What exactly is the concept behind the Disco Of Doom?

RE: It started off as just the name for our radio show on Samurai FM and we liked the idea so much we decided to develop it into a artist project. Also a factor is my desire to separate the work I do with Tom from the Rogue Element stuff, which we both felt would allow us alot more freedom creatively and to push working as a duo more.

TR: In all honestly we were both becoming increasingly bored of the standard ‘breakbeat' sound that appeared during 2007 and were both being far more excited by artists like Justice, Mr Oizo and Kissy Sell Out- the glitchy electro sound that was coming through as well as techno artists like Thomas Schumacher and Oliver Huntemann so we decided that we wanted an output to play these sounds alongside new productions of our own to let people know what was inspiring us and the Disco Of Doom was born. We both wanted to work together more this year and as we were really enjoying what we were doing with the radio show so we decided to turn this into a new project for production as well as DJing together.

Are you looking forward to unleashing it on The End?

RE: Definitely. The End was the first club I ever went to in London (10 years ago!!) - in fact both of us have been loitering about the place for years now -  and so coming and playing the main room is always a huge honour.

TR: Hell yeah! As The Rogue has said The End was one of the first clubs we attended  way back yonder when we first moved to London, it was for a Friction night I believe (legendary pioneering ‘Nu-Skool' Breaks party) so it is a complete honour to be up there representing sounds that we feel are new and exciting plus The End is such an amazing venue on all fronts, it's going to be sick.

How does it differ from what you're usually found doing behind the decks?

RE: Well, since the mixing duties are effectively halved, Tom has more time to surreptitiously fondle himself whilst pretending to dig out his next tune.

TR: What I choose to do in the comfort of the DJ booth is my own business!  Seriously though, seeing as we're using the ‘Disco Of Doom' as a more experimental outlet for mixing up tunes we won't be restricting ourselves to playing ‘breaksy' beats,

Expect an interesting mash up of sounds!

Do you find that your style changes when you play together?

RE: On my own, I am slightly more breakbeat-orientated and probably a bit tougher - other than that, our styles are pretty similar. And to provide a serious answer to the last question - we will be trying to be a lot more eclectic, providing a mashup of techno, electro, breaks, wiggly wonk, skiffle, and speedcore.

TR: Ben likes to think he is quite serious behind the decks, whilst on my own I like to fully let go and smash out anything that comes to hand. Admittedly it's usually more four to the floor but it can be anything from house to techno to more progressive or electronic sounds, so the mix up of both of ours sounds levels it out.

Meat Katie has been recently quoted as saying the breaks scene is on its arse. What are your opinions on the matter?

RE: I've kind of ceased to have an opinion on the matter to be honest, it's not going to be anything that hasn't been said 1,000 times. Suffice to say that I am writing some breakbeat stuff at the moment, if I hear breakbeat record I like I'll play it. What I will say is that I'm not really aware of any other genre that navel gazes quite as much as breakbeat seems to, rather than just getting on with it... its like the Woody Allen of the dance music world.

TR: I'd agree... it seems this topic has been debated enough. One thing is for sure we both like to keep pushing our sounds forward so we hope you like were we're taking things!

Where do you think breaks is likely to head in the next few months in terms of it's musical stylings?

RE: I honestly have no idea.

TR: it can be summed up with the simple analogy of ‘swings of roundabouts' There's no doubt breaks will come back strong at some point but right now it's were neither of our heads are at. We both like bass and breakbeats just not bundled together under the banner ‘breaks' 

Who is the most exciting artist you've come across recently?

RE: Autokratz, Arrow!!! is definitely up there as well. Streetlife DJs are also going to do very well for themselves I reckon.

TR: The AutoKratz have been tugging both our chains recently, we've got them doing a special guest mix on our May show (check www.samurai.fm/discoofdoom) other artists really exciting me at the moment include Boy 8-Bit, Drop The Lime, Calvertron, Herve, Boys Noize, Alex Metric, Elite Force and Zodiac Cartel alongside techno artists like Dnox & Beckers, Lutzenkirchen and Velkro.

How would you describe your partner in crime?

RE: Male, IC1, 186cm, last seen fleeing down Coldharbour Lane with a shaved dog and a binliner full of pork mince. Civilians are warned not to approach.

TR: talk, dark and handsome J

What would be your ideal birthday present?

RE: Six sessions of gender realignment therapy, please.

TR: An all expense paid trip to Burning Man, or Brazil.

And finally.......if you weren't DJs, would you still be mates?

RE: Well we were actually mates quite a while before we started doing music, as Tom's brother Ed used to live in Portsmouth where I grew up and we used to go out raving. I first met Tom on NYE 1999 in Brighton, during a particularly debauched 3-dayer, the aftermath of which saw Tom being found at 10am in the middle of Brighton with no shoes on. Obviously those days are well behind us now and when not DJing we collect parts for our model railways, swap horticultural tips.

TR: I didn't realize we actually met then... it was a cracking night out and to be fair, I remember very little. To answer the question, of course! we go way back and it's a pleasure to be lucky enough to work together on all this stuff.

Links...

http://www.samurai.fm/discoofdoom

http://www.myspace.com/discoofdoom

Facebook: Disco Of Doom

http://www.myspace.com/therogueelement

http://www.myspace.com/tomrealuk