Dance music is like a drug. I can’t seem to get enough of it. I am always jamming to some form of this stuff. Whether listening to drums and bass or relaxing to chill out, my headphones are always being pumped with something new. When I first heard the single Empire I didn’t think anything of it. Just another great track that I would dance the night away to. But when I found out that I had landed an interview with these guys, I had no clue they were the minds behind this track. The song Empire has been killing it on the charts worldwide and they are about to kick off a tour in support of their debut album. These guys are starting off on the right foot too, finding themselves on the Anjunabeats record label and having been friends with the boys in Above & Beyond for years. They are excited to get over here too, hailing from Finland and having only played in the United States a handful of times. But don’t take my word for it. Get excited and get to know the guys in Super8 & Tab.
You guys just released your debut album. What was the process like recording your new first disc?
The whole project was really interesting and painful and fun and what other words can I put here? There were so many mixed feelings to make the album. At the end we were really happy with the result, and it turned out to be better than we thought it would be. We knew it was going to be a Super8 & Tab album, but we had so many other tracks from so many other artists that we had to work wuth. They all speak together. We are really happy about it. It feels great.
You guys are originally from Finland. What is the dance scene like there?
It’s not that big. The club scene is not that big at all. However, it’s really active and people are really into it when they come to a club. When you come to clubs you don’t come out to look around and stand in the corner. These people come to have a good time, and they come to party. They are always good parties here, even though they are not that big. They are bigger in Amsterdam and in the UK. But it’s very active here. I think that all the DJs that come from abroad are a bit surprised that the parties are so good here. All the big parties are trance and the smaller parties (400-1,000 people) are more house and maybe a little trance. They are more hours and progressive. Big parties, of 3,000-4,000 people are mainly into trance.
Do you prefer playing overseas or do you enjoy playing in the United States?
The US market is quite new for us. We have not been there that many times. We have maybe played in the states three or four times. It’s getting better and better. We are really getting excited for this upcoming tour that we have starting at the beginning of December. We are looking forward to coming back to the states.
What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?
It was in 2006. We played in Love Parade. It was the last Love Parade to take place in Berlin. There were 1.5 million people. I think that was the biggest for us. Of course there were only a few tracks, but at the same time at the same place there were 1.5 million people. That was amazing when you played to that. It was just filled with people and people and people; it was unreal. That was the biggest outdoor party.
What about the smallest crowd?
It must be one of those house parties that we have with our friends. (Laughs) Perhaps 20 people having a good time.
Do you guys have a favorite venue?
We have been playing a lot in the Ministry of Sound in London. That feels more or less like a second home when we go there. For us, anyway. Everything just works there, and the DJ booth is filled with CD players. It feels even better playing there. I think that would be our favorite venue compared to the regular clubs.
Since you guys are on the Anjunabeats label, can you describe your relationship with Above & Beyond?
We have been on Anjunabeats almost from the beginning. We have very close relations with them. The boys are so nice. It feels like we have been friends forever. All of the guys on the label are so friendly and easy to work with. They are kind, nice people. We are part of the Anjunabeats family.
Empire is getting played all over the world, and a ton of DJs are producing remixes of this track. When you released it did you have any idea it would have this much immediate success?
That was the track, the first track we started to work with. It was the first track we wanted on the album. There was just something about that track that felt good. You can never imagine that when you go to play a song like that. People are singing the track, knowing the track. On Facebook and our website Empire is getting a lot of compliments. It feels really good. We are happy with the result. We had no idea it would be this successful.
You worked with Paul van Dyk last year. What was it like having him request a remix from you?
We actually did a couple of remixes with him. The first one was New York City, and the last one was Nothing But You. Of course Paul van Dyk is “the” DJ on this market. He produces so many different sounds, and he is taking other DJs to a whole different level. To have a request come in from Paul, and to have us remix one of his most successful tracks, it was an honor to be in that place. We hope that did a good job for him.
What is your favorite part of playing in a nightclub compared to a festival?
If you are playing in a festival, they are just so big, and it gets crazy. Usually the sun is shining and it’s summertime. The festivals are all so massive, and there is so much energy among them. Also, you lose that connection you have with a club crowd. If you are playing for 400-500 people you are just so close to them. You can feel that you are a part of the crowd that way. I prefer to play in clubs. Festivals are something special though. They only happen one time of the year, and that is what makes these festivals so special. I like clubs.
Who do you think would win in a pillow fight between Armin and Paul van Dyk?
That is a hard question. I think it would be even! (Laughs)
Where do you see yourselves in five years?
I hope we can do this, what we are doing now, making music and traveling around the world. We want to meet new people, see new places, and hopefully are continuing to make music. I hope that we can do that.
What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?
I hope that people keep finding our tracks. I go to YouTube and research the classics and find new tracks that I had never heard before. I want people to have a feeling when they find our tracks. I want people to remember a feeling they had when they listened to our tracks.
I always let the artist get the last word. Go.
This is not the only empire.
