We caught up with a duo who seem to be making their way up the rankings in the scene, Solardo. Having gained support from some of the entrepreneurs of the scene such as Richy Ahmed, Jamie Jones, Skream, Steve Lawler, Kerri Chandler, Riva Starr, No Artificial Colours, Davide Squillace, Mark Jenkyns, Hector Couto, Monki plus a few other big names making them very welcomed to the article series.

Having recently released their new EP on Skream’s label ‘Of Un Sound Mind‘, this is also stepping its way up the rankings throughout crowds and different DJs sets,

Lets start with talking about your recent EP…

How did you come to naming the project this? 

Acid Rock’s is the name of the lead track on the EP so it made sense to name the EP after it. We don’t usually put to much thought in the title names we just usually go with whatever comes into our head. Acid Rock’s sort of has a few different meanings and references which depending on how you look at it and what terminology your acquainted to!

How did you two first meet and how did you two decide you were going to be a duo?

Mark – We met over ten years ago when I was out performing as MRK1 in the Dubstep/Garage days. James was out on the party scene and we had a few mutual friends so we would often bump into each other and party.

What does ‘Solardo’ mean? 

Nothing just sounds cool and catchy! haha

This EP was released on Skream’s label, ‘Of Un Sound Mind’. How did the initial link up take place with him? 

Mark – Ive been mates with Ollie (Skream) for almost 15 years from back in the early days of Dubstep when I was producing as MRK1. We were both part of the Forward movement where Dubstep started so we’ve ended up partying, travelling and doing a lot of gigs together over the years. We also have mutual friends so were often hanging about together.

As Solardo, we started researching and producing this sort of genre of music about 8 months ago. It doesn’t sound that long ago but have literally been working around 70 hours a week in the studio, just searching for a sound that was different to everything out there. When we found the sound we wanted, we sent Ollie a load of tunes and told him what I was trying to do with it. He was well into it and he just asked if he could have some tunes for an EP! I sent him a folder of around 20 tunes and around 5 minutes after sending them he texted me asking it he could have the three tracks which are now on the EP.

We’ve seen numerous amounts of videos on your Facebook Page with your tracks being supported from some of the biggest DJs in the underground scene. How does this make you feel that your tracks are being played to thousands in different cities?

James – Its wicked! We have put everything you can imagine into our music to make it stand out and get played, so seeing it being played by the biggest DJs in the world is amazing. That’s what we set out to do from the start! We literally locked ourselves away for months studying different production techniques new and old to find that big analogue warmth loud sound.

We knew that the house scene is one of the most competitive markets in the world and the only way for us to do well would be to do something a little bit different. One of the biggest moments we had when it really hit home that all the hard work was finally paying off was when I was at Paradise at The BPM Festival where we had 19 tracks played through out the night to thousands of people. It was a very surreal moment and made all our sacrifices all worth it.

When you get into the studio, whats your first steps to making a track? 

Mark – In the studio we have a template set up which we use as a starting point for all our tracks. We then mess around with beats and mix it down as we go along, that way we have a good idea how the tune is going to sound.

We then look for a sample to use which then gives us a vibe. Once a that’s all in place we start on the bass. We’ll come up with loads of different ideas and riffs until we find something that works and fits. Then we go over it all again and again until were happy. When we start a track we wont leave the studio until its done. The next day we’ll go over the mix on fresh ears, finish it then start another. Every day!

If you could work with anyone in the music scene, who would it be and why? 

There’s loads of people we would like to work with. But if it was anyone it would be someone old school who is from the era of acid house. That sound really intrigues us and feels like its alive.

What can we expect to hear from you two in the next 6 months on your productions?

We’ve got loads coming out at the moment. This week we’ve just had the EP on Skream’s label which went  straight into the top ten Tech House releases as well in the top 20 of the whole of Beatport after only 2 days of being released. So were really looking for a number 1 on that which would be amazing!

Next week we have the ‘Revolution EP‘ coming out on Mark Jenkyns and Max Chapman’s label ‘Resonance‘ which has been getting loads of support including a decent amount of Radio 1 play.

Then in February we have a 5 track EP called the ‘Sqeeze EP‘ on Steve Lawlers label, Viva Music.

At the end of February we also have an EP on Kerri Chandler’s label Madtech.

In March we have an EP on Underground Audio and a remix from No Artificial Colours coming out on Skream’s label Of Unsound Mind. Also that month we have a track coming out on Madtech‘s Miami Compilation.

In April with have an EP coming out on Hector Couto’s label Roush

In May we have an EP on Riva Starr’s label Snatch

In June we have another EP penciled in for Viva Music which we haven’t finished yet.

In July we have a collab EP with MANT which will be coming out on Chase and Status’s label ‘MTA‘.

We also have a couple of other really big EPs were just in the process of signing which we should be announcing fairly soon.

We’ve also just filmed with Redbull for a new TV show that shall be premiering on their new TV channel ‘Redbull TV‘. The programs called ‘After The Raves‘. They followed us around for a couple of days doing our general music stuff. Mark had conjunctivitis at the time so he looks like a crack head. Hes not though haha…

If you had to pick one genre, would it be House or Techno?

To be honest it would have to be something in between.

What does your music production set up consist of?

We have got a Roland TR8, Moog Little Phatty, Novation Bass Station 2, Virus TI, Genelec monitors, MacBooks and whole heap of other other bits lying around which I have no idea what it is or does but it makes things sound cool.

What your DJ schedule looking like for the next 3 months?

Were residents with Kaluki so we have loads of shows with them at the moment. Were going to be jumping on the second leg of the world tour with them which is wicked. We also have a couple of Ministry of Sound dates booked in. And we’ve recently started getting loads of shows coming in through our booking agent Josh from The Underground – Josh

Away from the electronic music scene, whats both your favourite track to listen to when ‘chilling’ out?

Mark – I dont really listen to much music. Were in the studio 10-14 hours a day at the moment so silence is quite nice. But I like to listen to a bit of Drake on the down low…

James – I’m really into classical music and somethings a bit of country depending on my mood.

To Purchase Solardo’s  New EP ‘Acid Rocks’ – Click Here

January 25, 2016