Intruder Alert! Murk’s Oscar G talks about their new single

Intruder Alert! Murk’s Oscar G talks about their new single

9 November, 2011 | 5.59AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: defected, intruder, murk

For 20 years now, Miami’s Murk have been providing darkly seductive alternatives to the city’s glitz and glamour. With tense, tribal percussion and ominous, all-encompassing bass balancing brighter diva vibes, the partnership of Oscar G and Ralph Falcon is rightly celebrated for creating one of the most distinctive sounds in house music.

Murk productions actually aren’t all that common, which makes ”Ámame” that much more exciting. Recorded as Intruder—an alias the duo hasn’t used since 1992—the single has been circulating in clubs since summer, getting heavy play from the likes of Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer, Seth Troxler and Ricardo Villalobos, and inspiring feverish whispers as to its origins.

Now, finally, the previously vinyl-only record gets a digital release from Defected. In addition to the “Long Ass Mix,” a trim, acidic bubbler featuring eerie vocals from the Miami singer Jei, there’s also a darker “Dubstrumental”; both are killer, and surefire anthems for the lengthening nights. Check out the single here.

We spoke to Oscar G to find out more—read on for the interview.

Intruder, “Ámame” [Defected]

BEATPORTAL: To begin, tell us a little about “Ámame.” When and how did the track come together? Who’s the singer?

OSCAR G: The singer is Jei. She is a local Miami artist and friend. The song came about earlier this year. Ralph cut the vocals with Jane but was not satisfied with track. I came over and we worked on a new groove and arrangement for the song. We came up with a groove we were very happy with and then took the project to my studio to do final arrangement and mix.

What made you decide to return to your Intruder alias? According to Discogs, you haven’t released under that name since 1992.

Intruder was the first alias we ever used on the Murk label. We figured it would be a great way to signal a new beginning.

The single been out as a vinyl-only release for a while now, and it’s been getting played by a really wide range of DJs. Did you suspect that it was going to be a hit?

We just figured fearless DJs, who love house music, would understand and appreciate it.

How was the decision made to release it on vinyl at the start?

Murk has always been a “record” label. We wanted to stick to the basics and let the music do the talking. Luckily people noticed.

You’ve been working together for 20 years now. What do you think accounts for the longevity of your creative partnership?

We are childhood friends and music is just one part of our equation. We are painfully honest with each other in the studio and hold ourselves to a high standard when collaborating. I think this brings out our best.

In addition to Murk and your other collaborative aliases, you guys have prolific solo careers. What do you see as the biggest differences between your individual styles and what you do together?

I think Murk has always been a unique synergy that only occurs when we combine our styles. We have influenced each other with our solo projects and bring those lessons and inspiration with us when we work together. We are both very hands-on in the studio and capable of taking a project from idea to completion on our own, so when we work on a Murk project, I think we challenge each other to push the envelope creatively.

Your work is often celebrated for its darkness—something that seems kind of out of character for Miami, a city generally known for fun, sunny, carefree vibes. Why do you think you’re drawn to those dark, intense sensations in your music?

We always try to convey a mood in our music. That mood tends to have a dark feel to it. Miami is very rich in art and culture, and although its superficial layer is South Beach/neon/bikinis/implants/beaches/coke/VIP/cheese/champagne, there has always been a small community of serious artists striving for something a bit more profound.

What else can we expect from you guys in the coming months?

We are working on the next volume of Defected’s House Masters Series. This will feature a collection of tracks from our 20 years working together. We are also re-releasing the Murk catalog on vinyl with remixes by some of our favorite artists/friends. The first will be Intruder’s “U Got Me” with a Radio Slave remix. We are also working on a few new originals to be released on the Murk label, and we are busy planning several events to celebrate our 20th anniversary next year. Stay tuned on our Facebook and Twitter!

Get Intruder’s “Ámame” on Beatport here.

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• Get Murk's "Ámame" on Beatport