Can you tell me a bit about yourselves, who you are and the music you make.
Alex: I’m the attractive one (laughs)
Brett: I’m the darker one of the two (laughs). I was born in South Africa and moved to NZ. I’ve never studied music before, if anything I was going to be an artist; a graphic designer. I met Alex through a mutual friend, laughed at the music he was making then felt pretty bad when I actually heard how good it was! We realised we were both into similar things, tried to make a track together and Perverse was born.
A: I’m Alex, I moved to NZ from the UK when I was 14. I automatically got into drum and bass and dubstep. I’ve always loved bass music and always had an interest in producing it so I just downloaded fruity loops like most producers do and started making tracks. I didn’t really find my style though until myself and Brett started producing together
B: Yeah, I’ve never really been able to work with anyone before, don’t think Alex has either, but the moment we sat down and wrote our first song, called ‘Marianas’, within three days it was played on Rinse FM. We were like “shit, is it that easy?” We were just blown away, you know, with how quick and easy it was. We’ve listened to Rinse for years; loved Youngsta and Distance and everyone else, to hear our own song on there was quite a sick feeling. We were blown away and just thought, why not continue…
A: We never set out with any goals in mind. We just sort of started making music because we enjoyed it. All of a sudden we started getting recognition and then we started taking it a bit more seriously I guess.
B: To this day we still make music for ourselves, it’s just a bonus that other people like it too!
Alex, what sort of music were you making before then?
A: Well I’ve always had an interest in trip-hop, dubstep, and drum and bass. I made loads of different styles within electronic music. I still struggle to keep to one genre now. We like to make a bit of everything.
You’ve made some garage tracks recently, are you going to keep moving in that direction in the future?
A: We tend to vary our style. We don’t tend to ever sit down with a set idea of what we’re going to make so we just let the tune write itself.
B: We give the tune the opportunity to develop and show us its vibe and character. We don’t ever sit down and think “Oh tonight we’re going to make a banger” or “tonight we’re going to make a deep tune”. It literally just happens. We’re only steering the track and encouraging the direction its taking.
A: And yeah we are continuing to make garage.
B: (Laughs) yeah, that’s the short answer!
Is there anyone in particular who inspires you?
A: Kryptic Minds and Author are big inspirations, but we tend to draw influences from a lot of different genres as well. If you just listen to dubstep you’ll never expand or try new things. It’s too formulaic.
B: Diversity is key and while I could rattle off the same names Alex has we also take inspiration from other genres of music, people, and our day to day life.
What is the scene like over in NZ?
A: It’s very solid. People over here follow it with a passion. It’s not a humongous scene but it is very strong, we are all bass heads I guess.
B: Driven! They love it! In fact they don’t just love it, they live and breathe it. The drum and bass scene was massive here too so there’s a real bass culture.
You’ve had a few releases on Innamind recordings, how does it feel to be a part of that label?
A: Well Brett’s known Jeremy (owner of Innamind recordings) for years!
B: Since I was 13.
A: We’ve just watched the label grow. We are the first vinyl release of theirs so it’s really good to see the label blossoming, we’re happy about it. We can’t believe the response to the tunes on there!
B: As I say, I’ve known Jeremy for a long time. He’s always spoken to me about starting a label; he’s been a DJ for a very long time and when he asked me to help out getting people on the release, for me that was a really big deal. He’s been a really good friend for a number of years, which was why he asked us to be on the first vinyl release. Loyalty’s a big thing, in general, but in NZ as well people are very loyal. Jeremy’s been very loyal to us, and we are to him.
What are your plans for gigging over the next year or so?
B: Well we’ve done quite a few local things. We’re working on a tour with a few other people too. We’ve been signed to an agency and they’re dealing with it. We’d love to play out more though!
A: Yeah definitely, it’s a great way to test out new music and see how the crowd reacts.
So if our readers wanted to hear your music, what track would you recommend to us to get a great example of the ‘Perverse sound’?
A: Can’t give a specific example as we move around so much but most tunes we make are focussed on interesting percussion, groove, cinematic ambiance and eerie melodies.
B: Check out our Soundcloud!
Can you describe your set up?
A: Our production set up is very basic. We just use two rokit 8 KRK monitors, a basic edirol keyboard and FL Studio 10 with a few VST plugins. Keeping it simple to stay creative.
B: Yeah just the basic, common setup I think a lot of people are using.
When playing do you use CDJ’s or vinyl?
B: We play vinyl serato. Alot of people over here play vinyl and it’s the first way I learned to play. When digital came along it was the best of both worlds really. When Truth started using vinyl serato, I guess I just thought if Truth can do it, I can!
Are there any artists from NZ you think our readers should look out for?
A: Organikismness definitely.
B: Yeah he is going to be massive.
A: Soulware is his side project.
B: He’s been offered some seriously big releases and he’s turned them down as he wants to do it himself. Ollie Bassweight, Arkotypes, Optimus Gryme , Ghost Note, Tallan. There are so many it’s hard to name them all.
You’ve only been going a year, do you still have jobs alongside producing?
A: I recently quit my job to concentrate on producing, but I think I’m going to have to get back into work soon. It’s been good to just relax for a bit and get some tunes down.
B: I’m so jealous of him.
If you were to gig with anyone, who would you play with?
B: I think we both have different views on that
A: Kryptic Minds/Author obviously.
B: We played with Youngsta a while back. That was huge for us! Definitely one to tick off the books.
A: Mala too! And club root! There’s so many people it’s hard to choose!
B: And Joe nice definitely.
Do you have any releases coming up?
B: We have a release coming out on Macabre Unit digital which is pretty awesome! I’ve listened to Unit from day one. To talk to those guys and for them to ask to release one of our tracks was a big deal for me!
