FUNKISM: Hello Jack Beats (everybody say hello to Jack Beats)- so to start off, in the best analogy as you can, could you describe your sound to our readers? Bonus points for using the words "flamingo" :)
JACK BEATS: Jack Beats sound is red hot like flamingo's...
FUNKISM: Flamingos are pink! Anyway what's the story behind Jack Beats? How did you both come to meet?
JACK BEATS: The story is really simple- we met through music we used to be involved with. We both always liked making music, and from that, one way or another we discovered it was more fun when we did it together...
FUNKISM: I was being nosy and had a cheeky look at your list of influences and I must say I'm mega impressed! But what has been the main driving force behind your sound?
JACK BEATS: Our main driving force behind our sound is the desire to make hybrid music that combines all our influences, and sounds (hopefully) unique. We both spent many years in clubs, and kinda both got bored with what we heard and wanted something new. We have been and still are into a wide variety of music, and so I guess we try to compress these influences into one thing to make our sound.
FUNKISM: Cool! So you've violated White Williams, jacked AC Slater and wobbled Steed Lord to Iceland and back- what works do we have the fortune to look forward to in the future?
JACK BEATS: The main shit for now is finishing our first proper EP for Cheap Thrills.. There are also more remixes coming soon which we've recently finished for Kidda, Kissy Sell Out, Herve and Lady Sovereign... plus we've been working with Herve on some material for the 'Machines Don't Care 2' album.
FUNKISM: Your remix for AC Slater was one of the most sought after tracks last year gaining a vast amount of popularity- how do you cope with all that love? Store it in jars? You guys seem very humble about it all and it's really refreshing to see.
JACK BEATS: It's really nice that you think we come across as humble... We'd hope we are. I think we both know we've been lucky in having long careers in music, and also being able to move between genre's and gain acceptance from new peers, and new audiences. Also - it really does feel amazing to see the project go in the space of one year from a bit of fun in the studio, to something people really are behind and feeling. The speed everything has happened for us still kinda baffles us both... it's blog's like funkism that have built the hype that's fueled the Jack Beats fire, and we're both really grateful for the support. In this day and age with the power of the Internet being stronger than ever, people ultimately make there own minds up whether what you're doing is genuinely decent or just a pile of over hyped shite. Therefore the fact the people have helped us out by writing about us etc and getting behind us is amazing.... they've been our PR team... you should be humbled by a situation like that... if not, you're simply a bit of a c*nt!
FUNKISM: It's true, the very fact you're taking time out to do this interview just reinforces this. What's it like to be one of the big names for 2009?
JACK BEATS: Haha.. weird and dope all at once.
FUNKISM: Last Friday you played in my hometown for one of my favourite parties, Moda. I mean with Foamo and Futurecop live as well- wow indeed! What can us lucky so and so's expect to hear in one of your sets?
JACK BEATS: Bass heavy party music... lots of dubplates and stuff you know
FUNKISM: Our readers from the U.S. are going to be particularly excited by this- I hear you're going to be touring there in March. I bet you're both incredibly hyped about this? What can we expect to find in your suitcases?
JACK BEATS: Yeah looking forward to it alot... we're taking an empty suitcase to bring back lots of Texan BBQ sauce home with us!
FUNKISM: I'm a pretty random person so I like asking random questions- what children's cartoons were your favourites when you were young and why? (Please say Brave Little Toaster) ;)
JACK BEATS: Ulysses 31, Dungeons & Dragons, Battle of the Planets, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Godzilla, He-Man, Mask....
FUNKISM: Mask, good shout! What do you think of Twitter? Do you like to tweet every now and then?
JACK BEATS: We set one up but we've only tweeted once... we've not really figured out how to use it... I guess that says it all haha...
FUNKISM: So finally, if you were writing for FUNKISM for one day, who would you be recommending to our readers?
JACK BEATS: Mysterious Al, Boy 8-Bit, Popof, A1 Bassline, The Cheap Thrills crew...
FUNKISM: Awesome. Thanks again for taking the time out to do the interview with us Jack Beats- it's been a pleasure. And remember to save us a cheeky bottle of Texan BBQ sauce when you come back! :)
Such nice guys ey! And I can't wait to hear the sophomore Machines Don't Care album. Show JB some love on their
myspace and to keep in touch with their dates and releases :)
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