"Former international aid worker teams up with Icelandic security specialist and former top model to create an international DJ supergroup. Certainly not what you'd expect from a group called Thugfucker - but then Greg Oreck and Holmar Filipsson often do tend to defy expectations. "
Ok first off, are you taking the piss or is that factually accurate?
We're pretty much always taking the piss.. unless it's about music. but there's also a fair amount of truth in our missives as well. sometimes the truth is not very interesting, sometimes it's not only interesting but pretty unbelievable...
Yes I'm totally with you on that one... so Holmar's promising political career, was this based on any actual real events?
Holmar was actually tapped to be an upcoming political leader of iceland at one point.. that is actually factual and it didn't happen.. which is not only factual but a relief to all. like i said, interesting and also pretty unbelievable, especially when you get to know him.
Haven't Iceland dismantled their government arrested the bankers and told the world bank they are not paying them any money back? Was that you Holmar?) hmmm maybe not one for this interview, nice work though..
Holmar cannot confirm or deny of any involvement in the dismantling of the icelandic government.. but he says he approves of the action whole hartedly...
Fantastic.. how did you actually meet?
Inebriated, at a party he was throwing in a former brothel... we knew each other vaguely from the party scene but we ended up getting into a heated discussion about the plight of the genetically rhythm blind while on the dancefloor. one should normally not engage in conversation on the dancefloor but as this was a conversation borne of compassion (and a bit of social lubricants) it was well worth it. we also started a charitable foundation to help the cause of the rhythm blind and even dedicated a proceeds of the profits of our first every release to the cause.. and that's a fact you can even look up! it's on the vinyl....
It's remarkable what can be achieved on the dancefloor of a party in a brothel, I have coincidentally made some very important progress in my own life in a very similar situation.
We actually honestly believe in the transformative nature of a proper cathartic dancefloor experience... it's probably the closest thing to religion that we believe in... (if you don't count the aliens) We're pretty much romantics and idealists at heart..
Ok lets talk about life and death
Ah yes.. on to life and death.. ok...
Whats the manifesto?
The manifesto is a lot of things.. but hmmm.... basically it's about finding like minded people, freaks of the right nature and sticking together to forward an aesthetic and an ideal about what music can be for people… which ties back to the transformative power of a proper dancefloor experience... but of course doesn't just have to happen on a dancefloor, though that tends to be a conducive place for it to happen.
Where else can it happen?
A good after party also can work.
Ahh yes of course
Well, it can also happen in a sensory deprivation tank... but usually there's no music there.
So the life and death family - your roster, these are all like minded individuals who are collectively working towards a shared aesthetic and an ideal ?
As for the roster.. yup, they're all very good friends actually.We decided early on that we didn't want to work with people that we generally didn't enjoy being around.
Wise
Which is not only good for idealistic reasons.. like minded people with like minded goals and feelings..
It's quite fortunate that your friends all make exceptionally good music no? Nice ideals and pants music don't make for a great label
Yes of course that helps too, that's a requirement to get in the door for sure but just making good music isn't enough. Lots of people make great music that we respect and we play and we love but there's only so much room in a little label like us so best to keep it to people who make stellar music and also have their wires crossed in all the right ways… weirdos like us, basically… or not like us but you know what i mean. Weirdos unlike us but like us in their weirdosity. We generally also all have nice pants, though some of us are catching up to the rest on the quality of pants if truth be told.
But also because we really enjoy playing, touring and making music together so it's always fun and always a pleasure and that has to show through in the end (or that's what we believe anyway..)
Yes I think it's quite clear that you are doing something different with Life and Death, there is quite a clear aesthetic evident there and the music you are releases is quite experimental compared to what many of your contemporaries are putting out, you have reached the holy grail of being creatively free with what you do and being widely accepted... can I say cool?
Well, i don't know if anyone can officially call themselves cool.. without feeling or looking like a bit pretentious.. but we're very happy and lucky to be able to make and release music and art that we feel passionate about..
No you cant - I can though.
We all have a very mixed background of influences... lots of dance influences in our histories but not just that… definitely between us all we have a pretty storied and varied past of influences and experiences.. and i think finally we all feel like we've created a really good situation which we can really begin to explore that and bring it to what we're doing.
Why do you think people have bought into what you are doing?
I think we still have lots more we want to try and lots of different places we'd like to try and explore and take all of this but we definitely feel like we're on the right path.. and then the fact that people are so supportive of it is just like the cherry on top
You have stuck to your convictions and its worked out for you basically?
We have. lucky bastards, arent' we?
You are indeed
Who would've thunk?
So the other side of that is that there is a little responsibility.. not to do what people expect but to not squander the opportunity to follow our convictions thru with all of this..
What does London / Fabric have in store for you this weekend - how is that going to pan out
We love fabric.. they always make you feel so welcome that you can't help but playing your best and then we have good friends playing in all 3 rooms that night, playing with friends on the lineup somehow always raises the 'let's party' bar even higher.. hijinks tend to ensue more often than not… snowball effect and next thing you know it's madness on all sides.
CATCH THUGFUCKER AT FABRIC THIS SATURDAY