DANCEiSM

Jerome and Markus.

Basically, We did a remix for their tune “Twist” a while back and just
kept in touch. Always sending each other tunes and just general
chatting. We always loved everything the Hot City guys touch from
their label and group, Unknown to the Unknown to DJ Haus solo stuff.
Anyway, the mutual respek turned into chats of collaboration. Then we
got in touch with our friends at Vienna Beef Hot Dogs. They basically
rented a warehouse in Chicago in the Pilsen neighborhood for us. We
all had to work 30 hours in the factory but in our free time we made
the EP.

Well, to be honest we were going for an update on that 90s sound. We
both lived in Chicago for different periods of our life and the Dance
Mania sound has always been an influence. So, when we started
sketching out ideas we just played with some different stuff. We
really just wanted to make some techno/club hybrid. Something for
clubs.

Since the beginning they’ve both been hand in hand. We wanted to give
our music a visual aspect. It used to be when you liked an act there
was so much to it. Full LPs with beautiful layouts. We’re in a
different era, a digital age and we’re embracing every aspect of that.
Part of the reason we made our website, Hot-Tropic (RIP). Was to have
a place where people who listened to our music could enter our world.

Yeah, definitely huge fans of Dr. Dre, Collipark, latin freestyle,
Just Blaze, and Lil’ Jon. We’re just huge music fanatics in general.
Of course we have a soft spot for 90s music thats when we heard
growing up on the radio and saw on Mtv.

Dubbel Dutch, Brian Eno, Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, Kraftwerk, Paul Johnson,
Karizma, Wiley. It changes all the time though. We like a lot of music
and have a major case of ADD. Our tastes and influences change.

We do work long distance. We haven’t really worked on music IRL
together. Just swapping  ableton projects back and forth. Our workflow
works for us. We just make the best with our situation. We get to meet
up to do shows and thats always the best time. We love playing
shows/gigs.

Honestly changes every time. Might start with a sample of the ocean
and lay down drums on top or start with a chord riff and work off
that. It depends on the mood.

Yeah, There’s a lot of stuff we do to make our sounds. Chopping up
found samples and making them our own. To making our own noises from
synths or plug ins to just recording on an iphone.

We are huge fans of ableton. We have plug ins that are our favorite
but they are our secret.

Don’t know if we are their quite yet. We both have days where we don’t
get to eat. However, we have gotten to play a lot of really cool
places and met a lot of really amazing people. We are so happy for
everything and anything that we get.

DANCEiSM:  Your guys graphics are a big part of me becoming a fan of your work, youreally complete the whole brand. Are you guys graphic designers too?

We both attended liberal arts universities. Markus did actually work
as graphic designer. So, we both dabble in it here and there.

All the time! If we have time and you have the funds we’ll entertain
any and all ideas.

Eventually, we’d love to integrate a visual set up when we play. It’s
an idea we are working on.

Something in Atlantis or on the moon. Or in any of the world’s
Jerome’s created in his videos.

DANCEiSM:  What’s up next?

An ep on Friends of Friends, An ep for Uno and a whole bunch of surprises.

DANCEiSM: Do you want to make any last comments or shout outs?