Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs on scenes, influences and eating Simon Cowell

Miz DeShannon speaks to Orlando of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs about remixes, The Warehouse Project, Oxford... and dinosaurs. Obvz. 

What a name. 'Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs' gives off totally the wrong impression of this musical outfit who are not extinct, are very much active, and getting ready to hit Manchester's Warehouse Project for the 'End Of Store Street' shenanigans later this year. 

Also,  there are no dinosaurs involved. Instead, there's Orlando; quite a lovely producer chap. We had a chat with him about the name, his induction into dance music, his impending Warehouse Project show, and also threw in a couple of fan questions for fun...

Perhaps an obvious start to the discussion but your name; what's it all about....? (via Facebook, from numerous people!)

I don't think anyone intends on finding a specific name, these things just happen. I was just trying to think of something I liked and that was unusual, I think its cool...

*Dan via Twitter* - What is your favourite dinosaur?

I don't actually have one, I've got no real interest in dinosaurs, the name really was just a random decision!

*Katie Liana via Twitter* - if you were a dinosaur who would you eat first and why?

Wow, that is quite a deep question when you think about it. I've got one opportunity to kill someone, someone really horrible... I can think of so many! I'll go with Simon Cowell, all that X-Factor stuff. Hmmm.

That's such a cop-out! We did put you on the spot a little... you're forgiven. You've been named as a one-man electronic band, tell us about the partnerships and collaborations you do though?

Yeah I do lots of collaborations, I really like it when it comes to the actual live show. I sometimes have dancers, make it into a proper performance, but essentially I do like being a one man band. I guess I like to use other people for their skills for the time being.

So you're hijacking them! Crafty... You grew up in Oxford, what's the music scene like, and what's the dance music scene like?

It's great at the moment, there are some really good nights and DJs, there are more producers coming out of Oxford too which is cool. I like small scenes where you know people, with a community feel. That kinda thing works well for me. The music scene is amazing there though, there are lots of people doing good things. There was always lots of free parties at beginning of hardcore in Oxfordshire, there still are free parties and soundsystems, that sort of thing has continued. The place has always felt removed from london, it's been its own beast, which is good, it's not succumbed to what goes on in the big city.

There have been comparisons made between you and Marshall Jefferson (Chicago house innovator), saying your music is creating a future whilst being nostalgic at the same time [Morley, Guardian 2010]... how do you feel about that?

I am definitely about looking back to people like Marshall and a lot of the early pioneers of dance. Lots of producers of my generation are influenced by them and someone my age, who wasn't around raving in the 80s and 90s, well… I think a lot of people wish they had experienced that. There are lots of people writing Chicago house and old school dance music. There's definitely something that I feel I missed out on there, it was a golden era in dance music, such a fun atmosphere… it had a kind of magic, and it takes so long to recapture that. I'm not alone in that; producers and bands cite that time as something they wish they were at, being at the beginning of raves and house music.

So who are your influences or inspirations?

None of the people I've been compared to at all... Everything But The Girl, Death In Vegas, Late Of The Pier, Hot Chip, Crystal Fighters. I can't give specific influences though, there's no single producer or band, not Hot Chip even though I'm linked to them. I just listen to dance, disco, all kinds of things, and it's good not to be part of one genre of dance music. But I think that jungle and drum 'n' bass is what got me into dance music, that's still my first love.

*James via Facebook* - How come getting people to fuss with your music and make remixes is so popular in dance music? If that happened to rock 'n' roll bands they'd have a fit...

A lot of bands like remixes too! Its a weird one, sometimes good, sometimes bad, but I can kind of agree. I have had things done where I'm thinking 'why', but it's about making connections. Good dance music is about getting someone to do a remix so you can connect, whose fans you want to connect to and support. It's about having fun, there are people who refuse for righteous reasons and I respect that, remixes can be waste of time, but if you've got an idea it can work; sometimes it is good.

What song made you want to make your own music?

The first bit of dance I heard that really resonated with me was 'Pacific State' by 808 State. When I heard that it was the first time I really pushed a record. I was probably about 9 yrs old, but I was already into jungle, but that was when I put 2 and 2 together.

*Jamie via Twitter* - Who is your favourite DJ at the moment and why?

At the moment I'm really into Crosstown Rebels, I'm really into that. They're all very good DJs , wicked scene, pleased to be on that line-up at The Warehouse Project.

What was the first club you went to then?

The first club I went to, wow... I think it was one in Oxford, to see Nicky Blackmarket, when I was very young (laughs). Well too young to be in The Bullingdon Arms! The gig was in their back room, with Blackmarket and a couple of others. I can't remember who the MC was though, it was a long, long time ago...

What do you like the most about playing live at places like The Warehouse Project?

To be honest, I just like dressing up and playing tunes loud, and having a dance with people and singing. The full performance, I just really enjoy making people dance.

How lovely of you! Well we're very much looking forward to dancing for you! After you've wowed us at WHP then, you're going to Europe, America, Canada AND Australia... Quite an epic adventure, have you been to any of those places before?

Yeah I've actually done all of it before! This is on a bigger level though, I've always loved going to the USA and I'm excited at going back, the shows I've got there are amazing, and their crowds are so up for it every time.

So after all of this excitement, what's next for you then...?

My next single 'Garden' is out in a few weeks, and I'm finishing my album, and at the moment I'm just about to go off to Bestival. Apart from the tour, it's all about the album, it's a big step with the album. I don't know if I'll get a holiday for quite a while, that's pretty much my story for next year/year and a half...

Interview: Miz DeShannon

Catch Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs on the following dates:

26th November: Trilogy Part 3 with Skream and Benga

10th December: Warehouse Project with Crosstown Rebels