American Aquarium Drinkers
The bass-thumping DJ duo known as Popstatic, is made up of Paul Salva and Jarrett Spiegel. Salva got his start in Miami, starting an electro weekly night there, and has headlined parties in San Jose, Costa Rica, Toronto, and Milwaukee. Spiegel was a part of Walter Meego from 2005 through late 2006 and got his start in college radio at KJHK in Kansas. Both of them have played alongside some major names in the indie music scene, now they’re making a major name for themselves.
1. When did you start producing music?
J: Probably around 20.
P: I got my first phrase sampler when I was 15 and bought turntables, per Jarrett’s suggestion, when I was 16.
2. What are your musical roots?
J: In terms of collecting and real serious nerd-like habits, hip hop, from the Early-mid 90s, was the first thing that I became totally obsessive about. That and The Beatles.
P: I was really huge into Bad Boy Bill and Julian Jumpin’ Perez — freestyle music, commercial house and whatever was being played on B96 when I was young. Jarrett got me into death metal and golden era hip-hop (Premier, Pete rock, Wu-tang) respectively when I moved to the suburbs in the mid 90s…when I lived in Miami I got versed in electro, booty bass and a heavy dose of idm.
3. You take the term “mash ups” to a new level; please describe your direction and thoughts on this:
J: Like most people, I’ve never been crazy about the term itself. In principle, I like the original idea of collage and re-appropriation (although I think original cut-and-paste artists did it a lot better than most people today). I’ve always identified more with the idea of “mash-ups” from a performance or turntablism-based approach. People like The Avalanches, DJ Food, and Coldcut are so good at combining 2 records with their own hands that they can put just about anyone’s studio mash-ups to shame live on stage. Our attitude is that if you’re going to do it, it better be clever, multi-tiered, musical, and well produced. In other words, bring something else to the table rather than just slapping an acapella over an instrumental. Put some thought into why two songs deserve to be playing at the same time. Are they in the same key? Do they share themes in their content? Is there some kind of historical link between the various artists? These sorts of things need to be considered.
P: I always loved the idea — but we want to take the methodology further…really just as a tool for us as DJs and to promote our talents as listeners, taste makers and producers.
How do you feel that you can work together in different cities? What advantages and disadvantages does this create for you?
J: From a production standpoint, we’ll just have to develop some kind of system that keeps us both productive and utilizes our individual strengths. As far as performance is concerned, it could potentially be very cool to represent the group in two different markets that we both share.
P: I’ve done tracks and even albums with people without ever have been in the same studio…its not even necessary these days with home studios being so affordable.
You have been described as trendsetters and tastemakers, how do you take that? How do you plan to live up to that?
J: I would consider a tastemaker someone who’s superior knowledge validates their opinions. Perhaps someone like Ian Mackaye is a tastemaker because his work, knowledge, ideas, eloquence, and ability to communicate his principles are so sharp that he can dictate peoples’ tastes. I would certainly not consider myself remotely close to that. Would I be proud to reach that level of achievement? Absolutely.
P: Jarrett is a fucking tastemaker! Don’t let him tell you otherwise- the entire premise of this project revolves around him always being at the forefront of music. He was always into the hot new sounds first — even when we were 10 years old!
Do you feel that the hipster movement is an exploitation of other long-standing subcultures?
J: Ultimately I think it will look just like any other trend that comes and goes. It is a high-speed bastardization of a lot of different things (almost like some kind of post-post-modern). At times, it can be clever, but most of the time it looks to me like a bunch of people who, ten years from now, will be really embarrassed about the way they dressed in 2007.
P: Hipster is just a word. There always were hipsters and there will always be hipsters…the only reason an actual trend is categorized as such is because the music and fashion that is popular now is such a parody of itself. Things move so fast — next year, everybody will have thrown away their members only jackets, stunner shades, new era fitted hats, nike sb collectors editions, bandanas, etc.
What are you consistently listening to right now?
J: Blonde Redhead – 23 The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur The Dubsided, Made To Play, and Counterfeet labels The Pipettes and recent records by Gui Boratto and The Field on Kompakt
P: Anything made in France. Yeah. I just contradicted my rant against hipsters.
What are your guilty pleasures?
J: I love girl groups from the 50’s and 60’s but I’m not sure if that counts. There’s this song I love called “Love Is Surrender” by The Carpenters, who are about as cool as getting kicked in the crotch. Aside from that:
Armand Van Helden – “U Don’t Know Me”
Artful Dodger – “Re-Rewind”
Boney M – “Ma Baker”
Wham – “Everything She Wants”
Scandal with Patty Smyth – “The Warrior” (what a fucking awful song! – “Shooting at the walls of heartache. Bang! Bang! I AM THE WARRIOR!”)
P: It used to be commercial rap music, but I can’t even find any of that I like these days.
What songs past & present make your ass involuntary shake?
J: Basement Jaxx – “Romeo” Azzido Da Bass – “Doom’s Night (Timo Maas Remix)” The Beach Boys – “Darlin’” Junior Senior – “Move Your Feet” The Jackson 5 – “The Love You Save” Stardust – “Music Sounds Better With You”
P: Anything by 2 Live Crew, Daft Punk, The Cars, J Dilla or Giorgio Moroder.
What song do you get “Mariah” to in the shower?
J: I’m purely a beatboxer in the shower. I use the water hitting my lips to act as a sort of compression for my snares and it sounds SO tight. Plus the acoustics give my bass tones some real warmth. Some day I will record it all.
P: Pretty much Boyz II Men, ABC and BBD — the east coast family.
Favorite heavily sampled track?
J: Ouch, that’s a tough one. I LOVE the horn loop from Instant Funk’s “I Got My Mind Made Up”. I love “Uptown Top Ranking” by Althea & Donna, which has been sampled a million times. A lot of Stax stuff. And more than any individual songs, the way that J. Dilla used samples was really unique and special.
P: Google Roy Ayers once.
Where do you see yourself in two years?
J: Doing everything I do now (DJing, production, graphic art, writing, etc.) a lot better.
P: Tucked away in a bigger and better studio making bigger and moves and better music.
MYSPACE
– *Courtesy Eudora Talent
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