INTERVIEW: DiRTY RADiO — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

DiRTY RADiO

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SHADI and Waspy (A.K.A. DiRTY RADiO) have been talking with me…

about their single, Pleasures, and its story. They tell me what it was like working with Jafunk on the track and whether there is more material due; where they started recording music as a duo; the albums that are most important to them – I ask which upcoming artists we need to show some love for and get behind.

The guys reveal which artists they grew up listening to; the advice they would give to musicians emerging; whether they get chance to unwind away from music; what the music scene is like in Vancouver – they end the interview by selecting great tracks.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Our week has been excellent, thanks! We’re currently working on a new track with our friend Saint WKND and rehearsing for an upcoming festival performance.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

Although we’ve experimented with a ton of different sounds in the past, we like to currently describe DiRTY RADiO as a mix of Pop, Dance and R&B. We love making hype, feel-good music.

How did DiRTY RADiO get together? When did you start performing as a duo?

Although Shadi and Waspy started performing as a duo in the last couple of years, DiRTY RADiO began experimenting in the studio around 2012 with our third member, Tonez (smiles). We still consider ourselves a trio at the core and continue to work on everything together.

Pleasures is your most-recent single. What is the story behind that one?

We’ve been a fan of Australian producer Ja Funk for a while now and would always play his music in our D.J. sets. He seemed to like our vibe as well and sent us an early beat for what Pleasures would become. We messed around with melody and lyrics and continued to send the song back and forth until we were all happy with it. It’s essentially about staying true to yourself by following your excitement and reaching all your pleasures one by one (smiles).

Was it cool working with Jafunk on it?!

Yeah. He’s super-cool and really talented. We enjoyed the process a lot! Hopefully, we can meet him in real life one day and party it up.

Is there going to be more material this or next year?

We are gearing up to drop a fifteen-song album (!) this year. We’ve spent the last twelve months working on it and can’t wait to share.

Which artists inspired you both to get into music? Did you have musical idols growing up?

Shadi grew up listening to all kinds of stuff: from Michael Jackson, Prince; George Michael and Steve Wonder to peeps like Jonny Cash, Led Zeppelin; Jimi Hendrix and the N.E.R.D. Shadi is definitely inspired by anything and everything!

Waspy grew up listening to lots: Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Led Zeppelin before really getting into Electronic music and Hip-Hop in high-school. He then got obsessed with Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim. His biggest inspiration for pursuing music is probably Pharrell.

Vancouver is where you are based. What is the music scene like there at the moment? Is it a great place to create music in?

Vancouver’s music scene is better now than it’s ever been. There is a ton of undiscovered talent and we’re constantly blown away by all the young, up-and-coming producers/artists. Check out Giuliano Rascan, Juelz, Nxsty; IMUR and Harrison Brome (to name a few).

Do you think there will be touring dates? Can we catch you play?

We are currently working on putting together a tour and can’t wait to announce the dates!

Might you come to the U.K. and see us here? Do you like the music here?

We would love to come to the U.K. We’re definitely inspired by the music! It’s our goal to nail down a European booking agent so we can perform there as much as possible.

If you each had to select an album that means the most to you; which would they be and why?

Shadi: Michael Jackson - Thriller and Bad were very special to me! I wanted to be M.J. so bad that I would dress like him as a kid, emulate his moves; his voice and his falsetto.

Waspy: N.E.R.D - In Search of… or Daft Punk – Discovery

They inspired me to pursue my passion to become a music producer and inspired me to blend different music genres together.

Have you each got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?

Shadi: Can’t really choose one but it’s definitely a highlight when I see fans recording their own covers of our songs (smiles).

Waspy: Too many to mention, but I’m constantly blown away by meeting people who we’re huge fans of and then working with them to create something greater than what we could have alone.

What advice would you give to artists coming through?

Try to write a song every day - and don’t listen to the haters.

IN THIS PHOTO: Cosmo's Midnight/PHOTO CREDIT: @alxjohnstone

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Shadi: Right now, I’m super-into the new Cosmo’s Midnight record, What Comes Next. Fun fact for ya: they actually mixed our collab., Drop Your Love, with our boy Young Franco!

Waspy: I just got introduced to a dope producer named, J.robb, I’ve been feeling lately. Also loving the new album, Hive Mind, by The Internet and Cosmo’s Midnight’s new album, What Comes Next, is perfection.