Double Trouble

Words: Abby Lowe
Images: Amanda Nikolic.

Same name, same job, same dedication to music. What are the chances of meeting a kindred spirit and then uniting together to whip the world into shape as a duo? If you asked us, pretty slim, but that’s exactly what Adrian and Adrian of Adriatique succeeded in doing, and now, thanks to their dual vision, their melodic sounds can be heard all over the globe. This summer they’ve been playing with fellow label mates as part of Diynamic Outdoor’s residency at BEACHOUSE, as well as pumping out the remixes and working on material. We caught up with the boys to talk destiny, being part of the close-knit Diynamic family and playing at DC-10 for the very first time this year.

What’s the story behind how the two of you met?
We met while playing on the same night in southern Germany. We were both pretty impressed by each other’s sets and so we got into a conversation.
How did you start building your own careers separately?
We both come from little villages in Switzerland and Austria. Adrian Blond started in Basel and Zurich, and myself in the western part of Austria. After a couple of years it was obvious to take the next step. We were ‘only’ DJing and we met at a time when both of us were starting to produce.

Did it feel like a natural step to start working as a duo?
After we spent some time together, yes. Although we are two completely different characters we had two very important things in common from the first second – we were on the same page musically and we knew where we wanted to go with it. After these years it feels like a natural step, or almost destiny, that we played together that night we met.

How is it working as a duo, was it difficult initially to get used to each other’s ways of working?
Not really, as I said production-wise we were starting at the same time, so we were learning a lot back then and still do. Of course everyone has their strengths and weaknesses in every kind of way, but then the duo thing comes into play. We complement each other and help each other out. We can share the good and bad things that happen every day.

What’s the key to a successful partnership?
Trust, honesty, commitment.

What’s it like being part of the Diynamic family?
It has been a constant progression from the first second and still is. We got welcomed with open arms and had a platform to grow and show what we can do. After these years we developed not only a business relationship but friendships, which is very important. It is such a colourful group with so many different tastes in music, which sometimes makes it hard to get right for everyone, but at the same time that generates interesting ideas because you have all these different views. The best way to describe it is in your question already – family, or as Martin Stimming says, ‘a little kingdom.’

How do you go about taking people on a journey with your music – is there a beginning, middle and an end to your sets?
There is but it’s not a formula. We have been DJing for quite a long time now, and we are very glad that we grew up the old-school way – at least when it comes to the art of DJing, which is still very important to us. We have very different kinds of timeslots, which means sometimes it’s a two-hour festival set, or the next day it could be an all night long thing in a small club. So we don’t prepare for both occasions we just go there and try to get the connection between the people and us. There is always the chance that this doesn’t happen but that’s part of it I guess. Most of the time it does though.

Who have been your role models?
We both don’t really have the typical role model. There are people like Sven, Derrick May or certain time periods – like around 2004-2006, which influenced us a lot. But there are a few people in our inner circle like friends and family where we gained a lot.

What program do you use for music production?
Logic. Started with Ableton to build some ideas tho. But our main program is still Logic.
Do you use external or internal equipment, like any VST or sample packs?
Both. Years ago when we started it was almost completely internal. Obviously it takes time getting into the analogue stuff. You start to buy things and notice, that’s not really what I wanted for example. At the moment we are quite happy with both sides. That’s the beauty of today, so many options and you can get the best of analogue and digital. We rebuilt our studio this year. Not only the room but also equipment, recently we added the moog sub37, the new Prophet 6 and the Nord Lead 4.

How long does it take you to make a track?
It can be quite fast but normally it takes us a long time. A lot of people say if a track happens very fast it is good like that. This might be right but when that happens to us we are super critical of ourselves, about whether what we’ve made is really enough. When the idea comes together quite fast it is a good sign though.

When you make music do you have a goal in mind sound-wise or do you always approach it with a free mind?
Sound-wise, yes. But more about how the sound-design should be like, not what kind of genre it should be.

What’s your opinion of ghost producing?
We know that this thing is popping up more often also in our environment. It was always there it’s just very current when it comes to techno and house music. I mean if you look back there are a lot of DJs who built their legacy on the art of DJing and not because they produced great tracks. Nowadays people expect that from you or you don’t get the ears of the people if you don’t release music under your name. There is absolutely nothing to say against people coming together and making music with or for each other. But when it comes to producing a product that they then send on stage because there is a clear plan behind it to make this product successful, well make your own thoughts on that.

Where’s the one gig you’ve played that you’ll remember forever?
I would say there were a couple. After we joined Diynamic in 2011 there was our Off Sonar Party, I think in 2012. Free entry, on the beach and the vibe was amazing like the OFF Parties used to be. More recently our first DC-10 gig, or maybe one or two very special and long after parties in Ibiza…

And other memorable Ibiza gigs?
Our first appearance at the DC-10 Terrace on New Year’s Day or the Solomun +1 Opening and as I said some special afterhours or private parties.

With lots of DJs having their own residencies in Ibiza, do you think that’s changed clubbing here for better or worse?
When we came to the island around seven or eight years ago it was also like that. It just got more and bigger and the EDM thing came to the island. You can argue for or against it forever but to be honest we don’t really care. Ibiza is a beautiful place besides the whole party thing and it is very important that all of us try the best to keep it like that as long as possible.

You’re playing in Ibiza a fair bit this summer, what else have you got coming up over the next few months?
A couple of festivals and touring like usual, twice more to the United States and Canada this year as well as a full month off in November to spend time in the studio. As our three last releases were remixes we’re working on new original material right know.

And if you could only listen to one track every day for the next year, what would it be and why?
Maybe Patrick Watson – ‘Lighthouse’. It is dark, but has much light in it. The track starts very quietly and you never would expect the atmosphere change that happens by the end.