In recent years the nu-disco sound has swept over the U.S. like a tidal wave of epic proportions, rapidly enveloping the American dance music scene from coast to coast. Artists like Daft Punk, Disclosure and Chromeo incited stateside appreciation for the genre, but overseas it has garnered a devoted following since the early 21st century. Cultivation of the revamped ‘70s style can be attributed to many European and Australian DJs, but one German group in particular forged the path before it was cool.
Named after shoes large enough to fit their sizable feet, Moonbootica is made up of Hamburg DJs Kowesix and Tobitob, two producers who have earned themselves an upright position in the western European electronic frontier. Charm and quirk characterizes the duo, avidly promoting the fun of excess above all else.
Life is a serious affair, but how you take it is a matter of attitude. Why not take it easy when you can? I’d rather have a good time while navigating through this crazy world. Besides, not taking yourself too seriously helps in many ways to become a better person.
A balance of easygoing attitudes and hardcore determination helped the pair to build an unshakable empire. With three well-received albums and countless remixes and singles under their belts, Moonbootica is now headed stateside to sign with a major U.S. label around the same time as the release of their 5-track EP These Days Are Gone. Global domination is on the horizon for Moonbootica, and they are welcoming the impending madness with open arms.
We love chaos. Chaos is great. It makes you feel alive and when you allow it to happen, many good things can come out of it. Plus, we really like the US. So yeah, we’re happy and very excited!
Since their first studio album, DJ Sounds Good, released in 2004, the duo’s sound has evolved from electro-house to nu-disco, their latest release a testament to their refurbished style. Title track “These Days Are Gone” is a summer playlist staple, constructed of ingenous female vocals and a staccato rhythm. When asked about the title’s significance, the DJs referenced conflicting sentiments felt while producing the track.
We’ve always had this bittersweet kind of feeling when we produced the song. The same kind of feeling, a mix of sadness and anticipation, you have when things end and naturally other things begin. The lyrics perfectly express these feeling.
Things are changing for Moonbootica as their brand gains recognition outside of Europe. In the past, Kowesix and Tobitob have condemned producers who fall victim to commercial conformity, advocating creation motivated by passion rather than money and fame. So far they have managed to uphold this mission, but since the introduction of nu-disco to the American mainstream, Moonbootica may unintentionally become what they have fought to avoid. I wondered if they had considered this possibility, and in response, the Hanseatic duo illustrated an important difference between being mainstream and successful.
We have to differentiate here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being successful. If you’re playing the music you love then what more can you wish for than the appreciation of your audience? Being mainstream/ conformist isn’t a question of success, but it’s a question of your attitude. If you let success change you and your art, then things can turn bad very quickly.
It is important for us to make the kind of music that we like; therefore we simply do not believe that money and fame is worth giving that up. It doesn’t feel right to just reproduce commercially successful songs. Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice to have a more lavish lifestyle, but as an artist and producer, I’d rather produce something that I am proud of and is authentic.
Admirers of ingenuity, Kowesix and Tobitob’s first became interested in dance music during the advent of trip-hop, an electronic variation of hip-hop out of ’90s UK. After groups like Daft Punk surfaced, Moonbootica knew it was time to get serious.
We practically breathed hip-hop in the golden era in the beginning of the ’90s, but got really hooked on the more electronic variation trip-hop coming from Britain in the mid 90’s. Guys like Massive Attack, Portishead, and all the Ninja Tune records. Then in ’96, Daft Punk (yes, really) dropped their first album Homework and it blew us away. That’s when we actually really started to dig deeper.
While their appreciation for European electronica runs deep, Moonbootica insists they are also inspired by American DJs. Based on their sound, it comes as no surprise that house pioneers, such as the late Frankie Knuckles, as well as millennial electro-funk trailblazers, such as Arman Van Helden, galvanized Moonbootica to form their unique identities.
In terms of house music, we love Frankie Knuckles, Carl Craig and Jeff Mills, and of course disco pioneers David Mancuso and Larry Levan and many others. These guys are legends. True, original music makers. Also, Metro Area had one of the best albums in the young 2000’s, James Murphy and Tim Sweeney, Romanthony, Armand Van Helden with ‘Funk Phenomena’ and ‘Ghandi Khan.’ Also, Oliver has been putting out mad stuff lately. We could continue this list for hours.
Well on their way to becoming a global sensation, Moonbootica keeps it real by balancing a light-hearted attitude with whole-hearted music-making. Club gigs and festivals across Europe are on the books for this summer, but Kowesix and Tobitob hope to cross the pond this fall for a slew of American tour dates. Stay tuned for the worldwide release of These Days Are Gone in the coming weeks, and until then you can listen to the EP in its entirety below, as well as a mini-mix of Moonbootica’s fourth studio album Shine.
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