Posts Tagged ‘rusko’
Rusko / Doorly / Expendable Youth 4/17
Baring witness to Doorly’s set was the highlight of Sunday’s show at the Commodore. Doorly, who rolled sans shmancy laptop equipment, brought mid 90’s pop samples and a dirty-low tempo. He kept a healthy-sized crowd fumbling around the dance floor, despite the time creeping past midnight and the headliner yet to hit the stage.
Unfortunately, after the Doorly set ended, the throes of poopy-faces emerged and wondered where Rusko was.
Somewhere between midnight and 1 a.m., the people with Monday morning jobs went home to bed; Rusko played for the dissipated, die-hard crowd. For those who were oblivious to the clock, his usual pop-twerkings sparked some serious dance floor grind.
Rusko’s set provided what was expected: rising sirens peaking at breaking glass sound effects, with low, spastic bass-wobbles. His voice, which I wasn’t expecting to hear much of, occasionally shouted short ‘n’ sweet nothings over tracks. He apparently expected his audience to understand these mumbled sentences, as these outbursts were sometimes comically accompanied by a cheeky visage.
Late set times aside, I learned that even the Commodore, with its grandiose dimensions, will shaketh like the back of your high school friend’s subwoofed car— if you fill it with enough bass. Also, I realized that kids, who claim to hate the Granville Street Hustle, would brave that locus of the Weekend Warriors if it includes a bit of raunchy bass on the Sabbath. Lucky for them, Doorly was tight. Too bad (for them) Rusko hit the stage way past bedtime.
words: Jenna-Kali Kirouac photos: Alana McDowell
Marina and The Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot (Doorly Remix)
Dj Dracke Danny Producer – Heart Broken (Expendable Youth Remix)
Rusko Interview
Rusko aka Christopher Mercer has been making people sweat on the dance floor all the way from Leeds to the US to Canada for over 10 years. As the genre – Dub Step has become more widely accepted, so has Rusko. Get to know Rusko and the key ingredients to his sound.
Reasons you may think you know Rusko:
- Artists such as Diplo and Santogold have been playing Rusko’s hit ‘Cockney Thug’ at shows worldwide.
- He has collaborated with artists like Hot Chip, Diplo, Amber Coffman (Dirty Projectors) and Trouble Andrew.
- Rusko has remixed and worked on the production for artists like Basement Jaxx & Little Boots.
- Sub Focus – Splash ft. Coco (Rusko Remix)
Why might people think they know Rusko? “I spend my life on the road. I am probably going to be in your city soon. Or I am coming there in the next few weeks. Also, I do like to do a lot of videos online. I have a lot of good tutorials and stuff you may have seen on YouTube or something.”
What is your favorite life noise? “I was in Texas this past weekend, I was recording the crickets. I absolutely love that sound. My favorite favorite sound must be, the plug hole of the bath when it is draining. Bath drains in hotels make the craziest noises, some sound like they are burping.” (he laughs)
What is something that will make you cry? “The Lion King, never ever fails. Either that, or hmmmm people who have really tiny apartments with dogs. People who don’t care for their dogs properly.”
What DJ do you think has the best energy? “The Gaslamp Killer he is the absolute dynamo, he has so much hair. the dance starts with the hair. He is my favorite DJ to watch. He freaks out, he wraps towels around his head. Great DJ to watch. I also saw Girl Talk crowd surf on a surf board, he is a great DJ to watch.”
What are three words that you would use to describe Dubstep other then wobble? “I would say. Bass. Ummm . Funk. And Sweat. But, sweat probably first. People just get down so hard. Sweat is important. So, Bass + Funk + Sweat = Dubstep.”
What is the definition of a hipster to you? “Umm, huh that is a tough one, yah know. A hipster to me is probably someone who finds it more important for them to be photographed, then to actually be there. Just enjoy the music, put your phone down, put it in your pocket – just enjoy the music. Sometimes people will put a message in their phone and pass me the phone with their request for a track to play. You know how everyone has their Mum in their phone as Mum? Well if they want a f*cking request and pass me their phone, I am just going to phone their fucking mom and pass them back the phone. Let them deal with that. Ha. Hipsters can have those memories. Hipsters need to just put their phones and cameras away and live the moment.” (laughing hysterically, both him and I)
What is your go-to pump up song before partying? “Next Hype by Tempah T. Some, UK grime. Or he has another one called Swing. Which is actually a hilarious video. Those are my go-to pump up songs.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m85jSbcNx68[/youtube]
If you were to spend the day with Kanye West what would you plan for the two of you? “I would probably plan a day going through his record collection. I would plan a day with a recorder and a turntable and just go through his records. I certainly wouldn’t create any music with him!” (car horns are honking in the background, but Rusko stays focused and laughs a bit at his thoughts)
By the way, where are you right now? “I am in West Hollywood on the way to pick up sunglasses. Then going to a a big feast. Yah know, the crazy life of Rusko. Then tonight straight to the Major Lazer show, gotta support for a bit.”
If a circle of break dancers was to happen at your show, what celebrity would you most want to see in the middle dancing? “Probably Lindsay Lohan. I would like to see Lindsay Lohan break-dancing. I don’t know why, but that would be fun.”
If you were to cast yourself in any film or TV sitcom what character would you play? “I quite like to be in real life George Castanza. That would be ultimate role in any show. ”
If you were to have 1 song play every time you walked in a room, what would your grand entrance song be? “The Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert. I also want that to be my funeral song. I can’t really think of a more jolly.”
You have worked with Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors (well done), who are some other female vocalists you would love to collaborate with? “I would love to collaborate with Bjork. Really dreamy stuff, I have been a big fan of her for some time. Also, Alice Russell from the UK, she has the best female voice in the United Kingdom. Yes, certainly Alice Russell.”
Rusko – Hold On (Sub Focus Remix)
Ruska – Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman)
So you are about to kick off on some new tour dates. Do you have any pre-show rituals? “Well I never eat or have sex before the show. I am like a boxer. Sex or eating before a show would slow me down. But, I usually drink a lot of vodka and Red Bull.”
If you were to put together a recipe for good ENERGY what would your 4 ingredients be? “Lots of bass. Lots and lots of bass. Probably lots of MDMA. That is my recipe for energy. So the vibrations feel good.”
On the subject of ingredients. I asked Rusko what his favorite recipe/meal is. “This is a very simple recipe that Belinda (Rusko’s wife) loosely follows to make Lamb Balti.” Download the PDF of the recipe here and how Rusko recommends it to be prepared.
LAMB BALTI RECIPE:
4 portions pre-cooked lamb
4 cloves garlic, chopped
8 oz onion, chopped
3 tablespoon ghee
4 tablespoon balti masala paste
8 fl oz stock
1 tablespoon garam masala
2 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander leaf
1 salt to taste
phone is breaking up, so the interview has to come to an end : (
What are your last words? “Kill yourself before it gets anywise.” – Rusko -
Rusko’s Dog pictured above.
:::::::::::: So, You Think You Know? Rusko ::::::::::::::::::
Get more information on Rusko at his website. On October 3rd he will be at Venue in Vancouver. Full tour dates can be found here.
Check back each week for a new So, You Think You Know Me interview. In case you missed last weeks you can click here to get to know Molly Schiot.
Notting Hill Carnie
^^^drinkz on uz, wha?
Proud supporters of the arts and staying up laate, Red Bull have a stage at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival (UK). Check da telents.
Missy Elliot – The Rain (Douster Tropical Remix)
Rusko – Hold-On-Wha-La-La-Leng (Poirier Refix)
Poirier – Let Them Hate feat. YT (Mungo’s HiFi Remix)
Major Lazer & La Roux – Hold Yuh (Double Dubplate) ft. Gyptian
Drop The Lime – Devil’s Eyes (CLASSIXX’S B-LIVE MIX)
Dubby Steppie
One thing that was huge at Coachella this year was the amount of dubstep in the lineup.
I wasn’t into dubstep right out of the gate. I pretty much hate 90% of the stuff being produced. It’s obnoxious and you need to be on meth to get down that hard. Like a lot of genres the 5-10% that’s good is purty dece.
I’m kinda super excited for the Rusko full length coming out in May. Dubsteps big crossover act.
I don’t even really want to share this one it’s so bad ass.
The Boogaloo crew – Days Go By
This remix makes me like this song which is pretty much shit otherwise. you might even get away with playing this on da granville street 4 da hootchies in da g strings, ya know?
I fk’d up and erased the tag on this so if you know who did this remix holler, ok!? Might be Skream???
Rihanna – Rude Boi (Dubstep remix)
An oldie but a goodie.
La Roux – In For The Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Remix)
Oh hai! n hrr’s sum chill / menacing video game shit from our v-city boy…
Hook up dem fat subs, smoke yrself blind n feel dem vibrationz ya hear? stay fresh.
Wobble Girl!
THIS VIA STONEYROADS
As a result of the news story. With some quick clever editing, WobbleGirl was born! an “educational” video on how to dance to dubstep
Before you think you are going to go to hell, the next day she was spotted walking to a supermarket.
Rusko has found viral fame through this video unintentionally and as a result there has been a surge in popularity for the song which is associated with the clip.
Prodigy – Take me to the hospital (Rusko remix)
