Monkey Safari are the latest DJ team to tackle the iCrates Vinyl-Only Sessions. Swinging their way through the musical jungle, the primate duo have gathered a reputation for eclectic mixes, drawing on influences as diverse as the animal kingdom itself. iCrates presents this short interview to compliment their fantastic mix!
Can you tell us a bit about who you are, and what Monkey Safari is all about?
We are Lars & Sven and we’re brothers. Our hometown is Halle in the middle of Germany. We just love music and have been doing it our whole lives in different ways. We founded Monkey Safari as DJ & producer team, our label What! What! and our club Charles Bronson some years ago. Now we’re working in different parts of the music business. That’s what we want and what we like!
Which DJ’s/musicians/genres are you influenced by?
A lot of different artists like Fatboy Slim, The Doors, Mos Def, Gang Starr, Sigur Ros, and world music……
Your influences certainly suggest the varied sound we’ve come to expect from Monkey Safari, but how would you describe the music that you make?
It’s just Lovemusic… or music we love ;) Mostly we’re placed in the genre “House” but we would prefer “Electronic World Music”.
Your Bamboolica EP from earlier this year has a particularly Balkan flavour. What drew you to the Balkan sound?
The happiness of the elements in this sound – and during the production period of the track, we decided we wanted to do some happy stuff!
Why do you think there has been so much interest in music from the Balkan region in recent years?
Everyone would like to be happy ;)
No doubt; but happiness aside, what makes Balkan folk music and jazz swing so compatible with electronic music?
4/4 and the catchy themes.
Can you recommend some must-have Balkan records for our readers…
The guys from Eastblok Music release a well sorted compilation every year with different artists from the genre and everyone who is interested in this kind of music and feeling should watch Crna Macka, Beli Macor (Schwarze Katze, Weisser Kater – Black Cat, White Cat).
You have a new EP Big Mama out on Jackmode with more of a house/techno vibe – Can you explain a bit about how this came about?
I don’t think there’s much to say. We just want to bring a good vibe, emotions, fun and feelings to the ears and dancefloors of this world… with every release.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
In December we will release the third EP on our new label “Mambo” and also a new single release on the Autralian label “Sweat It Out!”.
And what about your record label What! What!?
The idea behind What! What! is very simple: music we like in combination with great videos & artwork. At this point this is thanks to www.klub7.de & www.mikeokay.com who are the guys behind the What! What! art.
Artwork is obviously something only applicable to vinyl releases and I’ve seen you talk about the importance of vinyl and how it is making a comeback. What does vinyl mean to you and why do you think we are seeing a resurgence of new releases on vinyl?
Vinyl is the last defender of physical releases. The labels & music industry will never return to the vinyl sales of the 90′s, but in the future vinyl will be a constant medium in the music market. The reasons are the ‘specific vinyl sound’ and the nostalgia – ‘vinyl was the first physical music medium available for the masses’.
I think in 15 to 20 years no-one will release anything on CD. You’ll buy your music straight in digital shops like iTunes or with the feeling of a physical release with cover etc. on nice, new mediums like usb cards…
However, in 20 years some people will also still love to put a vinyl on their turntable.
Do you always DJ with vinyl yourselves?
We learned DJing with vinyl many years ago but it’s impractical for travelling and we DJ with CD’s now!
What have you been listening to recently? and [an impossible question!] to finish, but what would be your top 5 records of all time??
To the finished mix we did for you ;)
Fatboy Slim – You´ve Come A Long Way Baby
The Doors – In Concert
Manu Chao & Radio Bemba Soundsystem – Live
Sigur Ros – Live In Rome
Outkast – Speakerboxx/The Love Below
Thanks a lot,
Your Monkeys.
If you havn’t heard it yet, check out their Vinyl-Only Sessions mix HERE!
