2014 now! 2013 was the year dance music without a doubt took over. There’s more interesting forms of music than there ever has been, new and sub genres everywhere and all sorts of heated online debates about “EDM” and “What is DJ-ing?” which are great for stirring people into an internet rage with a few well timed and placed comments, trollololol!

At Dutty HQ we have 1000′s of flying monkeys in bellboy outfits out there checking for what’s going to be happening in 2014 in the Electro Swing world around the world from releases, events and what not so we hope to have some cracking news over the next couple of blogs.

Before we start a, call out to honkies!
We’d like to hear from people on what sort of stuff they’d like to see us write about in this blog, we’re going to try and change up some of the content every blog but some stuff will be in everyone such as free tunes, movers and shakers. Feedback; the good, the bad and the naughty! Send all to [email protected] /* */

Free tunes
Well even though in our interview today there’s a link to a ridonkulous amount of free tunes we’re still going to recommend a few

1st up one of ours with Kid Kasino, a Ray Charles remix. If you like geeking out to C.O.D. Youtube videos you may have heard it already as everyone seems to want to use it to make compilations of funny/clever stuff they did in a game (well done you). Collectively on youtube this tune prob has a couple of million hits, if only our soundcloud did!

Swing…Trap? It so works though! We know the “T” word can be quite a dirty word at the moment but we don’t give a rats arse, good music is good music no matter where it belongs. Was planning to keep this close to the chest but couldn’t, we’d rather encourage the rummaging of Pandora’s box

Go on let’s really push the boat, may we present to you Swarage….that’s not really a term for Swing Garage and if we hear anyone using that terrible pun you’ll receive a lynching

Dutty Duo Recommendation

Couple of cool tracks we dig:

Mike – Check out this pop tune made into a swing song and then remixed by Paris’ finest.

Furley – Glitchy bluesy build up, jazzy breakdown into a bluesy drop with body rocking triplets AND it’s free, aw yeah!

Movers
Cabaret Voltaire

This is a night put on by Don Johnston, an awesome artist with a high recommendation from us. The nights are held in Bournemouth and Exeter. Both are highly popular with the local creatures. What’s really great about these nights is the crowd that go. Don. J has built up a following of people who really dig what he does, people generally come for the brand leaving him free roam to put who he wants on and they’ll trust he’s done a good job. This we think makes the best type of night because you really have people there for the love of it and gives Mr. Johnston a chance to book not so well known acts and not have to worry about name pulling. Everyone is dressed to the nines and the ticket price is cheap as chips. He regularly has guest performers and has the resident burlesque dance Sparkles Galore. She’s our favourite burlesque dancer and the only way to describe her would be: “Imagine if Boomtown was a burlesque dancer” Anyway if you live even remotely close to either of these towns go to one and you won’t be disappointed!

Shakers

May we present to you Menage Quad!

So believe it or not we actually have a rough plan on who we’re going to interview over the next few blogs but we kicked the order up one when discovering these guys as we had to get them out there ASAP. They’re based in Minneapolis and take a heavy influence from Parov Stelar but have a distinct west coast flavour. It’s the tits!
Here’s a tune to listen to by them while you read:

1 – What’s your thoughts/take on Electro Swing?

Electro-Swing was introduced to us by Parov Stelar, hence our heavy influence and sampling in our first single. We saw the trailer for The Princess Tour and it was game over. Such an old school, classy feel. We felt we needed to sprinkle some Minneapolis love into the genre, and thus we created Swing Hop.
2 – Explain the band a bit, you have a lot of vocalists.

There are technically 10 of us, 4 MC’s, drums, DJ, bass, trumpet, trombone, and tenor sax. A few of us had been friends before its conception, and a few were auditioned and adopted afterwards for a fuller stage presence. We wanted to bring the live aspect into the EDM community, like STS9, Parov’s The Princess Tour, Lotus, etc.
3 – What was your previous gig?

Our last gig was a tour sponsored by The Hideaway and MN Legit here in the Twin Cities. We played in the surrounding midwest area with Lucy Luxe of Dirty Talk, Big Jess of Rhymesayers, and several more. It was quite an adventure.
4 – What’s your next gig?

We’re currently looking to tour as soon as our next release drops, probably some time in early march, and then again in Summer. Hopefully extending that into the UK with another release in the fall/winter of 2014.
5 – If your music was a drink what would it be and why?

It would be Jameson, neat. Euro influence, makes you dance, goes down smooth as a baby’s bottom.

6 – Can you provide us with a funny story you guys have had/experienced? The more embarrassing/naughty the better.

Hilarious shit is always happening since there are 10 of us. We are somehow all on the same page, and yet somehow not. Too many stories jump out at once to list, but conceptually speaking, we have this thing called a DGF. Most of the guys in the group have significant others, but the ones who don’t are referred to as the DGF, the designated groupie fuckers. We need to keep our fans happy, you know.
7 – What can we expect from a show from you guys? Elephants jumping through hoops, horses rogering the dancing girls? Do you have the word rogering in USA, sounds like a British word?

The only Roger we know wears fantastic cardigans and sweaters and used to host a children’s television show. Our shows are insane, it’s impossible to not bring an insurmountable amount of energy when there are so many people on stage who vibe so well together. That’s the phrase we hear most often actually, “You guys have such amazing energy, it’s impossible not to move.” That’s what we like to hear.

8 – Can you teach us a couple of slang words? Here’s a couple the Brits have that I don’t think you do?

SAFE – Can mean many things, “thanks”, a greeting/farewell or to describe someone as being decent. BUGGER – funny sounding swear word you can replace with “fxxk” and it’s not as bad. Actual English meaning a bit nasty, google it.

Yovs, novs, and provs. Yes obviously, No obviously, and probably obviously. We use these constantly. Also, grenade. The term used for some wasty-face groupie that we direct to the DGF.
9 – Westcoast Hip Hop meets Electro Swing… works but how did that happen?

Well with all the influences, we’ve strayed away from the West coast thing. The MC’s bring so many different styles to the table it’s impossible to categorize. Our song “Play Dat Soul” on Swing Soiree was a song written individually by each MC to talk about where their influences came from. It’s very personal to each of us.
10 – Invent a genre name and explain what it is?

PsyHop- Psytrance with hip hop vocals. (Sounds horrible).
11 – Anything you want to say/add?

Check us out on the internets, download all of our shit for freezies! www.menagequad.com.
Quick fire questions:

Bagel or Pitta? Bagel, fuck pita, what is this, the Hunger Games?
Number 1 or Number 2? Number 2 always. And remember, if you’re gonna be loud, YOU’VE GOTTA BE PROUD.
Best smell in the morning fresh bread or bacon cooking? What the hell kind of question is this? We are Ron Swanson’s, not Julia Childs’.
Who would win in a fight James Brown or Beethoven? Pretty sure Beethoven wouldn’t even hear what was comin’. (See what we did there?)
Pogo Stick or Space Hopper? Hovercraft.

Yeah make sure you check out their Soundcloud, uber amounts of free stuff!

Nice one honkies, keep moving and shaking!