LAMP Weekly Mix #70 feat. CURT REYNOLDS

LAMP Weekly Mix #70 feat. CURT REYNOLDS

We got the chance to listen to the mix this weekend, and it's safe to say you will be on your feet right from the start. Ben & Tyler aka Curt Reynolds infuse a variety of styles and genres into their productions and live sets, everything from classic house to modern disco. We've had the opportunity to play with these guys a few times, and they never disappoint. With their latest release 'Bastian' we see a fusion deep house and nu-disco with a dash of their own sun soaked flavors while 'Gotta Be With You' speaks more directly to their tropical house influences. Their eclectic sensibility and diverse range of sounds make their partnership very exciting and promising as they continue to build upon a great start to 2015. If you know what's good for you be sure to catch these guys as the warmer weather kicks into full effect. Once you do... you'll wish summer would never end.Check out their interview with MR PUZL below.MR PUZL: Where are you both from originally? How did you guys first meet?Ben: I'm originally from San Diego and Tyler is from Austin. We met while working at a bar in Santa Monica in December 2013. We were tired of the DJs coming in and playing bad music while we were working and thought we could do better. A couple weeks later we bought a $100 controller off craigslist and started learning.MP: Growing up in San Diego, what were some of your early music influences?Ben: A little bit of everything actually. I've always gone through phases of music (as most people do) but I'd say my early influences are pretty well rounded. My mom threw Radiohead at me at a really young age and they've stood the test of time as my favorite artist to date (especially live), and my older sister would show me artists that she liked before anybody my age had heard them. Growing up on the beach in SD, I was always surfing and skating so there has been a direct reflection of that in terms of taste and influence. I would jump around from Jimi Hendrix to Steel Pulse to A Tribe Called Quest to Louis Armstrong to Chromeo. I never kept it consistent to any genre or artist and I think that will always have a huge influence on what inspires me.MP: Tyler, Austin is a phenomenal breeding ground for independent music. What were some memorable experiences of growing up there?Tyler: Yep, the music scene in Austin is unreal. I was lucky to grow up there and be around that culture. Two of the artists that actually formed my taste in electronic music were Ghostland Observatory and Auto Body - both of which were proud Austin acts and were playing in Austin all the time. They helped grow the scene for sure. Also, of course we have SXSW which brought the best artists around the globe to downtown Austin. There's no experience like SXSW.MP: Being a duo how do you guys share and split the work? Do you take turns in the studio? When performing, do you have a rough idea of how your sets are going to play out?Ben: We do a pretty good job of evening out the work. I'll be working on a new original or remix, while Tyler will be working on a guest mix, but we'll always be bouncing ideas and samples back at each other trying to collab as much as possible. All in all, we both have what we want our sound and style to be dialed-in, yet we are appreciative and receptive to expanding with styles and aesthetic. As long as we're both having fun, that's all that matters.In terms of performance, we never have anything planned out and I don't think we ever will. We like to surprise each other when going b2b and that keeps our energy up and makes it more fun for us and the audience. We like to make musical decisions on the spot because that's where we think an artists talent and truth comes out.Tyler: When we play live, its actually pretty funny because we have never planned any sort of set list. One of us picks the first song and we're off. We try and really read the vibe and let the music progress based on that. Our goal is always to keep it fun, get people dancing with us, and have a good time. That's honestly why we play in the first place and hopefully it shows.MP: You both have experience with live instruments. How does that factor into the sounds you are creating?Ben: I grew up playing piano and guitar and had a drum set for while (which I had to sell for a computer when I was 13...worst decision of my life). I never had lessons except for piano when I was 8 so I'm self-taught entirely. Being left-handed, I taught myself guitar on my sister's right-handed guitar and have remained playing upside down ever since. I think that adaptability has expanded my mind to be open to new things musically. I also taught myself the drums and I think that has the biggest influence on me when it comes to electronic production. My passion is creating unique beats and patterns and I'm continuing to hone that as a skill and get better.Tyler: It definitely helps. A lot of disco tracks have either subtle or pronounced bass or guitar riffs - both of which I play. So you can just sort of hear where those additions can add key elements to a track. Eventually (and hopefully) it would be amazing to add those layers live into our sets, but we'll see.MP: Since your first release ‘Cream’ to your most recent, ‘Bastian’, we’ve seen an awesome progression in your productions. How have you felt your journey over this short time has elevated what your trying to create stylistically and technically?Ben: Practice man, practice. And also not caring about finishing something that's not perfect. I think you have to finish on an idea, so you can move on to the next. Too many times people get flustered trying to be overly perfect on one thing, and that can really lower your confidence. I think overall we're progressing very quickly and I can say I've learned more than I thought I would in the last few months just because I've jumped in the water.Tyler: It's kind of funny. We sampled the 'Cream' vocals off of Gidget - the old surf film. It kind of just radiated the beachy, mellow vibe that we always gravitate to. It was the first release before really diving in to the layering and complexity of a great track like Bastian (kudos to Ben).MP: There’s an awesome collection of modern disco and tropical house producers here in Southern California. How have you seen these genres develop over the past few years?Ben: These genres will continue to grow and grow. Our goal is take the feel good, summer time vibes and spread that pineapple puree all over the place.Tyler: We're happy the scene is really good here in LA. There's a lot of support for the music we're producing and a lot of great artists to pump it out locally. We've met a lot of the artists that are pivotal in growing the deep, disco, and tropical scenes and its really non-competitive - which is great. Everyone is just stoked to produce and play good music and have a good time.MP: We’ve featured Colour Vision in the past here at LAMP and love what’s he creating both as an artist and a label manager. How has your relationship with him and Paradise Unlimited evolved?Ben: Tyler and I both think Paradise Ultd is going to be something big. Our style and feel (especially live) goes parallel with what Colour Vision is achieving and his work is a huge inspiration to us. We're definitely going to be working closer with him and the other Birds of Paradise in the future and are excited and grateful to be a part of that family.Tyler: He's one of the artists mentioned that is really diving in and doing big things with music right now. He's been supportive of us and we're kind of coming up together, so there's mutual dedication from us to Colour Vision and vice versa.MP: You’re also sort of the LA base for Modern Disco Ambassadors. How do you try and expand upon their successful OC nightlife experiences up here?Tyler: We are stoked to be a part of the Modern Disco Ambassadors family and applaud those guys from doing an amazing job with the Orange County music scene. It was refreshing for us to collab with MDA because of their dedication and passion for music. It's really organic and powerful. We will see what the future holds in regards to expansion, its all very calculated to make sure the events and name stays strong - its all very dialed in and smart. Everything MDA-related is great and will stay that way - no matter location.MP: You recently played your first show at Exchange LA. Congrats! Tell us a little about that experience.Ben: H E A T E R MP: When can we catch you guys next? Any upcoming releases you can tell us about?Tyler: We are super busy planning a lot of shows out right now. All really exciting stuff from pool parties to night shows. Our next show is on the 15th where we're opening for Le Youth at WAVS by MDA at the Wayfarer in Costa Mesa. Other than that, we have an event called "Jaguar Shark" where we will be playing all over LA until Summer ends. Ben: Trying to spend as much time in the studio learning the disco craft. Some remixes and originals in the works that will blow your pineapples off!MP: Burt Reynolds rocks up while you guys are playing a set and says ‘b2b’. What do you do?Ben: Tyler stands up on a chair and I get on Burt's shoulders and start cueing songs with my Vans.Tyler: (laughs) If that happens, you don't ask questions. You hand him a Modelo and the headphones.

Tracklist

1. Lindstrom & Christabelle - Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix)2. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance The Way I Feel (Luke Million Remix)3. Nicky Night Time - Gonna Get Better4. Young Franco - Talkin' Bout It feat. KLP5. Jessie Ware - Champagne Kisses (TCTS Remix)6. Blonde - It's You7. AIMES - Burnin' feat. Javi8. Davidian - Could Never feat. Eli & Fur9. New Order - Blue Monday (Vintage Culture Remix)Check out more from Curt Reynolds below:Enjoy,LAMP