MEOKO caught up with old friends Sandeman and Mr Dickie of Wildkats fame to find out more about their move from a troublesome trio to a dynamic duo. We also get the lowdown on their latest inspirations, opinions, upcoming releases, their new label and tips for future stars...
How’s things guys…do you have any holiday plans for Christmas and New Year or is it all gigs gigs gigs?.
Sandeman: Hey, all is good. We’ve a bit of both planned… heading back home to Scotland to play 21st Dec then will have a week there with the family chilling, eating, drinking, sleeping, eating, drinking, sleeping, eating and drinking… then back to London 27th for Night Owl at Ministry of Sound. Then I fly to Brazil to play NYE and tour there for a month… yeeeha!
Scott Dickie: I'm on route to Scotland as I write this actually. There as Stuart said for family festivities until the 27th at MoS. I will still be in London for NYE however playing at Sidings Warehouse before heading to Brazil on the 2nd for the month :)
Wildkats was formed as a threesome, but now it seems like it’s just the two of you. Is there anything we should know?
Sandeman & Dickie: Well, as briefly as we can put it. Yeah we started as 3, then Corey decided to move back to the states with his family. We both carried on working the Wildkats brand in Europe and Corey stateside as planned. Things however turned very sour from one side. We do not want to badmouth or bitch but the fact of the matter is we had our differences and are no longer working with Corey anymore. We are moving forward as Wildkats SD (Sandeman & Dickie portion of Wildkats). Our new page www.facebook.com/wildkatssd will be available shortly.
Prior to the Wildkats, you’d taken London by storm performing as Sandeman and Mr Dickie. Do you think we’ll ever see anything from this partnership again, or is Wildkats the full focus now?
Sandeman & Dickie: We are working on both joint and solo projects. Solo works as Sandeman, Dickie and then joint as Wildkats SD.
How has your sound progressed from back then to what it is now? Do you think you’ll remain true to one specific sound, or are tastes and trends always changing?
Sandeman: Sound, tastes, trends always evolve. I never want to pigeon hole myself to any specific sound. Our sound Is forever changing, or going in cycles, I’ve been pulling out some oldies from the back of my collection that are a bit deeper, tougher and darker but sound as fresh as ever.
Dickie: I reckon with all walks of life you inevitably mature in to things. I wouldn't say we have changed with what we have to come but it certainly sounds different from some of the first Wildkats productions. The next few things to come from both of us are in fact separate projects and not under the Wildkats SD moniker.
What’s your studio setup like. Do you have any new toys or recommendations for budding producers?
Sandeman: I have a pretty basic setup… Imac with Abelton, Apogee Duet, midi keyboard, some nice monitors and a shit load of VST plug ins… I think that’s the beauty of music making these days its so accessible and easy to create from very simple setups. All you pretty much need is computer, music package like Ableton or Logic, midi keyboard…. and the time to learn. There are so many forums, online tutorials to help you get started and create the sounds you want. Saying that though I recently moved in with good friend and producer Miguel Puente and have use of his fairly stacked studio - Drum machines, Moog little phatty, DX7, Juno 106, Korg MS2000B, Dave Smith Mopho… and other bits I don’t know the names of! Definitely opened up a whole new world of sound for me. Also been using a Moog Voyager recently too- which I love.
Dickie: my set up is basic but what I need just to get ideas in motion. Working from my juiced up Mac Pro, Ableton and lots of plugs. Been working out of other studios on some projects and started to use a lot more analog gear which has been fun and certainly the way forward for 2014.
I was at your gig at Truth in Johannesburg, South Africa a few years ago (which was epic!) How do you decide what you are going to play at international events? Is there much variation in crowd reactions from crowd to crowd?
Sandeman: We never really plan a set specifically for a crowd. We just go and do our thing… most of the time people have heard our sets and know what we are about… we can change our sound according to the vibe.. ranging from Disco to deep house to techno.
Dickie: Unless you’re doing a LIVE set it would be incredibly difficult to plan a set. As Stuart said, people know to an extent what you are coming to do but generally you feed off the vibe when you arrive and tailor your sound to that specific gig. We always tend to arrive at our gigs a little earlier to scope things out first.
What does each of you bring individually to the table? I.e. what makes each of you unique? Is one an expert DJ and another a studio head for example?
Dickie: I think what makes us unique is that we work so well together as a team. We're mates for a long time but also been dj'ing together for a lot of that time. We are both on the same page of what we want and get things done with very little fuss.
I enjoyed your latest remix of Twentynine by R-Tem. Have you got any more releases or remixes up your sleeves?
Dickie: I have a release coming up with Tboy and Adeline on Vocals. It was a project started a long time ago but will now be out Jan/ feb time with an amazing remix from a couple of my favourite producers, Villanova. We have a few other exciting works which we will be holding back til our label YAW Music is launched in early Spring.
Sandeman: I have some solo 'Sandeman' releases to land early next year- A track going out on Get Physical’s Full Body Work out compilation. Then a full EP on Get Physical EP after that - which I’m really buzzed about. Then like Scott said the focus will be on launching YAW Music label. A label off the back of our London residency and Party; You Are We.
What are your secrets for remaining productive and not killing each other while spending so much time together in the studio and on the road?
Dickie: As I said before the key is our friendship. Away from all of this we are really good mates and treat a lot of the things we do as such.
Sandeman: Aweeeeeee Love you too Dickie x
What or who is inspiring you at the moment?
Sandeman: I moved to Barcelona end of the summer… its been a huge inspiration for me…musically from buskers in the street, to the food, the beach, the sunshine and general mood and atmosphere. Im also living with and surrounded by like mind producers here too so new ears to bounce ideas off.
Dickie: For me the Life & Death and Innervisions crews' seem to have it on lock down at the moment. Loving their sounds
Do you have a preference when performing for small and intimate venues or large clubs and outdoor festivals?
Dickie: they are both obviously very different but also lots of fun in their own ways. I do prefer the energy of a smaller intimate crowd though. Whether that be in a venue or amongst the trees in a Forrest. I love it
Sandeman: I love the intimate vibe, sometimes the sound and vibe gets lost in huge arenas.
Speaking of festivals, will you be returning to Burning Man again in the future? (Come to Africa Burns, the SA equivalent!)
Dickie: Burning Man is a definite! I loved it last year. Was my 2nd time but certainly made the right impression this time round. Africa Burns would be a great shout... Heard a lot of good things about it :)
Sandeman: Yeah we will definitely be doing our yearly Pilgrimage to BM. Next year will be my 5th Year… We run our YAW Party out there and hopefully will be invited back to play Robot Heart, Disco knights and Ooligan Alley again- all very special parties. Would love to do Africa Burns too- hook us up!
The passing of a global icon of peace, Mandela, has saddened the world. Who are your icons outside of music?
Dickie: Alex Ferguson and David Attenborough. Both very influential in my other passions, football and lazing on the couch.
Sandeman: Bruce Lee & Ron Burgundy.
Would you agree with the statement: there is no new music anymore? Just good and bad versions of what has been done. Or do you regularly hear fresh and original music?
Sandeman: Disagree, there is loads of fresh new stuff out there just got to dig through a lot of crap to find it!
Dickie: Not something I spend a lot of time thinking about to be honest. I always take something from what is in front of me. Just depends what your looking for.
What do you hope Santa brings you this Christmas?
Dickie: Hmmmm... Seriously short on warm winter coats (hint hint) haha
Sandeman: I’m thinking summer clothes…. Brazil here we come!! ;)
Catch Wildkats SD next at Nightowl at Ministry of Sound 27th December alongside Andrea Oliva, Riva Starr and Gotsome. For more details and tickets - CLICK
