Click here to view the video on YouTube.

WOOF WOOF WOOF.

Out on the 13th of May on the unstoppable Madtech.

Otherwise known as Chris James and Lee Dearn, Purple Velvet are Birmingham based DJ/Producers who in the last year have been on a steady rise to notoriety, releasing well crafted cuts for labels including Local Talk, Dirt Crew and Exploited. Both honing their sound individually, and in Chris’ case alongside a now well known name in the scene, they decided to join forces in late 2011 and haven’t looked back since.  As well as running through some of their favorite tracks and giving their thoughts about vinyl and the House music revival, Chris and Lee have also provided an exclusive mix which can be found after the interview.

Purple Velvet – what’s the story behind the duo? You both have solo projects so what made you team up?

Chris – We have been mates since our college days and have dabbled about with music for the last 10 years. It seemed natural to start Purple Velvet, I think we’ve learned a lot about the music we really love and this hopefully is being represented under this guise.

Lee – Yeah we both started messing around with music together after meeting at college, having the same music tastes and learning about production from each other.

It went from there really and at the end of 2011 we decided to start a fresh project, Purple Velvet, with roots in the deeper side of house.

What’s the dynamic between you guys when you DJ and when in the studio – who twiddles the buttons and who makes the tea?

Chris – Its early days with regards to djing together, were still weighing up the best options/ routines although just vibing out is the main thing and keeping things interesting. In the studio we both play about with our beloved programs, mine being FL and Lee’s into Cubase still. Lee doesn’t like tea, so i have to make my own.

Lee – In the studio it will mainly come from one idea, either a particular sound, melody or feeling we are trying to capture. We work around and build upon this together. As Chris mentioned, we use separate DAW’s but the vibe will be from both of us, whether the track is finished in Cubase or FL. Yeah Chris can make his own tea!

There lots of talk about the ‘House music revival’ that seems to have happened in last 18 months and with EDM exploding across the world it could be said that club culture is in quite a healthy state at the moment – what’s your take on all this?

Chris – Erm, its just business as usual for me personally, i don’t pay to much attention to what everyone else is saying/ thinking or doing. I just try and do the best that i can i hope that people like it. House will never go away ever, im happy that there is a revival, i see “tech house” heads that use umpteen loops moaning at this revival, but as long as it keeps the soul and a vibe to music, instead of monotonous techno, im happy.

Lee - I don’t pay much attention either, I like what I like and have no interest in the hype machine. There are so many good artists playing all over the place at the moment and that can only be a good thing, people recognizing and enjoying good music. You are always going to get the same faces peddling the same sounds out there but it’s good to see a lot of diverse acts about.

Dirt Crew, Local Talk, Exploited.. You’re releasing on some of house musics most prominent labels, are there any other labels you’d love to release on and if so, why?

Chris – Yeh a few were big fans of, we’ve always been into what Freerange & Jimpster put out.

Lee – I’d love for us to release stuff on Morris Audio too, everything I have heard from them since the first Kris Wadsworth EP has been ridiculously good.

Quick fire round…

One record that never leaves your box(es)?

Chris – Audiojack ft Kevin Knapp – Stay Glued (FCL Weemix)

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Best track of 2013 so far?

Chris – Motor City Drum Ensemble – Send A Prayer Part 2 (MCDE)

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Lee – Axel Boman – Cubic Mouth 

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Favourite track to end the night with?

Chris – Mr. Fingers – Can You Feel It?

Lee – I’d have to agree! The most perfect house record in my opinion!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Chris, you used to work with Eats Everything under your Coat of Arms alias, what is about working with someone you enjoy? and can we expect any more collabs in the future?

Yeah, ive been fortunate to collaborate with Dan (Eats Everything) under Coat Of Arms and learnt alot. To be honest at the time i met up with Dan, he was making tougher jackin stuff and i was but we were both getting more into housier stuff which you can probably tell through the COA stuff, but just incorporating the bass element into our records. I think more collabs are on the horizon, not with Purple Velvet and anyone though, maybe a new project from me in the near future with some singers etc J

The IFPI have reported that Vinyl sales last year hit their highest since 1997, are you vinyl consumers or do are formats not a concern for you?

Chris – Personally, i don’t play vinyl anymore, and haven’t in years. I think its cool if you can get a fresh 12” still but if i do that and its not available digitally i still convert to mp3 as logistically its so much easier.

Lee - I have just started buying vinyl again but I don’t think I’ll be playing it if the gigs start rolling in, as nice as it would be to do so, it’s just too much hassle to lug around. I know there are purists about and I have a lot of respect for them.

We’re looking forward to having your at Dance Tunnel next week- what can we expect you to bring to the table musically, and otherwise?

Chris – Musically, just vibes, cant describe it any other way, just the music that we love and we think you will. Ill also be drinking a hell of alot and hopefully not making a dick of myself J

Lee – Vibin house! We will be throwing a couple of our own jams in there and records in-keeping with the sound of the compilation TRAXX, old and new! If Chris is drinking, then you know it’s going off! Good times will be had by all!

Catch Purple Velvet alongside a special secret guest next Thursday at Dalston’s hottest new basement. Join the Facebook event for free guestlist before midnight.

Launching last year to an excellent response from artists and punters alike, Dimensions is back this September and out to better itself. Tasked with programming the festival is Leeds based club promoting vet and the man behind Technique and Modern Amusement, David Martin. As admirers of the festival we caught up with David to find out a little more about what really goes into putting on a festival in fort with Theo Parrish….

You’ve been promoting club nights for years, how did you get involved with Dimensions and is programming a festival something you’ve always wanted to do?

I’ve known Simon Scott who’s one of the directors for a lot of years and I think we have quite a similar taste and ethos when it comes to music. He asked me to get involved when he decided to do the event.

I’d never really thought about getting involved booking festivals but the experience working on Dimensions has been perfect for me really. It’s all of the good bits about doing events. I research and book artists that I love and work out how best to make that flow together at the event. That’s always the bit I’ve enjoyed about doing events.

After the success of last year’s event, how did you go about programming this year’s line-up – was it a more challenging experience or easier in ways?

 It was more difficult in some ways and was easier in others.  After the success of the first year word had spread quickly amongst artists and I’d say we’ve found it a bit easier to book many artists as opposed to starting from scratch last year.  I think it’s also been much easier to visualise how artists might work and how they might suit certain spaces around the festival site so this year will certainly feel a lot more cohesive.  

The difficulty has come from topping last year and the standard that we set for ourselves – people already have high expectations of the festival and we’re not even at the second year yet.  I do think that this is a healthy challenge though – it really drives innovation and a real honest ethos.  The challenge is to set the bar for ourselves and and reach it, by continuing to move forward rather than looking around to copy what others are doing – I think that is what Dimensions is about.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

It might sound obvious if you were there last year but Theo Parrish and Moodymann really created something special and it was always going to be difficult to ignore that.  Theo was a huge fan of the festival and hadn’t been playing many festivals (at least for a long time) until we managed to coax him into Dimensions and I think that says a lot about how special the place is.  That said we did want to drive that forward a bit more which is why we have a really rare appearance from Theo, Moody, Rick Wilhite and Marcellus Pitmann taking over the the whole stage all night as 3 Chairs.  

I just don’t know where to start, I still look at the line up spreadsheets and wonder how I’m going to see everybody – I literally want to see every artist play.

With so many festivals in Croatia, does this play a factor in curating a something more niche for festival goers?

 Well I was asked to programme for the festival from the outset and to be honest the ethos has been driven by the owners (who have a big involvement with the line up too).  It wasn’t a case of thinking ‘let’s work out what the best way to get people to a new festival is’.  It’s more about creating something that is unique and means something to those involved which you hope punters will connect with, it’s very honest I guess.

Well I have it pretty cushy to be honest (but shhh!).  I guess it’s part of my job thankfully, but I spend a lot of time seeing what’s working well musically and making sure that artists are happy so I am usually to be found bombing about site (which is what I’d be doing as a punter), trying to see as much of that fantastic line up as possible.  So, yes – I love it!

You’ve also got a great network of UK partners, such as Zleep at Stealth in Nottingham, that contribute to launch events in the build-up – how do you decide who is right for the festival?

Well Johnny and Andy are the main men here and do a great job of meeting the right partners across Europe, but there are some hooks ups that I’ve made just because they make obvious sense, they align with the festival really nicely and are good folks!  Zleep being a point in case and Construct, Hypercolour, Sensu – Sub Club, Glasgow.  They’re people I’ve been friends with and I knew would understand what the festival was about.

We’ll see you at Zleep on the 19^th April with Will Saul & xxxy, then on the 20^th in Leeds with Omar S & Levon Vincent for Dimensions launch events - what weapons will be in your bag?

Well I think both sets are in the first half of the evening so won’t be too stompin’ from me at that time, Eddie C’s stuff is getting some serious play at the moment and Patrice Scott, Soulphiction, Ernie and Lady Blacktronika are always in the bag for those earlier sets…

Finally, its often tricky seeing all the artists you want to at a Festival, what would be your top tip for getting the most out of Dimensions Festival?

Smart footwear! Oh and get some sleep when you can!

Catch David @ Zleep, attendees will also be in with a chance of winning 2x tickets to Dimensions Festival. Full details >> Zleep Dimension Comp APRIL 19TH Stealth, Nottingham