The DJs of 2010: Joe & Will Ask / Riva Starr

Six DJs analysed, four to go. If you've been reading all week, then well done. Pat on back. If not, you've missed six DJs, three articles and numerous ways to up your aural electronic input. You can redeem yourself by reading Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on these links. Today we're investigating the Eastern European beats of Riva Starr and Kitsune's young gun partnership of Joe & Will Ask.

Joe & Will Ask

Individually from drum and bass (Joe) and hard house and trance (Will) backgrounds, the duo formed around a mutual love for musical exploration and playing out big electro monsters on even bigger systems. Inspired by heavy hitters like “The Chemical Brothers, Leftfield, Orbital…” as with most burgeoning DJs, the fascination started from an early age. “I started taking piano lessons”,” Joe begins “but since it ate into my football and television time, I found it pretty irritating. My passion for music started when I bought Music for the Playstation 1 in 1998, so I would have been 12, and used it to try to copy my favourite songs. Nothing worth listening to, but it did spark an interest that has carried on to this day.”

As capable of bringing dirty electro filth as they are “crunchy, blippy, melodic” tracks, 2008’s ‘Mongozo EP' showcased the pair’s penchant for unremitting synth slabs and shimmering Four Tet-esque tech glitchery, Joe and Will Ask?’s strength lies as much in their hard, primal live shows, as it does in their increasingly coveted production ethic.

“In terms of collaborations, we did a track with (Groove Armada leading lady) SaintSaviour which was a lot of fun. We also have a collaborative production with Kris Menace coming out this month and we have played more this year than ever, as far as Japan which was incredible. It's been the most exciting year so far.”

And with a host of secretive collaborations and a new album pencilled in for early summer next year, it looks certain Joe and Will Ask? will have a few more answers.
“The main thing to announce is an album! We are planning a release for the end of May on Gulp Communications. There is still a lot more to do. I'm not allowed to announce any of the collaborations because they are mostly works in progress but it's our biggest and most exciting project.”

Words by Reef Younis

Riva Starr

Having released tracks through some of dance music’s incendiary labels - including Fatboy Slim’s Southern Fried, Jesse Rose’s imprint, Made To Play and Claude Von Stroke’s, Dirtybird - Riva Starr aka Stefano Miele has got the stellar recognition to match the ever inflating hype. Unsurprisingly tipped and touted from contemporaries and label head honchos alike, the Naples native has turned his ‘Snatch!’ style into dance floor dynamite by heading off the world-house curve.

Avoiding the categorisation that typically sees DJ’s slipped into convenient little genre drop boxes, Riva Starr takes the mischievous spirit of Rose’s own itchy work and gives it an ‘Around The World in 80 Days…’ treatment. Bringing together teeth-kissingly cool ragga rhythms, carnival kicks and upbeat snapshots of Chicago house, don’t be surprised to find a bit of gypsy folk and old word accordion bouncing playfully in your ear too. If that means lifting Bulgarian-inspired beats or the street party hedonism of a night out in Rio and dropping it into a house track, he’s prepared to make the leap.

“I’m very proud and honoured to express myself on such open-minded imprints,” he starts, “but I just keep doing my thing. I never try to please everyone... I just do what I do. If you do it just because it’s a best selling trend then there’s a big risk; if you’re doing it because you’re feeling it, then there’s nothing to worry about. Dance floor response is what I consider as the best feedback possible.”

His debut 'If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade' looks set to be a benchmark for many house acts next year, and with the premise of his self coined ‘pick pocket’ style of play inspiring his own Snatch! imprint launch in March, 2010 looks set to see his Star(r) ascent pretty rapidly, providing past misdemeanours don’t catch up with him “I stole some chewing gum when I was 10. Still waiting for the police to come and pick me up!”.

Words by Reef Younis

Big Chill Festival 2010 Riva Starr is performing at this year's Big Chill festival. Join Clash on the road to the Big Chill Festival with news, interviews and features. Visit ClashMusic's Big Chill hub for all the latest news on the festival HERE. Buy tickets for the Big Chill Festival on ClashMusic.com