Party Proactive present the Filterheadz
Reported by Joanna McEwen
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Submitted 06-06-07 19:42
Being a promoter is an exciting job. Why? Because you get to compose line-ups compiled of the best dance music the world has to offer! The phrase “like kids in a sweet shop” has been bandied around more than once at Proactive HQ. But even then, amongst the world of music on offer, there are those that stand out, shining above the rest, the mega cherry fizz bomb whopper of the dance world and our headliners for the 16 June party are most certainly that. Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce to you, the Filterheadz. *round of applause, much whooping and cheering etc*.
For those of you familiar with the Filterheadz, I know you’re currently thinking, fantastic! And for those of you maybe more familiar with what’s going on on the dance floor than who’s making and playing the music let me paint you a fuller picture — these brothers from Belgium, Maarten and Bert Wilmaers, are massive! Deep Dish, Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Sasha, Satoshi Tommie, John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo and Tiesto all play music the Filterheadz have produced. Their remixography reads like a Who’s Who of music — Faithless, The Scissor Sisters, Eric Prydz, Green Velvet, Oliver Lieb, M.I.K.E., Marcel Woods, Praga Khan, Delirium, Minimalistix, the list goes on. They’ve compiled artist albums (‘Tribalicious’ and one currently in-the-making), had tracks appearing on compilation and mix CDs including Sander Kleinenberg and Tiesto, I ♥Techno, DanceValley, The Ministry of Sound Annual, Godskitchen (Global Gathering) and Gatecrasher and released music through labels such as Headroom’s techno labels Session and Traction, Intec, Hooj, Bedrock, Platipus, Additive, Black Hole Recordings, Sony BMG, Anjuna Beats, Data, Deviant and goodness knows how many others.
To showcase their music, which is, in their own words, a blend of “techno, house, progressive and everything in between”, they’ve played across the globe from Europe and Russia to India and South America. We at Party Proactive are delighted to welcome them to play at A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at Turnmills on the 16 June.
Hello Bert and Maarten. Thanks for taking the time to do this interview, I’m sure you must have a very busy schedule. Can I ask what it consists of at the moment? I know you’re in the process of working on your new album…
Working on the album has been a bit more of a bumpy road than expected. We have tons of tunes in all kinds of styles but lately we have been feeling the urge to return to our techno roots. We rediscovered the fun of playing banging techno during some recent tours in Eastern Europe and Asia. This will translate itself into a more tougher underground sound on our album.
How different is creating a track from scratch as opposed to doing a remix? Do you like making tracks sympathetic to the original or by picking an obscure sample and creating a whole new track?
The basis of doing original tunes and remixes is pretty much the same. It all starts by constructing the right beats and collecting interesting sounds. We rarely get easy remix jobs. Most of the time we get tunes that are pretty far from our own style, so it takes a lot of experimenting to squeeze at least a little bit of the original into our version.
Things have certainly progressed since you began making music — both in software and styles of sound. What did you record on that life-changing CD presented to Headroom in 1998 which peaked their interest so much?
Actually, we never sent them a demo CD or anything. We met Bart Grinaert, the Headroom label boss through a mutual friend. We became mates first before we actually started working together and releasing music on his label.
The opportunity given to you by label boss, Bart Grinaert, was massive — taking two studio engineers and training you further in studio and dance music techniques. Do you think something like that would be possible in today’s world – saturated as it is with wannabe DJs and producers?
Bart’s role was mainly one of pointing us in the right musical direction and helping us apply our producing skills in house and techno. I think mentorship is something that goes on throughout time. There will always be folk prepared to help out new talent. If not in person then there’s still loads of information to be found on numerous music production forums like www.gearslutz.com and www.bigbluelounge.com
You yourselves now own your own label, Love Distortion, and are very encouraging of unsigned artists sending their music in. Have you discovered any hidden talent yet?
So far, Love Distortion has only been an outlet for Filterheadz and Housetrap releases but we surely hope to expand this in future.
Are you releasing both vinyl and downloads?
Yes.
What do you use when playing in a club?
Right now we use Ableton Live for DJ-ing. It’s cool, it’s fun and gives us new creative ways to do on the spot remixing of tunes.
You began, so to speak, your musical careers in a rock band with your two other brothers and have since mentioned your desire to work with people in that arena — Peter Gabriel, Wes Borland, the guitar player with Limp Bizkit, or Craig Armstrong. Have you ever approached anyone (or been approached?) to work on a more rock/pop type record?
Every now and then we think about venturing of into a more pop/rock oriented musical waters. Luckily we always get back to our senses and resist the siren’s call...
We have learned that there is a lot more power in moving forward in one specific direction, contrary to trying to do every possible thing that comes in pops up in our heads.
Were you to get into this scene would you be the backroom engineers or would you be there fronting the band?!
Fronting most certainly! No matter how much fun we have in the studio, nothing compares to being on stage and pushing the crowd over the edge with massive tunes.
Out of interest, bearing in mind the Filterheadz is a duo, who writes the answers to the interviews?
I do ;-)
What’s your working relationship like? Is there harmony over your intuitive understanding of a track’s direction or sibling bickering over where the high hats should go?!
A mixture of both. We have moments where we operate at an almost telepathic level. No words are needed, a simple look will do. Other times it takes a lot of words to come to the conclusion that we basically had the same idea in the first place...
What do your two other brothers think of your musical success? Are they still involved in music themselves?
As far as we know there are only there is only Bert & Maarten, we have no other brothers.
You’ve described your music as melodies over strong techno beats and loads of your tracks are loved by trance, techno and house DJs alike — Yimanya, Sunshine, Santiago. Are you ever tempted to do full on ‘pure’ tracks – some industrial techno perhaps???
Early on we did a few more “pure” techno tracks on the Session and Traction labels. Tracks like Sparadrap, Corrador & African Bulldozer were quite heavy.
You’re very open about discussing what soft and hardware you use to create tracks — for example you’ve mentioned your enjoyment in using the GURU drum machine. Why are many producers, in your opinion, loathe to give out equipment information? And why do you not mind?
We always love reading about software and musical equipment, especially tips and tricks from colleagues. So we don’t mind sharing our experience at all.
I love the fact you’re quoted as aiming to write the biggest track of the night, even if you don’t always succeed. How does than translate for an entire set of Filterheadz….?
Our aim is to bring the biggest possible tunes of the moment without taking all too obvious choices. I think the true strength of a good DJ lies in presenting the audience undiscovered but earthshaking tunes.
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And finally…we ummed and aahhed for a long time over your placing within the 16 June line-up. Being a party that aims to create a musical journey it can sometimes be tricky to decide where to place artists and I have to say, you guys were a particularly tricky case. Your set time of 12 – 1.30am might surprise a few people because, being our headliners, you’d usually be playing later. Our thinking was, the music takes precedence and we wanted to show you off to your best advantage within the night as whole. We feel it’s a risk because of people’s expectations but have to have faith in our role in creating the Party Proactive line-ups to put people where they’re best suited *looking suitably nervous*. Have you ever had a similar experience of putting yourselves musically on the line or taken a risk with the Filterheadz career?
We are totally confident that we will rock Turnmills on the 16th. No worries about that. Concerning our own career, it’s a never-ending search, but in the end you need to go for your gut feeling and do what feels right.
Thanks guys. It was a pleasure putting this interview together. I hope you enjoyed sharing your answers with us. I hope you enjoy sharing your music with us on the 16 June! Much love, Party Proactive x x x
Photos courtesy of the Filterheadz. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Party Proactive Midsummer Night's Dream
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On:
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Saturday 16th June 2007
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At:
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Turnmills [map]
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From:
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10pm to 6am
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Cost:
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£14 in Advance / £16 Paying Guest List / £18 Door
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Website:
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www.proactive-records.co.uk
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Ticket Info:
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Tickets and Paying Guest List
Advance Tickets £14 / Paying Guest List £16 / Door £18
Ticketweb (24hr Credit Card Bookings): 08700600100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Clubtickets (by 5 get 1 free): 08702462050 / www.clubtickets.com
Proactive HQ: 07814179946 / brainless66@hotmail.com
Vince (Midlands): 07878619504
Cyberdog (Camden Market): 0207 4822842
Maria: maria@toomuchbutneverenough.com / 07813684399
Antiworld: www.antidote909.com
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Weaving their musical spell this enchanted evening are the globe rocking duo Filterheadz (Belgium), purveyors of tough, progressive house; DJ Misjah (Holland), creator of the massive clubland anthem Access, who showcases his pounding, funk driven techno; hard and dark house comes courtesy of Proactive resident, Andy Farley, who teams up with Trade legend, Ian M, for a heart stopping b2b and DJ Pagano, fresh from touring the USA, lays down the tribal rhythms alongside Proactive resident, Jacob Moss.
In T2, we welcome from Blink Records Fabrice K (France), a master of deep sexy tech whilst minimal filth and break infused beats feature from rising UK stars Shane Watcha (Zombies Ate My Brain) and Janette Slack (Kidology).
Come Colourful, Courageous and Ready to Party!
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Flyer:
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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House. Deep House. Hard House. Prog House. Tribal House. Vocal House. Deep Techno. Funky Techno. Techno.
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DJ's:
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T1: TRIBAL / PROGRESSIVE / TECHNO / HARD DANCE
Filterheadz - Belgium
DJ Misjah – Holland
Andy Farley b2b Ian M
Pete Wardman
DJ Pagano b2b Jacob moss
K.A.R.L.
T2: ELECTRO / TECH / BREAKS / HOUSE
Fabrice K
Shane Watcha
Janette Slack
Hugh Stevenson
Joanna McEwen
Sunny Side
THE Juno ROOM: HOSTED BY SUMMIT DIRTY
DJ Roo / Jack Michaels / Super Mario Brothers / Yiannis Balkizas / Ben Townsend b2b Chris Canning / Justin Cookee / Jordan Brown / Biggs
V.I.P. HOSTED BY FUNK DELUXE
Egoiste / Funked Up DJs / Simon Williams / James Molowoski / Audio Dice / Rory McCart vs Rob Stanley / Model Bex
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Other Features By Joanna McEwen:
Ticon the matter seriously
Riding the frequencies with Hertz
The Many Faces of Paul Maddox
Axel Karakasis Gets Proactive
Proactive Gets Dejavoo!
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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so can't wait to hear these guys on the 16th... God not long now 
