We had the immense pleasure of chatting with South-African superstar duo Pascal & Pearce about their latest remix of BreakDLaw & The Glitchfox’s – ‘Lonely’ on our very own record label, UFO Recordz, a few secrets, nuggets of knowledge and much more! Be sure to follow Pascal & Pearce on the social media platforms below and stay up-to-date with all things ‘Pascal & Pearce.’ Label owners Jacques Julie & Darren Bezuidenhout are extremely thrilled to have local talent as well as international artists Pascal & Pearce on board team UFO. Check out what the guys had to say below:
Thanks for chatting with us guys! Huge fans here at UFO Network! Please tell us about that first track that put you on the map in the electronic scene and the journey since. How did you get started?
Hello there! Thank you for the kind words & opportunity. We released a MarioBrothers themed song called DiscoBiskit in 2009 that did really well on Beatport. That was the first time we charted internationally, and it definitely got us onto the scene. The song came about when we needed an intro in 2008 for a show. It ended up going through a complete remake from the intro idea to what people know today. There are a few people that actually have the original intro project as we shared it as a free download. A massive thank you to those who’ve been supporting us since then!
Listen to Pascal & Pearce – ‘Disco Biskit’ on Beatport
We are so excited for the release of BreakDLaw& The Glitchfox – ‘Lonely’ (The Remixes) – Would you kindly let us know how you got involved and what it was like working on that project?
As are we! We got the offer to do the remix, and it was a fun project to work on. It’s another banger that we’re happy with!
Covid19 has really impacted the world as we know it and we doubt things will ever be the same. How has the pandemic affected you as producers and performing artists? Would you say it has given you time to push more music or has the pandemic affected the production process negatively?
It’s been a tense time for everyone, but at least society is not lost. The music industry is now in place of real uncertainty, as before it was an uncertain industry, but worth the risk if you know what you’re doing. We’re as optimistic as ever, and have been taking each day by day. We’ve almost finished setting up our own label, and have been busy in studio working on new projects.
Please tease us with some information on any upcoming projects you are currently working on or have planned? What do you guys have lined up for your fans for the rest of 2020 and how is 2021 looking?
2020 is busy! We finally have some bookings, and we will be releasing all of our content through our new label. So stay tuned! 2021 is all about more releases, and a full P&P show (to actual human people).
What gig or festival have you performed at that you would describe as your most memorable and why?
That’s a very tricky question, there have been so many great ones! A really fond memory is playing at Oppikoppi. In 2012 we closed for Diplo, and in 2013 we opened for Dnox – both of which were kinda surreal!
As a producer duo, do you guys spend a lot of time together when you are not making music or performing? What single night out together would you say is the most memorable for you guys outside of work and why?
We try spend as much time as possible with our family (and dogs), but before we all know it it’s Monday again! We play football together every now and then, and our best memory outside of work was our week in Ibiza!
This is one of our favourite questions! Please tell us something about you guys that your fans don’t know. Surprise us all 😉
Pascal enjoys gardening. He has over 30 types of vegetables & herbs at his place. Dave enjoys cooking, and he’s a really good chef!
We all have that one favourite tune that always seems to hit home! Give us the name of a favourite track that never gets old for you no matter how many times you listen to it?
Pascal: So many tracks get me going. A classic would be Elijah Collins & Tee-J – I Used To Feel Alright.
Dave: The Real Madrid theme song.
How do you get a track started? Would you mind telling us a bit about your production process. How long does it take you to complete a track on average and do you ever get writer’s / producer’s block?
It depends on the project, but we normally work out a good melody first then layer the groove and bassline. It can take a couple of hours or sometime days, and we find that the Pareto principle often applies – 80% of the song takes 20% of the time, then the last 20% of the song takes 80% of the time… it’s weird. This remix took a couple of drafts until we were happy. Writers block is a rarity in duo, and is probably why we’ve managed to write music together for over 10 years.
The relationship between the audience and DJ is crucial, and yet it seems to be a fragile one – How do you see the balance between giving the crowd what they want and treating them to something fresh and new?
We play to the venue. Every venue brings in a unique type of clientele & energy. There will be people who want a song played that won’t be appropriate for the set, but most of the time those people are on their phones, and not dancing anyway. Advice would be to perform at venues that get your sound. It’s an uphill battle when you’re booked to play a gig that has an uneducated (electronic musically speaking) crowd. Play music that works with the time too. All of us appreciate a good progression of music.
Would you mind sharing any words of wisdom or advice with all up-coming producers and artists that are trying to break into the mainstream EDM scene today? What was the best piece of advice you guys ever received?
The best advice would be to keep making music that makes you happy. Once you’ve got a bunch a songs that you can work into a show, get onto a stage/vlog and share your sound. There is an abundance of music out there, so having a show that is yours is something that gives you the credits you need in the beginning. Don’t stop once you’ve got that going. Things will be tough, and things will be great. The trick is to consistently add more content. Be collaborative, and don’t be afraid. Learn the business side of the industry, and know how to release your own music. In the words of the great Gary Player: “The more I practice, the luckier I get!”
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