Questions and Answers on working together from Martyn & Mike Slott!
1. How did the collaboration idea materialise?
Wow it was so long ago! I think I got to know Mike and his mrs in New York, after we were both featured on Warp’s remix EP for Flying Lotus’ Los Angeles album. I cant actually remember how the collaboration idea existed, so i’d like to imagine me and Mike came up with a masterful concept of musical unity – and then phoned olan to say he should stick it out.
2. Why did you choose to collaborate with each other?
We both do quite different things but we also have a lot in common – I think both our music is very sample based, very on the fly sounding, and also relying heavily on melody rather than just sound(scapes).
3. How did you make the tracks together?
sketching, sending each other samples and bits, all via AIM and skype and gmail.
4. What equipment did you use?
my brains and my heart!
5. Do you feel like you managed to get both styles of production to come across?
yeah id like to think we did! one side is a little more me and the other is a little more mike, both have a certain quality and both also have each others sounds and ideas.
Mike Slott
1. How did the collaboration idea materialise?
Really through hearing each others records, through working on the same remix projects, bumping into each at gigs…i think we probably both approach music in a similar way albeit with different results so maybe it was an obvious choice for olan.
2. Why did you choose to collaborate with each other?
i just heard about it through olan at all city and i liked the idea of what he was trying to do with the series. I also liked what i had heard of martyns music. I thought it would be a fun record to make and also was fairly sure it would turn out interesting results either way.
3. How did you make the tracks together?
time. telephones. patience. ichat. coffee and the odd finger being pointed.
4. What equipment did you use?
we both have different set ups so it didnt really matter, we just rendered ideas and sent them back and forth. Screen share was really helpful cus we could see exactly on the sequencer where we both wanted things to happen or drop out or whatever…
5. Do you feel like you managed to get both styles of production to come across?
i think we did actually! while we were working on All Nights there was a bit of excitement cus neither of us knew what it was that we were creating but we both liked the sound of where it was going. In general i think the 12″ represents us both well individually and also as a collaborators. Nice balance over the 2 tracks i’d like to think!