FREE DOWNLOAD: Matt McLarrie – Looki Looki

Following on from our first Synth Presents Mix of the year, Younan Music’s Matt McLarrie returns this week with a free download entitled ‘Looki Looki’. Anyone who knows Matt, or indeed his music, will probably know that he has a strong fondness for the island of Ibiza. Of course, those who have been to the White Isle will be fully aware of what this track refers to, but it’s not just the title that evokes memories of long, hot nights bartering with men in over-sized sunglasses. As with his excellent ‘Zookeeper EP’, ‘Looki Looki’ is bathed in Balearic bliss, revolving around a carnival rhythm and a brass sample which is impossible to ignore. Perfect for those matinee parties in the sun, this is summer flavour at its finest…

Listen and download below:



Check out Matt’s Synth Presents Mix here. The ‘Zookeeper EP’ is out now on Pole Position.

Matt McLarrie on Soundcloud
Matt McLarrie on Facebook
Matt McLarrie on Twitter

FEATURE: Top 10 Tunes of 2013 (So Far)

In case you hadn’t noticed, summer is now in full swing, and while we’re still very much looking forward to the coming months, now is also a great time to reflect on the year so far. Becoming increasingly recognised as one of the UK's most important cities for electronic music, it's not surprising to find such a wealth of quality to shout about, and with new artists emerging all the time and a creative spirit which seems to only get stronger, Glasgow has never been such an exciting place…

1. SAD CITY – POLYMATH (Phonica Special Editions) (Buy)

After discovering Sad City earlier in the year, we became immediately infatuated with his sonic soundscapes, entranced by exotic rhythms and a soothing escape from the world around us. This is no better demonstrated than with his latest EP on Phonica, a mesmerising journey which captures the mind, body and soul. We could have easily picked any one of the tracks to represent from 'You Will Soon Find That Life Is Wonderful', but it was EP opener ‘Polymath’ which had us melting....



2. SEGA BODEGA – SAMSON (Week Of Wonders) (Buy)

At the start of the year we placed Sega Bodega at the top of our list of artists to keep an eye on over 2013, and needless to say, he’s not disappointed. Debut EP ‘34’ was definitely worth the wait and indicated a promising future for the young Glaswegian. Consisting of five tracks which fuse effortlessly with each other, we found ourselves returning to the pensive beauty of ‘Samson’ time and time again.



3. LOVERS’ RIGHTS – MOTIVATE (High Sheen) (Buy)

With High Sheen recently celebrating one year in the game, it’s come as no surprise to find them releasing some of the most interesting music of the past twelve months, exemplified fully by Lovers’ Rights seriously seductive self-titled EP. Consisting of four achingly slick 4x4 jams, the release was bolstered by the X-Rated ‘Motivate’, slithering onto the dancefloor like a poisonous snake…



4. RUSTIE – SLASHERR (Numbers) (Buy)

Following on from a hugely successful 2012 in which Rustie exploded onto mainstream radio with the outrageously catchy ‘Surph’ (not to mention a game-changing Essential Mix), Russell Whyte returned in March with a straight up banger called ‘Slasherr’. With towering builds and slamming drops, this was the comeback everyone was waiting for…



5. GRUM – EVERYTIME (MIA DORA REMIX) (Heartbeats) (Buy)

With upcoming dates at both T In The Park and Lovebox, Mia Dora are lining up a summer to remember. Having heard their forthcoming EP on Moda Black, we can say with some confidence that they’ll be featuring heavily in our end of year charts, but in the meantime, this melancholic remix of Grum proved the duo are just at home in front of a sunset as they are in a sweaty club.



6. SOOSH – FOR YOU (DAM MANTLE IN LOVE EDIT) (Error Broadcast) (Buy)

Already featured in our chart as part of the scintillating Lovers’ Rights, Dam Mantle has kept himself busy this year. Following on from the success of his debut album ‘Brothers Fowl’, this edit of the wonderfully hypnotic Soosh could easily have featured as an added bonus. Creating a truly absorbing atmosphere, ‘For You’ is a delicate tapestry of sweeping strings and broken beats.



7. MARCO BERNARDI – I KNOW HER (Plant-E Communications) (Buy)

He may be based in Bristol, but former Glasgow native Marco Bernardi will always have his connections to The Weige. Following on from an excellent EP on Futureboogie, Marco surprised everyone when ‘Star Traveller’ dropped on Carl Craig’s Plant-E, echoing Detroit at its very finest. The slightly more housey ‘I know Her’ was the track which got our heads nodding however.



8. SEI A – I KNOW (Turbo Recordings) (Buy)

Recently celebrating the tenth release on his own label, Seinan, Sei A is undoubtedly one of the hottest producers coming out of the UK at the moment, with Turbo Recordings signing him up for their excellent Miami sampler back in March. Glasgow is of course well recognised for its Deep House, and with stunning rollers like ‘I Know’ representing, it’s not hard to see why. Simple, effective and slick, this is Sei A doing what he does best.



9. HARVEY MCKAY – KICKBACK (Suara) (Buy)

Although he started the year with a massive release on Cocoon, it was his EP for Suara which really got our attention. Supported by a jacking remix from Argy, ‘Kickback’ showcased the more grooving side of Harvey’s sound, while still retaining the irresistible drive of his heavier productions. Recently doing the damage at Sonar & Rockness, 2013 is shaping up to be his most prolific year to date.



10. MERMAIDS – RUN WITH THE NIGHT (Foto) (Buy)

Since self-releasing their debut EP last summer, MermaidS have made a real name for themselves over the last twelve months. A highlight at the inaugural Pleasure Principle weekender and a regular fixture in Glasgow, their appearance on OOFT!’s Foto Recordings came as another satisfying milestone. Featured alongside the man himself on a four-track bomb, ‘Run With The Night’ is the type of jam that stretches for miles and miles and miles…



*Please note that only tunes released officially or for free download were considered. Artists featured in this chart are those who live in Glasgow or were born in Glasgow and made their name here before moving elsewhere.

REVIEW: Pistols At Dawn With Alfredo
WORDS: Alex Caslano

Arriving on the scene earlier this year, Pistols At Dawn promised something a little different to the myriad of nights already competing for Glasgow’s dancefloor. Offering a real ‘back to basics’ approach to the oh so familiar ‘headline DJ, local DJ, resident DJ' line up, their opening manifesto detailed how the true art of DJ’ing had been lost and how they hoped to provide what would be “the atmosphere of the greatest house party you have ever been to coupled with an unbelievable, genre defying soundtrack�. I have to admit, on reading all this I was a tad sceptical to see whether they could indeed pull it off, and even if they could, would it be a success?

Well, if Saturday night’s party with long-serving Argentinian legend, Alfredo was anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes. Following previous guests such as Balearic Mike, Bill Brewster and Tusk, the announcement of their latest booking was met with huge excitement. Considering Alfredo's heritage and reputation, this is of course came as no surprise. Famed for his eclectic and extensive sets at an open-air Amnesia during the 80s, his style of mixing up the popular music of the time with the emerging house and techno from America was hugely influential and would have a direct impression on club culture in the UK thanks to four plucky Brits.

Still going strong at 60 and playing around the world on a regular basis (not to mention his residency at We Love... every Sunday at Space with son Jaime), Saturday night at La Cheetah was something of an eye-opener. Booked to play a ‘3hr Balearic Classics Set' he delivered everything Pistols At Dawn promised and more. Playing to a slightly older crowd (bolstered by a fair portion of Stone Roses fans), Alfredo reminded me of what it is to be a DJ.

Alfredo in the booth at Amnesia 1988: dedicated

Making his way through records ranging from Paul Simon’s ‘You Can Call Me Al’ (which incidentally received one of the best reactions of the night) to Prince and The Jackson 5, his set was free from the type of pretension and seriousness which has come to define much of the modern dancefloor. Switching between records and CD’s, while sipping on a steady stream of San Miguel, he was composed at all times, but by no means unanimated. With many of the punters obviously keen to experience the music by 'higher means', he was only too happy to converse and pose for photos, while every so often he’d lower his glasses to the tip of his nose, survey the room and grin with satisfaction.

Of course, being a ‘Balearic Classics’ set meant the foundation of the night was based on house, and while the more eclectic choices represented his ability to punctuate the evening, there were some spine-tingling moments in the form of Frankie Knuckle’s ‘The Whistle Song’, Stardust’s ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ and Mory Kante’s ‘Yeke Yeke’. Looking around, almost everyone was smiling and dancing. If Pistols At Dawn had set out to recreate some of the magic of Amnesia circa 1987, they’d certainly come pretty close.

But what was and always will be the special ingredient that night was Alfredo’s passion for and understanding of the dancefloor. This was real, live DJ’ing by someone who has made it his life. There were mistakes – records skipped, beats mismatched and the needles jumped, but neither Alfredo nor the people in front of him cared. Everyone was there together, united. When the lights came up he could be seen pleading with the bouncers for just one more tune, and when the crackle of Kate Bush and ‘Running Up That Hill’ eventually came to life, the whole room was lifted, brought to a climax which only three hours of perfectly selected music can create…

Catch Alfredo every Sunday at We Love... during the summer. Check Pistols At Dawn's Facebook for updates on forthcoming parties...

Alfredo Website
Alfredo on Facebook
Pistols At Dawn on Facebook

COMPETITION: Killer Kitsch Presents…Bodhi

We may only be a month into the summer, but Killer Kitsch have already made this a season to remember. Taking hold every Tuesday night, both resident and guest parties alike have been filled to the rafters, with punters enjoying an on-point soundtrack of house, disco, beats and bass, with the odd forgotten classic thrown in for good measure. Having kick-started 2013 with a sold-out party with Cyril Hahn, the last few weeks have seen the likes of Friend Within, Shadow Child and a truly memorable night with edit-don Late Nite Tuff Guy take the roof off the recently revitalised Buff Club. This week sees that trend continue as hotly-hyped Welsh duo, Bodhi step up to the decks…

Recently hitting 10,000 followers on Soundcloud, it will come as no surprise that their outrageously popular remix of The XX has now racked up over half a million plays, while other bootlegged and remixed cuts of Justin Timberlake, Marky Mark and Charli XCX have also followed suit. And what makes their sound so appealing? Listen to their remixes and you’ll hear a fine subtlety, an understanding and recognition of a song's temperament and charm. With slight chord-rearrangement and added drums, ‘Angels’ is transformed from a down-tempo reflection to a certified dancefloor ‘moment’ which continues to resonate.

Of course, this enviable skill is also transferable to their original material, with first release ‘Emanation’ washing over with a wave of reflective synths and sweet vocals. Recent follow up ‘Culture/Deliquesce’ follows suit, as deep, burning bass fuses Balearic keys with catchy hooks, making it prime fodder for the house-hybrid obsessed dancefloor of today. Much like another duo who have recently had outstanding success, we expect Bodhi to be a name which will be on everyone’s lips this time next year…

Check out Bodhi’s latest release below as well as their free remixes of The XX and Justin Timberlake:









So, as you’ve probably now come to expect from us, we’ve got two spots on the guestlist to giveaway for tomorrow night’s party with Bodhi, giving you the chance to lose your marbles for free. All you need to do to be in with a chance is head along to the Synth Facebook and type ‘KILLERKITSCHXBODHI’ on the wall. We’ll select a winner at random and notify them tomorrow afternoon.

Terms & Conditions: Please note that this prize is for two places on the guestlist for Killer Kitsch Presents...Bodhi on Tuesday 18th June. There will be one winner. The competition closes at 1pm on the same day and the winner will be notified via Facebook comment (please check your Facebook in the hours following the closure of the competition. The winner must be 18 years or older. After we have passed on the winner’s details to the event organisers we then pass on responsibility for entry on the night.

Bodhi play Killer Kitsch on Tuesday 18th June. Entry is £5 on the door.

Bodhi on Soundcloud
Bodhi on Facebook
Killer Kitsch on Facebook
Killer Kitsch on Twitter

LOCAL HERO: Arm Wtchs Fngrs – Cosmic Tips

Having fully got to grips with Arm Wtchs Fngrs’ ‘Essential Tremor EP’ yesterday afternoon, we felt the title of Local Hero for stand-out track ‘Cosmic Tips’ was fully justified. Named after the extended cigarette skins found in Glasgow, you’ll find listening to this is similar to taking an acid trip through Tokyo’s most vibrant backstreets - a neon explosion of pupil-dilating madness…

Arm Wtchs Fngrs – Cosmic Tips (Free Download)



We have to admit, it’s taken a long time for us to ‘get’ Inkke’s latest offering ‘L-O-K’. Listening to it as a standalone track detaches it from the bigger picture and that bigger picture is Big Dada’s new compilation ‘Grime 2.0’. Like many of the genres that started out on the British underground, Grime has ultimately evolved over time - something which is fully exemplified on ‘L-O-K’.

Inkke – L-O-K (Big Dada) (Buy)

Inkke - L-O-K by Inkke

It’s always exciting when a new producer claims their first release, especially when you’ve been following their development for quite a while. After exchanging emails for a few months, Glasgow-based knob-twizzler, Loui Cleghorn unveils his first EP on Mental Trip Recordings with a pensive collection of driving tech and late-night House.

Loui Cleghorn – Caixa Maravilhosa (Mental Trip Recordings) (July 1st)

Loui Cleghorn - Caixa Maravilhosa (preview, out July 1st: Mental Trip Recordings) by Loui Cleghorn

What a difference a week makes. Following on from a much-anticipated spell of brilliant sunshine, we’re back into more familiar territory this weekend as the cloud re-gathers. Thankfully the aptly named Sunchasers are here to help. Specialising in Balearic House, you can pick up this simmering 2013 Ibiza rework of ‘My Beat’ for free. Expect lazy riffs over a serious poolside groove.

The Sunchasers – My Beat (2013 Ibiza Rework) (Free Download)

The Sunchasers - My Beat (2013 Ibiza Rework) FREE DOWNLOAD by The Sunchasers Music

REVIEW: Arm Wtchs Fngrs – Essential Tremor EP

“I’m trying to write weirdo music that I’ve not heard before, I guess� - a statement that will either intrigue or distance potential listeners, but a thoroughly honest description of Arm Wtchs Fngrs' creative motivation. Having been drip-releasing music for the past few years, this is a producer who seems to be constantly evolving and someone who doesn’t fall under a definitive sound. Much like his one-time producing partner, Sega Bodega and fellow Glaswegian influences, Hudson Mohawke and Rustie, there seem to be no boundaries or indeed tags which define his music.

Unveiling the ‘Essential Tremor EP’ a couple weeks back, you can identify this just from the opening track. ‘Anima’ is off-kilter, raw and completely surreal – a perfect introduction to what is a truly bizarre, but fascinating journey. Where tracks like ‘Zzzenith’ appear frantic, you soon discover that each song is in fact hugely intricate, as moments of sparkling beauty shine through the madness. Like the aforementioned Sega Bodega, Arm Wtchs Fngrs' music is best listened to in sequence - there’s no point in dissecting each track while judging production techniques or song structure. When you press play on ‘Anima’ you enter another world, and it's a world in which normal rules don't apply, a sound-garden of buzzing activity and hyper-vibrant colour. It’s not super polished and ultimately it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but for those who approach music with an open mind, this will truly capture the imagination…

Listen to EP track ‘Cosmic Tips’ below and follow the link to download the whole thing from Bandcamp:



Full download from Bandcamp

Arm Wtchs Fngrs on Soundcloud
Arm Wtchs Fngrs on Facebook
Arm Wtchs Fngrs on Twitter

PREVIEW: Pistols At Dawn With Alfredo (3hr Balearic Set)
WORDS: Alex Caslano

It’s hard to concentrate Alfredo’s influence into one article. An all time great and someone to who dance music owes massively, he is responsible for shaping the course of club culture as we know it today. Pivotal in the development and growth of Ibiza, his programming skills, tune selection and revolutionary style were to inspire a generation, kick-starting an explosion in the UK which would be felt for years to come. Along with what was happening in the epicentres of New York, Detroit and Chicago, Alfredo Fiorito focused all eyes on a little Mediterranean island and somewhere which is still considered the clubbing capital of the world.

Arriving in Ibiza during the mid 70s, Alfredo was to eventually take up DJ’ing in 1982, finding work at a bar known as Bebop in the island’s main port. Before long his reputation had spread and he was asked to play at the then roofless Amnesia. Starting his shift at 3am and playing til midday, it became the unofficial afters for many of Ibiza’s other clubs which closed earlier. Attracting a cosmopolitan and diverse crowd, the open-air dancefloor was utterly magical, helped without doubt by Alfredo’s legendary sets. Mixing in everything from Talking Heads to Bob Marley as well as the House and Techno emerging from the States, his ‘Balearic’ style was to inspire four curious Brits in the shape of Paul Oakenfold, Johnny Walker, Nicky Holloway and Danny Rampling, who, after having the night of their lives, were to take their experience back to Britain. The rest, as they say, is history…

Now of course Ibiza has changed dramatically, but the same Balearic spirit still attracts thousands of people year on year. With Alfredo’s place in the annals of club history truly cemented, he is booked to play around the world and his Heritage Project with son Jaime has been going strong for over ten years, residing at We love every Sunday during the summer. Featuring at new Glasgow night ‘Pistols At Dawn’ this Saturday for a 3hr Balearic classics set, this is an opportunity that both veterans and newcomers should relish alike…

Check out a live recording of Alfredo from the Space terrace in 2011 as well a video of The Heritage Project live in Japan:

Cosmopolitan Dance presents DJ Alfredo x The Heritage Project at CAY 2013.05.03 from Cosmopolitan Dance on Vimeo.

We also had the pleasure of chatting to Alfredo recently in which we talked about the changing face of Ibiza and dance music in general:

Synth: You have a residency at We Love…Sundays at Space Ibiza and have done for quite a few years now, what’s your relationship like with the guys at We Love and the club in particular? What so you think makes the club so special?

Alfredo: I have a great relationship with the people at We love and that’s why we’ve kept working together for quite a long time (since 2006). They like my work and leave me without any interference, and also collaborate with me in every way. I have nothing to complain about and a lot of appreciation for them all. They work as a team in a very fluid way. With the people of Space, I don’t have as much of a relationship as I’m not working for them, but we’ve known each other for a long time and I play for them directly, made their first compilation and also did a long residency for Manumission when they did Carry On at the old terrace. So we are old friends!

Synth: Obviously Ibiza has changed massively since you first went out in the 1970s, but it’s also grown quite rapidly just in the last few years. Do you think the changes have come as a natural evolution for the island or has there been too much money injected into it? What do you make of the changes at Pacha this year for example?

Alfredo: I think technology and in particular all the interactive sites of the internet make promotion very easy and fast, and the world in someway smaller. If you add more money, promoters and DJs, plus the people that live here, we arrive to the point that we are now: a massive growth in every sense, making Ibiza probably the most important place in the summer for young people all over the planet and also for many grown-ups and their families. The quality of the hotels, restaurants and all the catering its very high, a big difference with the 70’s! And good services attract more people with more money.

About Pacha, I’ve had my own experiences with the club and for me it’s not a surprise, these big changes happen sometimes. Ricardo the owner is a very strong person and likes to control his business, and the way I think he has to do it creates this kind of shake up. Also, the people that have been working for them wanted to develop their own road in the island. Personally, I wish them all luck!

Synth: The story of Rampling, Holloway and Oakenfold hearing you at an open-air Amnesia back in the late 80s is now a thing of legend and changed club culture forever, do you ever sit back and think “look at what I did?�, “look at what I started?�

Alfredo: I never thought at the time that I had been doing something different playing that music in a club. All the rest came as a plus, and even if many people talk to me as the main developer of the Ibiza explosion, as the International centre of dance music, I know that there have been many people involved, many people working for this to happen. Thanks anyway for your words of appreciation.

Alfredo Fiorito: seminal

Synth: If we bring things back to 2013, what artists and sounds are featuring in your sets at the moment? Obviously you were once associated with ‘Balearic Beat’, but as a DJ have you found yourself evolving year on year?

Alfredo: I do a mix of old and new, and also when I play with my son Jaime as The Heritage Project. Classics and records from my collection from the last 25 years - that is a lot to choose from! And as an example of the new I can give you some tracks I like:

Groovestyle - Freedom Train (D Boogies For Change)
VIL-NX - The Lazarus Theory (Bumrush Da' Party)
Delano Smith - Midnight Hours (Reconstructed by Carl Craig)
Romanthony - Bring U Up (Deetron Edit)
JP Chronical – Shaba

And also edits of all the songs that I’ve found around, like the one they made from DJ Pierre ‘The Horn Song’. There’s a lot of music at the moment and my style is eclectic as it always was!!!

Synth: Electronic music or ‘EDM’ as some people are now referring to it is bigger than ever and has reached people on a global scale, how do you feel about its increasing commercialisation and do you think it matters? Will good dance music always persevere even when it’s not flavour of the month?

Alfredo: Dance music is always going to exist because dance is a ceremony for the people. The way that ceremony is done changes with the times and will keep changing as the world and our society do. But we are going to keep dancing!!

Synth: You’ll be playing a ‘Balearic classics set’ at a new night called Pistols At Dawn in Glasgow this weekend, do you think people still associate the word ‘Balearic’ with a particular sound and if you can, what one record do still love playing out from your early years on the circuit?

Alfredo: I think the word ‘Balearic’ has so many different meanings for people, it depends on their age and from where they’re coming from. I know what they associate with me, I used to do quite a few parties like this one that I now get the chance to play. For me it will be a fantastic time to come back to Scotland, a country I know so well (by night!!). It’s been a long time since my last gig in Glasgow, and I’m looking forward to playing again. What am I going to play? That’s a surprise, also for me!!! It was a pleasure to talk with you, and hope to see you on the dancefloor!!!

Alfredo is a resident at We Love… every Sunday at Space Ibiza throughout the summer.

WHAT: Pistols At Dawn With Alfredo
WHO: Alfredo (3hr Balearic Classics Set)
WHERE: La Cheetah, 73 Queen St, G1 3BZ
WHEN: Sat 15th June // 11-3am
TAX: £10 (advance)
TICKETS: Tickets Scotland
FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/events/494193560647656/

Alfredo Website
Alfredo on Soundcloud
Alfredo on Facebook
The Heritage Project on Facebook
Pistols At Dawn on Facebook

FEATURE: Catching Up With Isaac Tichauer
WORDS: Alex Caslano

Releasing music and making money from it has always been a delicate subject, and something which has become more and more difficult as technology has advanced. With producers making most of their income from touring and other ventures, it’s become increasingly important to find new strategies for tempting people away from illegal downloads. This is something French Express label-boss Perseus understands, and with the success of Chris Malinchak’s recent hit 'So Good To Me' in the charts, his approach of issuing music for free before pushing a full release is proving fruitful. For the more switched on of us, this is of course good news, as if you head over to the French Express Soundcloud you’ll find two hot releases from rising Aussie star Isaac Tichauer, costing absolutely nothing.

Having played piano from the age of 4, Isaac’s talent as a producer is perhaps unsurprising, and after transferring his skills to a Roland synth during his teens and applying himself fully, his subsequent success is completely justified. Having been friends with Perseus prior to the birth of French Express, it was only natural that he found a home there, and his debut album ‘Devotion’ (released last year) of course benefited from the label’s huge fan base. Promoting a sound which is deep, slick and sexy, his recent EP ‘Take Over You’ has already racked up thousands of plays online, with some of his new fans amazed that he’s giving it away completely free. Making his second appearance in Scotland for Gasoline Dance Machine this Saturday, you can finally express your gratitude in person…

Check out Isaac’s ‘Take Over You EP’ below as well as an interview in which we talk French Express and plans for the future:

Take Over You (EP) by ISAAC TICHAUER

Synth: You recently uploaded new EP ‘Take Over You’ for free download and your highly popular album ‘Devotion’ was also available for free. Do you think it’s better to get music out there as soon as it’s ready and do you find people are surprised when they can get it for free?

Isaac: I definitely think it’s important to get music out quickly so it remains relevant and fresh, although there is value in letting something build hype for a while. This strategy is right for me for now, but different material in the future may require a different approach. People are definitely surprised when they find my music as a free download, proven by the fact I get loads of emails asking how to purchase tracks. People don’t naturally look for the download button.

Synth: The aforementioned releases were both published via French Express which is run by Perseus and just had major success with Chris Malinchak’s ‘So Good To Me’. Can you give us a little insight into how Perseus runs the label and his attitude to releasing music?

Isaac: I think the core difference with French Express is that the label believes in putting music out, seeing the reaction and making plans based on its success. 'So Good To Me' is a great example of that, as the track was put out for free, had huge plays and downloads, and then caught the attention of Pete Tong for his essential track. It grew organically and proved itself before it went on sale and reached its #2 UK singles position.

Synth: It seems like French Express has really sky-rocketed over the last year or so and is definitely receiving the attention it deserves. How did you originally get involved with the label? Were you sending music out or did they pick up on you?

Isaac: I knew Leon since the conception of the label, and this is the same for Jonas, Chris and Pete. We started as friends and worked closely with him on our music. Recently, his A+R focus has been more on developing ideas than identifying new artists for the label.

Gasoline Dance Machine present Isaac Tichauer this Saturday at Saint Judes

Synth: Listening through the ‘Take Over You EP’, your sound, although based around the 4x4, doesn’t seem to be too restricted by one particular flavour or style, but it’s still easily recognisable as your own. How do you go about approaching your music? Are you conscious of being pigeonholed?

Isaac: It’s an interesting point. I love so many sub genres of House music that I feel the need to create a lot of different styles in the hope that my production style and personal tastes will act as the glue between them. People tell me they can hear my sound, and that’s important to me. Even though I do move around the House genre a bit, there are production and compositional methods I apply in all my tracks, and I think that’s what people are hearing. I really hope to reach a point where listeners will start to expect quality over a particular type of sound, and if one day I was to make an even bigger shift they would trust in me enough to at least give it a few listens.

Synth: You’ll be passing through Glasgow to play Gasoline Dance Machine this week at Saint Judes. We understand you already played GDM at New Year, how was your night in the Capital and are you looking forward to coming back to Scotland?

Isaac: My last show at GDM was my first show outside of Australia and it was awesome, a fantastic start to my tour. The GDM guys know how to put on an excellent show and have a really good music policy reflected in their own DJ sets. The GDM team have a genuine desire to create a true party above all other things and I can’t wait to play again for them in Glasgow and spend time with the guys. Also, I can’t wait to return to Scotland in general. Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities and I have heard amazing things about Glasgow. Scottish people and Aussies get along like peas and carrots, or maybe meat pies and haggis.

Synth: Finally, things are clearly heading in the right direction for you and both releases on French Express have been greatly received. What have you got lined up for the rest of the year and how would you describe the journey so far?

Isaac: The journey has been amazing, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue it for a little while longer at least. In terms of plans for this year, I have a new single coming out soon that I’m pretty happy with and a bunch of new material already finished awaiting a release date, so from an output perspective things are looking good. I’m also excited to say I have a bunch of shows confirmed for Europe as well as Asia in July, so I’ll be heading home briefly which will be amazing as I haven’t seen my friends for almost 6 months.

Isaac Tichauer’s ‘Take Over You EP’ is available for free download via French Express. He plays Gasoline Dance Machine this Saturday at Saint Judes.

Isaac Tichauer on Soundcloud
Isaac Tichauer on Facebook
Isaac Tichauer on Twitter