The Mag
The Swedish House Mafia's mafia
The whole world knows (and quite a lot of it loves) the Swedish House Mafia, but who do they love? We speak to the artists they have hand picked to support them...
On Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of May, the Swedish House Mafia play two consecutive dates at Brixton Academy then at the Magna Centre in Sheffield. To support them they have hand picked a selection of young talents from the worlds of house, electro and everything in between.
We though it would be a good idea to find out a little about each of them ahead of the gig....
Alex Metric
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
I'm Alex Metric. I sing, I make records, I remix, I produce for other artists and I have a radio show! My style is a mash up of many different things I guess mainly house music, electro and indie. My DJ sets are more a rollercoaster ride than a smooth build, I like the unexpected.
This summer you are playing a number of festivals with your live band – how does the experience of playing live differ to DJing?
Playing live is a lot harder! There’s a lot more work involved. I rarely get nervous DJing anymore, but the live show is a lot more nerve wracking. There’s a lot more that can go wrong, and a lot more to think about whilst performing. I love both, but am really enjoying being with a band at the moment.
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Daft Punk
Stuart Price
Richard Ashcroft
As part of Radio 1’s In New DJs We Trust you must get sent a huge amount of new music; do you have any tips for the future?
I LOVE Hurts at the moment. Fenech Soler and Monarchy are two other bands rocking it for me. On the electronic tip a duo called The Walk & R72 are my top tip.
What else is going on in your world right now?
I’ve been working on some secret stuff for other artists I can’t talk about, but the collaboration between Steve Angello and me is getting everyone who's heard it pretty worked up. I can’t wait to unleash it!
AN21
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
My name is Antoine and I go under 'AN21' which is pronounced like Antoine. It all started when I was a child and couldn't pronounce my own name because it was a bit weird and French. So I said one two one. I can’t really put my style into a category but I like to produce and play everything. My DJ sets is very energetic, sexy and it’s a journey. I usually start really slow and groovy and build it up and down however I want. It´s all from the vibes of the crowd.
You have just finished a huge US Size Matters tour, what was the highlight? Must be cool touring with your older brother, tell us a little more…
Yeah sure thing! It was my first tour with Steve which was very fun. The highlight was definitely Cream Liverpool, Space Miami & Avalon Los Angeles. There’s nothing better than doing a 9hour journey with Steve and then jump on a flight and do another one at a new place!
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Daft Punk
Gui Boratto
'Miike Snow'
Pete Tong made your track “Gama” an ‘Essential New Tune’ – how do you keep your sound so fresh and original from other artists when so many people are producing these days?
I tend to soak up the vibes and emotions in my life and try to recreate them in sounds. I really try to see forward instead of going through my iTunes library searching for tracks and say "let’s do something like this today".
What's going on in your world right now?
Got loads of tracks & big shows exciting shows coming up this summer, but that aint as hot as I JUST GOT A NIECE!!!!
Max Vangeli
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
My name is Max Vangeli and I am a house music producer/DJ. I love playing all sorts of house music, as long as there is lots of energy involved. When I am behind the decks, I try to channel the positive vibe with music and my performance to get the crowd into it. My latest productions have been leaning more towards big-room progressive sound, with emotional melodic breakdowns. I think that is a vital combination for a great house record!
You are originally from Moldova and moved with your family to San Francisco, what’s the scene like in the Bay Area?
I’m very fortunate to have such an amazing dance scene in San Francisco. The city is filed with great venues and talented/artistic people. You have no choice but to feed of their creativity and start creating yourself. Living here gave me an opportunity to grow as an artist and continue my passion for DJing and production.
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Freddie Mercury
Michael Jackson
Drake
You are coming to Ibiza for the first time this year to play with Swedish House Mafia at Pacha Ibiza; what is your experience of the island and what are you most looking forward to?
I've been to Ibiza once before but never played. It’s an amazing place and I am so excited to finally be there with the guys. I think in the early stages of every DJ there is the dream to one day be playing in Ibiza and for me this moment has arrived. I think Ibiza is sort of an icing on the cake for all the hard work that went into making music throughout the year. What I look forward to the most is just being surrounded with a great group of people and just have fun with it. I’m super super pumped!
What’s going on in the world of Max Vangeli right now?
There is a lot of exciting stuff going on in my career at the moment. We just did an amazing remake of Prodigy’s - "Smack My Bitch Up", which has been just blowing up in the scene and ready to be out in a month or so. Lots of exciting remixes including Gorillaz and Eric Morillo which are almost complete and will be out this summer. Other than that, lots of great gigs coming up which I am super excited about. Amazing festivals and clubs all over the world!
Kim Fai
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
Hi my name is Kim Fai and I make House Music!!!
You release on Steve Angello’s Size label and often play alongside the SHM – tell us how this all came about?
It’s pretty much started with the release of my artist album "Kissing In Krakow" which was released in late 2008. Steve contacted me to say he liked it and if I had any more tracks that I could send him. I did, he liked, he signed and that’s really how it all started.
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Michael Jackson
Freddie Mercury
Stevie Wonder
Tell us your first memory of dance music either on the dance floor or behind the decks?
On the dance floor would have been at a local nightclub when I was about 15. They held under 18's nights on Thursdays and I was amazed at some of the music the DJ was playing. I watched him the whole night and couldn’t stop thinking about it. A set of turntables followed shortly after.
What’s the hottest news in your world right now?
I have my new E.P PS/Kato coming out on the 19th May which I’m really looking forward to. And also a lot of really exciting gigs and tours coming up for the rest of the year which are going to be amazing!
On Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of May, the Swedish House Mafia play two consecutive dates at Brixton Academy then at the Magna Centre in Sheffield. To support them they have hand picked a selection of young talents from the worlds of house, electro and everything in between.
We though it would be a good idea to find out a little about each of them ahead of the gig....
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
I'm Alex Metric. I sing, I make records, I remix, I produce for other artists and I have a radio show! My style is a mash up of many different things I guess mainly house music, electro and indie. My DJ sets are more a rollercoaster ride than a smooth build, I like the unexpected.
This summer you are playing a number of festivals with your live band – how does the experience of playing live differ to DJing?
Playing live is a lot harder! There’s a lot more work involved. I rarely get nervous DJing anymore, but the live show is a lot more nerve wracking. There’s a lot more that can go wrong, and a lot more to think about whilst performing. I love both, but am really enjoying being with a band at the moment.
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Daft Punk
Stuart Price
Richard Ashcroft
As part of Radio 1’s In New DJs We Trust you must get sent a huge amount of new music; do you have any tips for the future?
I LOVE Hurts at the moment. Fenech Soler and Monarchy are two other bands rocking it for me. On the electronic tip a duo called The Walk & R72 are my top tip.
What else is going on in your world right now?
I’ve been working on some secret stuff for other artists I can’t talk about, but the collaboration between Steve Angello and me is getting everyone who's heard it pretty worked up. I can’t wait to unleash it!
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
My name is Antoine and I go under 'AN21' which is pronounced like Antoine. It all started when I was a child and couldn't pronounce my own name because it was a bit weird and French. So I said one two one. I can’t really put my style into a category but I like to produce and play everything. My DJ sets is very energetic, sexy and it’s a journey. I usually start really slow and groovy and build it up and down however I want. It´s all from the vibes of the crowd.
You have just finished a huge US Size Matters tour, what was the highlight? Must be cool touring with your older brother, tell us a little more…
Yeah sure thing! It was my first tour with Steve which was very fun. The highlight was definitely Cream Liverpool, Space Miami & Avalon Los Angeles. There’s nothing better than doing a 9hour journey with Steve and then jump on a flight and do another one at a new place!
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Daft Punk
Gui Boratto
'Miike Snow'
Pete Tong made your track “Gama” an ‘Essential New Tune’ – how do you keep your sound so fresh and original from other artists when so many people are producing these days?
I tend to soak up the vibes and emotions in my life and try to recreate them in sounds. I really try to see forward instead of going through my iTunes library searching for tracks and say "let’s do something like this today".
What's going on in your world right now?
Got loads of tracks & big shows exciting shows coming up this summer, but that aint as hot as I JUST GOT A NIECE!!!!
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
My name is Max Vangeli and I am a house music producer/DJ. I love playing all sorts of house music, as long as there is lots of energy involved. When I am behind the decks, I try to channel the positive vibe with music and my performance to get the crowd into it. My latest productions have been leaning more towards big-room progressive sound, with emotional melodic breakdowns. I think that is a vital combination for a great house record!
You are originally from Moldova and moved with your family to San Francisco, what’s the scene like in the Bay Area?
I’m very fortunate to have such an amazing dance scene in San Francisco. The city is filed with great venues and talented/artistic people. You have no choice but to feed of their creativity and start creating yourself. Living here gave me an opportunity to grow as an artist and continue my passion for DJing and production.
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Freddie Mercury
Michael Jackson
Drake
You are coming to Ibiza for the first time this year to play with Swedish House Mafia at Pacha Ibiza; what is your experience of the island and what are you most looking forward to?
I've been to Ibiza once before but never played. It’s an amazing place and I am so excited to finally be there with the guys. I think in the early stages of every DJ there is the dream to one day be playing in Ibiza and for me this moment has arrived. I think Ibiza is sort of an icing on the cake for all the hard work that went into making music throughout the year. What I look forward to the most is just being surrounded with a great group of people and just have fun with it. I’m super super pumped!
What’s going on in the world of Max Vangeli right now?
There is a lot of exciting stuff going on in my career at the moment. We just did an amazing remake of Prodigy’s - "Smack My Bitch Up", which has been just blowing up in the scene and ready to be out in a month or so. Lots of exciting remixes including Gorillaz and Eric Morillo which are almost complete and will be out this summer. Other than that, lots of great gigs coming up which I am super excited about. Amazing festivals and clubs all over the world!
Kim Fai
Please introduce yourself and describe your style…
Hi my name is Kim Fai and I make House Music!!!
You release on Steve Angello’s Size label and often play alongside the SHM – tell us how this all came about?
It’s pretty much started with the release of my artist album "Kissing In Krakow" which was released in late 2008. Steve contacted me to say he liked it and if I had any more tracks that I could send him. I did, he liked, he signed and that’s really how it all started.
Name 3 artists dead or alive that you want to work with?
Michael Jackson
Freddie Mercury
Stevie Wonder
Tell us your first memory of dance music either on the dance floor or behind the decks?
On the dance floor would have been at a local nightclub when I was about 15. They held under 18's nights on Thursdays and I was amazed at some of the music the DJ was playing. I watched him the whole night and couldn’t stop thinking about it. A set of turntables followed shortly after.
What’s the hottest news in your world right now?
I have my new E.P PS/Kato coming out on the 19th May which I’m really looking forward to. And also a lot of really exciting gigs and tours coming up for the rest of the year which are going to be amazing!