Long standing Detroit duo Ataxia have released on the worlds most respected labels including KMS, Nervous Records, 20/20 vision, and more recently Carl Craig’s Planet E Communications. They’ve held down a 10 year residency at Detroit’s world famous TV lounge and appeared at a host of huge events from the BPM festival to Sisyphos Berlin, cementing their place in the underground scene. We are excited to welcome them to our podcast series for a guest mix and mini interview.
Thanks for taking the time to record a mix for our podcast series, was there any special concept behind your mix, or tracks played form your own releases?
The mix was made to induce a simulation of driving through Detroit at night while watching Blade Runner.
Listen on MIXCLOUD.
Where did you record the mix, and what equipment did you use?
This was recorded at home in the sunroom while staring at the beautiful Motown skyline, using an Allen & Heath Xone 92 DJ mixer with records, CDs and digital files.
What is your thought process when picking out tracks for a podcast, do you pre-select the tracks, or just pick out the first couple and freestyle it from there?
Every mix gets a deep dive for digs. Because we put out very few mixes, the scrutiny on what gets presented is at a high mark. If people give one of our mixes a chance, we want it to make an impact. Music can seem so disposable nowadays, so it takes a concentrated effort to deliver music that we hear as timeless.
How do you compare playing in a club to recording a podcast, is there much of a change in your mixing style and track selections?
It’s a completely different format. At the club, we are trying to make people dance. With a podcast, we are trying to scratch people’s brains.
What stores or other places do you normally look for new music… is it all sourced online, or do you also pick up the odd bit of vinyl?
We shop it all. Locally, we love Detroit Threads. It’s a record and clothing store. Mikel, the owner, has been a staple in the Detroit rave scene since the ‘90s. He supports local labels and has an amazing used selection. Online shops are fine, but nothing beats the smell of old vinyl while digging. You won’t find us in the middle of any debate…we like to play music however it comes.
Could you tell us a bit about your most memorable DJ experience?
Movement Detroit 2015 on the Pyramid stage was incredible. Daytime festival energy was high, thousands of people danced to us with the RenCen & Detroit River in the background.
What other projects do you have lined up, do you have any new releases or forthcoming gigs we should be watching out for?
We just put out an EP on Carl Craig’s Planet E Communications! This label has been largely influential on us long before Ataxia existed. You can get the wax at all the main shops and of course the digital is abundant. Recording for C2 is an honor and pleasure, and we’re extremely appreciative of the label team for working this out.
We’ve been running a vinyl only label with our brother Mister Joshooa. Our recent 12” offerings come from Delano Smith with catalogue # 004 and Ryan Crosson on 005, from which we’ve included a brilliant cut on this mix. The 6th release on the label will come from our good friend Norm Talley this spring. Long live record store culture!
In other news…we don’t do many remixes, but recently, a nice label asked us to do one. In return, we sent an eBay link requesting an insanely rare 4’x6’ French Blade Runner poster from 1992. Got the shipping confirmation yesterday. As an old colleague once said, live the dream and dream big!
On the gig tip, we are gearing up for Movement 2020. We play the festival for our 7th time this year. Unreal. Thank you Paxahau! Plus, we’ll be hitting the after party circuit with stops at OK Cool at TV on May 24 and You Buy We Fry at Marble Bar on Memorial Monday, May 25. See you around the pool…
