As the electro sound bubbles up into pop culture, it's now relatively common to find people familiar with the sound, but not the artists behind the music. One DJ's sound in particular comes to mind - Boys Noize. But who is Boys Noize? We got in touch with Alex Ridha, aka Boys Noize and asked him essentially that very same question...
Grooveeffect: You seem to have gotten started with dance music at a relatively young age, starting a studio with DIM at the age of 16. Can you tell us a bit more about those formative years?
Boys Noize: I was playing drums for four years before I discovered my love for vinyl and producing. I had a shitty music program when I was 14 years and at the same time I worked my ass off to effort my turntables & all the vinyl. I worked in a record shop and so I had my first big gig as a warm up DJ when I was 16 years. At the same night I met D.I.M. and we became very good friends, and we decided to make music together. We did for five years and I learned a lot about engineering at that time. when I got to 21 I moved to Berlin because of my love. Since then I have my own studio.
GE: Some might say that you first made a name for yourself as a Remixer. What is it about remixing that's so attractive to you?
BN: Remixing is a fun thing. You get already a lot of material to orientate or to fuck around.
GE: Speaking of, remix/mashup culture seems to be more prolific today than ever before, with the major electro DJ/Producers taking turns remixing each others' tracks. What's your take on this?
To me it's not so special. Remixes have been a "normal" thing in club music for more then 20 years.
GE: Your first album, "Oi Oi Oi" dropped not too long ago - do you prefer creating your own tracks to remixing?
BN: It depends.
GE: We're big fans of the harder edged electro house sound - everything from Ed Banger to Digitalism to Simian, etc... To us, it almost feels like the energy of the rave days reincarnated in a wild mashed-up form. What's your take on the nu-electro sound, and do you feel like you've had some hand in helping it grow?
BN: As always there is good and bad music around and I probably see from another point of view then you. As a producer I listen to music different as well. For Boys Noize I think many things come together at the same time. I released a lot of 12" on my label & others + remixes + web2.0. + good shows AND most important saying "no" the the the ;)
GE: I hear elements of punk, rock, and other harder-edge elements in your sound that are big contrasts from most other 4/4 styles, for example the typical smoothness of house or the more orderly/minimal beats that are commonplace in modern techno. The heavy distorted bass also reminds me of a bit of gabber, though at a much slower BPM. Where do you think your sound evolved from, and where do you get your inspiration?
BN: I think I'm not too distorted, but of course I take inspiration from punk, gabber, but also hip hop, or disco.
GE:We caught your show at Fat City when you stopped by San Francisco in March. Is the vibe much different from one city to the next, or in a broader sense, from one country to the next?
BN: Right now it's CRAZE everywhere because the kids want it! San Francisco is always special to me though.
GE:The diamond-skull/disco ball icon has become your trademark - tell us a little about that.
BN: It's made by an artist called Christoph Steinmeyer and he lives in Berlin. The world knows him for his paintings. His skull was made way before Damien Hirst's one! Check his stuff.
GE: Lastly, tell us a bit about your personal style. Any particular brands or looks that you love right now?
BN: No, I'm kinda boring.
GE: Haha, thanks for chatting with us!
Visit www.myspace.com/boysnoizemusic for more info.
