If you could co-lab with any artist from any genre from any period in time, who would it be?
Such is the teaser we pose in these Work Experience sessions. And this week we’ve posed it to Joe Moses and Emilio Dimitri, AKA Need For Mirrors. As a duo they know all about collabo-based projects, and have some interesting insights to share.
But with two massive releases out in as many weeks, there are a few things we need to address first. Last week they treated us to Videodrome/War On Drugs on FTM, a new label from Joe Moses (one half of the duo), and this week we have the pleasure of a very special two-tracker on Bryan G’s Philly Blunt imprint. Merk / Came To Play represents the duo’s furthest-reaching sonic technique. In fact we’ll go on the record and say Came To Play, a remix of Eddie Woo’s dubstep project Seven, is the best D&B conversion of a dubstep tune we’ve ever heard.
“I worked with Eddy Woo on the Baby Origami project and contacted us regarding a remix which was supposed to come out on Blackbox, but as time passed it was shelved,” Joe explains. “Bryan G at V was a huge fan of the track and wanted us to do something similar for his label and so he snapped it up for Philly.”
Fronted by the dramatic, heads-down industrial roller Merk, it’s yet another triumph for both Philly and, of course, Need For Mirrors themselves. Not bad considering the utter heaviness and sonic supremacy of last week’s Videodrome and War On Drugs. Of course the big question here is why have they launched a new label for it, and not their established, distinctive Zoltar imprint?
“It was supposed to come out on 31 Records,” Joe tells us. “We just kept getting asked to release it but it didn’t fit the Zoltar sound so Joe started the FTM label as an offshoot to release it. The initials FTM were always in the Zoltar logo on the right diamond so the intention was always to do something with it and it turned into a label. There may be more releases on the label or maybe just that one. We will see…”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iEmrFFhqe8
Intriguing… Just like War On Drugs, a track they explain is actually inspired by a psychedelic rock and a comment on the western ‘war on drugs’ conspiracy. “You can do your own research on that…” says Joe. We will. Right after we’ve asked the duo about the fine art of collaborations…
“Collabs are always insightful as you have to communicate and share an experience with somebody else,” admits Joe. “Sometimes it’s good and works. Other times you just can’t relate to the same idea or mood. Writing music by yourself is personal and sometimes in collaborations you have to accept and go with one person’s idea and build upon it and let their emotions be the lead resource to draw from. We are always collaborating internally with need for mirrors and externally with other acts.”
“You need to get a thick skin and accept opinions and appreciate other peoples time and space. The experience of collaborating is always exciting; learning other techniques and having a creative experience with somebody else on your own wave length. we have collaborated with a huge cross section of artists on material that will never be released due to so many different dynamics. It’s part of the process and makes you a stronger artist.”
Need For Mirrors: Dream Collaborations
For this Work Experience session, Joe and Emilio have focussed on vocalists they’d like to work with…
Portishead – Roads
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1jyL3cr60
“Beth Gibbons’ vocals on this track are outstanding. The overall production is breath-taking! The UK in the 90s gave us such a timeless sound. We’d love to work with Beth.”
Kim Ann Foxman – Creature
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLQF8hEUBbI
“She is a great artist, producer and singer. She has so much depth in her voice and delivery. We also rate Hercules And Love Affair, a band she was a part of before going solo.”
Stone Roses – I Wanna Be Adored
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D2qcbu26gs
“We picked this more for the dynamic Ian Brown brought to the Roses. His solo material is lyrically up there. But for timeless qualty it’s his Roses tracks that take the cake.”
Listen and download today!
Watch out for…
A Need For Mirrors EP on Zoltar, featuring Nik Toots. A remix of Skittles on Estate. A 12” on V Records with Edward Oberon. A track on Krust’s new label Rebel Instinct. PLUS releases on Metalheadz, Digital Soundboy, Shogun and Playaz.