Dirty Ducks Open Up About "Feelings" [Exclusive Interview]

Dirty Ducks Open Up About "Feelings"

7/23/2019

Melbourne Bounce is one of the first subgenres I fell in love with when I came across EDM and so naturally, I became fans of you all from tracks like "Touch Me," "Code 313," and "Gun." What sort of memories do you have when you look upon that time in your career?
Yeah, the same for us. At that time, we were influenced by artists like Deorro, Will Sparks, Joel Fletcher and the whole "Melbourne Bounce" wave. The tracks we made during that time caused many people to notice us. But over time, we realized that it was a sound that no longer represented us and that we wanted to evolve into something different. Maybe it wasn't our real "signature sound," but it was a fun time. We worked with different artists from that genre and we learned a lot.

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The release of "Apache" marked the beginning of a distinct sound for the Dirty Ducks project. How did you get inspired to create this sound and what importance do you feel it has played in your ongoing success?
"Apache" was definitely the next level step. It was probably the starting point of our current sound, and the first real big supports. We still remember Steve Angello playing it around his live shows for several months, the same for Martin Garrix. It was something crazy for us.

As often happens, the idea came up by chance. We were rehearsing different things, more "tribal" groove oriented but without being clear what the result would be. After several attempts, that "drop sound" came out and we were like, "Hey, this thing doesn't sound bad".

Although we don't like to focus on one particular style, we still try to use that sound more often, adapting it with new elements and different moods. We like the energy and the movement it creates. An example is our latest release, "Feeling."

Walk us through the creative process of your latest release from start to finish!
The "Feeling" idea started out about a year ago. We were looking for something fresh, funky, and dance floor-ready. We started with the main drop sound. At first, it had a different lead drop but the same melody and structure. We spent several days looking for the right vocal for the break that would make it more enjoyable and unique. We finished the first version of track in a couple of weeks, then we decided to send it to Dannic for his feedback. He immediately liked the idea, gave us some advice and tricks and after testing it in some shows, he decided to sign it for his label, Fonk Recordings.

How would you describe the Dirty Ducks dynamic inside the studio and on-stage?
We don't have a particular routine or workflow in the studio, each idea starts out in its own way. We usually send ourselves some draft ideas for comparison and feedback. It can be a drop idea, a new melody, or just a vocal. We have a very similar musical background, so it's easy to find common ground on a project. We work on the arrangement in the studio until the final mastering, all by ourselves.

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In the live shows, we always try to keep our own personality. We play what we like which is the stuff we would dance to while of course, adapting to the situation and crowd. We like to transmit energy through different shades of sound, genres and tempo. For each track we play, we like to do our own edits on it and we'll end up having several different mashups for the same track.
DJ sets for us are a way to express your personality, not a simple playlist.

There's no denying that there has been a definite shift in the way average listeners consume EDM. How has the move to streaming affected the way you guys approach and market your songs?
Definitely. In recent years, streaming services have significantly changed the way we share our music. Nowadays, artists have to find the right channels and connections to make sure their music gets heard by as many people as possible. There are tons of tracks released each week, so it is essential to dedicate time to social media where you can form that strong, healthy connection with listeners. At the same time, you can also frame your posts in a good marketing strategy based on the track you're about to release.

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What have been some of your most memorable moments during your live performances?
We don't have a specific moment. We think every show has its own story behind it. Among the most exciting moments is certainly our first live performance at a real festival. It was the first edition of the "Reload Music Festival" in Italy back in 2015. We had both started out as regular opening DJs in some of the clubs in our hometowns, but this was the first time we were on a real big stage. The excitement of seeing so many people jump or scream to our own tracks was incredible. Pure energy and motivation.

Outside of the studio and DJ booth, what do you both enjoy doing?
Music is definitely our biggest passion and takes up most of our day, but we try to find time to dedicate ourselves to other things. Federico loves cycling and is also a professional paintball player. Both of us are big movie fans and addicted to Netflix. Lately, we've been binging Stranger Things and Money Heist.

Looking towards the future, what can we expect from the Dirty Ducks project?
We have tons of music coming and a lot of collaborations with artists from different styles. We would like to get out of our comfort zone a bit and find new inspirations while keeping our identity. Additionally, we have an upcoming release in early August that we can't wait to show you. Outside of our releases, we've been working really hard on creating some special sample packs and sound sets to share with you guys. Keep an eye on our socials for all the exciting things we've got coming down the line!

Thanks so much to Dirty Ducks for taking the time to answer our questions! Be sure to follow them using the links below!