Dark dance artists and keen ‘90s enthusiasts both, NYC-based BL§§D ØU† (i.e. ‘Blissed Out’) and †‡† (‘Ritualz’) from Mexico City are currently working on an upcoming joint release together (expect grinding ‘90s trance vybz aplenty!) So, who better to interview them than… well, each other?

B: So, what’s up with this record you and I are working on?

R: It’s pretty rad. It’s only been a couple of months since we started working on it, and already the sound is way more brutal, in a rave sense. It’s probably going to be even sicker when we start working on it for real, don’t you think? 

B: Definitely. I really love your new EP, Ghetto Ass Witch – you took it to another level by incorporating more elements of black metal, hip-hop and club music. What’s really exciting me about our record is that it’s based on these types of music… it’s more built for clubs than anywhere else.

R: Yeah, but it feels like a natural progression with us. We’re both into ‘90s dance music like trance and pop, yet we make way darker music than that… so exploring these sounds in a new project feels right.

B: It’s funny, the first thing I thought when I heard your music originally was, “This dude loves early ‘90s dark music”.

R: My first ever record was Ace Of Base - what was your first album?

B: TLC, CrazySexyCool. I actually tried to make an Ace Of Base cover album when I was 18 – I got two tracks into it and then my computer crashed. What are you going for with our record? I’m doing songs that are built around ‘90s samples, like Marilyn Manson’s ‘Beautiful People’ and The Prodigy’s ‘Firestarter. I feel like the music we’re working on is what Dr. Luke producing (US experimental band) Sun O))) would sound like…

R: I don’t know what I’d call it – heavy club music? I’m not sure what I’m doing for the record yet. I have a couple of demos, some with samples. I’ll definitely kick ass with whatever I come up with!

B: Are we still calling it Ψ?

R: That, or Gangsta Principles. I want to stay away from the symbol-named band scene, it got so overplayed - that’s the reason I go by ‘Ritualz’ now, and only use †‡† as a symbol.

B: That symbol shit is funny. ‘BL§§D ØU†’ originated as a T-shirt design, and then people just started writing about it… leave it to dudes who don’t make music and sit at the computer all day to ruin stuff. So, we have eventually got to play a live show to present this music to people. A church in Norway would be a good place - what do you think?

R: We could go further. Let’s have someone rebuild the (notorious ‘80s/’90s Manchester nightclub) Hacienda in its original spot and do it there - we just need some billionaire sponsors. People want to experience this kind of music live, so hopefully we’ll do well enough to take it where it’s needed.

http://ritualz.bandcamp.com/
http://soundcloud.com/blissedoutnyc