Exclusive Interview with Designer Drugs
With one full length album and over 70 remixes and 500 gigs behind them Designer Drugs have been destroying venues across the world since they began the project in 2007. After their enormously well received debut album, “Hardcore/Softcore,”(Ultra Records) entered the top 10 on iTunes in 2011, Designer Drugs smashed the A-list club and festival circuit worldwide harder than ever before. Captivating audiences with their unique style, energy, and musical prowess, the New York duo consisting of Michael Vincent Patrick, and Dr. Theodore Paul Nelson, demonstrated an unmatched ability to bring the performance and rile the crowds and earned them the title of Americas #10 best Dj's by Technique.
Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Designer Drugs, shortly before their performance at DEMO on 12th September.
Designer Drugs was founded in 2007 and in the last 5 years you have made a remarkable rise. How did you guys meet in the first place and what made you team up?
We were both living in neighboring small Pennsylvania towns and going to raves when we were 15/16 years old and our paths eventually crossed. Michael was starting to DJ at the time, and I was starting to write music on a Roland synth. We linked up and started producing music together at that time.
How would you describe your music in a few words?
Other than naming the genre's themselves, I would say it can be: Heavy, Melodic, Versatile, Adaptive, and Bangin'.
Your debut album “Hardcore/Softcore,” entered the top 10 on iTunes in 2011. What are you currently focusing and working on, and what’s next on your agenda for the near future?
We finished another album and we're waiting on Ultra Records to release it. It's actually been done for quite some time now, but Ultra wanted to release it slowly as singles. While we wait on them, we're doing several remixes to keep the content flowing. We actually just released a very nice remix we did with Greta Svabo Bech for her song "Shut Up And Sing." We're also working on updating our merchandise line. As always, we're constantly touring in the USA, nearly every weekend.
Your recent releases been very successful: “Space Based”, “Empty Heartet” with Alvin Risk as well as your remix of “Joachim Garraud – Atrium”. Out of all tracks you have made, which would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with your music?
Well I don't think you can get a good idea on what Designer Drugs sounds like without going through several tracks. I'd recommend they'd listen to our first album, and some of our older remixes such as the one we did for Mariah Carey, and Annie, Joachim and the collaboration we did with Alvin.
You travel a lot. What are the essential things you need to have with you at all times and what are the things you miss when you are on tour?
Condoms. Haha. More seriously, a functioning laptop, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, a smart phone, underwear and socks are usually the most important ones for us. What do we miss the most? Sleep! Having time to spend in our own place to relax and work on music in a proper home studio is important to us.
You are known for your high-energy shows. What was the funniest thing ever occurred during any of your performances?
Hmmm.... We're not really sure if anything too funny has happened most shows have been pretty straight forward. We've said some pretty stupid stuff on the microphone before. There hasn't been anything that stands out. One time Michael pissed in a bottle while Djing. Another time I turned down the music and forced the crowd to sing happy birthday to me. There's been times where we've had some stage dive fails, those are always good. Most of the time though, the show goes on without any bloopers.
Your latest performance here in Bangkok was in June 2012 at LED Club RCA. Did you keep that performance in good memory?
Yeah! I barely remember it! The show was good, I remember stage diving so it must of been good! I think the biggest one we did in Thailand was a few years ago with Smirnoff at this big venue they use for filming.
You are about to return to Bangkok by popular demand for an exclusive performance at DEMO Thonglor on 12th September. What can Bangkok expect from your performance?
We're so fucking pumped to play! Bangkok is one of our favorite cities in the world, if not our favorite! Last time we were in Thailand it was to shoot the music videos for Space Based and Empty Hearted, we didn't perform, which was a tease for us. We've been assembling a big crew of friends to come out and show support, they're stoked as well! Bangkok can expect to hear the most bangin' set they've ever heard. We have a lot of new banger tunes to play, as well as new stuff from our upcoming album. Y'all ain't ready!