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Head to Head: DJ TLR & Willie Burns

It's easy to compare Willie Burns’ sometime musical home L.I.E.S. with the sounds coming out of the Hague by way of DJ TLR's Creme Organisation imprint. There is definite overlap with the two outfit’s raw edged aesthetic of machine made music. Both imprints have enjoyed some extra attention over the last year which whilst we feel is fully deserved it’s also pretty telling of the fruitful and positive time that dancefloor focussed electronic music is enjoying right now. The love their receiving is most definitely a good thing. This common musical background that the pair shares is hopefully sign of how perfect they’ll be as DJ partners on Saturday March 15th where they’ll be manning Room Three together all night long. Their association has also made them the perfect verbal sparring partners, as demonstrated in this head to head interview where they lay out some insightful and downright cheeky questions that we'd never dare to ask ourselves. DJ TLR: Is it true that you once were and astronomer? Willie Burns: No, I was in university for 2 and a half years for astrophysics until I realized I’d rather skateboard, buy records, and play guitar… so I dropped out and went to California where it’s normal to do that. I can’t even remember the quadratic equation or the speed of light. It would still be fun to leave the planet. Does TLR stand for tits like rocks like you told me a long time ago? Did I? Damn that memory.. Maybe it used to once, but entropy takes its toll I suppose. Time Loves Recession. DJ TLR: How has your approach to production changed thru the past years? Willie Burns: Hmm.. A serious question… it’s pretty much the same except now I’ve got gear that works and I’m a little better at tuning it and using effects.. I think the biggest difference is that I moved the studio out of the house.. that was the biggest boost for me. Willie Burns: When do you think this latest trend will extinguish? DJ TLR: I don't know, I don't really think of it that much. It's just the one trick ponies people get bored with - and rightly so. But what is the trend these days? I hear a lot of stuff I like coming from all different sides and feels like it’s more fertile than it used to be. I just kinda roll with it and pick up what I like. The internet changed all that trend shit I think. We're on a much bigger playing field than a few years ago. Also I don't think House is a fad, it's been around way too long for that and as long as it's open and keeps evolving it will be fine. Otherwise I would give it two more years max. But I think it's harder for an individual artist than for a DJ or a label owner. For us it's easy to change what we play or release. But for an artist? Once you've told that story… good luck. When you take your girl to a Drake show, do you enjoy it? Willie Burns: She took me.. and yeah.. it was pretty cool. It was in Brooklyn and kids love that stuff here.. everyone was singing all the words and smoking blunts and getting hype.. it was a cool energy. How do you keep the fire burning at you age? DJ TLR: You say it like it's supposed to fade or something as per some universal constant? Or is it just that "life" catches up with most of the sad sacks and soft cocks? As long as you can still get excited by hearing new music everything is fine. Also it helps when you're able to make a half decent living off it and I still really enjoy seeing new places or revisiting old friends. And I love the road. With all its loneliness and waiting and hassle I somehow find it an extremely comforting place to be. It's a wanky thing to say, but my whole life has been based around this thing for the past two decades and that's pretty much how I wanted it. Every connection is made through music in some way. How can something like that grow old? DJ TLR: Have you learned to mix the last 15 years, or do you still think its overrated? Willie Burns: Another excellent question, I think I can mix if I have to.. I can even do an acceptable job.. however I will never reach your level. I still think selection is more important.. but if you can mix too.. you can really add alot to it. Since the RA forum is gone.. will you bring globaldarkness back? DJ TLR: I didn't even know RA had a forum to be honest, but there you go.. Yeah I think I should bring that back really, 2002 style, that would be great. Let's see if I can find someone smarter than me to make it happen. Stay tuned!
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