D/R/U/G/S talk to Skiddle about image, anonymity and genre-bending

D/R/U/G/S are two lads from Manchester. They don’t create hype or commotion – only music.

Keeping it purely about the audio, the duo were very vigilant about not putting a face to the name D/R/U/G/S. Instead they let the music create the visuals – and the images conjured up can only be described as orbital, offensive while strangely appeasing. It’ll confront you, but your reaction is your own.

Just as their three song debut Love /Lust is released, Jasmine Phull speaks to D/R/U/G/S about really ‘smash[ing] it out’.

You’re releasing your 'Love /Lust' debut via Moshi Moshi but you also seem to have ties with Merok Records. How did your relationship with that label come about?
They gave us our first show way back in May 2010. We’re like-minded bros; Merok push fresh beats all day, real sonic pioneers.

Love / Lust 12" by D/R/U/G/S

When you guys first came onto the scene you were quite adamant about leaving your faces out of the picture. Has that changed at all? No one’s wanting you to do press photos?
See this is the problem with youth culture nowadays; it’s all about the visual, the instant gratification and no patience. Band pictures are shit. I keep myself to myself in the real world so I do the same in Internet land.

Many bands have done a similar thing only to find that the anonymity ironically overshadows the reason you did it and brings attention to you. Have you experienced that?
We ain’t on that whole secret tip at all. We don't have some fake dickhead PR guy choreographing shit. We’re slaves to this at the end of the day so any kind of control we can keep a firm hold of is good.

On stage do you like to establish a relationship based on banter between the audience and yourselves? Or is it just about the music?
We don't stop in the set, we mix the whole thing live, it's nice ‘cos every show is different. Sometimes we'll end up jamming on some delay loop that we've never heard before. The band shows we've played have been totally open to how we play, but I love the late night-club show where we can really smash it out.

What about stage attire? Is that something you put much emphasis on? Are there any rules like: no open toes shoes?
I love fashion man, it’s another art form. Shame we are so poor. Too many bands make it their everything though; no point in looking smart if your tunes are weak.

You guys don’t fit into a musical sub-genre as of yet. Is that a blessing?
People who post angry comments on Youtube videos get vexed about genres. I like to write in different styles, play with different sounds. I get bored after working with a set of sounds for too long. I use the shittest equipment you’ve ever seen to record, those limitations inspire creativity. If I had Ableton and all the soft synths in the world I’d lose my mind.

I found a Love/Lust video on the net, after much hunting, was that one created by you guys? It has images of little boys singing in a microphone. If so is the footage from your childhood videos?
Some Internet human made that, I heard all those kids were shortly put down after the filming. (Laughs).

When are you most inspired to create music?
12.06am til 6.24am every morning. As far away from human civilian culture as possible.

Does being a bit inebriated help the process?
There is no process, shit just gets made. A fresh bank on my 404 is a wicked sight to see.

Text by: Jasmine Phull
Twitter.com/j_fool

Catch D/R/U/G/S at Parklife Festival next month. Limited tickets are still avilable below.

Tickets are no longer available for this event