DJ's In Exchange: Surgeon & DJ Skirt

Sometimes the distance between us and the DJs that we live to see every weekend feels like an impossible passage over no man’s land; the chances of them replying to any fan mail will probably be zero and that’s providing you’ve even thought of the right thing to say. Sometimes, there are those artists who don’t put up such barriers despite their monolithic profile, something that gets created in our heads because their music is just so awe inspiring that that person can seem like some kind of deity. Something similar occurred between one of the UK’s most important techno figureheads Surgeon and Bethany DeMoss, aka DJ Skirt. Sonically Skirt’s music fits into the industrialized characteristics of the city she now calls home, Birmingham, another thing - in addition to a centralisation on gritty technosims - that she shares in common with her new found friend, Surgeon. This relationship formed via a simple email exchange when DeMoss traversed the channel from the States to the UK and reached out to the heavyweight to ask about attending his legendary party, House of God. To her delight, he replied. And what’s more at that party DeMoss got an introduction to the rest of the Birmingham techno mafia: Function and Regis of Sandwell District. It’s a nice touch having a friendliness that remains in a world where it can all seem so unattainable but we still wouldn’t give these guys too much credit for the rise in Skirt’s profile. She kept her production and DJing quiet as she honed her crafts and when those first releases emerged the momentum gathered somewhat and today she has a well appreciated back catalogue via the likes of Semantica and Perc Trax and a healthy DJ schedule to boot. To take stock of this friendly link that has brought both Skirt and Surgeon together in Room Two this coming Saturday - alongside a slew of international gigs this summer - we thought we would prompt them both into offering a bit more insight into their perspectives and experiences of each other’s musical crafts. Surgeon on DJ Skirt The first time I ever heard her music was… Maybe around 2001, I can't remember exactly, she sent me a CD of some tracks she'd been working on. I think I played some of her early tracks at House Of God in Birmingham. Perhaps I was the first person to play her music in a DJ set? What struck me most about it was… From the beginning they had a unique character, they here very comfortable with being themselves. That's a quality I always enjoy in all kinds of music. If I had to pick out my favourite track by them it’d be… Lakker - Cold Bath (Skirt remix) Because… I enjoy all of her most recent productions the most. She's really developed her sound and style If I could ask them to remix any of my back catalogue it would be… I'm not really into remixes. I would tell people to listen to their music because… I like it, but hey, why not listen and make up your own mind! DJ Skirt on Surgeon The first time I ever heard his/her music was… In a record shop in Arizona in 1998, the 'balance' album. What struck me most about it was… the way the sounds filled the space, a real power and depth and originality in the music. If I had to pick out my favourite track by them it’d be…'Set two' off that same album Because… it completely changed the way Ii heard techno music, so I’m therefore kind of sentimentally attached to it If I could ask them to remix any of my back catalogue it would be… probably something i haven’t written yet, but if it had to be any of the back catalogue i would probably choose 'six hours' just to hear where he would go with it I would tell people to listen to their music because… he is a sonic genius & a true master of his craft