This week we sit down with Prins Thomas, playing in the Bar which this Saturday is hosted by Resident Advisor.
Can you tell our crowd a bit about yourself and your sound for those who may not be familiar with you?
Well, I've been playing instruments, dj'ing in my bedroom and buying music religiously since around 84-85. through luck and hard work I've been doing it for a living since around 1994. the international gigs didn't really start to happen until I started putting out music and started working with Lindstrøm. I guess "my sound" is a result of a diverse selection of influences. from 60's psychedelic pop, punk, kraut to dub, disco and techno. as Norway has been quite "genreless" when it comes to clubs and dj's I've grown up believing there's more to a clubs than dancing to the same beat, tempo and mood all night long. Firstly, you've got a new album coming out.
Can you tell us what what your inspiration in putting it together? And what can we expect from it?
I've just put the finishing touches to me and Lindstrøm's next album(on Eskimo) which will be our second proper studio album. it's definitely a "L&PT"record but I think we've managed a natural progression towards a even more "live"sound. as we both have backgrounds from bands it was quite liberating to sit down and just play like one after working on so many remixes or just be in the " 12 inch mode". we still make a lot of "dance music" but for our own project it's been good to be egoistical and just have fun jamming in the studio. what to expect?hmm.... some dubby wierd psychedelic moments, clumsy drumming, banjos and cowbells : )
You've got a really distinctive sound that takes you all over the world DJing. Where would you say your favourite places to play at are and why?
It's hard to say as I've enjoyed most places I've been to. here's also definitely a big pleasure in playing somewhere for the first time and being able to get people to dance to the rude viking disko... the most special ones have been at Moo in Rio, Yellow in Tokyo and 39 Hotel in Honolulu. being welcomed by open minded happy party people is always a good thing and all these have definitely got it besides also being remote and exotic places for a simple norwegian. In europe I've really enjoyed Robert Johnson in Frankfurt... Dublin is always really good, and last but not least Sub Club in Glasgow...one of the few places where you feel bad for taking over after the residents feeling you might ruin the night because they play so well, know the crowd AND is loved by the crowd
Who would you say has been your biggest inspiration when it comes to DJing?
My old mentor DJ Strangefruit(from Mungolian Jet Set), Idjut Boys, Harvey, Theo Parrish, Ricardo Villalobos are all some of my favourite dj's. in general not bothering about being popular but doing their own thing and doing it well.there's loads of great dj's out there but these are the first that popped into my head.
What labels/producers are currently doing it for you? With new stuff I think it's hard to choose one as I tend to pick tracks based on how they sound and not by who produced them. here's a few i'm liking at the moment ; ) :
home listening: anything by kraut guitar player achim reichel dennis wilson - pacific ocean blue fleet foxes - their new album(and the last ep) manuel goettsching's private tapes(in preperation of a upcoming remix project) erkin koray - elektrnik türküler in da club: radio slave - tantakatan - rekids lindstrøm - where you go I go to - feedelity the laughing light of plenty - the rose - whatever we want joey negro - mucho macho - z blackbelt andersen - untitled album - full pupp tensnake - congolal - ? james last - don't go(todd terje edit) - cdr kings of leon - knocked up(namaste dub) - cdr roger & the human body - freedom part 1 & 2(edit) - cdr soulphiction - cheerleader(poets of d ism mix) - playhouse anything by bogdan irkuk anything by the mole anything by todd terje still forgetting loads...
Are you doing any festivals this Summer?
Yes, but only a couple ones. they tend to wear me out and this year I thought I might as well have a few extra vacation days instead
What has been your favourite festival moment as a customer or performer?
Bestival in 2006 was very very good, though I guess having the second last slot of the closing night helped a little bit.the atmosphere there was electric and I think I scared Rob Da Bank with a sweaty haired wet kiss before his closing set...ha ha ha And finally, your house is on fire, you've got 1 minute to head in and grab a few records.
What are the first you reach for?
Art Blakey's "Drum Suite"... besides being an incredible record it was also bloody expensive when I bought it 10 years ago... it's an original pressing and from around 1957 so you could say it's a historic treasure as well...that said, I would probably chuck piles of records out of the window. I could throw my bed out last minute jump I guess as it's only 3 floors up...
Thanks for sitting down with us, we look forward to hearing you this coming Saturday!
Thanks, looking forward to it.