Bugged Out! interview Tiga
Ahead of his set at The End, Johnno piles on the pressure...
The one and only Tiga returned to headline at Bugged Out! in July '05. With a new album, and new releases on the way from the DJ don, Bugged Out's Johnno thought it best to sit him down for a chat about music-making and more...
Bugged Out!: When's your album coming out and what can you tell us about it?
Tiga: Well...finally, after much strife, struggle and debate, my album will be released January 2006. I never thought it would take so long, but the music biz machinery needs to be well oiled. I am just a simple artist, it seems crazy to me. I can tell you it will blow your mind.
Have you got a title yet? What did you think of our suggestions - 'Radio Tiga-ga' and 'Crouching Tiga, Hidden Dragon'?
I do have a title, which sadly I cannot reveal yet. I am a bit superstitious, and I want to wait 'til they are actually in my hand before I reveal the name...which might be construed as arrogant, but it's just for good luck. I thought your names were phenomenal... I've added them to 'Canadance' and 'Dancerous' on the short list.
When you and Jesper Dahlback completed 'Pleasure FromThe Bass' did you realise it would (finally) unite boring old house heads and the sparkly new electro kids?
Tiga: Yes. Well, kinda. I knew right away it was a monster house track. I consider it my crowning achievement, and PFTB means more to me than everything else put together. It is the only time I felt that I made a record, made 'one-of-those-records'....the kind I would love to find in a shop.
How does the process differ, working with Dahlback and with Soulwax?
Night and day. Jesper is a lot like me in many ways: we come from the same techno-school, the same traditions of rave and acid and all that, so we both think the same. With us, it is mostly about the bass and the drums and then a simple hook and we work extremely fast. We are only concerned with the groove, as horrible as that sounds. Working with David and Steph was very different and very exciting, much more musical, more interactive, and interesting for me. We search more, we try and solve problems. Obviously there is a level of musicality that is very different from what I am used to. The biggest difference is in the pursuit of perfection, or at least defining what perfection is. With Soulwax, for example, vocals are not ONE take they hear things and tell me to fix it, so it can be longer, but I also get to places I would never on my own. Both schools work for me, and it was very interesting to have these two different styles at once.
Your remix of Tomas Andersson's 'Washing Up' is both killer and ubiquitous. What's the secret of a good remix?
Take the best bits. Throw out the rest. Find a good loop/hook to sample. Add some breathing and grunts. A couple of reverse edits. Play it a lot at all your gigs. Sit back. Enjoy.
Being the don of electro covers are there going to be anymore on the album other than 'Louder Than A Bomb'?
Yes. There is a cover of 'Burning Down The House'. Not the most original choice and it breaks a cardinal rule from 'Tiga the don's book of electro covers' which is STICK TO SECOND RATE SONGS. But I did it a while ago with Jesper and it just works. I tried to drop it from the album, but my 'test market' revolted.
What 'look' will you be rockin' for the album release?
I am going "LA 1986", my muse is Michael Douglas pre-Basic Instinct. With a touch of Bryan Ferry when he really sucked. I have grown up a lot in the past years, and my look reflects a new maturity. Hahahahaha.
What can we expect from your appearance at Bugged Out at The End on July 16th? (a) Fireworks (b) Fireworks (c) Fireworks. No pressure.
You can expect a man that loves playing records. A man who truly believes in the miracle of house music. I will be smiling, I will be playing great music, I will be happy and proud to be there. I will hide my fatigue, and blaze a path of dance-glory...all in the name of BUGGED OUT!!!!!!! I also might debut my new set of all-Canadian female vocalists re-edits. Love from hot hot hot Montreal...
Published: 1/07/2005
