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Whether you went out last weekend to check out an uber-geeky beat magician or a depressingly awesome indie rock band, we all know there’s always some serious musical talents rocking around the Dam. You might not recognize them all yet, but don’t worry, you will soon. In this series of interviews we talk to remarkable artists about their music and their inspirations.
No one can deny that the men from SHMLSS have become an integral part of Amsterdam’s party life ever since they won a golden gnome for best new talent. Bart and Michiel’s disco future house sound makes me pretty euphoric every time I hear them play. And that’s an understatement. I couldn’t agree more with their Facebook description. “Always be yourself, except if you’re SHMLSS, then stay SHMLSS.”
I want to know how shameless you guys really are. I dare you to strip ’till your underwear and go outside and do a dance.
“If you would’ve asked on a Saturday night we would have done it. Maybe if the sun was shining right now. We’re afraid of hard nipples. When we first started we spelled the entire word. Now we’re just an ‘a’ and two ‘e’s’ less shameless.”
What a ‘shame’. Would’ve made a great pic to go with the interview. After you won the golden gnome award everything went fast for you guys. Have you guys turned into arrogant DJ’s yet?
“We were 4 minutes late for this interview, so yeah, definitely. No, it’s not that big a deal or as if we’re being followed by paparazzi. Maybe sometimes people recognize us and come up to us. But we see that as an honour every time, especially when they keep coming back when we play. Guess this answer is very politically correct.”
Having our own music is going to give a new dimension to our sets.
I interviewed nu-disco legend Todd Terje last year. He said that it’s rare for DJs to get a chance to make it without producing as well. Is that why you recently started to produce?
“Definitely. It’s not necessary (we’ve been pretty successful without it) but it is an advantage. It’s always been a dream for us to travel the world and to be able to do that you need your own music. We see it as a new step and exciting challenge. Having our own music is going to give a new dimension to our sets.”
Nu-disco is kind of becoming a hype right now. How do you feel about that?
“We recommend disco to everyone, it makes us very happy 7 days a week. We don’t see disco getting more popular as something negative. Of course there are some people that rape the sound, but that’s a compliment in a way. Aeroplane said in an interview once that he doesn’t see himself as nu-disco although everyone characterizes him that way. He explains that he’s a new generation that has a different sound than Todd Terje for example. We’re another generation again.”
To stay in your 3voor12 interview theme for a bit, what track can we wake you up for in the middle of the night and gets you in a party mood instantly?
If you could create your own festival what would it look like?
“It would be a 2 day festival which starts on a boat. After a while, around 7, we stop at a beach where the party continues and people can eat. Then the festival moves to a forest where we sleep as well. Then the next day the boat takes a different route back home. We would make crazy b2b combinations such as Prins Thomas and San Proper, Melon and Todd Terje, and Prosumer and Tom Trago and make them play long sets. We wouldn’t play the Beatport top 10 but take people on an adventure.”
Talking about awesomely awesome festivals that I would love to go to. Check out this podcast SHMLSS made for Buiten Westen where they will play on the 20th of July.
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