Mizumo Music’s Artist of the Month – November 2011
SpekrFreks
SpekrFreks are hands down one of the top electro house producers in the Bay Area. They are a gem we were happily referred to when we signed Frederik Olufsen’s EP “She Wants Revenge” in 2009. We were amazed that Frederik, halfway across the world in Denmark, knew of SpekrFreks’ mad production skills yet we had not… even though we shared the same backyard of Berkeley, California! Needless to say, once we heard their music we were hooked. SpekrFreks headlined our 100th Release Party, and also have a new 3-track original EP, “Robot Ears,” available on Mizumo Music here:
http://www.beatport.com/release/robot-ears-ep/827678
1. Artist name:
SpekrFreks
2. Real name:
Edwin and Bryan
3. Do you have any alternate identities that you’d like to disclose?
Not yet. In due time.
4. Where are you based out of?
Berkeley
5. What is your favorite color or combination of colors?
Blue and Black
6. If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza
7. Is there a particular catch phrase you find yourself saying a lot?
“Play something fierce.”
8. What’s one of your favorite places in the world to visit, and why?
Hong Kong. The nightlife was electric.
9. How long have you been producing? If you DJ as well, how long have you been DJing?
Together we’ve been producing for about 5 years. Edwin has been DJ’ing and producing since he was 12 and worked as an apprentice for a local Rock and Roll producer during high school. Bryan started producing in his college years and began DJ’ing when he joined SpekrFreks.
10. Do you prefer working on original productions or remixes? Why?
Original productions because they are more challenging and there are no limitations or rules. Remixes are fun, but I like to pay homage to the original everytime we remix a track, so that always keeps us within certain lines to adhere to.
11. What platform do you sequence in (Logic, Cubase, Ableton, Fruity Loops, etc)?
Logic 9
12. What’s your favorite piece of gear or software to use in the studio right now?
We will always love our vintage Roland Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer.
13. Briefly describe a production technique that has dramatically improved your production skills. How did you discover this technique?
Generic answer, but it really has helped our music pump how we want. Sidechain, particularly the sidechain we are now happy with. I never realized how many different ways you can sidechain tracks. Artists use very different types of ‘ducking’ techniques to pump that kick drum. In the end it’s about finding the right touch and what’s comfortable with your own taste level.
14. What words of wisdom would you give to up-and-coming producers?
Persistence and discomfort. These days you gotta be creative and persistent if you wanna stick out from the rest. The only way to be creative is to consistently push yourself out of your comfort zones and do something you have not done before. And persistence is always trying to match your productions with your taste level even though it seems like it’s always close but no cigar. Don’t stop.
15. Post a link to a project that you are proud of:
We are proud of this because it was our very first Dubstep track and it charted on Beatport’s top 100 for several weeks. http://www.beatport.com/track/voyager-original-mix/2707450
16. Post a random link to something that amuses you:
http://www.reddit.com/r/AdviceAnimals
17. What do you do in your spare time?
Workout, read, philosophize, listen to jazz (preferabley big band era), drink red wine, and ride roller coasters.
18. To find out more about this Artist, please visit the following website(s):
19. To book this artist for your event, please contact:
Bookings@spekrfreks.com
