Pleasurekraft: interview and top 5

How has your year been? What’s kept you busy? What have been some highlights?

It’s been good all in all.  Touring heavily and trying to keep up with the release schedule without just putting tracks out for the sake of putting tracks out - which can be difficult in this instant gratification culture we live in these days, where a 3 month hiatus between releases seems to be an eternity. 

How did you guys first meet? Why do you get on so well?

We first met over Myspace in 2007. We started sending files back and forth shortly thereafter and didn't end up finishing the track that made us "famous" ('Tarantula') until the end of summer 2009. We had only met once in person up to that point for about 4 days. 

Is there a good scene in Sweden / Washington that you were a part of?

It’s funny, but both Stockholm and Washington DC have a general lack of an underground tech house scene - though both are very supportive of big commercial acts - so in short, the answer to your question would be a simple "no". 

How long did it take you guys to find your own style, and to be happy with the music you were making?

Roughly 2 years I would say.  The first 2 years we were collaborating we were just making tracks in various genres - we didn't really find our sound together until we finished "Tarantula."  But that being said - I think we still try and challenge ourselves to do new things with Pleasurekraft as we don't want to make the same tracks and sounds over and over again.

And what is that style – what ties your music together do you think?

We both come from backgrounds that include a large diet of non-electronic music - hence the music we make is largely influenced by all that - and to put it simply, we make tech house with a hook. 

Tell us about your latest record for UMEK’s label – what influenced the music?

Old school classic house records - big pumping bass with a string hook - and that vocal from the original has such an old school vibe to it, we thought it fit great together. It also pushes our sound to new areas - we don't have any other tracks like this remix, and we love that! 

What should people expect from you at What Matters?

Thick chunky slab of tech house with lots of urban flare.  That's the best way I can describe it!

What else have you got coming up/are you looking forward to?

A remix for Tube & Berger with the one and only Robert Owens on vocals - and that will be a deep house remix.  Also another original with Green Velvet - a collab EP with Jaceo and Vedic Dublin, and we are officially re-launching our own imprint Kraftek with some wicked stuff!

What do you like to do outside of music?

Eat, cook, watch movies! Sounds like the sequel to "Eat, Love, Pray" - oops! 

Pleasurekraft's Top 5

1. DJ Arkay 'Lovin Your Sound' (Jaceo Remix)

Our boy Jaceo delivering an uber groove heavy remix here. Love, love, love this tune and can’t wait for our collab EP with him to come out!

2. Freaks 'Black Shoes White Socks' (Darius Syrossian Remix)

One of my favorite producers - Darius Syrossian from Leeds UK - with another wicked remix - so glad he is getting some proper exposure finally!

3. Grant Nalder & Danny Quattro 'Precious' (Original Mix)

Great little deep but groovy number sure to keep the heads bobbin' with a fun little vocal from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

4. Sam Paganini & Minicoolboyz 'Miss You' (Dub Mix)

Such a wicked feel good vibe in this tune - though I usually use parts from the original mix mixed in when I play the dub - good fun on the floor and another great release from Monika Kruse's label!

5. Hector Couto & Santi Garcia 'Let the Music Play feat Pablo Fierro' (Giom Remix)

End of the night brilliance with this gorgeous deep house track.  Forget the trendy nu-deep sound that's in - this is classic deep house and this is as good as it gets! Giom for the win!

Pleasurekraft headline What Matters at FIRE : In Session on Saturday 22nd September, with Format:B and Nice7. Tickets are available below. 

Tickets are no longer available for this event