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Interview with Rowland & Wright aka Phatt Bloke & Slim
Reported by Cassandra
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Submitted 24-07-03 14:06
Two production names that are becoming increasingly familiar these days are Rowland & Wright, (aka Phatt Bloke & Slim, aka PBS) with tracks on the infamous Nukleuz Hardbeat EP series and the already legendary Hard Trance EP’s. With their reputation for being two highly entertaining personalities, I welcomed the opportunity to find out a little more about them and their many faces of hard dance production.
Nick Rowland and Dave Wright are both 26 and hail from Birmingham. The pair are good friends and first met in June 2002 at a DJ competition where Nick was playing in the final. They got chatting and discovered that they both had an interest in music production and Norman Cook’s harder cousin was born 
Nick & Dave, you now produce under a variety of names, but where did the initial Phatt Bloke & Slim idea come from?!
Dave: The Phatt Bloke & Slim pseudonym came about as a joke. We’d had our first track, Hammerdeus, signed by Alphamagic, and we needed an artist name. As the track title was a bit of a piss take anyway, we tried to think of an equally daft artist name. We were very close to being called Mop & Bucket for the first release! Nick took the piss out of me for being of a bigger build than him (i.e a fat git) and he was a streak of piss, so the name sort of sprang up one day at the studio and it just sort of stuck. We’ve since shortened it to PBS, which sounds more serious. We’ve also started to work under our real names too.
So do the different names reflect different styles of production?
Nick: It’s label dependant really, we are trying to keep all names quite diverse in style.
Dave: Some producers use different names for different styles, but we’d rather be known for being able to produce many different styles. I think it gets you more recognition and respect within the dance scene if people know you can be diverse in what you write.
Have you always been interested in making music, or did the production stem from being clubbers?
Dave: I’ve had a background in music since I was about 6. Played the piano up to Grade 8 and started playing the Drums when I was 12. Have been in a few bands playing the drums and started as a Trance DJ about 6 years ago in Wakefield, then moved on to Hard House when Trance started going Progressive. I started producing a few tracks when I was at uni on Music and then Music 2000 (on the Playstation)
Nick: I’ve been producing stuff in one way or another for about 8 years but not in the same way I do now. I had quite a musical background, which was cool, and I’ve been DJing for just over 9 years! I got into the harder side of dance music about 3 years ago, loved the clubs, loved the music, so I invested in some equipment and started producing tracks and now it’s my job!
Considering you have only been working together since December 2002 you have had a great response to your music so far with releases on Nukleuz, Tidy, Execute and Intensive – what would you say is the secret to Rowland & Wright?
Nick: We get ideas from all over the place and just try to fuse them all into one, being that we both come from more of a trance background our material does have a trancier edge, we’ve had great support & plenty of feedback from a few well known DJs which has helped loads!
Dave: There is no secret as such. We just make music for people to, hopefully, enjoy! If there is any secret, then its trying to make sure we attempt different things all the time and try to better each record with the next one!
And who have been your biggest influences?
Nick: Biggest influences recently in the production field have to be BK & James Lawson, BK’s production talents are quite outstanding. DJ wise I always seem to get inspired by Andy Farley and have utmost respect for his diversity!
Dave: I’d have to agree with Nick on this one, although I also like a lot of Stimulant DJ’s stuff too! There are many good producers out there, and it’s not necessarily just a single producer that inspires, but a variety of tracks by many different producers. Anyone who comes up with something new and original is always an inspiration to the rest of us
We're currently being treated with the release of Deeper (Hardbeat 22) with a most definite return of the hoover, what’s in store for us next?
Nick: We have just completed a couple of remixes for Nukleuz, Aluna – All My Life and the new Cortina track called ‘Hot In Here’. We’ve also just finished a track called ‘Disco Shit’ which will be under PBS but not sure which label that’s on yet. Currently working on some other stuff too…
Dave: We’ve also just been in the studio with Rob Tissera doing a remix for Tripoli called ‘Bring The Lights Down’. We have some more exciting projects lined up, one with Nick Rafferty and another with Rob and of course some more new material in which we can’t rule out the continued resurgence of hoovers
Dave mentioned earlier learning about production on Playstation software. There is obviously the technical barrier to those who have great ideas and want to get into production but do not have access to all the mod cons of a full studio – what would your advice be to those starting out?
Nick: Perseverance, Trial & Error… I’ve been knocking about with music & music production in various forms for a good few years and the best thing I can say is it’s important to be able to put ideas into action, so know your software! It doesn’t really matter what you’re using, if you know how to use it you can (generally speaking) get results. Just remember your not going to do any damage by trying something (most of the time!). Knowledge is power…
Dave: Nuff said….. I’m still bamboozled by a lot of the software, so I tend to let Nick do most of the producing, although I make sure I take in a lot of what he does so I can have a good mess about on my own. The best way to learn anything is to try and do it yourself!
Now the London hard dance scene are getting to know you very well as producers but do you also DJ and have you any gigs planned in the Big Smoke?
Nick: Yeah, we both DJ out together and on our own, although recently it’s become more of a double act. We have a few gigs lined up at the moment but currently music production takes priority. (We are also looking for a good agent so any offers to nick@42thefloor.co.uk please! ). I was finalist at a DJ comp a while ago but got a little wasted and managed to get myself disqualified! Was resident at Fluffin’ Mental (after club in Birmingham) before it was closed, which was a shame as the night was promising. Other gigs include Aftersential, S.L.A.G and a few others.
Dave: I Started DJ’ing Acid Trance a good few years ago, and moved into Hard Trance just as it started taking off. I’ve played at Feverish (Bristol), Aftersential, Havok (Manchester), Fruity, Shaft, to name but a few. We’d love to play in London soon though as the clubbers down there are bloody mental! We’ve had some interest from Heat and Oblivion, so hopefully we should be down in the Big Smoke, having a Big Smoke soon. He he
Now that can only be taken as a compliment! Which clubs are rocking it for you at the moment?
Nick: Riot! Rocks, the crowd are fantastic and the people are the friendliest anywhere, the music is second to none! I tend to be more of a festival man but Sundissential HQ doesn’t go a miss some times although like most places it has had its ups and downs recently.
Dave: Riot! For pure fun! The Warehouse Party idea is superb, the crowd are great, the atmosphere is great, what more do you need! Goodgreef is also one definitely not to miss!
And a subject that I always wonder about. As producers do you still manage to really get into it in a club or are you always listening critically to the music? Busman’s holiday and all that…
Nick: ha ha, it can be hard to get into it as I used to, but I wouldn’t say I listen critically, more, have an open ear for fresh ideas  But I can still have a laugh!!!
Dave: it’s very easy to find myself listening to it critically, but once I realize I’m doing it, I tend to be able to stop myself! We’re always on the listen out for new and exciting ideas though
So, for arguments sake, lets say that Aliens have landed on the earth and removed dance music – what would you do to keep yourselves occupied?
Nick: I’d start writing pop music and be the next Stock, Aiken and Waterman lol
Dave: I’d do the next most popular thing – porn! (Offers by e-mail please )
Well it seems that the boys have it all figured out! I certainly look forward to seeing them behind the decks sometime soon as they are quite a double act, and if their spinning is as good as their tunes we will surely be in for a treat
For more information on Rowland & Wright visit www.42thefloor.co.uk
All photos courtesy of Beyond Reality www.beyondreality.info
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Other Features By Cassandra:
Interview with Matt Williams of The Edison Factor
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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