Written by CGNY |
Saturday, 08 May 2010 16:36 |
An interview with Faze Action... by Russell Parker Faze Action are a British band composed of brothers Simon and Robin Lee. The Lee brothers collaborated for the first time in 1995 to produce the Original Disco motion EP, the success of the group’s debut EP contributed to them signing with Nuphonic Records. The pair then in 1996 produced a single called “In the Trees,” which won them increased exposure and is still probably their most famous track. In conjunction with a reissue of the track in the winter of 2007, a number of remixes were also released by Carl Craig, Jerome Sydenham, and Tiger Stripes. The pair released their first album in 1997 entitled "Plans and designs". They have subsequently released a number of singles and albums; their tracks have been remixed by the likes of Rae and Christian and Cinematic Orchestra. June 2009 has seen release of their full-length album Stratus Energy, which features 80's-like disco vocals and synths. Answers: Robin Lee [R] and Simon Lee [S].
http://www.myspace.com/fazeaction Russell: How long have Faze Action been together? [R]: Since 1995, so that's 14 years. Russell: Has your sound changed a lot over the years? [R]: Yes. We have been through a lot of different styles. We have a large and varied record collection. We like a lot of different music. Russell: In the last year or so Disco has enjoyed a big revival, why do you think this is? [R]: Producers love to borrow from the past and Disco is such an eclectic term. It encompasses a lot of things. It is easy to adapt. Disco music is music that you can dance to. You can take elements of it and fuse them with other things. Russell: How does the new disco sound compare with the original? [R]: Technology has been an influence. People are always striving to do things in different ways. I suppose that back when Disco was a very new thing, people used a lot more live instruments. It's expensive to record that way now so people find different ways of doing things like sampling or using drum machines etc. Russell: Is the current Disco resurgence here to stay or just a passing Faze? [pardon the pun] [R]: Let's be realistic. In it's current form and in the media, it's just a phase. However, it depends how you define disco. For me any record you can dance to is a disco record. Dance is the key. Human beings need to do it. We need to dance. I don't know why but we do. In that case... As it has a serious function in our lives. Disco is here to stay. Russell: Your latest album 'Stratus Energy' has received great reviews, was it long in the making? [R]: Stratus Energy was the culmination of the last couple of years work. I think it took about 1 year to get it completed. That is once we had decided to do it and put it out ourselves. Russell: Being brothers, is it difficult working together? [R]: Not really. We can say exactly what we think to each other. I think the time for getting annoyed with each other if we disagree over something is way passed. We always find a way or see the other persons point of view after a while. Russell: Do you have equal input? [R]: Yes. It's a partnership. Russell: Future plans for Faze Action? [R]: We are currently working on the next chapter [album 5]. There will be some new releases very soon. We also have a live band that did some great shows last year so we are keen to do more of that. Russell: Apart from the obvious past DJs / producers who / what inspires you now? [R]: Phenomenal Handclap Band, Toby Tobias, Todd Terje, Horsemeat Disco, Prins Thomas, Idjut Boys, Steve Kotey, Pete Herbert, Reverso 68, Ray Mang. We could go on... Russell: Do your DJ sets incorporate a lot of original disco? [R]: It's our preference to play old disco stuff but it's all about what's happening on the dancefloor at the time. If the floor requires a certain thing then we play to that style. Playing Fabric is different to playing somewhere like Plastic People. They are both equally enjoyable and rewarding. We will generally try and put that old disco sound in there somewhere though. Because we love it. Russell: Top 5 past and present tunes? [R]: Top 5 - Past: Russell: And finally, what can fans expect from Robin's NYE set in Dublin? Is it your first time playing here? [R]: They can expect a party. You bring the 'Craic', I'll bring the tunes. It's not our first time in Dublin. But it's been a while. Robin Lee of Faze Action plays 4 Dame Lane on Thursday 31st December as part of Subjects New Years Eve event... Full details: www.subjectevents.com |