Synchronice Talk About Their Experiences, Remixes, Originals, and Future (Exclusive WRR Interview)

Synchronice are featured regularly on WhiteRaverrafting.com and it’s easy to understand why, the pair are endlessly breaking genre barriers, dropping stunning remixes, and developing their unique sound. James and Will Saulsky, Synchronice, have played massive shows with names like Above & Beyond and Dada Life. They’ve remixed records for Dirtyphonics and Miike Snow, among others, these guys are the real deal.

We got to chat with James, and talk to him more about him and his brothers sound development, experiences, remixes, originals, and future.

You guys have been producing for around two years, what got you into dance music? How did Synchronice begin?

What’s funny is I honestly don’t remember. We started listening to dance music and since we come from musical backgrounds it was only a matter of time till we tried our hand at making some. This initial songs sound pretty dated now since at the time we were into older trance and hands up but at the time it was something fun and different for us.

You guys are known for producing an array of genres as well as mixing the elements of each, something not many producers can do. Out of all the records you’ve produced so far, which is your favorite and why?

We try 🙂 On our newer tracks we’ve been trying to ignore genres all together and just write what sounds right to us. The tracks like “Broken Record” and our latest remix of “Idol” are two examples. We had so much fun working on those tracks and pulling little elements of glitch, dub, hip hop, drum and bass, and trap to create the final tracks. We have so much fun when we feel like we’re doing something new for us and it definitely shows in the final track when the writing process takes on a life of its own.

You’ve remixed records by Dirtyphonics, Miike Snow, and Rednek, do you have any other remixes planned?

Our remix of “Idol” by Skunkshaft ft. Messinian was just released on Sick Slaughterhouse and our remix of Far East Movement’s track “Dirty Bass” should be out soon as well. Two of our biggest remixes yet are also in the works but we won’t be able to talk about those for a little bit 😉

As far as originals go, you’ve released “Let Go”, “Broken Record”, and “Paradox” over the last few months. Where do you go from here? Can we expect a debut album in 2013?

There will definitely be another EP in 2013, probably more. We’ve been doing a lot of remix work lately since the tracks are from people we just couldn’t say no to but we also have several originals in the works of mixed genres and would like to focus on those in the coming months. Everything has been changing so fast for us so there’s no telling for certain but we would like to hold off on an album until we have the time and resources to really create something unique to us.

Who has been the biggest inspiration to you as you’ve developed your sound, do you have any dream collaborations?

We’ve always been big fans of Porter, Dirtyloud, and Koan Sound. We look up to so many artists we can’t really list them all but pretty much everyone who isn’t afraid to follow they creativity and make what they feel inside is an inspiration to us. I know I personally would love to collaborate with someone like Culprate or Reso because I think those guys are very unique or with a singer like Amba Shepard, who is an amazing vocalist and an awesome person in general.

What is your favorite set up on stage and what do you use to produce?

Right now we use Traktor and an S4 controller on stage but are looking towards moving towards CDJs more just because it’s way easier not having to carry around your own controller everywhere. Production wise we use Logic 9, our main VSTs are Massive, Sylenth1, Nexus, Ohmnicide, Camel Phat, and some of Logic’s built in plugins. For hardware we have an Alesis 49 key midi keyboard, a Virus Ti, and 2 Yamaha HM50s with the matching sub. It’s a pretty basic setup but it gets it done and it’s mobile.

Having shared stages with huge names like Above & Beyond, Dada Life, and MiMOSA to name a few, which gig was the most memorable, Is there a venue you’re dying to play?

They’ve been memorable for many different reasons haha. Overall our show with Dillon Francis was incredible, the crowd energy was so high and we were just feeding off that. An hour set feels like 5 minutes when it’s like that, it’s just so fun. We also played a show in New Jersey that was out in a field under a tent during this massive thunderstorm. But it was epic, the event was called Farm Fest and it had such good vibes. I think the table almost collapsed at one point from people on stage jumping around haha. We’ve had some funny things happen too, like our set time getting switched at the MiMOSA show. We were in the middle of dinner when someone grabbed us and ended up eating dessert on stage haha. The wildest thing we’ve seen was the ceiling partially collapsing during Dada Life’s set. Suddenly there was a massive pile of debris and people running out the exit. Crazy stuff.

If I had never listened to electronic dance music before and asked you to send me three of your favorite records, which would you choose?

These are good questions haha. I think there’s a big misconception that dance music isn’t very diverse and that most of it is essentially comprised of loops that lack structure and musicality. So my three records would be A State of Trance 2009 because there are so many beautiful songs in that mix, The Adventures of Mr. Fox by Koan Sound to show how diverse and funky dance music can be, and Vava Voom by Bassnectar because I feel it showcases how carried dubstep can be as a genre.

What advice would you guys give up-and-coming producers?

Don’t let anyone limit your creativity ever. Just because we make electronic music does’t mean it has to be straight four on the floor and ignore genres altogether. Write what you enjoy writing. Genres and trends only limit the creativity and the fun that got you producing in the first place. Focus on the music and on getting it to the right people and the rest will come.

What can we expect for Synchronice in the future?

Pretty much a continuation of the path we’re on now. We’re finishing up a bunch of original tracks right now so expect to see those released in the coming months. We also had some huge things happen towards the end of 2012 that we haven’t been able to announce yet but we will be soon 🙂 We’re also working towards a summer tour so hopefully we’ll be seeing everyone soon!

Support Synchronice on Facebook, Twitter, and SoundCloud.

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