Interview with the Cheshire Catz
Reported by HarderFaster
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Submitted 26-08-04 14:36
In the run up to the final Bank Holiday this year, and the madness that is the 4th Annual Riot! Carnival, we decided to pin down the Funky House duo that are the Cheshire Catz (well Dan anyway), to find out a little more about their infamous house parties and their own inimitable take on house music…
Q1: I know you're probably asked every time, but just how did you meet?
A: We met at an after-party in Brixton. I was DJing and Jon kept coming up to the booth asking if he could put a record on. He didn't have any with him - he just lunged into my bag and pulled something out! We ended up playing back to back until 9am - that was the start of all this. Why didn't I just say no?
The Cheshire Catz
Q2: In the tradition of great double acts - who is the straight one?
A: We are both very, very silly indeed. Our silliness knows no bounds. But when it comes to house music we can sometimes be a little too serious and we have to stop ourselves and give each other a slap! We even have our own short-hand sign language behind the decks for when we are lost in the mix. The most popular of which is an elaborate hand movement which means 'DESIST! GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE MIXER!'
Q3: What one song would you have most liked to have written or produce?
A: It's a little known 2-year old track called The Rock by Punx. A synth-driven slice of emotional tough techy dirty twisted funk – an end of set Catz stormer. It sounds like it was made by aliens. The bassline just tears it up - wraa wraa wra wraa wra-wra wraaaaa!!!!!
Q4: What Producer has had the biggest impact on your sets this year?
A: Oooooh that's hard. But if I had to name one producer that has featured in our sets more than any other this year it would be Eric Prydz. We try to keep our sets really varied though and you won't hear the anthems that all the other DJs are caning. We also play around with a lot of the tunes - re-editing them to fit our sets or extending the breakdowns.
Q5: Your called the Cheshire Catz because you live on Cheshire Street. If you lived on Hackney High Rd, what would you have called yourselves?
A: We would have moved 
Q6: It a little known rumour people tend to get hurt at your parties! What's the worst injury ever sustained?
A: That's a vicious horrible rumour! No-one has sustained a (serious) injury at a Cheshire street session. Ahem.
Q7: If you had one party left to play ever - where and what would it be?
A: RIOT at The End of course! Without Riot or the Ignition DJs, we wouldn't be where we are today. And I must mention Matthew Duffield of Sedition DJs, our agency - The D-Meister knows the score.
Q8: What annoys you the most about the other?
A: Jon really hates the fact that my mixing is far superior to his. He hasn't quite got the hang of the internet yet either so it's unlikely he'll read this
Q9: What's been your most memorable gig and why?
A: Probably the Riot Warehouse party in June last year, which was our first proper set as the Catz really apart from a few bar gigs and Cheshire Street Sessions of course. The Catz had arrived!
Q10: What was the track that made you fall in love with Dance Music?
A: Cool answer: French Kiss by Lil Louis, or Go by Moby. Honest answer: naked in the rain, by Blue Pearl!
Q11: What's your record of the year so far?
A: Cheshire Catz - Powercutz!
Q12: Speaking of Powercutze we understand when you were working on this your first track in the Turnmills Studio there was a power cut while you were laying down the lead sound - hence the track is called Powercutz. If this hadn't happened, what would you have called the track?
A: We've made a lot of re-edits, a couple of bootlegs and remixes so far but this is our first original Catz track. Yeah, we were wiring in an old 303 - the original acid house bass line generator - turned it on and everything went dark! We lost about an hour of recorded stuff which was annoying at the time but it worked out fine in the end. And we did manage to get a really sexy 303 stab in there with loads of echo on the top. We were thinking about calling it Primecutz, as a nod to our studio engineer, Dave Parkinson, as he is one half of hard trance pioneers Prime Mover. Dave is a completely gifted engineer and a lovely guy - we are really lucky to be working with him and have learned a lot.
The Catz at Work
Q13: What's your favourite memory of partying at Bar Riot?
A: The first time we played - in November 2003 - it was about an hour into our set - we were just starting to get over our nerves and really enjoy it. We dropped David by Gus Gus - the Darren Emerson mix - and when the bass line rolled in (on that fantastic sound system in the End) the place started going mental. Jon and I just looked at each other and thought 'right, this is it!' And I glanced round at Tom Real by the side of the booth and I could see him dancing and grinning. Tom has been really supportive of the Catz right from the beginning so to see him enjoying it meant a lot. That was a moment. We'd been clubbers at Riot for over a year so to get behind the decks and rock the house was an incredible feeling.
Q14: This Sunday you'll be bringing the Cheshire Catz magic back to Bar Riot, what else will the pair of you get up to?
A: So far the weekend looks like this:
Friday - finish the b-side to our new EP at the turnmill's studio with Dave - a dirty acid house stomper
Saturday - tune shopping in the morning, in the afternoon going through all the new tunes we've bought recently, and the promos and CDRs we've received over the last couple of weeks - and begin working out a rough set for Riot.
This is our first set for 3 weeks as I've been away in Thailand, so we are itching for some deck time. Oh - and argue and bicker a lot over what to include in our set! When we are planning a Riot set, we do choose certain tunes because of the incredible sound system.
Saturday night - party! UP at the Rhythm Factory maybe? Haven't decided yet!
Sunday - Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. Then RIOT!!
Monday - recover from Sunday...
Q15: One last question - Will we see you in the MainRoom @ Riot! for a little bit of Dave the Drummer or BK??
A: We've been known to dabble in the dark side, but only for a few minutes and with ear plugs in! I do remember once going to the toilet and stopping at the steps at the top of the main room just to have a look - and left about 45 mins later. Ed Real was completely tearing it up!
You’ve heard what they have to say now hear what they have to play at one almighty humdinger of a bank holiday bash at the unbeatable and always special Riot!
RIOT! The Perfect Weekend
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On:
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Sunday 29th August 2004
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At:
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The End [map]
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From:
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15.00 - Late
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Cost:
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Paying guest list £7 guestlist@riotinlondon.com / £7 Members / £9 on the door
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Website:
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www.riotinlondon.com
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Ticket Info:
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This Event Will Sell Out - Please Arrive Early To Avoid Dissapointment
Paying Guestlist; £7 Before 6pm
E.mail Guestlist@riotinlondon.com Before 26th August
Tax; £7 Members / £9 Non On The Door
Destination; The End, West Central St, London, W1
Time; 1500hrs - Late
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More:
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The stuff legends are made of! Our august bank holiday sunday special is the biggest event of the year for the riot! crew. for the last four years we have brought together a collection of the most up for it party people who have travelled from all over the uk and beyond to raise the roof at our mothership venue the end.
This year we have gone even further to create the most exciting line-up ever at Riot!, with no less than six amazing artists making their debut appearance - this is the next level and we can't wait to see your reaction!
See you on the dancefloor, Ed Real & BK
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Hard Trance. Funky House. Hard House. Funky Techno. Breaks.
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DJ's:
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The Mothership;
BK
Ed Real
D.a.v.e. The Drummer Live Final Scratch Debut
Scott Attrill (tidy / Split Records)
Dave Randall (trade)
Bar Riot!;
Leeroy Thornhill Ex Of The Prodigy!
Matt Williams (ignition Dj's)
Cheshire Catz (turnmills)
Urban Life (east London's Best Kept Secret!)
Piqué (peach Funky)
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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