PREMIERE: Learn More About Durkin and His workworkwork EP

Boston based DJ/Producer Durkin has been making waves on the web with his signature “Dream Club” sound, dropping a variety of self releases and saving his best work for a proper release. You might have heard our premiere of his Sammy Bananas Money Time Remix, and now he’s got 3 musical gems have found their home with Craze and the Slow Roast Records squad. With the workworkwork EP,  he crosses the line between future bass and club music for a unique sound guaranteed to get any club or live setting popping.

We spoke with Durkin on the new workworkwork EP, what he’s got in the pipeline and have the premiere of the title track for your listening pleasure. Stream Durkin – workworkwork below, and check out our exclusive interview with Durkin exclusive for Run The Trap readers first.

Durkin

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Durkin – workworkwork | iTunes

 

– Would you like to introduce yourself to the RTT readers?

I’m a Boston-based DJ and producer. I love Adidas Sambas. I’m on a neverending quest to find the perfect cheeseburger.

 

– Let’s kick this off with talking about your new EP you have coming out via slow roast, what can you tell us about it?

I spent the last couple of years self-releasing tracks, remixes, and bootlegs. All the while I was tucking away solo demos and looking for a home for my first legit release. I wanted to create a short EP that was true to my sound, had some variety, and worked in the club. The end result was this three track EP called workworkwork.

Craze and I connected on twitter after I released “Khaled’s Lament” (my remix of DJ Khaled’s marriage proposal), and he and the Slow Roast team pretty quickly were asking for demos. Craze and Louie Arson both were super cool from the jump so I decided to work with them on this EP.

I’ve been a fan of Craze since I was in high school watching low res DMC videos on Netscape and listening to his drum n’ bass mixes like “Miami Heat.” It’s really a trip to be releasing something on his label now.

 

– I noticed some of your tracks are tagged “dream club” and “space wave” on soundcloud, tell us more about your sound.

“Dream Club” was something I came up with for a laugh. When I started releasing music in 2012 I wanted to claim some sort of microgenre as my own. I was making stuff that kinda straddled the line between hip-hop vibes, 90s house and “electronica,” and new club music. The first song I ever tagged as Dream Club, “wa.na.be,” actually sampled Goldie’s “Inner City Life.”

Since then I’ve used it as an excuse to make whatever style of music I am feeling without feeling restricted by someone else’s genre label. I’d say my EP is a reflection of that.

I also started a “Dream Club” party in Boston at a club called Good Life. We’ve brought out Sweater Beats, Falcons, Brenmar, and we have Promnite on deck for December 5th.

“Space Wave” is basically the same concept but applies to Black EL’s releases that I’ve been executive producing. More about that later…

 

– Where do you get your inspiration when you’re making new music?

I find myself always referencing the music I loved as a kid. When everyone else was listening to “alternative” and nu metal or whatever, I mostly listened to electronic music and hip-hop. Early influences were The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim as well as De La Soul and EL-P. Anyone in those lanes that were creative and blurred genre lines. One of Fatboy’s early tracks, “Next to Nothing,” is basically a proto-dream club track.

I also think video game soundtracks have subconsciously influenced me more than I realized. If I could make electronic music that evokes as much emotion as the Chrono Trigger soundtrack, I’d be happy.

– Who are some of your favorite producers/artists in the game right now?

Tough question! I’ll try to keep this semi-short.

Shash’u, FS Green, Jailo, Vices, Full Crate, Promnite, SevnthWonder, abhi//dijon, D.R.A.M., Cousin Stizz, Roses Gabor, Branchez, Obey City… I’m sure I’m forgetting tons. The sheer volume of GOOD music coming out these days is overwhelming.

– Any collabs or other big releases in the works you can tell us about?

I’m really excited about Boston-based artist Black EL’s newest project, L_ST, which I’m executive producing. I’m either producing or co-producing every track on the project, working with my homies Victor Radz and SXMPLELIFE on most of the beats. We’ve released five singles so far. Project is dropping soon, but no date yet.

Always collaborating with the homie Ghostdad, who is a super talented producer and visual artist based in NYC. We have our ongoing sideproject Banana Seat together (our latest track, “Pump Dance,” came out on Fools Gold earlier this year), and he actually created some visual material to promote this EP and my upcoming live shows.

Definitely lots of secret stuff in the works too that I can’t announce. Trying to work with more rappers and singers and well as working on more solo material and collabs here and there. More fun bootlegs and remixes coming too.

 

– You make hip hop beats for rappers as well, do you approach that process differently than putting out solo material?

It’s a very different process, and it varies depending on the artist. With Black EL, it’s very hands on. We start with a skeleton of an idea and build it out together in the studio. For my collab with NY-based singer Jordan Bratton, “Must Be,” we did everything remotely since at the time I couldn’t make it down to NYC to work face to face.

I have been sending some finished beats around to a few rappers and singers. That’s always a shot in the dark, slow process, but I’m seeing some amazing things come to fruition. It’s something I really want to do more of.

 

– What can we expect from Durkin in 2014 and beyond?

Working on booking some live dates to support the workworkwork EP in North America and beyond. Look out for Black EL’s L_ST project as well as more material from me. Already have a follow-up in the works for this EP. My ongoing plan is to never have a dull month for my fans.

 

– Anything else in the works you wanted us to touch on?

People who live in warm climates: tell your promoter friends to book me. The Boston winter is closing in, and I need to escape! Also, shout out to all the pear.

PREMIERE: Learn More About Durkin and His workworkwork EP