If there's an urban nerd who's ahead of the game, it's him!
Chummed it up with DJ Rattus Rattus down at Merk Chicken a month ago and have been bumping into him around town here and there ever since, so I figured he'd be up for and interview. I wasn't dissapointed when he said he'd be down for it.
First things first, why do you go by Rattus Rattus? I'm expecting a cool reason here!
Once a rat pissed on me, so i thought i'd palm of the embarrassment by pretending i was a rat and its just what we do.
Where did the tale (pun intended...) of Rattus Rattus begin and where has it taken you?
A mate left a tape (yes a cassette!) in my walkman by accident. It was full of Uk Hip Hop tracks by Taskforce, MUD Family, Rodney P etc and i was hooked. The only way to listen to alot of that stuff was on vinyl so i bought some shitty decks and havent looked back since.
I've seen you play a fair few times and noticed you really do have a bit of everything in your locker. Are you forever just waiting for even the slightest opportunity to drop some tunes crowds wouldn't have heard or are you thinking "They aren't quite ready for this tune just yet..."?
I try as much as possible to play all the genres i enjoy in my sets. Not because of some "musical journey" but more thats what i want to hear when i go raving. So i am constantly trying to switch up genres to a crowd but sometimes you just can tell certain things wont work. As much as i may want to play certain tracks i wouldnt push something if i knew it wasnt gonna make everyone dance harder. Im interested in uniting the dancefloor above anything else
When I first became aware of you it was when you were doing pretty much all of your sets back to back with Klose One. It still happens but not nearly as much anymore! Do you want to quash any rumours that the two of you have had a bitter brake up?
haha, this is the first i've heard about it. We started off doing stuff individually and have always continued to do that. But we are actually working on something really special at the moment. As DJ's first and foremost we are constantly competeing against producers for sets. So its important that we make what we do very special and memorable.... So basically watch this space!
Tensions raise and shit happens. Before you know it it's ATG vs Urban Nerds. Which side do you join and more importantly, who wins!?
I'd find a good sofa and hide behind it. That'd be a pretty apocalyptic battle as they are both heavyweights. So like the USSR and USA they'd probably wipe each other out and myself and cockroaches would inherit the earth!
It's still pretty early in the year so I'm pretty sure you've got some massive plans you want to carry out. what kind of plans are we talking though?
Along with the project with Klose One, Im currently hard at work producing which is a completely new challenge for me. I'm on the most festival line-ups ive been on before so its already looking like a great year... I may buy a pet rat
This ones for all the bedroom DJ's trying to get some sets, what kind of advice have you got for them?
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE... then go to local clubs and nights and try and meet people promoters other dj's, producers etc... Obviously online networking will help but there isn't anything better than meeting people in person. They are much more likely to listen to your mix or tracks that way.. On top of that i'd say be prepared to work for free for a while your much more likely to get on line-ups if youre not trying to charge £10000 for a set
Big ups time. Who are you rating at the moment and also deserves a bit more of the spotlight?
Klose One and all the ATG and Urban Nerds family. I could go on for hours about all the fantastic Club Nights, MC's, Producers and DJ's who i now consider friends, But theyre all big bad and ugly enough to get the spotlight already. On a relatively unknown tip check out Rudimental, Elkat & Mista Men
Right that bring and end to another good interview :)
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