birmingham in the pouring rain. We got behind schedule because it was raining so hard and we arrived at 5am at the venue.The promoter just gave me a bottle of vodka. There was six kids on stage with me and four in the audience just passing around the bottle. One kid had a scary hog mask on and was raging so hard!

Barely Alive: One of our first shows ever was booked by a local college for a block party. It was suppose to be an outdoor party, but when we got there it was raining so they moved it into a gym. There was only like 20 people, but they were the most dedicated people who would have been there. We talked to everyone after the show. Small shows can be the most enthusiastic some times.

CNL: Biggest musical influence on your work?

Datsik: Trolley Snatcha.

Trolley Snatcha: Kennedy Jones.

Kennedy Jones: Barely Alive.

Barely Alive: Cheeseburgers. (group laughs)

CNL: First thing you do in a hotel room?

Trolley Snatcha: Knock one out.

Kennedy Jones: Poop.

Barely Alive: Usually put my bag down on the floor.

Datsik: All of the above.

CNL: Favourite remix of your own song?

Datsik: Probably Joe Ford’s remix of “Hold It Down”. Just because he’s a beast and I like the direction he went with it.

Trolley Snatcha: I don’t let too many people remix my tunes, so my catalogue is pretty small to choose from. There’s this one Funtcase remix though that never saw the light of day.

Kennedy Jones: Party Favour’s edit of my remix of “Suavemente”.

Barely Alive: Habstrakt’s remix of “Lasers Up” is the sickest remix we’ve ever heard of our music. It’s a garage-house remix that is amazing, he’s on point right now with his sound. This remix nailed it.

CNL: Best thing you’ve ever had to sign for a fan?

Trolley Snatcha: Tits.

Datsik: Some dude asked me to sign his back and I drew a massive dick on it.

Kennedy Jones: I signed a kid’s birth certificate before, which was weird. I told the kid that his mom was going to kill me for it.

Barely Alive: In Paris, somebody made a big box helmet of our logo and they wore it the whole show. I gave him a signed T-shirt and I signed the box afterwards because he was a super fan.

CNL: Weapon of choice in post-apocalyptic world?

Datsik: Samurai sword.

Trolley Snatcha: Just a big bag of weed man, because you’re not going to last long are yea. Even with a Samurai sword.

Kennedy Jones: Short barrel twelve gage shotgun buddy, one hundred percent.

Barely Alive: Dubstep, any dubstep. At a fatally loud volume.

CNL: Weirdest place you’ve been recognized?

Trolley Snatcha: I’ve definitely had someone hit me up when I’ve been in a super market walking around. He’s tweeting pictures of me and I’m trying to find this guy. Couldn’t find him for shit.

Datsik: I was in Finland and I had a connection at the airport. One of the airline attendants asked me if I was Datsik and I freaked.

Kennedy Jones: A police officer for sure, that was weird. His kid was a huge fan and he asked if I made music. He recognized me by my old alias too, which was weird because I used to cause problems under that name before.

Barely Alive: Matt and I were in a Dollar store in our hometown. A kid came up to us and asked if we were Barely Alive and no one had approached us ever before. It turns out that he actually went to Matt’s high school.

CNL: Biggest regret in the industry?

Trolley Snatcha: Lots of stuff man, the list is endless.

Kennedy Jones: I can honestly tell you right now that I have none.

Datsik: I would rather not say.

Barely Alive: I don’t think it’s healthy to have regrets for the mistakes that you make. If anything it’s personal and not about music.

CNL: Thanks guys for the awesome conversation! We got through every question, I’ll include a link of the finished artwork too.

There are no comments

Add yours