Atomic Hooligan are the lean and mean breakbeat duo Terry Ryan and Matt Welsh. Landing back in the country this week for their second tour of Australia, ITM’s Megs caught up with Terry to see what the boys have been up to since there last visit.
How long have the two of you been making music together and how did you meet?
We have known each other about 6 years now. We met through a mutual friend. Matt and another guy called James were making music together, and they needed someone to scratch for them. So we were introduced and it all happened from there. James left the group about 2 years after, and about 3 weeks after that we got our first E.P signed to Botchit.
And what were you both doing before Atomic Hooligan exploded and sent you off all over the world?
We were both involved in music before Atomic Hooligan. Matt had made various tunes with different people and had a couple released on small labels. I was the DJ in a hip hop group and battled quite alot all over the country.
You recently remixed Underworld’s Born Slippy, it’s a classic and it’s been done before, what made you want to try your hand at it?
When you are offered an opportunity like that it’s like you just have to do it. It was an honour to be asked, we didn’t think we could make the tune better, as it was almost perfect anyway, we just wanted to be able to play it on a breaks dance floor. That was the intention behind it.
It certainly has proved a hit, with Mixmag naming it one of the remixes of the year, are there any other big releases coming up from you we should keep an ear out for?
Yeah, our album due for release in the Autumn with a 12” called “Just one more” available very soon.
How do you approach a remix of such stature?
With fear (laughs). No, we just treated it like every other track or remix we have made. Just tried to make it as good as possible. And use all the best elements from the original, which was hard because they were all so good.
Who fills what role in this dynamic duo? What are your individual strengths and weaknesses and how do they combine to compliment each other?
I am most definitely the DJ and the ear to the street as it were. I am kind of the up-to-date guy. I also find samples, program drums, all that kind of stuff and Matt is the musical genius, he’s the one that puts the hours in the studio mixing down and bouncing tracks all over the place. I think we work well together.
I hear that you work out of a small town in Hertforshire, do you think working in such an out of the way place encourages the creative process, no outside influences?
Yeah maybe, but we are in London a lot as well, we are only 30 minutes away from the centre of London. so its not that different really. It is nice to have peace and quiet while we are working though. that is a bonus and that does help with the creative process.
What’s in the record box that you just cant help but play right now?
Hip Hop by Dead Prez., I have got right back on that record recently, it plays in great with a breaks set, to drop down to it and still have the bass line… genius! I believe that its energy not tempo that counts in a good DJ set.
What was the last record you bought?
It was a 7” by the Zutons. A wicked rock band that have wicked heavy guitars. It’s great for scratching with.
I thought this was your first visit to Australia but turns out I’m just ignorant! How did you find the Aussie reception last time you were here and what do you anticipate for this trip?
I love it there! It was wicked, we didn’t get to play many shows but the crowds were some of the best I have ever played too. Especially Nutshell in Newcastle. Great times were had. I am really looking forward to getting to Perth as we missed it last time.
You have played a few big festivals of late, all over the place actually what is it like playing in places like Hungary and Romania compared to perhaps the UK and US?
Its just a different kettle of fish really. Festivals in the UK are great, it’s one of the only times you will get people really letting their hair down. The US is different again. I mean, it really is like 52 countries in one, it differs so much from city to city, state to state. My girlfriend lives in Portland, Oregon, and I love playing there, it’s really laid back, most of the north west is. But places like Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Russia and so on are just amazing, I love playing in places like that. It is just a different world to anything you know. The people in Romania for example, are so humble and ready to experience all the different music you want to play them. They haven’t been spoiled by endless clubs every day of the week hosting world class DJs.
And how does the breaks scene worldwide strike you right now, getting bigger and better all the time or has it plateaued?
Yeah, I think its always been there, it’s just breaks as a music form has started to get a definite identity now, thanks to people like Krafty, The Plumps, Rennie, Tayo and so on. It’s exciting that we are now being recognised. I mean you read media talking about Shut Up And Dance in the breaks scene as they would talk about Kool Herc or African Bamabarta in the Hip Hop world. We have a history and forefather now, and we also have the trail blazers. I love that.
How would you describe your style to the uneducated among us?
DJing wise, I would describe it as very open. I have a party style, but go deeper too. I try to make it accessible, but also try to not play fluffy music. I want you to feel it in your feet and hear some really good quality music too. I think it’s the same with our production as well, just try to make it for the floor and the head.
Who are your biggest influences?
Probably The Chemical Brothers, Norman Cook, Underworld, Leftfield and people like that. And Basement Jaxx too at the moment.
You are on the Botchit and Scarper label, home to other breaks fiends, Aquasky and Masterblaster and Bionic. How did you come to produce in such esteemed company?
Jason Sparks was our friend and lived about 5 minutes from our studio, he asked me to do a mix of all his Botchit tunes for a guest slot on Radio 1 as he didn’t DJ at the time. So I did it and as a favour back he took a demo of ours to Botchit, Vini (rip) loved it and that is where it began.
So where to after Australia for you guys?
We have dates in Amsterdam, Germany, America at the Burning Man Festival, Toronto at the Gurnment, and back to Russia again. It don’t stop!
And where to style wise for Atomic Hooligan, how do you see yourselves evolving?
We just love music, end of story. We will develop which ever way the music takes us. There is so much that still excites us about all types of music that we could never track our path before hand. We just want to make music till we are old and grey!
You can catch Atomic Hooligan at Kink in Sydney on Saturday July 24th and at Backbeat in Perth on Saturday July 31st.
