We caught up with duo DJs Dirtcaps to talk about new music, career highlights and fashion.
How did you guys meet?
We grew up in the same village in the Netherlands. When Danny had to be kept back for a year at school we got into the same class. We started playing school party’s together at the age of 15 and stayed together since.
When did you first realise you could make a career in music?
It was in the end of 2012 when we first had a release that was played on national radio and landed in the Charts. We started playing multiple shows a week in the Netherlands and we slowly received some overseas bookings.
Who is the serious one in the group and who is always joking around?
It’s more like a mixture. We both can be serious and we love to joke around. It’s not that you can place that one stigma one of us, so let’s say we both have these aspects in our behaviour.
You guys are based in Amsterdam, can you describe the Dutch music scene for anyone who hasn’t experienced it?
Right now the Dutch music scene is very urban. Dutch urban music is dominating the clubs, streams and charts. Also the techno/house scene is big in Amsterdam. There is not a lot of room for our kind of music. Besides the festivals and events like ADE. that’s the reason why we play a lot more overseas. The Dutch scene is very big for such a small country.
Name three artists you had on your playlist growing up?
Max: Michael Jackson, Paolo Conte & Daft Punk.
Danny: Blink 182, Bob Marley & Jay-Z.
Where and when was your first ever live performance as a group?
The first ever real party we played was in the Netherlands. We had to warm up for Dutch house legend Erik E. We were only 15 years old and not named Dirtcaps yet.
What’s the best part of being a duo compared to riding solo?
That your not in this alone. We share everything together on tour, in the studio etc. When we travel that’s a nice thing. We also travel a lot with our tour manager Mark, photographer Stefan and Faith who’s doing our instagram stories when we play.
Your EP is out this month and you’ve just released the first track ‘ Fallin’’, how excited are you guys to unveil your EP to the world?
Super excited. It’s the reason we are doing what we doing. New Music is always exciting. We worked long on this EP and think it’s a really good example for our signature Trap sound. We can’t wait to see the reactions although we are playing the tracks in our sets already for a while now.
How long did it take to finalise the EP?
It’s a process. We don’t make EP’s, we make songs. Sometimes, and in this case, the songs make sense to be released together on an EP. We are really proud to have 2 amazing artists on it : Kalibwoy and E-Life. Both great human beings and artists. We worked with Kali before and E-Life is new for us but long in the game. Their vocals gave the tracks that extra dimension.
If you could collaborate with one other artist, past or present, who would it be?
Pharrel Williams. It’s not the most surprising answer we guess, but he’s a genius producer and artist. Next to him we would love to work with Drake, Stormzy, Jay-z and Rihanna.
What song have you got on repeat at the moment?
Listening a lot to SZA at the moment
What was your 2017 highlight?
At the end of 2016 we started our own label KLASH and to see it developing in 2017 was a big highlight! Also the tours we did were next level this year. We had a good year with a lot of new music, friends and shows!
What has been your career highlight?
We don’t have a specific highlight. To be able to travel the world because of the music we make is a constant highlight of our career.
Where and when was your most memorable performance and why?
It’s impossible to point out 1 performance. But we think a general thing is coming to a country for the first time and see the reaction on the faces in the crowd. Japan for example was insane! People really wanted us to come over and when you are finally able to go there and see it result in a really dope party that’s something to cherish.
Who, where and when is your most memorable performance from another artist and why?
It has to be the First Skrillex show in Amsterdam a lot of years ago. it inspired us so much and we were happy to be there!
How do you spend your down time?
When we are not touring we are in the studio. In our down time we love to spend as much time as possible with our friends.
Where can we see you playing next?
We have our Australian tour coming up starting at 22-12 in Sydney. We do 7 shows and after the last show of the tour (1-1) we go on holidays. We always do that in January. Recharge for the new year and come back extra hard after it.
If I wasn’t a musician I’d be…
Max: Car Designer
Danny: Own a Thriftshop
Favourite film & TV series?
Stranger Things, Ozark, Mad Max, Catch me if you can, Narco’s, Snatch, Peaky Blinders
Drink of choice on a night out?
Danny: Beer
Max: Vodka
Describe your style/fashion?
We both love street fashion and have a serious sneaker addiction. And as our name is Dirtcaps we have something with Caps. We have our differences in style and it’s something we want to point out. But as a group on stage there has to be a little cohesion, so we wear a lot of our own merch when we perform.
Who’s your biggest style inspiration?
A$AP Rocky is definitley one of our icons. Also the style from the Weekend is really dope.
What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Quit Smoking.
Thanks for chatting to us lads.
Check out their new single Fallin here.
