Interview: Mix n Blend

We were lucky enough to get a quick interview with Mix n Blend before they started jamming it out in Mystic Boer a week or so ago! So this is what they had to say for themselves:

1. How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

Well Jon and I have been friends since highschool. Ross was at the same school although he was a few years below us.
It was only until a few years ago that me and Jon had been Dj’ing for a while already and we spotted Ross(Dank). At that time we had embarked on producing an album of our own beats and we dug his style so we asked him to come on board.

2. What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

Hmmm, we produce many different styles of electronic music, so I’d have to say Electronic would be the overall genre, but in terms of sub genres it’s a range of Breakbeat, glitch, dnb, dubstep, electro funk, and wobble.

3. Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

Well most of the support we’ve got comes from our mates (U know who are) and from the African Dope crew, Support such as advice, friendship and label support, all which has helped us hugely along the way.

4. Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument/role of each band member.

Jonathan Arnold, 27, Production and Dj’ing and Live performance
Kevin Ribbans 26 Production and Dj’ing and Live performance
Ross Finck 24 Production and Dj’ing and Live performance

As you can see we all do the same stuff and swap up what we perform on. It’s much more fun that way.

5. Could you briefly describe the music-making process?

Hmm it varies greatly depending on which of us starts the track and how we get together to finish it.

sometimes one will start with a sample, other times we start with a beat or a bassline.
then we all listen to it and give our 2cents worth, change what we want and then after that add in the details. Details are important.

6. What do you enjoy most about performing in Stellenbosch and how often to you do so?

Oh that’s easy, the crowds! they go moggy and let loose, which always makes for really up for it crowd not scared to rock out to the harder stuff.

7. What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

Well it starts off official with a time being set, then a trip past the bottle store, then we waste about an hour getting drunk and talking kak, then we eventually get onto the tech and we start playing and playin and playing. If we have a big gig coming up, or a change to the setup, then we’ll spend a week or two rehearsing most days to get to grips with it again.

8. What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands/music group?

Well, i think the best advice is to never take it too seriously. I mean, have a plan set out about what you want to achieve and how you gonna get there, but remember to just have fun doing it.

Thanks for reading and be sure to keep an eye and ear out for these guys!

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