- Tue, 2008-03-25 14:01
SOS are 3 DJS. Desyn Masiello, Omid and Demi. Their mission: To take over dance floors across the globe. Picture this - One DJ booth, 3 DJ's and a load of equipment. All held in a spontaneous bubble of unrehearsed, free flowing grooves. Each performance a one off. An un-planned, improvised jam of beats, bass and grooves fused together with a love of music and a passion for making the crowd churn out shapes on the dance floor like some kind of debaucherous club night factory, fuelled with hedonism, party faces and a whole lotta soul.
SOS have just mixed Balance 13 - released 14th April 2008 - it is a selection of sounds from yesterday, today and tomorrow's electronic maestros. They have a host of sets coming up around the globe - so your chance to catch this rare feast of live organised chaos is just around the corner.
I Like Music caught up with each member of SOS to find out what we can expect from an SOS live show, why three heads are better than one and how this union of DJ talent all came about.
''I Like Music because...girls love music.'' Demi, SOS
''I like music because...it saved my life.'' Des, SOS
''I Like Music because...it makes me feel whole and makes me feel like I have my feet on the ground. It makes me feel love again and reminds me of what we are. It allows me to express myself.'' Omid, SOS
ILM: Can you describe the whole SOS hook up, and the vibe of the shows in your own words?
Des: It started completely unplanned. We are just 3 music lovers and DJs from around London, we met thorugh the London dance scene.
Omid: The live set up consists of a 3 DJ set up individually combined together. We don't compromise what we are able to do on our own.
Demi: It's not a case of his turn or my turn.
Des: We take the live band approach but with DJ-ing. We are putting all of our ten, twenty years experience into just gong up there and jamming.
Omid: We are all playing but all doing different things at different times. Demi might bring in a loop from a track, he's not going to bring the track in, but that loop sounds really good over the track I'm playing. That loop might then encourage Des to put something on that he might not have done, so he puts that on and Demi takes the loop out and then the track is completely irrelevant to Demi's loop but it was that loop that instigated the track. We are always inspiring each other.
Demi: We all have our own distinct little sounds. I like a lot of drums and just banging out it - that comes out a lot more when I play on my own. When we do play together it is a nice pot of all the best elements of each other. Its all intertwined. One has an affect on the other.
ILM: What can fans expect from an SOS set?
Demi: It really is different every time. The channels are left open basically. If we have a track that is perfect then we will just throw it in.
Omid: It is all about being spontaneous, on the moment, quickly taking the CD out and going 'No, no, no that track doesn't work lets put on the next one, that works, lets get that in, Oh my god - we've only got 30 seconds...lets get it quick!' It is making us sweat - like eating the hottest bowl of chilli in the world...we are sweating, we are getting dirty, we are getting down on it, we are losing CD's, we are dropping stuff, getting tangled up in leads - somethings not working - its constantly going on and that itself is the kind of imperfection that creates the perfection that we wanna achieve.
Des: Each set is progressive, we are getting more creative, communicating better so there are less mistakes. Obviously with 3 people not planning there are often a few hiccups along the way. As a fan of other DJ's I sometimes quite like hearing a mistake cos I know its real, that someone is there battling behind the decks.
Demi: We don't want to distance ourselves form the people. It's very freestyle. There are times when we give each other space to work - maybe then me and Omid will go into the crowd and just mingle with them.
ILM: What equipment have you got?
Des: At the moment it is 6CDJ's, 3 pioneer DJ 800 mixers cos they have all got built in, really good effects and they have midi as well. One turntable - we might get two. There are effects units and that is about it. That is the base at the moment - we do add to it.
ILM: What advice would you have for any young DJs/producers looking to get their music/or sets out there?
Des: The main thing is to stand out from the crowd. You need a unique style in your music which means a lot of hunting - record shops and online. You need to have a mix CD under your belt which says something really fresh and new and will knock people out.
Demi: You have to get your music out there. Hand CDs to labels and magazines - be persistent.
Omid: I think setting up a little myspace or some sort of community based internet thing would be beneficial for a start. My real advice is to keep at it. Have a set of tracks that you call your reference point. A set of tracks that you are really into. Then listen to those tracks carefully and see what really tickles you in those tracks and what gets you going. Keep going from A to B, until you think your track sounds as professional.
Demi: Believe you can do it. Have faith in yourself. Go for it and don't hold back. The technology is out there now. You can have a mobile studio for a few hundred quid, you know, with your laptop.
ILM: Whats in your CD player right now? What are you listening to for pleasure?
Demi: I'm actually raping beat port at the moment! There are also a bunch of music blogs that I read. The one that I'm hooked on is called bestfootforward.info It's a really good read and a huge spectrum of music is available on there.
Omid: I'm listening to some old Persian music at the moment. Its old, classic Persian music by Mousavi. I've also been listening to a lot of 80's stuff in the house believe it or not. The production is good and so chunky. It really uplifts me - even some of the cheesier stuff!
Des: Er.....I don't know where to start really. I tend to stick the radio on and listen to the classic oldie stations. I'm a massive 80's fan. I love loads of that - I'm well into it. But I don't really get time to stick on any old bits. I might occassionally on a long drive grab a couple of old CDs ..... rock CDs or something....hahah!
