Californian based DROOG are Andrei Osyka, Brett Griffin and Justin Sloe - owners of the infamous Culprit Records in Los Angeles who have announced that one third of the collective, Brett, will be touring Australia in January 2013 straight off the back of the BPM Festival in Mexico. Culprit LA have been making huge waves in the house music scene over the last year by hosting infamous parties on the rooftop of the exclusive Standard hotel, hosting everyone from Jamie Jones and Lee Foss to Art Department and MANIK to name but a few. Here Twiggy from The Altus Project (the crew bringing Brett down under) sat down with DROOG to discuss their up and coming tour and find out what’s happening in their world of the culprits.
The Altus Project: We are really excited to have you in Australia, Droog have been smashing it recently with some great releases, what big things can we expect from you over the coming months? Droog: Super excited to get antipodean, and bring a little California gold your way. Production-wise, Droog begins 2013 strong, starting with a collaboration release with our main man Inxec dropping on Sasha’s Last Night On Earth label in the February, and followed up by a couple of very exciting Droog remixes destined for Rebirth Records and Turquoise Blue Recordings (among others). The dreaded California fall and winter (!!) really forced up us to hole up in our studio over the last few months. On the ground, we are really jazzed about Culprit curated parties and gigs at our new hometown club -- Sound. An amazing spot, just what LA needs, feels like home already. We join a wicked line-up in Peru for Inti Fest in early February, and bounce over to Europe several times in February and March. Finally, Droog label Culprit kicks off the New Year with a mint EP from Shall Ocin (“Crash Into My Love EP”) out shortly, and upcoming releases from Adele and Edu Imbernon & Los Suruba. With the label, production and travel, Droog keeps busy!
BPM festival has just finished in Mexico, We watched some of the amazing highlights online, it was great to see the Culprit Vs Leftroom Party on the line up! What do you think are the big sounds coming out from the artists that are going to change house music this year? I think BPM in Mexico allows the house and techno scene a winter recharge, away from the cold European capitals. The beaches and daytime parties are the perfect setting for much of the bassline driven funk that has dominated over the last year or so. In Mexico, this music just feels natural, and I expect we haven’t seen the end of it. The nights give way to a slightly darker, techy/techno feel, seasoned with almost atavistic, organic tribal notes invoked by the feel of Playa Del Carmen and Tulum where BPM takes place. A special place.
This is your first time on our Australian shores, what can a crowd expect from a Droog set? Given our roots as a collective and a trio, we have a very diverse set of influences, tastes and sounds, which come to be a part of each of us. Put another way, even if it is just one of us playing, the others are always “present” in the musical sense. If I had to sum up the sound, I would say moving house music of all flavors, some old gems included, with a slightly brooding funk.
What is the one track that really gets the crowd going ...the tune of choice for the start of 2013? Gotta go with the in-house favorite here: Shall Ocin’s “Crash Into My Love”, due out on Culprit in just a few days. Shall has worked with, and done releases for, Maceo Plex / Maetrik. Crash Into My Love starts with that influence as a base, but shines with Shall Ocin’s own masterful take on the powerful-yet-funky sound. This track has been crowd-pleasing for us since day one, and we expect big things.
Pulse: The company behind Droog’s Australian tour is new Sydney based events and touring company called “The Altus Project” headed up by Hot Wave’s Artist; Lee M Kelsall. Lee what are you plans are for The Altus Project? LMK: I've been coming to Australia now for the last few years to DJ and the club scene is booming so after seven years successfully promoting in the UK. I now feel it’s time for a new challenge so I’m going to have a crack at Australia, My aim along with my partner in crime Twiggy, is to bring as much up and coming talents to Sydney’s shores, alongside some big exclusive names showcased for the first time in Australia. Droog is the first of these acts to be part of the Altus Project showcase in Australia.
You can catch Droog on the following dates in Australia:
18.01.13 Lucid Dreaming, Perth (WA) [Info Here]
19.01.13 Ghetto’s and Gardens, Wollongong (NSW) [Buy Tickets]
27.01.13 S.A.S.H, Sydney (NSW) [Info Here]