We reckon this pair never stops working. Besides having day jobs, Melvin aka Betaphats has an insatiable appetite for producing and picking up new musical skills, while Kurt aka Clash The Disko Kids pours his heart and soul into dropping dance beats for party people. Lucky for us, these two hard workers aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Last year, they joined forces to become the electronic force that is Pocket Magik, and are currently working on a debut album that promises to usher in a musical era that’s soulful, timeless and genre-less. The guys let us in on what they’ve been up to, after making space in their busy schedules, of course.

So what’s the story behind Pocket Magik?
Melvin: It started in the middle of last year when I was searching to learn more about music production. The process of producing a great track had always intrigued me, and I knew I needed a crash course in production. This led me to Kurt, who had already produced many great tracks and remixes under Clash The Disko Kids. We were both passionate about music production and figured we could work together on a collaboration project, which led to the birth of Pocket Magik.

Sounds like a match made in heaven!
Kurt: The working dynamic between us is pretty smooth and simple, yet inspiring. We were both born with passion in our disciplines, and we think that’s pretty much the key in making anything work in our lives. In a nutshell, we complement each other.

And now that you’re putting together your first album, how’s the experience been like?
M: It’s been an enjoyable process and we’ve really learnt so much from each other. The process of producing and the fact that we are still constantly learning new things and brainstorming for new ideas and executing them, make me feel truly alive. When I look back at the stuff we’ve done, I’m really glad we met up and made this happen together.

How about a sneak peek into the album’s sound and direction?
M: It’s timeless, groovy, deep, melodic and intense. We’re heading towards a genre-less era and we listen to a wide range of music. We wouldn’t want to restrict ourselves to a specific genre.
K: I agree with Melvin. We’re definitely heading towards a genre-less era. We just want to make good music that will please everyone’s ears – music that can be passed down to the next generation, that you can listen to in your car, your bedroom, in the clubs, or even while taking a stroll in the park.

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

www.facebook.com/pocketmagik

Text: Nadia Shah
Image: Pocket Magik

He’s been 16 years in the game and ATB still resides pretty comfortably in the trance stratosphere. It was “9pm (Till I Come)” that brought André Tanneberger to light way back in the ‘90s, but it’s his seven studio albums, countless compilations, and relentless gigging that has landed and kept him within the Top DJ bracket since. Respect! ATB has also just issued his eighth statement, Distant Earth, a sumptuous 2-CD spread of his emotional and energetic electronic sound, plus momentous team-ups with Armin van Buuren and Dash Berlin. Yes, it’s as epic as it sounds. Lay your ears on it when ATB rocks up to Zouk this F1 weekend (woot!), but before that, let the man do the talking.

Could you give us some insight into Distant Earth – what went into the making of the album?
When I’m on tour, I experience so much affection from the people I meet, especially from the people dancing and smiling right in front of the DJ booth. I’m taking these moments of emotions home with me to bring them into the studio, and to use them for new tracks. So you can say much inspiration for the new album came from the people all around the globe and the album is part of these unique and fantastic moments, which we have celebrated within the last few months.

Aww, that’s sweet! Your collaborative track with Armin van Buuren is pretty epic too. How did that happen?
Armin is a brilliant and talented musician, and it was such a pleasure to work with him. Over the past years, I spoke a lot with Armin van Buuren about the idea to produce an ambient track. Finally, we both found the time to produce this great track for my album and I think when you listen to the track, you can hear the specific characteristics of both of us.

What is it that keeps you motivated in your creative process?
The people all over the world are my biggest motivation. It’s really fantastic, and I’m more than thankful to have the possibility to travel all over the world to meet so many people and to celebrate with them at these unforgettable parties. There couldn’t be any bigger motivation than to see all the smiling faces during my playtime and to have a great time all together.

So in summary, what should we expect from your set at Zouk?
100% ATB, which means an unforgettable night with great music, good moods and people who just love to celebrate.

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

Be there for ATB at Zouk on 24 September.

www.atb-music.com
www.zoukclub.com

Text: Min Chen
Image & interview courtesy of: Zouk Management

In but a few more moments, Avalon will be opening its doors to all you hungry punters. A week of music and mayhem will then ensue, where big names like The Chamical Brothers, M.A.N.D.Y, Daddy G and Boy George will be sharing the stage with young punks from The Bloody Beetroots to Simian Mobile Disco to Digitalism. Fun all round! Kele rounds off the line-up with (finally!) a live set to showcase his solo material from his brilliant 2010 debut, The Boxer. Before that happens, we tap on his shoulder for this brief confab.

Was there something that sparked your solo career?
There was no real big plan to make a solo career. Bloc Party decided to take a break but I didn’t want to stop working. I like my job, so I started going into a studio in 2009 whilst we were touring and I laid down the skeletons of ideas that went on to become The Boxer.

And the album does sound more upbeat and positive than your usual output. Did that reflect your mindset then?
Yes, making this record on my own was a very challenging yet positive experience for me. It felt like I had closed a door on the past and was embarking on something new. Although it was scary at times, I had to follow my own self-belief.

Was it also a conscious decision to go for a more dance-oriented sound?
It wasn’t really a conscious decision. I just didn’t want to go where I had been and due to the fact I was DJ again solidly, I was just sort of immersed in these electronic sounds. I saw the link between making people dance with your CD decks and making people dance with your guitar. I want to make a record that reflected that and I wanted it to be relevant to that world.

And before you go: any plans for another solo album… or a Bloc Party one perchance?
Yes, I would love to make another record. Right now, I’m busy finishing up touring The Boxer then we are going to see what happens with Bloc Party. Fingers crossed!

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

Avalon’s grand opening happens on 16 September at the South Crystal Pavilion at Marina Bay Sands. Look out for its mega week of headliners from 21 to 25 September. Log onto www.avalon.sg for more information and ticketing details.

www.iamkele.com

Text: Min Chen
Interview courtesy of: Avalon

Jared and Michael Bell have seen their sibling tag team grow from a playful childhood project with toy instruments into a hugely respected ambient outfit, touring the world and earning flattering (but deserved) comparisons to names like Four Tet and Tortoise. Their meld of electronic and acoustic is a delicate balance that steps into post-rock borders but their resistance to indulgence makes them one of the few instrumental acts out there that embraces the value of brevity. Akin more to a Polaroid than an opus, Lymbyc Systym’s releases from Love Your Abuser to Shutter Release also transcend the quiet/loud ambient dynamic for more upbeat sounds. And although they thrive under wordless conditions, the brothers had a few insightful ones for us during our tête-à-tête.

Welcome back to Singapore! What’s changed with the band since your last visit?
Jared: We’ve been working on a whole new album and it’s almost finished! So we’re playing all new songs, which will be drastically different.

What’s the biggest difference that fans can expect from the new album?
Michael: Our new sound is more straightforward and tends to have less of the soft-to-loud dynamic. We still have those elements incorporated but I think the new songs, despite not having vocals, have a verse to chorus structure. We’re debuting our new stuff now on the Asian tour and it’s the first time we’ve played any of it live.

Name us your favourite bands with familial line-ups!
M: There’s an underground US band called The Slip that I really love! They’re two brothers on guitar and drum with a friend who plays bass. We always saw such a cool dynamic with them. And we really admire Boards Of Canada as well.
J: The National! They’re really big right now and their last record was pretty awesome. There seems to be brothers in every band now. (Laughs)

Why do you think that is?
J: It seems like a natural thing I guess, because if you grow up playing music together and listening to the same music, you just play better together.
M: I do think there’s something to be said about sharing blood and genes, in terms of how it helps with our understanding of each other. In some ways, it can be rough because of that sibling rivalry dynamic, but I do feel that sharing bloodlines and sharing tastes makes it that much easier to create art.

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

www.lymbycsystym.com

Text Hidzir Junaini
Image & interview KittyWu

After three years spent in the company of drugs and alcohol, and 30 days in the throes of rehab, Mike Hadreas did the next logical thing: he made music. Setting up at a piano in his mother’s house, Mike laid down lo-fi lullabies that articulated his emotional turmoil and other pressing concerns from sex to death. Hardly the most lighthearted subject matter, but his intimate and fragile melodies do the soothing where it burns. Having stolen the Internet’s attention with those homemade tapes, the Seattle balladeer released Learning, his debut as Perfume Genius, last year, which wrenched more hearts and haunted even more dark nights of the soul. A fine hit, that was. It’ll be an equally poignant evening when the man comes to town for a gig later this month, but for now, we chat.

Hello Mike. Tell us how you got started making music.
Honestly, right after writing my first song I finally felt – without being high or drunk – that I was in the right place. That is a very important feeling. I still rarely feel that way. But sometimes when I am trying to make something real and everything lines up, this pit in my stomach lifts a little bit and I feel like I have purpose and am okay in my skin. That is a very dramatic answer.

Indeed it is. And since your songs come from such a personal place, was it difficult sharing them with the rest of the world?
My mum is in some of the songs and my friends, which makes it safe and more important to me. I try not to think about it too much. I was a lot more scared in the beginning until I started getting letters from kids – those messages helped me get over myself enough to buck up.

Has it also been a challenge translating your home recordings to something you can play on a live stage?
Some of the more ambient ones I haven’t figured out. But luckily, most of them are very simple and just require you to be present and as genuine as possible. I had never performed before and still get very nervous even after doing it for a year now, but it is just as fun and important feeling when it all rolls out.

And are you as excited as we are about your upcoming gig here?
We are very excited! We might even get a few days off between shows and we are really looking forward to it and already researching stuff to do. Send me all your hot tips! I’ll see you soon!

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

Perfume Genius will be playing Chamber at The Arts House on 20 September. Ticketing details are at www.4imaginaryboys.com.

www.myspace.com/kewlmagik

Text: Min Chen
Interview courtesy of: 4imaginaryboys

In an analog-stocked bedroom in Belgium, Sebastiaan Vandevoorde has been couching his plans for dancefloor domination in nu disco and well, so far so darn good. After taking flight from the Villa production crew, he’s donned his Moonlight Matters moniker, and set to work on a couple of mixes and remixes that sparkle with smart, irresistible grooves and a warm personality – fit for moving your mind, your booty and your soul. Sebastiaan has been all over the world with that nu disco manifesto, lately falling in with the Kitsuné Club Night tour, which duly reached our humble shores. And just in time for us to catch the man on the up and up.

Hello Sebastiaan. You were previously with the DJ/production team of Villa – what got you going solo?
Um, I think there were a lot of creative differences. They wanted to take it a different way from the way I wanted to take it and I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do musically. So we decided to split up, and now Villa is just one of the original members, Thang, and he’s now doing it with François, who’s making the music for Villa.

So what has been your musical vision?
I wanted to do more of a pop crossover thing and really make songs, whereas they were more into gimmick tracks and grooves. For me, it’s important to have a pop song structure and I really want people to have their brains dancing as well as their feet!

Ah, the perfect vision! And with your dedication to analog, what do you make of the shift in technology that now enables people to make music on an iPad?
I think you can make a hit album with an iPad or a laptop, for sure. It’s just a personal preference and sense of taste that I developed for those machines. Another important thing for me working with analog stuff is the way you’re thinking. Because I do nu disco, it was interesting for me to go into the minds of people who made disco 20 years ago and through those instruments, it was easy for me to decipher how they worked and how they thought.

And otherwise, how are you taking to life as a touring DJ/producer?
It’s amazing! You know, I’ve been in my bedroom for a long time, but the objective has always been to reach and move people, and I’m really happy with everything that’s happening right now. I’m really fitting into Kitsuné and I’m really feeling good in the Belgium scene. And I’m getting a chance to live my dream, so I’m thankful for that!

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

www.myspace.com/moonlightmatters

Text: Min Chen
Image & interview courtesy of: Zouk Management

In an age where hype can be an enormous commodity, it can also be just as enormously short-lived. But amidst the rotating door of buzz bands lie Catherine and Allison Pierce, who’ve been working their way up the old fashioned way. The Pierces had three incredible albums and a decade of music-making behind them, and yet somehow, they managed to sail quietly under the radar. Despite an abundance of critical praise, the commercial under-appreciation took its toll, bringing them to the brink of splitting up after 2007’s Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. Thankfully The Pierces gave it another shot with You and I, a stunning fourth album boasting sweeping ‘70s folk-pop melodies. Catherine tells us about how all that hard work is finally paying off.

The Pierces have been around for a long time but commercial acceptance seemed to elude you girls. Was the lack of recognition a sore point?
Well yes and no. We definitely enjoyed ourselves and it always felt like we were getting somewhere, just… very slowly. (Laughs) But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that we had our share of disappointments. Lucky for us, we had people to support and encourage us during the bad times.

We adored your last album, Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge, but then it took five years for the next one. What happened in between?
Well, success sort of came late with that album. Initially there were good reviews but then there was a lull. Suddenly it picked up steam and then there were TV shows that featured our tracks, which was great! But ultimately, it never really took off and we were getting frustrated. We were even considering splitting up at one point. We were planning to pursue solo projects.

So what convinced you both to give it another go?
Literally a day after we decided that, Guy Berryman called us and said he wanted to produce our next album. That immediately convinced us to try again. Guy is so smart and such a talent that we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. But he’s also the bassist of Coldplay, which keeps him busy, so that’s another reason it took the new album so long to make! (Laughs)

And now you girls are finally getting some well-deserved commercial attention. What do you attribute the success of You and I to?
Mostly to Guy because he helped us make the record that we really wanted to make. Though we are proud of Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge, it was very eclectic, so we understand why it may have confused some people. My songs tend to be weirder and darker while Allison’s are more folky. This time Guy helped find middle ground and as result the album possesses a focus that our previous ones didn’t.

The rest of the interview can be found in the September issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

www.thepiercesmusic.com

Text: Hidzir Junaini
Image & interview courtesy of: Universal Music

German pals Philipp Jung and Patrick Bodmer have been in business as M.A.N.D.Y. for close to a decade and well, no one’s complaining. Besides delivering 2005’s ultimate EDM choon “Body Language” and some of the classiest mixes around (for Fabric, Renaissance et al), these bros in electro and disco also do hip deeds with their Get Physical label, while making sure the world’s dancefloors be full. The duo is due to headline Avalon’s upcoming GP season week (21 to 25 September), and if you’ve still got the feeling in your body, you’ll be as excited as we are. Here’s Philipp with some answers to our questions.

What’s up in the world of M.A.N.D.Y?
The usual madness! Travelling the world and promoting our new Body Language CD, as well lots of work with the label, but luckily it all works well and we’re pretty happy people.

It’s been a while since you guys helmed a Body Language mix. What’s new on the 10th one?
We just thought now’s a good time to be back with a new one! For this compilation, we tried to make a mix of the best tracks that will still be interesting in the future and not just for that particular moment. It is a combination of different styles, which we also play at our DJ sets. It is always lots of work finding the right tracks out of all the new stuff and favourite releases, which can take months. But we always enjoy the good times we have with great music and working in the studio.

So what happens with both of you behind the decks?
It’s a kind of magic! No seriously, it really depends how we prepare each other for the gigs. We’ve relied on each other for so many years and we can always count on each other. So even if one is not in the right mood, the other one can always catch him and bring him back into the game. It’s a lot of micro sign language that only us can realise and feel probably.

Anything we should look out for in your set for Singapore?
Singapore is always special and we always love to come back. We will play an energetic set with lots of our own productions and label stuff, along with some slower moments, so people can go to the bar and have a drink too.

The rest of the interview can be found in the August issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

Avalon opens its doors on 16 September, with a mega week of headlining acts that runs from 21 to 25 September at Avalon, South Crystal Pavilion, Marina Bay Sands. For more info and ticketing details, please visit www.avalon.sg.

www.myspace.com/getmandy

Text: Min Chen
Image & interview courtesy of: Avalon

Humberto Matias has been a well-kept secret for some time now, but not anymore. His groovy drops are beginning to steadily gain traction on Soundcloud and his penchant for nu disco boogie has seen him count legends such Greg Wilson, Pete Herbert and Steve Kotey as fans. Even his DJ moniker of Social Disco Club says it all – the Portuguese party animal is a one-man club, uniting all under the flag of cosmic leftfield sounds. The ever-creative Social Disco Club popped by to turn Tanjong Beach Club’s Full Moon Party Sequel into his personal playground, but first he caught up with us to talk about that which is dearest to his heart.

How did the whole disco style emerge for you then?
Well, I wanted to stand out, first and foremost. I always try to give something different to the crowd. I never play because others play something so I used to drop disco tracks in the middle of my sets. It was something strange at the time but it was a style I loved so I tried to develop it.

How do you feel nu disco sound fits into club culture at the moment though? It still isn’t the most mainstream of genres.
I’m always invited to places that are already familiar with that sound already. The venues and the people at the parties know what they are paying for. But when I do venture out into the more commercial clubs, disco still isn’t very accepted. However, there is a place for nu disco in dance music because otherwise I would be jobless. (Laughs) It’s just that these places are a little harder to find.

What other DJs do you believe are doing good things for disco right now?
Probably Greg Wilson is my favourite because of all the history behind him and how he keeps reinventing himself. His funk, soul and disco stuff always impresses me.

Speaking of, your latest releases seem to veer towards house a little bit more too. Is that a conscious direction?
Yes it is, so I’m glad somebody noticed at least! (Laughs) I always try to keep things different and deep house is something that I’ve been interested in lately. But who knows what I may be interested in tomorrow? That’s the beauty of this – you can suddenly be inspired by so many sounds and boom, your next release is going to sound different. Always keep an open mind.

The rest of the interview can be found in the August issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

www.myspace.com/socialdiscoclub

Text: Hidzir Junaini
Interview courtesy of: Tanjong Beach Club

The past two years have been massive for Sydney-side quartet The Jezabels and the scary thing is, you get a sense that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Over that period, they’ve released a trilogy of critically adored EPs, toured with the likes of Tegan & Sara and played SXSW. Made up of Hayley Mary, Heather Shannon, Nik Kaloper and Sam Lockwood, the foursome’s jocular brand of indie pop spiked with classic disco sensibilities appears to be catching on in a big way. The Jezabels dropped by recently to wow the Music Matters LIVE stages, so we took the chance to grab a brief pow wow with drummer Nik.

What’s the band been up to lately?
We’ve been writing an album, which has been going on since January. After Music Matters, we’re going to be leaving for home to finish it. It’ll be done by the end of the year hopefully. Other than that, all we’ve really doing is touring!

You guys were invited to SXSW recently. What was the experience like?
It was insane, just ridiculous. It was something like over 1000 bands over 120 venues. We had six shows in three days, so we’d literally finish a show, pack up and immediately run across the street to play the next venue. I’ve never seen anything like it. If there was going to be a party for the end of the world, it’d have to be SXSW.

The Jezabels are pretty well known in Australia but how’s the reception been around the world when you tour?
It’s been positive definitely. One thing that’s helped us a lot is that we got on a mountain biking video by someone called Danny MacAskill. He approached us to use one of our songs as the backing track. Before we knew it, in five or six months, it had over 10 million views on it! Danny has a big following in Europe so that helped us gain exposure for our shows in places like Hamburg and Berlin.

But what’s the road been like on a personal level?
It’s a bit hard. My girlfriend is back home, so I miss her. The band is also like a family in a way, so we get angry at each other in the way a family gets angry at each other from time to time. But in the end, we’re still a family and I feel really lucky to be with them.

The rest of the interview can be found in the August issue of JUICE, now available at these spots.

www.myspace.com/jezabelsband

Text: Hidzir Junaini
Interview courtesy of: Music Matters