I speak with Fola and Johny from Electric Apache about their music, London, Daft Punk new algum, future of the music, and their own future…
Piotr Balkus: In the description on your facebook we read that Electric Apache Fola and Johnny “have been Dj’ing and Producing since they were able to get their hands on the equipment”. When you were able to “get your hands on the equipment” for the first time?
Johny: My first time was when I was around 14 and I saw my cousin playing on some technic 1210s. I begged my mum and dad to get me some and I remember my mum driving me to the shop and I bought some geminis XL300s, I think. I use to then go round my friends house and we use to just have a mix up. I actually remember my first Record being Oxide and Neutrino – Bound 4 da reload (laughter).
Fola: I was able to get my hands on decks when I was around 14. My brother started getting into the garage scene who was much older than me and convinced my mum to get him a pair of decks. He used to skip school and take me down to the record store in Croydon and we used to mix and listen to music all day. I remember I ruined about 15 records trying to scratch!
– In Electric Apache there are 2 of you. Do you and Johny have the same music DNA?
Johny: We have both always been really interested in music and are both just ordinary people but our upbringings were totally different – with Fola always being around music from his brothers. I never had that at home and just got into music myself. When I first got into music I really loved DNB [drum’n’bass] which progressed into house as I got to about 16.
Fola: We definitely share the same taste in music. He could pick a new track he really likes and I’d be like “Yep!” Let’s play that next week and vice versa, we’re two peas when it comes to music, we’re on the exact same wave. Getting into music I was previously into allsorts + Garage/Drum&bass/Dubstep. But as soon as it came to production we both loved Techno and couldn’t stay away from it. When I first started producing I didn’t actually know what I was making! The Drum and Bass and Dubstep influenced me into seeing people’s reactions to the music. I could see people wanting bigger and bigger drops and losing their minds when it hit. That’s the exact vibe we try to go for when we produce/play Techno. Watching artists like Carl Cox – dj on Youtube creating a crazy huge drop into a rolling techno track constantly makes me think. How would people react when this drops? Coupled with me always wanting to party or make others “go a little crazy/do something stupid” when I can, I try to inject that into everything I do but with a twist to it. We definitely share the same positive attitude towards life.
– Electric Apache creates techno/electronic music. To me techno music was always about looking into the future and trying to create soundtrack of the future. Are you in Electric Apache tring to push the boundaries of time and music?
Johny: Eras and genres always repeat themselves. Techno went a bit more quite over the past 2 years and deep house was at the forefront, but now techno is coming back and will be big again. We have always made techno because we enjoy it and not tried to just follow the trend. All our tracks never sound the same. If we get something going and we like the flow, we will just make it from more pumping techno to grooving tech house.
Fola: Personally I think in our personalities we’re always the two that stand out. We don’t really follow what other people do or say and haven’t really been used to rules. I think that’s what makes us so current, trying to get a different reaction than what other producers get, trying to squeeze that insanity into our music!
– Have you ever thought about music of the future, and music which people will be listening in XXII century, or XXX century…? What kind of music it will be?
Johny: New styles of music will always be created. Probably some crazy stuff. I listen to old music on the radio and think how boring it must have been to dance to this stuff when you are out, but people in XXX century will probably think the same about our music!
Fola: It’ll be supergroove. It’s like everyone builds on a previous Era’s groove nowadays, mangled, twisted basslines and Supergroovey sounds.
– I know that you are dissapointed by new Daft Punk album. I also know that Daft Punk was a big influence of you in the past. Where Daft Punk made a mistake?
Johny: They are pioneers of dance music, they have their own style, which everyone knows them for and loves. We know the whole album like the drums etc., were recorded live, but why not just stick to their style which made them who they are now. They don’t need to prove anything.
Fola: The magic of Daft Punk for me was that it was always a sound I could never ever reproduce, I still think. How did they do that! When I look at videos, the new album, production wise is amazing, no one could ever fault Daft Punk on that, but with the French electro guys like Gessaffelstein, Justice and Busy P who used to manage the guys smashing it at the minute, I expected something unreal. Music has evolved so much. I felt someone else could replicate this album. For me a lot about music is either. The reaction, dance-ability, emotion and how complicated it is. I just felt the new album lacked dance-ability. I’ll still jam to get lucky mind! If they make another album I’d love for them to go back to mental electronic!
– You live in London and make music there. Is Electric Apache’s music a soundtrack to this city, in any way?
Fola: In some ways it is. London is a busy bustling place where there’s always a party on or some kind of event. It’s also a soundtrack to our state of mind. I crave a crazy sound when I make music, I find myself fist pumping alone, when I love the track I’m making. I feel London is a weird and wonderful place where you get all different kinds of people doing the weirdest things. Our music is energetic and different and I suppose London is too.
– Electric Apache seems to be the internet project only. Are you happy with that or would you like to record a physical album? Is there any point to record physical album on CD?
Johny: All that will come in the end, we are putting in the work now which will hopefully eventually lead to that. That would be a great achievement for us, which we will definitely be aiming for.
Fola: I do think I’d like to definitely have an album at some stage but just to showcase what we can do, I don’t think that is going to be for a while. I don’t feel it’s the right time for dance albums at the moment as everything is so fast. But that is definitely where we are going. As our fan-base grows and production evolves we’re working on it but for now keep it pumping techno EP’s on great labels with maybe a little vinyl releases. But it’s coming. I see that as our future!
– What’s your favourite colour?
Johny: Orange, because I like Nik Naks.
Fola: I’m actually going to say black, I’m always usually wearing black. It’s a lovely colour to wear! It also looks a little bit mysterious. Then followed by Acid wash blue, which is the colour of the latest jeans, I bought. I think they’re pretty snazzy.
– Thank you guys for interesting chat, and good luck with Electric Apache Music.
Check Electric Apache tracks at www.soundcloud.com/electric-apache
