The Boog-A-Loo Crew mix/tracks/interview party bag

The Boog-A-Loo Crew – All Green (MediaFire)

Zombie Disco Squad – Eurovision (The Boog-A-Loo Remix) (MediaFire)

The Boog-A-Loo Crew – Summer Vibes mix (MediaFire)

Residents at the excellent Trouble Vision night, The Boog-A-Loo Crew are helping put Elephant and Castle on the map for something other than Minstry and Aphex Twin living in the big metal cube in the middle of the roundabout (that’s what Tom told us he’d heard anyway).

Dropping two of their productions, a sun-drenched hip-hop number for your headphones and stereo, and a super-fat remix of Zombie Disco Squad’s ‘Eurovision’ which takes it into heavy dubstep territory, they also recorded us a special live summer mix and swung by for a chat about the past, the present, the future.

Can you tell us who Boog-a-loo Crew are, how long you’ve known each other and how you got started out as DJs and producers?

Matt: The Boog-A-Loo Crew are Matt and Tom, we’ve known each other for about 8 years. I’ve been into beats since I was a youngster… I started making music properly after being infected by the sounds of Drum and Bass, Hip Hop and Dance and what not. I only started DJing recently but I can definitely say it’s more enjoyable than producing still!

Tom: We got started as DJs mainly through our night Stick Up Kids, which we use to put on in south London.

You first came to our attention through your involvement with the excellent night Trouble Vision, who we’ve collaborated with on a few parties now. How did you get involved with them and are you surprised at how successful the night has been?

Matt: I’m not surprised at how successful the night is… It’s exactly what South London needs. When you compliment the big names with a venue like Corsica you’re pretty much set.

Tom: Trouble Vision has done really well, not only because of all the hard work that has gone in to running it but also because of the great line-ups and the venue. I have rarely been to or played a party that has as good an atmosphere as Trouble Vision.

As another native South Londoner, what do you make of the current resurgence in nights around the South. Do think somewhere like Corsica has a distinct scene from East London?

Tom: One thing which East has, and I feel is lacking in south London, is a sort of community amongst clubbers/party goers as there is always so much happening there. But South is definitely getting better, Corsica Studios is one of my favourite venues in London and they put on some mad parties. Also its good to see such an established night like Chew The Fat! come down to south, big things are occurring!

Matt: Yes and no, I’m not really a fan of the South is the new East cliché… But I was born South so I have got to rep it… Venues like Corsica and The Arches are definitely at the forefront for me. They have that really nice underground vibe, which I definitely think compliments the music that’s getting dropped.

You’ve dropped us two contrasting tracks. What kind of direction are you hoping to push in as producers or is that still a work in development? Your sets are also pretty varied, moving from the more housey stuff on this mix, to dubstep and bassline. How do your individual tastes contrast and how does it work when you DJ?

Matt: Personally I try to make music that I want to hear. When making music, I draw influences from so many different genres, I don’t think I could stick to one genre, and this is definitely reflected in our DJ sets.

Tom: I think our DJing and our productions are similar in that they are both varied and not tied down to one particular genre. We like to make Baltimore, Dubstep, Hip Hop, Drum ‘n’ Bass and we tend to play all of these genres in our sets.

Every DJ has a story behind their name. What’s yours? And if you had to change it tomorrow, what would you choose instead.

Matt: Ha, ha, I think I’ll let Tom tell the story behind our name…! If I had to change it I’d probably have to choose the Bust-A-Limb Crew…

Tom: I got the name from listening to Crazy D on the FWD podcasts, he would always shout out ‘where my boog-a-loo crew at?’ and I liked the sound of it.

You’ve got friends coming round for dinner and you’re one place mat short. What’s the most embarrassing record that you own that you’d most happily sacrifice to stop that hot plate on your table.

Tom: Holiday by Madonna. Dutty tune.

Matt: Ha, I’ve got a lot of embarrassing vinyl but if I had to pick one it would probably be the flipside of my Sweet Like Chocolate vinyl (Shanks and Bigfoot)… there’s this really dodgy house remix… nuff sed.

Are there any more tracks in the pipeline and if so, when will we get to hear them?

Matt: There are definitely more tracks in the pipeline, you’ll probably be able to hear them when we play out, also watch the MySpace/sound cloud for new stuff… bless

Tom: For The Boog-A-Loo Crew we have got loads of new jump up tracks planned. We are also beginning other production projects, which will focus more on experimental music and not so much on the club music. This project will be heavily influenced by artsits like Flying Lotus, Floating Points, Joker and Hudson Mohawke. Keep watch on the myspace for more deats.

Summer Vibes tracklist

1. Give It Up – The Goodmen
2. Afreaka – Solo
3. Trumpeta – SIS
4. Secousse (Round Table Knights Remix) – Radioclit
5. Township Funk (Radioclit Remix) – DJ Mujava
6. Do You Mind – Crazy Cousinz
7. Yah! – Buraka Som Sistema
8. Shake It (Donaeo Remix) – Toddla T & Herve

The Boog-A-Looe Crew play the Trouble Vision room of Chew the Fat! in May. Here’s some electric boogaloo to celebrate…