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-- Interview: TRANCEFORM3RS || Aug 25 || Brown Alley | Kuffdam, Tenishia + SPECIAL GUEST
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Tenishia Interview on ITM
When you think of hotspots in the world of electronic music, Malta probably isn�t high up on the list, but in their home country trance duo Tenishia have become bonafide superstars. Their breakthrough track �Outsiders� was picked up by Armin Van Buuren�s Armada label, and in 2005 they won both the Best Newcomer and Best Live Performance award in Malta. Playing two shows in Melbourne over the coming weekends, ITM caught up for a chat with Joven and Cyprian to find out a bit more about their rapidly growing profile.
What makes you angry?
Joven: PC crashes! I surely hate that when it happens.
Cyprian: Same here, PC crashes and sound card problems!
Give us an insight in how you got in to DJing?
Joven: I was born in a family with a musical background, I think it is some kind of gene that runs in the family. In Malta I have many relatives who are in media and music, and I actually heard that I have a relative in Australia that�s also doing very good in music, Joe Camilleri. I first started DJing on a small radio station at the age of 15, then begun spinning in a young age club one year later. I used to hang on the DJ booth door at the club for hours, every Saturday night, until one day the DJ noticed my interest and started to teach me.
Cyprian: I was introduced to music at the age of 10, my father wanted me to go to piano lessons so I did. I studied the piano for 7 years and got into guitar and bass too, then at the age of 17 I started to listen to dance music and that�s were my first experience of production began. I started out on Rebirth and gradually moved on to better programs and surely enough, better ideas! My first DJ gig was as Tenishia about 3 years ago.
How did you come to meet up? Presumably the Malta scene is quite small�
Joven: Quite small yes� but I think Malta has a very good scene, especially in summer when you can smell party time in the air! I met Cyp in a bar when I was out for drinks. One of his friends made us meet as he knew we both were into music production.
What drew you to working together?
Joven: We are both self taught producers, so at the time we met we shared what we both knew, which actually was great help for both of us. We tried our first tune and it worked really well.
What was the first thing you collaborated on?
Cyprian: Our first tune was called �Inside My Mind�, which had great support from one of the main radio stations in Malta. It was nothing special, but it was a good start and really motivated us!
What is the meaning of �Tenishia�?
Joven: Totally nothing, it�s just a catchy name someone came up with! Actually I�m gonna call my little daughter Tenishia, she is due around the end of December.
What strengths do you think you each bring to the duo?
Joven: I think one good advantage of being a duo is the mixture of influences, which in our case combined very well. My experience in DJing, seeing crowds react to different tunes for over a decade, it effected my music production. I always try to imagine myself on a dance floor or at a big event while I�m creating music, I sort of ask myself if I really like what I am hearing. Music for the people!
Cyprian: The advantage about a duo is that you have two engines revving up at the same time. If one is a bit tired the other compensates. My musical background helps to elaborate more on the harmonics of the track. I try to be original but not go too weird, I try to go really inside myself and when I start feeling the tune, that�s when I know it�s good.
Cyprian, you�re something of an accomplished musician. How many instruments can you play and are you planning on producing a live trance track?
Cyprian: Well I play the piano, synth, guitar and bass� I used to study drums too, but I like to play the piano the most. I can really get creative and express what I feel just by sitting there and hitting notes. We�ve already done several live shows in Malta, one of which was on MTV, and I played the instruments live on stage. It was a rush to see thousands of people shouting to our tracks!
Joven, you�ve been DJing for a decade now, what are you feeling about the direction music is heading in?
Joven: In the last fifteen years electronic dance music has evolved so much, especially in the late 90s when the biggest DJs started to take different directions and new sub-genres started to pop out. The electronic dance music family tree has nowadays become so complicated that sometimes a single track can fall under many genres. I also think that people�s tastes evolve, and new sounds and genres can fade away when they become over produced.
Obviously �Outsiders� was a big break for you guys. How did it come about to collaborate with Kirsty Hawkshaw? Did you think from the start that it would be such a big hit?
Joven: We met Kirsty at a New Year�s Eve event in Gozo (Malta�s sister island). She is a really nice person with a lot of experience. The tune sat on our hard disk for about a year before Armada noticed it, but we always thought it had great potential.
What do you have lined up next?
Cyprian: The follow up for �Outsiders�, �Reasons To Forgive�, is the next one to check out, it will be released around October on Armind (Armada Music). There�s three remixes that will also be released by the end of this year, including vocals from Jan Johnston, Kirsty and Tiff Lacey.
How does it feel to have got so big in just two years?
Joven: Obviously good, I am very happy with what we have achieved in this last two years, and I�m ready to achieve more!
Cyprian: It feels good that people appreciate your work, it takes a lot of time and sacrifice to be at the studio trying to achieve a good piece of music. Surely like Joven said, I�m also ready to achieve more.
Who are your picks for �people to look out for� on the circuit?
Joven: Markus Shcossow is putting out some great stuff lately, but it�s hard to answer this one as there is a lot of good talent out there.
Cyprian: Ermmm, Tenishia! Hahahaah.
After conquering Malta so easily was it a hard step up to the global music scene?
Joven: Malta is 30km from north to south with around 8,000 clubbers only! Being the best in our country is surely not enough. Gigging almost every weekend only helped us with some contacts. We only got global attention with our productions.
What�s next for Tenishia?
Cyprian: We have just done a remix for Matt Darey, and he has also asked us to be a guest on his show Nocturnal, so keep an eye out for that one. As always we will continue producing original music and remixing several other artists.
Are you going to visit Ayers Rock when you�re here?
Joven: I will for sure!
Do you have a favourite gig you�ve ever played?
Joven: MTV Summerdance 2005, the crowd went mad when we got on that night!
Cyprian: Me too, I loved it!
If I was to visit Malta what should I make sure I see?
Joven: The Blue Lagoon and Grand Harbour are surely things not to miss!
Cyprian: The old city of Mdina and, as the night sets in, make sure you go to Paceville.
Tenishia play two Melbourne shows over the coming weeks:
Aug 25 � Tranceform3rs at Brown Alley, Melbourne
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| Originally posted by walter78 The special guest isn't the Sonic Manipulator by any chance???   that would b epic LOL |
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| Originally posted by Anomyst Im sold out of tickets |
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| Originally posted by Deeman I have some, please PM me if any are required |
Re: Tenishia Interview on ITM
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| Originally posted by Anomyst If I was to visit Malta what should I make sure I see? Cyprian: make sure you go to Paceville. |
go paceville
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| Originally posted by mmkoiman MEE! MEEMEE! mate, can i nab 3 off ya? i'm sold out of mine and i've got an abundance of randoms wanting to come. i can grab em off ya if we end up having a mix sesh this week sometime. SMS me if y'need to. |
Yeah I have a few left aswell, but nab 'em quick... otherwise just go straight to Vinyl Warning and get them there. I can't believe how quickly a) this has snuck up on me and b) the tickets are running out.
Argh. All my excitement was being used up on my snow trip this weekend just gone, but now it's back to max for this one coming up! Wheeee!!!!
i have also a couple of tickets left pm me if anyone needs any too!
Walter Karim� � - Auckland - Modern day city with country town social structure� says:
trance formers excitement builds
JEd.. /interview:TRANCEFORM3RS@BROWNALLEY-THISSATURDAY!\ says:
*pants burst* now look what you've done..
Walter Karim� � - Auckland - Modern day city with country town social structure� says:
mmkoiman says: my nipples are getting harder each day...
JEd.. /interview:TRANCEFORM3RS@BROWNALLEY-THISSATURDAY!\ says:
*goes and posts said quote on TA*
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| Originally posted by mmkoiman JEd.. /interview:TRANCEFORM3RS@BROWNALLEY-THISSATURDAY!\ says: *goes and posts said quote on TA* |
Following one of his biggest years so far, things have remained steadily busy for John Stevens, aka Kuffdam. Touring recently in Poland, Germany, and Cyprus, Kuffdam has found some time to discuss his upcoming visit to Australia.
Renowned for his co-productions with partner Yiannis Roberto Hadjicharlambous better known as Plant, together they have featured on labels such as Vandit, Monster Tunes and Joof Recordings; now 2007 has seen them focus on something new. �I have a laptop full with 10 tracks for an artist album and all going well we hope to put that out soon� John reveals, �It�s been a long week in the studio putting the final touches to our ideas, but it�s been worth it.�
Enquiring about how Internet has helped him get to where he is now, it seems as though the doubled edge sword is sharper then most can truly understand, �Right now both Yiannis and myself hold down full time jobs as well as working on tracks and tours.� But without the aid of the Web to communicate with his co-producer, and further promote himself through the medium of podcasts and radio shows, Kuffdam & Plant might not be here, �Still its damn good fun so I wouldn't change a thing right now.� Ironically they met over the Internet, �From there we really just became good friends and we starting working together, by 2002 we had signed our first tracks up to 020 Records.� In fact Kuffdam and Plant didn�t speak to each other over the phone until after a year of producing together, and just recently Kuffdam has acquired a flat in Cyprus, �now remember I'm from Scotland� he explains, �So any chance to see a little sun is an amazing thing, that and the music is a big draw for me to visit often.� Not only producing together, the two have regularly toured together and even have a special live show they perform.
With over 12 years experience DJing, the experience of touring with a friend and playing live shows isn�t the norm. �To add a different dimension to the touring we decided to put together a live show,� comprised of two laptops, �Ableton Live� and controllers to assist in reworking songs live, the show has lately become for special occasions only. �The advantage in the live show is that we get to tour together, enjoy playing live and sharing the experience of what we have produced out in club land,� answers Kuffdam. Even with such side ventures John Stevens still manages to find time for his radio shows, in particular his �Club Damage� and �VONYC� sessions. With �VONYC� being run by Vandit things run nice and smoothly, which allows for his efforts to be focused on his mixes, and with �Club Damage� on DI.fm, things aren�t too different. In the past many fans may remember his show on �Tranceairwaves,� although fun, Kuffdam admits how the show became like a full time job, ��I was trying to focus on so many areas of music from my own DJing and Production right through to handling all the DJ's on the site. In the end it just became too much so I knew I had to step back.�
From humble beginnings back in Scotland when he was first introduced to producing by two of his friends, one which some people may know as Terry Ferminal, it�s been a long journey for John. �We had a small band together making dance music back in 1996 and worked with a couple of Scottish labels,� and from there Kuffdam moved on to begin producing on his own, although finding that he enjoyed bouncing ideas of another person, it wasn�t before him and Yiannis got together.
Constantly working on the next Kuffdam & Plant production, John admits he has so desire in the present to make any solo material, �Yiannis is a great talent and we get on so well too boot.� With his mind set on music non-stop, Kuffdam is constantly motivated by new music and his passion for getting into a club and playing his newest track. �I love the music and love the fact it�s constantly changing and growing in styles,� as is the technology behind it, Kuffdam�s DJ sets are now further enhanced by his use of �Ableton Live.� After finding his optimal template of effects and sounds John has looked back on this new medium of playing music, �Every DJ is entitled to use what they feel comfortable with and right now I have chosen this package. I've been through the ranks of vinyl, then CD and now onto the laptop.�
Staying true to his alias, Kuffdam is indeed an individual that doesn�t enjoy waiting by, �I always have the laptop so a movie keeps me company but I do like to get out and meet people,� he explains about hotels. Admitting he enjoys going out and meeting people he hopes to get some sight seeing in whilst in Australia, as flying so far is a waste to just sit in a room, �I'd love to go to an Aussie Rules game� that would be top of my list.�
With gigs in Perth and Melbourne, it�s his first visit to the land down under, so what can fans expect of his shows? �I like to think of it as just good electronic music, we are big on melodies, layers and great sounds,� the sound of his productions is one thing to go by, but with such a broad range there�s a lot to choose from. Since their early beginnings Kuffdam & Plant�s production have been everything from Progressive to Hard Trance, �As for new material, we have just finished a bunch of tracks ranging from an Electro style number right through to the big sounding trance we love. I'm sure you'll hear them soon, maybe even Perth & Melbourne��
Everything is happening in the world of John Stevens and Kuffdam & Plant, new tours coming soon and Kuffdam coming to Australia in a few weeks, things are well under way for their coming artist album and more VONYC coming soon. �We think we have some great material finished and in Sept we are back in Ibiza with the Vaccine boys from London co-promoting our party @ Eden so that will be a great chance to play them out� he goes on, �After that I'm making my debut in Sweden and Finland in Oct so that should keep me busy till then. In the mean time my head is in one place, preparing for Australia�. Seeya soon�
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| Originally posted by walter78 Walter Karim� � - Auckland - Modern day city with country town social structure� says: im afraid 1/2 of st albans will turn up for this gig due to maltese DJs JEd.. /interview:TRANCEFORM3RS@BROWNALLEY-THISSATURDAY!\ says: HAHAHAHA... jesus.. maybe we should have a NO WOG policy.... the maltese ones i mean |
would you look at that I didn't even realise his name said that backwards! madffuk!
shoulda been his dj name lol
well today was one twisted upper and downer of a day... damn.... n these pain killers rnt doing their job damn it!!! i really really really hope i, better for sat nyt 
but phoarrr my mind is fkd must b wut its might feel like with other types of "anesthetics" 
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| Originally posted by DJ Marak but phoarrr my mind is fkd must b wut its might feel like with other types of "anesthetics" |
I need 3 tickets for the Interview party. If you have any tickets left please send me a pm.
Cheers
Ben
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| Originally posted by BJeT I need 3 tickets for the Interview party. If you have any tickets left please send me a pm. Cheers Ben |
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| Originally posted by radshuffle would you look at that I didn't even realise his name said that backwards! madffuk! |
*fkn excited like a muther****** on mothers day*
kuffdam is on a plane now. he will see us soon!
great news my face is so funny he hehe he like ive got 2 tennis balls in my mouth (if any of you guys wanna make a smart remark... i said tennis ball size, not pine nut size :P )
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| Originally posted by DJ Marak great news my face is so funny he hehe he like ive got 2 tennis balls in my mouth (if any of you guys wanna make a smart remark... i said tennis ball size, not pine nut size :P ) |
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| Originally posted by mmkoiman i remember when i had my wisdom teeth out.. what a grand day. it looked like it's eaten a hive of hornets. pissed off ones. |
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| Originally posted by radshuffle isn't that what you always look like?! |
by a lovely coincidence im gonna be in town for this
see you cvnts there.
there WILL be tix left on the door, yeah?
edit
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Alley Tunes � Hawthorn � 9819 9449 STORE DJ/Vinylwarning Richmond� 1300 858 394 DMC Records � Prahran � 9824 1211 |
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| Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN by a lovely coincidence im gonna be in town for this see you cvnts there. there WILL be tix left on the door, yeah? edit ^^ does this mean i can get tix at these places? |
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