Baker (left) and Atkinson (right). Photo: Ed Fraser
It’s definitely been an exciting year for nineteen-year-old Evan Baker and eighteen-year-old Tony Atkinson, who make the DJ/producer progressive house duo Baker & Atkinson. The pair first grabbed my attention in February of this year when they closed for ‘DJ’ Pauly D at a popular DC nightclub. After a night full of top 40 hits and a bland set it was refreshing to hear someone who actually knew what they were doing in the DJ booth. Since then I’ve made a point of going to see them whenever they play in DC, which happens to be frequently because just this year alone they’ve supported the likes of Wolfgang Gartner, Tommy Trash, Style of Eye, and Cazzette for Club Glow, and Fatboy Slim at the 9:30 Club, receiving a bow from Norman Cook himself before taking the stage to play his own set. Truth be told these two are nothing short of impressive.
As Identity Festival approaches the DC area again this year, I sat down with Baker & Atkinson to discuss what their plans were for their set this year, what the rest of the year has in store for them, and some good old fashioned sign hijacking.
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WRR: How did you guys meet, and when did you start to DJ/produce together?
EB: I moved to Bethesda [Maryland] my senior year of high school and met Tony and he was one of the few people who loved electronic music. Everyone made fun of us for it at the time, but now everyone thinks it’s cool. I’ve always loved electronic music.
TA: We started to DJ together in the summer of 2010, but I’ve been producing on my own for about a year and DJing since I was about fourteen years old. Identity last summer was actually my first real gig [laughs].
WRR: How did you guys get booked for Identity last year?
TA: Thanks to Glow, we played the local stage last year. It wasn’t anything huge and it was somewhat of a consolation prize for Evan hacking the electronic road signs for Wolfgang Gartner and Axwell, but it started to get us noticed.
EB: I had been in contact with Glow for months beforehand regarding potential gigs and they gave us a huge opportunity. We also had to invite 10,000 people to the festival on Facebook; they held a contest.
WRR: Hacked a sign?! There must be a pretty interesting story behind this.
TA: Well the first time, what happened was Wolfgang Gartner was playing in 2010, and i was seventeen, so I couldn’t go. Evan went with some friends, and they hacked a road sign on Bradley and made it say “Wolfgang Gartner Bitches”. They tweeted the picture and they got to meet him. I was so bummed I couldn’t go!
EB: The second time I hacked the sign, I had it say “Axwell Is House Music” for when he came to DC. It ended up working out well for me; I actually won a contest with that picture and Axwell flew me out to Sweeden, I got to bring a friend and go to Summerburst. Tiesto, Alesso, Sebastian Ingrosso, NO_ID, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano were just hanging out and talking with everyone where I was, and I got to meet a few of them; it was so cool.
TA: Wolfgang Gartner still knows us as ‘the kids who hacked the sign’, which is pretty cool, so that, and the fact that Glow was pushing us had a big hand in getting us noticed. I guess the one thing I can say for both Evan and myself is that one day soon we hope to be known as more than just road sign hackers and contest winners; we want people to know us for our music.
Baker & Atkinson opening for Fatboy Slim @ 930 Club early 2012. Photo: Andy Jones
WRR: What’s your favorite gig you’ve played so far?
EB: When we opened for Fatboy Slim at the 9:30 Club in DC, definitely. As we were toning it down on our last track, Fatboy Slim actually came out and bowed down to us and clapped. I was completely shocked! That was a great moment.
TA: I think closing for Wolfgang Gartner at Fur was one of my favorites too; people were going nuts even as the lights came up, and they stayed dancing until security told us to kill the music. It’s really nice when everyone is there for the music, not just to go clubbing or be seen. It’s a very different atmosphere, and something that Glow has really worked to build.
WRR: Evan, your “Take the Redline” edit was featured in Tiesto’s Club Life podcast #276, did you have any idea that was coming, or did it just happen out of the blue?
[Video: Tiesto playing Evan Baker’s “Redline Edit” at Happyland Barcelona on July 21]
WRR: You’ve certainly captured the attention of prominent people in the music industry! I’m interested to see what you have planned for Identity this year.
WRR: What advice would you give someone starting to produce?
EB: Don’t try to copy anyone else, find your own sound. If your sound is good, you will get recognition, and that might take a while. Don’t be afraid of new things, but don’t forget the old.
TA: It’s all about the music, and you will be successful if you make good music. If you can produce something that is original and different than what other people have out, you will be successful, and that’s the best part of this industry.
Leading up to their Identity set on July 27th, Evan and Tony are giving out a free edit every day on their Facebook page! If you’re going to Identity Festival, make sure you stop by and see Baker & Atkinson at 9:30 on the Glow stage!
UPCOMING SETS:
July 27 – Identity Festival, GLOW Stage, Bristow VA | Tickets
August 16 – Lima Lounge w/NO_ID, Washington DC | Tickets
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