Interview with Mark Brown & Micky Slim

Interview with Mark Brown & Micky Slim

1 July, 2008 | 5.39PM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: cr2, mark brown

With a fourth installment of Live and Direct out and a world tour to boot, Cr2’s bad boys Mark Brown and Micky Slim have joined forces to mix the best of both of their worlds.

With Micky’s penchant for smashing the electro-housey bass and Mark dropping the deeper face of electronica, this tag team is bound for the next level of greatness.

Catch their thoughts on the whole situation after the jump. 

Hello guys, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. You have your new album out in May, tell us about it?

Micky: It’s wicked, go buy it....now!

Mark: It’s a triple CD. I’ve mixed CD one, Micky’s done CD two, and three is a bonus unmixed disc for DJs which also includes our single ‘You Know What’s Up’, which is exclusive to this compilation.

How did you two get together to do this compilation? Your styles are very different.

Micky: It was Mark’s idea. I was very happy he chose me to do this with him and I think the contrast in our styles works on the compilation.

Mark: I wanted to do something different than the usual Cr2 compilations and since Micky’s had such a great year, I thought it would be a very interesting concept.

So you have your exclusive single on there? How did that come about? Will it be available as a single?

Mark: We have made an exclusive track for the album called ‘You Know What’s Up’.

It will be available as a single soon and we have some great remixes lined up too, but for now you will have to buy the CD to get a copy.

We will not be sending out any promos, just a live release to try and aviod the file shares which are killing our industry.

Mark, you have just had a Top 15 hit in the UK charts – how did that feel?

Mark: It’s a great feeling to have a chart success after 10 years of breaking other people’s records.

Micky, you caused a bit of a stir with your rework of ‘Jump Around’ and since then have remixed the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Chris Lake. Who would you like to remix or are you concentrating on your own material now?

Micky: I am concentrating on original material for my label Bomb Squad Records but am still really busy with remixes.

I’m always in the studio.

Right now I’m remixing the next Mighty Dub Katz release, ‘Keep On Truckin’ for Southern Fried and I’ve been lucky enough to have been asked to do a remix for a track from Fatboy Slim’s next album under his Brighton Port Authority guise.

It’s a collaboration with David Byrne… to be honest I feel like it’s the best thing to happen to me so far in my career, I’m over the moon.

How did you choose the tracks for the compilation?

Micky: Went through a whole load of my music and picked the best.

Mark: It has taken me two months to carefully select and programme a true reflection of what I am playing in clubs

What are your fave tracks on there?

Micky: I really love the Dave Robertson Mix of ‘Screamo’ by Adam Shaw & Clinton Brown, and The Stupid Fresh mix of Nick Supply’s ‘HizNHiz’—both great tracks.

Mark: Steve Angello’s ‘Rollin’.

Cr2, the label, has been going from strength to strength – are you doing tours now, as well?

Mark: Yes, we are currently in the middle of a worldwide tour… next stop Australia!

What’s the strangest thing that has happened to you at a gig?

Mark: Let’s wait until our tour has finished! I’m sure there will be some outrageous things happening!

Micky: I was sober this one time—very strange!

How do you describe the music that you’re bringing out right now, and where do you look for inspiration?

Mark: New school house!

Micky: My music at the moment is changing constantly - big beat, filthy but groovy.  I get inspiration from all different genres of music.

I listen to a lot of music. I love disco, funk, soul, breaks, hip-hop, garage, grime, ragga & rock - a bit of everything really.

What makes you groove?

Mark: Anything by Popof!

Micky: Earth Wind & Fire.

Have you ever had to take a massive risk musically?

Mark: I always like to take risks when I play that’s what makes djing exciting.

Micky: I’m always taking risks with the music i make and play, thats the fun of it, having the balls to follow your ideas and make it work.

Name three of your biggest influences

Micky: Musically I have always loved Switch, he had a massive influence on my early work.

Fatboy Slim is my hero, I think he’s a genius. 

I have recently signed to my Bomb Squad Artists Roster, Stupid Fresh – they have had a massive influence on what I play, their music is amazing.

Mark: Quincy Jones, Roger Sanchez and Murk.

What piece of kit can you not live without?

Mark:CDJ1000

Micky: My 50” Samsung Plasma.

What was the last book you read?

Mark: Sage accounting 2008!

Micky: Tookie Williams’ autobiography.

Whats your most treasured possession?

Mark: My girlfriend.

Micky: My mom.

Tell us something you’ve never told an interviewer before.

Mark:I’m still doing mailouts at cr2!

Micky: I see dead people…

Whats next for you guys?

Mark: Lots more gigs together hopefully

Micky: Work work work and… IBIIIIZZZZZAAAAAA !

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[Source: IMD - thanks, Kate!]

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