Introducing: Siren

Introducing: Siren

1 December, 2010 | 5.01AM

• Written by: Dan Cole
• Filed under: Music News: renegade hardware, ruxpin, siren, siren records, universal project, vicious circle

Collectively Siren are Vice (Simon Mortlock) from Vicous Circle and Ruxspin (Aaron McDuffus) from Universal Project. Their specialty: hardstep drum & bass. Hardly new to the scene, Ruxpin has been dropping bombs for over ten years on legendary labels such as Renegade Hardware and Virus. Vice has also been on the scene for quite some time, breaking through in 2005 with their monster remix of Universal Project’s “Jackhammer.”

With their debut album, Broken Silence, freshly out on their own Siren Records imprint, we thought it time to catch up with this new and exciting producer tag-team duo.

Can you tell us a little about your background? Where did you grow up, and where are you based now?

We’ve grown up and still live in South West London.  We both started playing on pirate radios in the mid ‘90s—Don FM, Flex FM and Scandal FM.  We were DJs long before we released any records.

How did you get started DJing and/or making music?

Aaron: I started DJing after going to Orange at the Hippodrome where I saw Kenny Ken playing. I was mesmerized and wanted to learn how to become a DJ after that.  I was good friends with Chris from Usual Suspects, and in about 1998 I started tagging along to the studio sessions with those boys and seeing how tunes were put together.  From then I thought it was time for me to start making music.

Simon: I used to listen to pirate radio and became fascinated by this crazy electronic music that you didn’t hear anywhere else at the time, so I started buying records from then and spending my Saturdays in record shops and learnt to DJ. The next few years were spent DJing on the pirates. I didn’t start making music until about seven years after, with Andrew from Vicious Circle when we were at college.

How would you describe the music that you make to your grandparents?

“A hell of a racket,” or “The sort of music you hate!”

Did you have any mentors when you were starting out? Who helped you get established?

Simon: My main mentor was Donna Dee who encouraged me to do a music technology course in 2000, showed me how to use Logic and generally spurred me on to write music. In terms of helping us get established, we did a remix of Universal Project‘s Jackhammer which was our first release, and Renegade Hardware definitely helped us get established.

Aaron: My good mate was a part of Usual Suspects so I was around them a lot when they were in the studio. That’s where it started for me, so I would say they were my mentors.

How do your collective productions differ from those as you as solo artists?

While Vicious Circle and Universal Project are better known for the darker, techier side of drum and bass, Siren is a broader reflection of our tastes and deliberately shows a mellower side.

Where do you record?

Simon: We record at my home studio

Do you currently have a favorite piece of gear/software?

Simon: Logic is our main weapon of choice. I have quite recently bought a Korg Poly-800 from 1980, which I love the sound of.

Which record do you wish you had made?

Aaron- It would have to be Q-Project’s “Champion Sound”. When I first heard it, it hurt me and always will.

Simon: In terms of drum and bass I would probably have to say
“Ultraviolet” by Sinthetix. It wasn’t even really a massive tune at the time, I just can never get bored of it—it’s the ultimate roller. I’d also love to have made Threshold by Dillinja.

If a wrecking ball was headed for your house, which *one* record would you rescue before it hit?

Simon: I would probably grab the 7” of Salt n Pepa’ “Push It,” which is the first record I owned.

Aaron: Baby D, ”I Need Your Loving”.

What record would you say had the biggest influence on you as dnb producers?

”Wormhole”, by Ed Rush & Optical.

Which of your peers do you rate?

We rate Fierce as a DJ, he’s pure entertainment and energy. Production-wise at this particular time ubei and S.P.Y. really stand out, but there’s lots of talent around generally, and of course the obvious ones who have been doing it for years.

When you’re not listening to electronic music, what do you listen to?

Simon: All sorts from The Smiths to Wu Tang; anything goes, if it’s good.

Aaron: Hip-hop or sometimes bands like Radiohead or Kasabian, and I like listening to Radio 1xtra.

When you’re not making or playing music, what’s your preferred pastime?

Simon: I’m into Archery and General Secretary of the Streatham Chess Club!

Aaron: I like shooting some fools on Call of Duty… or FIFA 2011!

If you weren’t musicians, what would you be doing with your life?

Simon: I would love to get involved in film production one day, so maybe that.

Aaron: Before I got the bug for the beats I was really into cooking, so I would probably say a chef.

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases...

We have a launch party for the album on the 2nd December at The Cell, underneath 333 Club on Old Street. We are currently touring and working on some new material for high-profile labels. We are also putting together a remix 12” for our next release on Siren Records.  There are Vicious Circle releases forthcoming on Critical, Quarantine and Commercial Suicide.

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