Collaborations between producers are rife in electronic music these days. With the developments in production software and the increasing digitalisation of music, it has never been so easy to link up with other like-minded producers. Swapping files back and forth over the internet means collaborations can be spawned without the producers ever even meeting. However, once in a while, a collaboration leads to something more profound and lasting, and such is the case with Need For Mirrors.
The collaboration between Mosus and HLZ, both renowned producers in their own right, Need For Mirrors has heralded a new start for both of them. After linking up in early 2009 and working together on some material, the studio chemistry between them quickly necessitated the project becoming its own entity. Since joining forces on a more permanent basis under their new moniker, the duo have had their heads down in the studio crafting their deep, dark and experimental sound.
With the Need For Mirrors project taking increasing precedence for them and a slew of forthcoming releases on a veritable who’s who of drum and bass labels, as well as two tracks on the Zero T FABRICLIVE mix, we figured it was time to get a better insight into their world…
Hi guys, how are you doing? Can you briefly introduce yourselves?
We are "Need For Mirrors".
How did you guys first link up?
We met in early 2009, we both appreciated each other’s music and decided to meet up and collaborate on some music.
When and why did you make the decision to take it beyond an artist collaboration to become a project in and of itself?
We collaborated on a few tracks and before we knew it, we were working on a weekly studio routine. From then everything just led us to focus on this project and give it a name to represent its own sound and the fact that we were working on the music as a band or group. Also the name sets us apart from just being a normal collaboration.
How do you think what you create as a unit differs to what you produce individually?
We definitely work harder on creating a certain sound and how each track fits as a body of work. We can be working on 3 or more projects at one time and bounce ideas between tracks or bring tracks together. I don’t think this is as easy when you're working with another artist on one track within a small window of time to get it finished.
Are there ever occasions when you veto the other ones ideas?
This happens all the time, we are both comfortable with the creative process and two brains are better then one. Often we get lost with ideas and the other will take over and write the track into a new direction or paint it a different colour.
You have been working on some material outside of the confines of D&B tempo, could you tell us a little bit more about that?
We have been working on some 130 and 140bpm tracks. We just finished a remix of Unquote, 'Cold Tenderness', for Nu Directions, which is a 140bpm track we took down to 130 and experimented with the beat programming while retaining the groove. and making it a little more groovy. We are also writing some 120 & 128bpm minimal techno & deep house. We both love working on different tempos and the freedom it brings to the studio environment.
Who, outside of the Drum & Bass scene, is inspiring you at the moment?
Zomby, FunkinEven, Dam Funk, Joy Orbison, Marcus Worgull, Drexciya, Brian Eno, Taz Arnold, Jimmy Edgar, Steed Lord, Drake…
Do you have plans to DJ out as one unit as well? If so, will you be looking to cover the different tempos that you are producing at?
We have already started to focus mainly on DJing as a unit. We have both started to move all our DJ bookings into Need For Mirrors' sets and we will play multi genre sets when the event or timing is right. We DJ off CD, vinyl & Serato and have a varied selection of music, but will focus mainly on drum & bass for the meantime, as that is what we are known for and have already cut our teeth on.
What projects have you got in the pipeline?
We currently have 2 tracks on Zero T's FABRICLIVE mix CD. As for remixes, we have just completed another remix of Passion Pit for Columbia and a remix of Kabuki & Jeru the Damaja for V Records. Forthcoming singles "Sick in the Head " & “Charlatan” are coming on Footprints, and a follow up 12” on Shogun Ltd, "Gallows” and “Nevada", which also features on Friction’s next mix CD on Ministry of Sound. Then we have another 12” on Nu Directions "Sleazebag” & “Trip Up" as well as Chronic, Liquid V, Samurai, Soul:R, Liqweed Ganja, plus an EP on Doc Scott's 31 records 50th release. As for the future, we have releases with DRS, Stapleton and Steo and more vocalists and MCs.
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