What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.

Roy: I met Adam on the festival circuit around 2010. We bonded on the road and over a shared love of music. I had some ideas but no confidence in them. He’d already had a few things out so took a run at them. Within a few months we had some edits or bootleggy type things made and started to get an idea of our sound. From there we started mixing up all the hip-hop and funk influences we loved and tried to put our stamp on them. Now it’s four albums later. Where does the time go?

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

Roy: Our new single is called ‘Let Them Know’ and it features The Cuban Brothers. It’s a Latin-tinged slice of horn-led hip-hop with Miguel from The Brothers delivering a festival-ready sing-a-long chorus. Festivals? Remember them? On the flip of the vinyl is a wax-only joint called ‘Lightning in a Bottle’ feat. Andy Cooper. Heat!

Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?

Roy: I love anyone that can flip a sample, from the Bomb Squad to Cut Chemist. The act of capturing a loop and building on it is an art or a science. I’m a student (but one who is always sniggering at the back of the class).

In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?

Roy: We make beats. As DJs, first and foremost, those beats are squarely aimed at the feet. If you like classic funk and feel good hip-hop, and like to boogie, then come check us out. We’ve had a go at all the styles we love, from disco to Northern soul, via block party hip-hop and samba, we’ll take you on that journey.

Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…

Roy: De La Soul – Bulhoone Mind State for the album.

Any Viz annual for a book.

And King of Kong or Wildstyle for the flick.

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

Roy: Live for the buzz. Studio for imagining what that buzz will be.

Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?

Roy: No. What goes on tour, stays on tour. You’ll have to check out our Instagram stories for anything that slips through the cracks. If Mikey, our sax, player is filming, you got some gold, too…The last time we hit the road, I nearly turned over a go-kart at high speed on our day off…He captured the whole butt-clentching experience and uploaded it. The full leg-length bruise took three weeks to go. Ouch! Also, ‘career’ – lol.

Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?

Roy: I’d say ‘Rock Rock’. It’s bonkers fast and crammed with samples. It deliberately didn’t sound like anything else when we dropped it. It was an opening shot, and we needed it to ring out. Andy Cooper raps his socks off. And the video is off the hook, too!

Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?

Roy: I’m interviewing El-P from Run the Jewels tonight for a magazine I write for, so am pooping myself. I’m sure he’ll be lovely, though. Then we’re getting ready to do our live Web Cam Jams video DJ stream on Saturday. We do it every week, 3-4pm GMT. All 45s, all vinyl, cutting them up for the Twitch.tv/theallergies crew! See you there?

Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…

Roy: I’d ask myself why I keep spending so much money on 7” singles.

But I don’t know if there is any sane answer.

Curated by: Christos Doukakis

Recommended listening:

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www.Twitch.tv/theallergies

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