Simian Mobile Disco are one of those acts people who aren’t even into the club and party vibe have heard of. Probably. You see, as well as fast becoming a globally renowned DJ duo – created off the back of the now defunct Simian, James Ford and Jas Shaw have had their fingers in many a musical pie; very scrumptious musical pies; several in fact!!! Ford’s sticky pinky has produced number one debut albums for the Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, and Last Shadow Puppets – a band he also plays the drums in. Anyway, now Ford and Shaw are going to be hitting Tijuana in Mexico, for Simian Mobile Disco’s Sol Session on November 1st. You know Sol, right? That tasty lager that falls into the unisex bracket – meaning that bulbous ladettes are transformed into mildly-attractive ladies when they drink it and guys just drink it anyway. We caught up with the thoroughly charming James Ford to discuss the new SMD album, Mexico, and the art of seduction… um, well, production actually.
You’re going to be playing a Sol Session in Tijuana; exciting stuff! Have you played in Tijuana before?
Well, we’ve played in Mexico before – a couple of times; just in Mexico City and Acapulco. And yeah, like, to varying degrees of success really. I mean the Mexico City gig was amazing, but the Acapulco gig was a total shambles. It was just, like, really crazy down there – their organisation and stuff. But yeah, Mexico’s amazing; I’m really looking forward to it – to getting back there…
And now that Simian Mobile Disco are so globally renowned, it must be fantastic to go around the world to all these different places and see all these different cultures?
Ah, it’s amazing. Like, especially as I did a lot of production with Justice – on his own… And you know, we did like Singapore and Malaysia, and there were armed guards sort of wandering around with him and all this; they gave him a police escort and cleared traffic and shit – it was really entertaining.
So you’re working on the new album at the moment, how’s that coming along? Are you taking things in a different direction from your previous material?
Well, a little bit slowly to be honest - because as I say, Jas has just had a kid; but we’ve got a load of stuff on the go; I’d say we’re about halfway there. I’d say it’s definitely a lot deeper and a bit more psychedelic than our other stuff. You know, I’ve been listening to a lot of krautrock and that kind of thing. We’re still trying to keep the new stuff dance-floor and stuff, but maybe it’s just a bit more… broadened out I suppose.
And you guys will be working your magic on production again – or have you brought in someone else?
No, no, we’re producing it ourselves and we’re producing the mix – because we’re both producers in our own right, you know? I don’t think we’d ever get another producer in.
Sure, sure. And on the subject of producing, are you proud that some of the bands you’ve worked with – Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, Last Shadow Puppets - have achieved such success?
Yeah, yeah, it’s great you know – but obviously, you know - I can’t take all the credit. Obviously they’re really good bands and whatever, but I just feel kind of fortunate to have been given the chance to work with them really.
Having played in a band as part of the original Simian, remixing music must be a completely different ball game altogether?
Um, well it’s different in every sort of situation really. Generally, as much as possible, I try to mix with a proper desk and, um, you know – I’m a great believer that there’s a certain magic you get from all the little boxes and all the cables and that; I’m not really big on all the digital world and that … I think just being in a little room – a room you know - and laying down the music is important; it’s quite an involved process – the build-up. Usually you get a really rough balance to start with and then go through the process of compressing every element until you’re happy with it.
Any plans in the pipeline for a Simian reunion or working with the other guys in some capacity again; maybe the Black Ghosts or something?
Probably not to be fair… no. We sort of; well - I’ve sort of enjoyed making music more since the band has finished. I don’t kind of regret the band, I definitely learnt a lot and enjoyed it and stuff, but I don’t think I’d ever want to go back there really. I think everyone who was involved is the same to be honest; we’ve all sort of done better in our own right since the band finished.
And what about your plans away from SMD; have you got any exciting shows or production work lined-up?
The Sol Session obviously; and I’m going to be playing live with the whole Shadow Puppets thing – Alex Turner – in October. I’m really looking forward to that because I haven’t really done any sort of live – playing with an instrument kind of thing - for a while. That’ll be fun. And yeah, there’s the new Klaxons record, and the new SMD record - both out at the end of the year, so I’ll be keeping myself busy with that.
For further information on the Simian Mobile Disco Sol Session and to win tickets, visit sol-beer.co.uk
