Interview: Whelan & Di Scala

Whelan & Di Scala sit down for a chat about the ‘Rest Of Your Life’

Hailing from Liverpool, UK, Whelan & Di Scala are arguably ChillBeat’s biggest signing to date. With the anthemic ‘Rest Of Your Life’ about to drop, the duo sat down with us for a quick chat about the track, working with ChillBeat and about a bit of support they’ve had from three chaps from Sweden…

Hi guys, thanks for joining us! So, give us a 2014 update for those who aren’t in the know…

W&D: We’ve kind of stepped back from the W&D material this year… With the race to be loudest and craziest in the EDM world right now we kind of feel a lot of the good progressive music is being overlooked so it’s not really a good time for releases… The last thing we wanna do is jump on the band wagon making basically pitched down Scouse house!

Somebody mentioned to us something about the Swedish House Mafia?

W&D: Hmmmm… I guess they are talking about our track with Sebastien Drums, ‘Here I Come’ that features in their recent movie and farewell album, something we are very proud of!

And how did that track end up in their hands?

W&D: You’d need to ask Sebastien Drums… That guy’s got pull!

‘Rest Of Your Life’ will be ChillBeat Records’ 50th release – what can you tell us about this track?

W&D: It’s been over a year in the making, we’d had the vocal a while and could never get the track to match the vocal for its epicness so we left it for nearly 12 months and came back to it. Completely new bass line, new riff, kick etc and now we are really pleased with the outcome! It goes off every single time we play it!!!

Have you had chance to drop it yet and gauge the reaction?

W&D: Yes, we always play our demos out so we can hear them on a serious system… A good sign is seeing the clubber miming the words by the second drop ha…

And as far as support goes, you guys seem to attract the big guns – any early indicators who we can expect to see playing this one?

W&D: Thomas Gold, Matisse & Sadko, The odd Swede here ‘n there?!?! Haha 😉

ChillBeat have got some big things in the pipeline, how do you guys feel about being a part of that plan?

W&D: It’s a great outlet for Whelan & Di Scala music for sure. Having a label behind you who are as passionate as we are, not just about our music but about dance music in general can only be a good thing! ChillBeat are getting bigger & better with every release and that’s what it’s all about!

Any last words?

W&D: 2 new tracks in the pipeline… Watch this space!!!!!!

Thanks chaps!

Rest Of Your Life is out NOW on ChillBeat Records!

https://twitter.com/Whelan_DiScala
https://soundcloud.com/chillbeatrecords
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whelan-Di-Scala/139486882625
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ChillBeat-Records/303864303038704

PHUK Podcast No 7 mixed by Lawrence Friend

The seventh podcast of the series, this is the May edition, showcasing some of Public House UK’s blogged tracks and a few exclusives. This month we feature more of the main room and tech house tracks that are doing it for us in the clubs at the moment. This month features a new released track from the head honcho at Public House UK, he’s also the guy who’s mixing the podcast too… ‘Lawrence Friend’.

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport/Traxsource):
01. Max Chapman – Holding On (Leftwing & Kody Remix)[Lost Records – Exclusive]
02. Groove Project – Balear Salida Del Sol (Dolly Rockers Remix)[Subterraneo Records – Exclusive]
03. Maff Boothroyd – Music Is The Answer (2014 Bootleg Mix)[Unknown]
04. State Unknown ft Jamie Lewis – Bare My Soul (Maff Boothroyd Remix)[Deepstate Records]
05. Samuele Sartini, Andy Tee, DJ Lora & Dave Hunter – LoveLight (Siwell Remix)[Sphera Records]
06. Adrian Hour – Good Job (Original Mix)[Suara Records]
07. Jorge Montia & Tony Puccio – My Definition (Original Mix)[Sphera Records]
08. Danny Whyte – Uganda (Ettica Remix)[Rezonation Music – Exclusive]
09. Barry Obzee – Beat Da System (Original Mix)[Kidology London – Exclusive]
10. Lawrence Friend & Barry Obzee ft Sophie Foster – Break My Heart (Original Mix)[Tactical Records]
11. LFO – LFO (Tenacious 2014 ReWork)[No Label – Bootleg]
12. DJ Gray & Sergio Pardo – Le Love (Original Mix)[Jesus Love Records]
13. Black Legend Project – Be Free (Original Mix)[Kidology London]

Check out the Soundcloud link:

PHUK Podcast No 6 mixed by Lawrence Friend

The sixth podcast of the series, this is the April edition, showcasing some of Public House UK’s blogged tracks and a few exclusives. This is slightly more upbeat and main room than the previous podcasts. As every month, we were sent some awesome music and really struggled to filter it down, but here you go!

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport/Traxsource):
01. Cor Caroli – Downpinpon (Original Mix)[Arcko Digital]
02. Sonny Fodera – Can’t Deny (Original Mix)[Suara Records]
03. Mickey – Sweet Baby (Original Mix)[Exploited Records]
04. Fabricio Pecanha – I Want You (Crocy Mix)[D2 Records – Exclusive]
05. Sonic Future – Bring It On (Original Mix)[Suara Records]
06. Kobhi – Inner City (Bootleg Mix)[No Label]
07. TKNO – Proxy (Original Mix)[Family Grooves – Exclusive]
08. Andrea Raffa – Bring It Down (Manuel De La Mare Edit)[Hotfingers Records]
09. Black Legend Project – Fanf’r (Vocal Mix)[Kidology London]
10. Sam Dungate – Break Ya Speakers (Vocal Mix)[Subterraneo Records – Exclusive]
11. Barry Obzee – Cairo (Original Mix)[Influential House]
12. Carl Hanaghan – Strings Of Life (Original Mix)[Zulu Records]

Check out the Soundcloud link:

Interview: Carl Hanaghan talks about his latest release ‘Strings Of Life’

No stranger to the Zulu Records’ ever-impressive release roster, Carl Hanaghan is back for a fourth outing on the imprint, this time with his summer-tinged update of Rhythim Is Rhythim’s classic track ‘Strings Of Life’. Entering the Beatport House Chart at #71 and with support from the likes of My Digital Enemy, Kryder, Cedric Gervais and Sonny Wharton, we caught up with Carl to find out just what inspired him to re-visit this iconic track and what’s in store for the rest of the year…

Hi Carl, thanks for taking some time out to chat with us – first up, what’s been happening for you in 2014?

Carl: 2014 has been a great year so far! On the road I’ve had some superb gigs with the highlights being the Gibson Club in Frankfurt, Germany and over in Utrecht at Winkel Van Sinkel in the Netherlands. I’ve had an EP released on Sonny Fodera’s label, Beatdown, as well as the release of ‘You Know How’ on my label Discopolis. My Digital Enemy have signed my rendition of the classic ‘Strings Of Life’ for their label Zulu Records and to top it all off I’m going to be a Dad in August this year so it’s very, very busy at the moment!

You’ve just released your own version of Rhythim Is Rhythim’s classic 1987 track ‘Strings Of Life’ on Zulu – how did this remake come about?

Carl: I had been playing the version by Soul Central remixed by Mark Knight and Martijn Ten Velden that was released on Defected in 2005 and then more recently the Supernova remix that they commissioned in 2011; I just felt that it was time for an update as it was becoming evident that it is a record that I will continue to play on and on…

What were your intentions when you set out to bring this classic track to the dance floors of 2014?

Carl: I’ve been finding a lot of my sets of late had been varying between Deep House infused with Tribal beats and I wanted to do something with this classic record that worked in both of these worlds.

The support list is pretty impressive – do you think you succeeded?!

Carl: Absolutely, I’m over the moon with the feedback on my rendition of Strings Of Life and I have to shout out the guys behind the label, they know how to work a record. It’s great to be featuring in those DJ’s sets all over the world.

This is your fourth release on Zulu now – you’ve enjoyed some great successes with your previous releases so you must enjoy working with the guys at the label?

Carl: For sure, my relationship with My Digital Enemy stems over 6 years now, it’s an honour to be signed to the label and I’ll always continue to support them.

Strings Of Life is your first solo release on Zulu – do you find you prefer working on collaborations?

Carl: I love working in collaboration as you have someone there to dance along to the track with you. Solo disco dancing is cool, but it’s better when you’re all together enjoying the vibe, you get more of a feeling that a record will work on the dancefloor.

You also run your own label, Discopolis – how do you juggle the production / DJing / label management sides of life?!

Carl: The best piece of advice I ever had from a great friend of mine was to use Microsoft Excel! My life is controlled by one spreadsheet! Schedules, diaries, time-lines and accounting, if I didn’t have it then I wouldn’t be able to do these things! I love what I do; it’s a hobby that became a job so looking at spreadsheets all day is certainly no chore!

What’s the big plan for Discopolis this year?

Carl: Discopolis has some superb singles forthcoming from the deep and soulful side of House music, including beats from Vienna’s Klaue & Tatze and Manchester’s Fake • Remedy as well as a few cheeky singles from myself! We released our first Miami compilation this year during WMC which was a huge success! I am so happy with how well it was received that I’m looking to piece together an exclusive Ibiza EP shortly!

And how about for you as a DJ / producer?

Carl: Loads to look forward to this Summer with three dates confirmed at Es Paradis in Ibiza for the clubbing superbrand Hed Kandi and I’ll also be returning to play at Creamfields on Sunday the 24th August!

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Carl!

You can follow Carl Hanaghan at the following places (click on the links):

Facebook – facebook.com/djcarlhanaghan
Twitter – twitter.com/carlhanaghan
Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/carlhanaghan

Click here to buy Strings Of Life on Beatport:

PHUK Podcast No 5 mixed by Lawrence Friend

The fifth podcast of the series, this is the March edition, showcasing some of Public House UK’s blogged tracks and a few exclusives. Starting off quite deep and ending up techy and main room. We were sent so many amazing tracks this month, it was really difficult to filter it down to just 15, but these are the ones that really stood out for us this month.

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport/Traxsource):
01. Monk & Saunders – Unfathomable (Original Mix)[Kinetic Groove – Exclusive]
02. Heartik – Cocoa (Coyu Edit)[Suara Records]
03. Leftwing & Kody – Missing (Original Mix)[Lapsus Music – Exclusive]
04. Vanilla Ace & Funkin L – In For The Kill (Original Mix)[Tropical Heat Records]
05. Larry Cadge – Vicious Circle (Original Mix)[Smiley Fingers]
06. James Silk – Talk Dirty (Original Mix)[Erase Records]
07. Emeskay – Searchin (Zoltan Kontes Remix)[Vudu Records]
08. Soulmagic ft J-Sun – I Wonder (Original Mix)[Soulmagic Records]
09. Mark Wilkinson & Mikalis – House Music Baby (Original Mix)[Kidology London]
10. Sweet LA ft Bronte Shande – Music (Frater & Stent Remix)[Fear Unknown Records – Exclusive]
11. Dany Cohiba – Mjuma (RanchaTek Remix)[Family Grooves]
12. Schuhmacher & Daniele Petronelli – Bounce! (Jorge Montia Remix)[Sphera Records]
13. Dmarco – Her Tribe (Original Mix)[Arcko Digital]
14. Siwell – Wheel Of Fortune (Original Mix)[Sphera Records]
15. Noise Tribe – In The Future (Franz Johann’s Here & Now Remix)[GTA Records]

Check out the Soundcloud link:

PHUK Podcast No 4 mixed by Lawrence Friend

The fourth podcast of the series, this is the February edition, showcasing some of Public House UK’s blogged tracks and a few exclusives. Starting off quite deep and quickly going techy and main room.

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport):
01. Leftwing & Kody Vs Kruse & Nuernberg – Turning (Original Mix) [OFF Recordings]
02. Origins Sound – Dallas (Original Mix) [LOST Records – EXCLUSIVE]
03. Kant – Bass & The Beats (Original Mix) [SUARA Records]
04. Tough Love – Missing You (Original Mix) [SUARA Records]
05. Anti-Slam & W.E.A.P.O.N. – Champion Sound (Original Mix) [1605]
06. Paul Lock – Let It Move Ya (Original Mix) [FAMILY Grooves – EXCLUSIVE]
07. Nout Masalute – Can’t Stop (Franz Johann ReShuffled Edit) [BABA Records]
08. R.O.N.N. (aka Ron Carroll) – Do I Believe In God (Original Mix) [VAMOS Music]
09. Muzzaik – Gravy (Original Mix) [GREAT STUFF Recordings]
10. Barry Obzee – Gettin’ Funk (Original Mix) [REZONATION Music – EXCLUSIVE]
11. UMEK & Groovebox – Sweet Harmony (Original Mix) [Spinnin Records]
12. Money & Cash – Work This (Federico Scavo Remix) [AREA 94 Records]

Check out the Soundcloud link:

Exclusive Interview: LEFTWING & KODY

This month we’ve decided to kick off a new feature to Public House UK and are now introducing featured artist interviews. We are forever reviewing new tracks by many different artists on this site and we feel that it would be great to show you who the artists are and a bit of their background.

For the first of the phuk interviews we have a dj/production duo who are absolutely smashing the deep house scene to pieces. With releases on top labels such as OFF Recordings, NOIR Music, Anjuna Deep and their own new label LOST Records. These guys are huge already after only being around since mid-2012, and can only get bigger..

For our first PHUK interview, we bring you.. LEFTWING & KODY. We kept things fairly short n’ sweet but had a few questions for them, and here they are:

So guys, how did Leftwing & Kody come about, how did you form?

Leftwing & Kody: We’ve been working together for about 5 years. we met DJ’ing at the same promotion. At the time we were both making music individually and were playing each others tracks then decided to jump in the studio together. The rest is history.

If you were to individually describe your production style in three words each, what words would they be?

Kody: Potent, Energizing, Dynamic
Leftwing: Jacking, Hooky, Hype

What’s the next step for your music, and where do you see yourselves going in 2014?

Leftwing & Kody: We have releases lined up for the first half of 2014. More music coming on OFF Recordings, Lapsus, Glasgow Underground and a 5 track EP on our own imprint Lost Records which will be out in the summer.

Hopefully the gigs will keep coming and we’ll still be gigging at the end of 2014, can’t ask for any more than that!

Your sounds are inspired by a fusion of quite British rooted club genres, like Garage and Deep House, so do you prefer playing in the UK or abroad?

Leftwing & Kody: We play a lot in the UK so it’s always very interesting to see the reaction of the crowds abroad. No real preference though we are happy playing in clubs regardless of where they are. As long as the crowd are enjoying it, we’re happy!

With a catalogue of releases on labels such as OFF, Alive & Noir, what has been your favourite release so far?

Kody: I think ‘Bump and Flex’ for me has to be the favourite as it was our breakthrough release!
Leftwing: My favourite is ‘You Were’, its almost 2 years old now and still does the damage in the clubs.

What is your inspiration in the studio?

Leftwing & Kody: Making music can be quite frustrating at times so we keep things light hearted in the studio. We are constantly taking the piss out of each other joking around and having wars with the other guys we share the studio space with.

You have launched your new label ‘Lost Records’, what style of tracks are you looking for, and are there any artists you are excited about?

Leftwing & Kody: We are looking for forward thinking music that has a nod to the past. We are really excited about the next few releases. We have 2 EP’s from some guys that are breaking through at the moment PAWSA & Origins Sound and we we’re lucky enough to sign a track from German Brigante who we think is going to be massive this year. We also have a remix on one of the packages by ‘Copy Paste Soul’, we think he’s going to have a big year also.

A huge thank you to Leftwing & Kody for taking the time out to answer our questions, we certainly look forward to their future projects and I will definitely be heading our to one of their London gig soon. You can follow Leftwing & Kody at the following places (click on the links):

Facebook – facebook.com/LeftwingKody
Twitter – twitter.com/LeftwingKody

Leftwing & Kody have have teamed up with Kruse & Nuernberg to write a new track being released today (10th February) on OFF Recordings. I recently found the preview online and did a review of it (find it: here). The track is called ‘Turning’ and is huge, make sure you pick up a copy! Here’s the preview.. enjoy!

Check out the Beatport link and support the artist by buying the track:

Click here to buy at your favourite online store:

PHUK Podcast No 3 mixed by Lawrence Friend

The third podcast of the series, this is the January edition, showcasing some of Public House UK’s blogged tracks and a few exclusives. Starting off quite deep and quickly going techy and main room.

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport):
01 – PAWSA – Pretty Good Debbie (Supernova Remix) [Exclusive – Lost Records – Released 3rd Feb]
02 – Hot Since 82 – Hot’s Groove (Original Mix)
03 – Sergio Pardo, Joan Roca & DJ Gray – Now (Original Mix)
04 – Josh Love – Living Of The Zombies (Stanny Abram Abracadabra Remix) [Exclusive – Family Grooves Records – Released 10th Feb]
05 – Sebastien Leger – Waves Of Life (Original Mix)
06 – DJ PP – Just Nina (Jerome Robins Remix)
07 – Slideback – Summerize (Original Mix)
08 – Hazzaro – Spread Love (Original Mix)
09 – ATFC – Fakerman 2014 (Jorge Montia Remix)
10 – Sonny Wharton – Pandemonium (Original Mix)
11 – Will Gold – Three Tribes (Original Mix)

Happy New Year from Public House UK!

I have finally risen from pit after the new year celebrations and I wanted to wish you all a great new year. I hope that 2014 brings you all that you want it to.

From now (2nd January) I will be updating the blog back on a regular basis with all of my favourite new and forthcoming releases. I will also be adding event information to the blog to let you all know where/when you can catch me playing out.

If you have any release recommendations or tracks you want featuring on phuk then please email me at info@publichouseuk.com.

Take care and I’ll see you on the dancefloors…..
Lawrence (phuk).

PHUK Podcast No 2 mixed by Lawrence Friend

The second podcast of the series, this is the December edition, showcasing some of Public House UK’s blogged tracks and a few exclusives.

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport):
01 – Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom (Lee Van Dowski Remix)
02 – Thomas Schumacher – Hush (Catz ‘n Dogz 2013 Remix)
03 – Richy Ahmed ft Kevin Knapp – The Drums (Original Mix)
04 – Nile Rodgers Vs Eats Everything – Do What You Wanna Do (Eats Everything Haus Rework)
05 – Siwell – Give It Up (Siwells New Old Skool Mix)
06 – Milk & Sugar – Tell Me Why (My Digital Enemy Remix)
07 – Eddie Amador – I Don’t trip (Hadjas Remix)
08 – Lizzie Curious – Get Together (Original Mix)
09 – The Dolly Rockers – Voices (Original Mix)
10 – Muzikfabrik ft Hegyi Kos – This Is My Life (Jorge Montia Remix)
11 – Umek & Heartik – Unlock My Synth Vein (Original Mix)
12 – Hoxton Whores & My Digital Enemy – Get Down (Original Mix)

Check out the Soundcloud link:

PHUK Podcast No 1 mixed by Lawrence Friend

Here is the first in our new series of Public House UK Podcasts, mixed by DJ Lawrence Friend. This mix showcases some of the tracks already featured on this blog this month plus some added exclusives.

Tracklisting (click on the individual tracks to buy on Beatport):
01 – UMEK – Cvile Mi Jaja (Original Mix)
02 – Prok & Fitch – Freakshow (Marco Lys Remix)
03 – Jason Chance & Kevin Andrews – Work That Track (Original Mix)
04 – Jason Chance – The Shift (Original Mix)
05 – Pretty Pink – Car jacksonville (Crazibiza Remix)
06 – Tim Cullen – Spank (Kevin Andrews Remix)
07 – Sucio Inglés – Bad Boy (Original Mix) – Released 24th November
08 – Sebastien Leger – Hell Yeah (Popof Remix)
09 – UMEK & Groovebox – Rock It Out (Original Mix)
10 – Sucio Inglés – C’Mon (Original Mix) – Released 24th November