Cassette Jam: Full-Throttle into 2009

The saying goes that 'two heads are better than one'. People in music sometimes find they can work better in pairs - why go it alone when you can collaborate and (fingers crossed) be twice as good? Maybe this is why there are so many successful duos in the electronic music world: Daft Punk, The Chems, Justice… even The KLF were a (slightly gruesome) twosome. And now there’s a new partnership creating a stir on the scene. If you aren’t already familiar with the name Cassette Jam, then it’s time to get acquainted.

Rory Lyons and Will Graney, from Leeds, have been on something of a roll ever since they entered the Cream international search for a DJ competition in 2006. The qualifying heats were the first time they’d ever played together but it was definitely a winning combination, as they went on to claim first place. Since then they’ve done remixes for the likes of The Whip, Alex Gopher and Ladytron and are just back from a summer in Ibiza as residents of Cream at Amnesia. Now they’ve turned their hands to production and started making their own tracks, and it seems there’s no stopping them. When The Skinny catches up with them they’ve just passed the 12-hour mark on a stint in the studio working on their new album.

So how did they come to be strolling along a career path that is the envy of so many – playing music for a living? “My Dad owned a record shop in Leeds,” replies Rory. “I was always surrounded by music and that naturally progressed to wanting to play it to other people.”

“At first we were just buying tunes and playing them to friends,” says Will. “Our mates encouraged us to get out there and start DJing.”

It was a decision they wouldn’t regret. They’ve become renowned for their relentlessly energetic sets with their rapid-fire changes helped along by the fact they use a whopping six decks. “We both are very impatient and I have ADD,” explains Rory. “So I can’t stand there for ten minutes waiting for Will to play two records. So we have a mixer each with 3 decks each - we are always busy adding to the sound!”

It was this unique style than earned Cassette Jam their residency in Ibiza, where they followed in the footsteps of the likes of Axwell, Steve Angello and Tiesto playing to thousands of clubbers in Amnesia.

“The Terrace at Cream Amnesia, 3,000 people going nuts, it’s unreal. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up the first time you walk in there...”

So has it been tough to leave the White Isle and return to the UK to play to smaller crowds in a colder climate?

“No, we still love playing over here. Some of the nights such as Chibuku, Wax:On and the Warehouse Project are immense. The line-ups are ridiculous, and we’re proud to be a part of them.”

With Cassette Jam, Mylo and The Japanese Popstars on the bill, The Warehouse Project New Year’s Eve party is certainly shaping up to be a belter. And the night could be especially unforgettable for one lucky fan, as the boys have teamed up with Budweiser for their 'Rising Talent' competition to find an amateur DJ to warm up for them at the event. Those who fancy themselves as the next Hawtin or Erol can send in a demo mix and the top 5 will be invited down to London for the final in December. “We’re looking for someone who sounds a bit different. There'll be a lot of entries to listen to so it needs to really stand out. As long as you play the music you love and don't try to imitate what's already out there you're on the right track.”

Not content with only playing tracks penned by other people, the boys have turned their hands to the production side of things. Their first four-track demo was quickly snapped up by Pieces of Eight Records and their debut single Retox quickly became a dancefloor sensation. “It was our first venture into production, we got such a buzz from making it, it kind of spurred us on production-wise. It is getting loads of radio play and great feedback.”

Their second single, Don’t Lose Control, is out this month and Rory describes it as their “favourite track to date”, saying “the energy in the track really represents what we are all about. I’m really excited about its potential!”

When asking Cassette Jam what the highlight of their career so far has been it’s unsurprising that they can’t narrow it down to just one. “We have been to four continents, played loads of festivals and crowd surfed a few times, but nothing comes close to hearing your records make people go nuts, especially if someone else is playing it and you’re in the crowd!”

So will Scottish clubbers get the chance to check out Cassette Jam live any time soon? “Yeah we’re going to play for the Utah Saints at Sugarbeat in Edinburgh in the coming months, so watch this space!”

We ask if they’ve got anything else of note to tell us before they get back to recording. “Yeah. Stay away from Irn Bru – it’s evil!”

Although we disagree whole-heartedly with this slander of our proudest export (and one of the best hangover cures known to man), we really don’t have another bad word to say about Cassette Jam. Keep a close eye on them, for both DJing and production, they’re a pair worth watching.