Sydney Producer LDRU exploded into everyone’s ears last year with his fun and funky jam ‘The Tropics’. While the project only started out as a joke, the Northern Beaches youngster soon found himself signed to local tastemakers Future Classic. The 21 year old, known to friends as Drew Carmody, says he has only recently started penning original tracks, but assures us there is plenty more to come. With a whirlwind of a year ahead of him, LDRU took five with our man Dominic Sciberras.
Pulse: What’s the story behind your name? LDRU: Way too much Playstation when I was younger…it’s a part of cheat from Grand Theft Auto, max health and ammo I’m pretty sure.
What were you doing before this? I was an apprentice carpenter slaving away on the tools.
How did you hook up with Future Classic? They hooked up with me. One day I received a message from them asking to sign ‘The Tropics’. The rest is history.
Are you surprised at how quickly everything has taken off? Yes! I can’t believe how far this project has come. It was all joke, now it’s pretty serious.
How would you define your sound? Jesus. Maybe jungle-ized tech-house-trap? Yeah let’s stick with that.
How much does your beach lifestyle influence your sound? A little. I try and use the surf as an escape.
What makes you want to remix a track? What are you trying to achieve when you remix? To be honest I don’t really like doing remixes because of all the deadline’s, but if I really want to remix a track I can normally hear something that I’d love to change.
How do you feel about other people remixing your material? Fine by me! It means people are liking my stuff which is awesome.
What equipment are you using on stage? 2-3 CDJ 2000s and an 800 DJM mixer.
Any collaborations on the horizon? Yes, actually. Quite a few, but I can’t say.
Any plans to release an EP/Album? Big plans! But again I can’t say.
Any plans for an overseas tour? I hope so. I wanna build my profile a little bit more here at home first so I make a really good impression when I first get over there.
What is your dream gig? Main Stage, Tomorrow Land. 100%
What’s on the agenda for 2014? Might be going to Canada at the end of the year to go snowboarding, besides that Surf, write music and party.
Any artists we should be looking out for? Just a Gent, Akouo, The Ship Shape, Golden Features.
Grand final rematch this Friday. How do you like Manly’s chances? That’s a silly question. GO MANLY!