5 questions for... Simon Baker

Brits know what good house is. And Leeds resident Simon Baker knows it particularly well. He has been releasing music since 2005 on labels as diverse as Infant, 20:20 Vision, Playhouse, Connaisseur, Get Physical, Leftroom and Murmur, and has surprised many montrealers with a solid and groovy DJ set at Piknic Électronik in 2008.



Q – You’ve been in Montreal before, for Piknic in 2008. How was that experience, overall?

Simon Baker: Yeah, I loved the gig and the people were great. Unfortunately, I didn't get much of a chance to see any of the city. Maybe this time I will! I hear it's amazing.

Q – What’s your current favorite city to play in?

SB: You may think this is weird, but its my hometown of Leeds in the UK, at the moment. The people are very into the music here, very switched on, no one is afraid to have it BIG, it's my home crowd. I love it! Other favorites are L.A. on the Standard Hotel rooftop... amazing! And Romania is always a good one.



Q – You’ve released your productions on lots of different labels from the start. Why can’t you stick to just one?

SB: I like to keep things varied in my life, with everything. I don't see the point in sticking with one thing. Explore new avenues and new doors opened is the way I see it. It's worked for me so far.

Q – How did you like your Miami experience at WMC last year? Are you planning on going again this year?

SB: Miami was in the middle of a month of touring in the US. If I am honest, I was a ruined man before I even got there, but I still had fun. I am debating this, next year, whether to go or not - I say this now, but I will no doubt be there! I've liked the vibe over the past 2 or 3 years.



Q – What are your plans for the near future?

SB: I am working hard in the studio on my album, at the moment. It will be released in 2010 on 20:20 Vision. Other than this, I am busy with tours of Central America and the U.S again in January, Australia in March, and the usual European gigs - and hopefully throw in a few dance floor bangers in between!

Simon will be performing a DJ set at Salon Daomé on December 15th for the Microzoo night, with opening sets by Nathan Burns & Clifford Brown.

5 questions for... Tomas Barfod

Tomas Barfod is a multi-talented man. His debut EP, 1995, was released on Get Physical in 2004, and he's been unstoppable ever since. Some people might be surprised to learn that he is the shadowy figure behind the analog god Tomboy. On top of all that, he also plays drums for WhoMadeWho.



Q - You are a man of many identities. Tomboy, Tomas Barfod, Filur, and you also play drums for Whomadewho. How are you able to decide which style fits to which persona ?

Thomas Barfod: It's actually pretty easy, because with the projects I have with other people, the music often ends up as a democracy between my partners and me. My Tomboy name is for more experimental and retro sounding music.... It started with my acid / disco series on Gomma. Tomas Barfod is a name I use for Get Physical and Turbo releases, which are a bit more clubby and electronic, and less 'warm' than the Tomboy stuff.

Q - You went from producing cold electro acid numbers under your real name, like your early Turbo and Get Physical releases, but your latter productions with Fredski have shown a housier edge. Is that a direction we'll see you take more ?

TB: Yes, you are right - the new stuff on GPM is definitely more housy and fun than my older releases. However, if you listen to Tomas Barfod tracks like Girlfriends, Saturdaya and 1995, they still have a bit of irony and funk - with cowbells, and guitars... it's not just electro. For my future releases, you never now where I'll end...



Q - I heard (Twitter) rumors that you were starting to work on a new Whomadewho album. Can you tell us more about it ?

TB: I can tell you that we have been in the studio for a week now, and it's some of the most exciting stuff I have heard from us, ever... We already have made a lot during these few days... You never know, as the process is only at the beginning, but I really expect a lot from it. The sound is 30% epic techno, 30% 50s and 60s r'n'b, 30% old school WhoMadeWho disco, and 10% pop.

Q - You often update your Facebook status while playing. Do you think that technology such as iPhones is now a useful self-promotion tool ?

TB: Yes, I think it has been a fun and sometimes powerful tool for me. Sometimes, when I meet people in clubs, they are very informed about my projects - which is a good thing!



Q - What's next for you after the much excellent Mr. Fleurquin release ?

TB: I'm putting different EPs together, with different Danish friends - Fredski and I always have something exciting up our sleeve, and besides that I'm working with my friend Kasper Bjørke, and with two kids I discovered... they are 15 and 16 years old, and are making the most amazing deep techno - expect James Holden meets Supermayer...

8 questions for... DJ SNEAK!

It's not quite often that you get the opportunity to chat with an artist as influencial to a genre of music as DJ Sneak has been for house music over the years. As I was thinking about what questions to ask him, I was listening to my old copy of his 1997 Buggin' Da Beats mixed cd and have to say I was taken back to GREAT memories... 12 years later, he has a new album out that is banging!!! Also, Sneak was nice enough to send Mirrorballs.ca a preview of his upcoming video and it is SMOKING HOT! ENJOY!!!

Mirrorballs: Ok, you've surprised us this year with an amazing record called "The house of house" that contains 20 tracks of banging crazy beats. Did the last few years of electro, minimal, etc. give you that much inspiration to produce such a big "statement" record?

SNEAK: Well the state of music is still suffering with badly produced music and a saturated market. I decided that it was time for me to get serious and get my stuff out. I feel that I stay true to my sound and my production is accurate. I am who I am, and have always been that person, I feel like I survived the madness and fakeness of the last 7 years and now I’m shinning again like a new found Diamond in the ruff.

You're in the middle of a world tour that will take you all over Europe and America to spread the good news around. What has been the response so far?

SNEAK: The vibe and response has been great, people are ready for a change and good times again. I’ve been playing a lot of gigs and the house heads have certainly been keeping me busy. I love seeing people enjoy the soul and groove of house music … It’s kind of hard to not have a good time when good house music is bumpin!!

Is house music really alive again?

SNEAK: Hell Yeah, House is back, listen to what all the top European guys like Luciano , Ricardo Villalobos & Loco Dice are playing, this has been the year that people are demanding better music. The musical revolution is on the way my friend.

Was there ever a down point in the "dark" years where you thought you would have to do something else with your life ?

SNEAK: NO, I know myself, I knew I was going to have another piece of the pie soon enough. My never ending amount work and music is what keeps me going and to tell you the truth I survived like I always do, I’m consistant and always motivated, I know my role and that is to LEAD so I’m doing it now again.

You've collaborated with German techno greats such as Ricardo Villalobos which you've become friends with that have been embracing the Chicago sounds recently. Has these new friendships and encounters inspired you to push your sound to new directions in any way?

SNEAK: It’s been great to meet other DJS and Producers that are underground like myself, the Ricardo encounter was dope cause we had known of each other for years, we played same events but not the same rooms. I have respect for a lot of these German brothers that have also helped get “house music” back in the main rooms, they know I’m a Purist and an innovator and they love that, I respect the fact that they have also pushed their sound and music and now we can elaborate with each other and push each other for a better musical experiences.

What about old friends that have disappeared with house music's downfall. Are there any of them you'd like to see back in the game ?

SNEAK: I can’t speak on what DJ's from the past are doing with themselves today, I know that a lot of them thought the “gravy train” was forever and many have dropped out and gotten normal Jobs and lifestyles. Many people did not plan for the future as I did, I can only speak on what I’m doing for my Music and my fans, I have stayed true always and that is showing big time again.

Are there any new artists that inspire you that we should be looking out for in the near future, any labels that are on your hot list ?

SNEAK: There are lots of people out there doing the do, I have many on the lookout but not trying to single a few out the bunch, Music is what is important not the DJS PERSONAS or the FAME factor that has damaged the scene for so long. Focus on the music not the persona and you will find great music being released from all over the world.

What's next for DJ Sneak?

More DJ SNEAK, more hard work, more innovation for the world and most def more “HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG!”

We couldn't agree MORE!!! Speaking of innovations, check out Sneak's upcoming video preview :

DJ SNEAK ON MYSPACE
DJ SNEAK'S HOMEPAGE