Krewella Discusses Ministry Of Sound Compilation and the State of EDM

JahanYasmineand Rainman make up the trio called Krewella. Artists and DJs,they released a compilation album for the Ministry Of Sound. A highly respected opportunity within dance music culture, the 30-song project draws inspiration upon the far-reaching success of their debut album, Get Wet and next generation of EDM superstars.

With a distinctly unique style and a penchant for the unexpected, Krewella are heavily demanded festival acts. This year they have played Ultra (Miami), Coachella (Indio, Calif), Counterpoint (Georgia), EDC Las Vegas and New York, Sunset (Tampa), LollaPalooza (Chicago), and Tomorrowland (Belgium). Internationally acclaimed artists, who have overcome various obstacles, Krewella shed sentiment about the lack of female DJs selected to perform at festivals before updating me with the status of their second artist album due out this year.

Krewella is from Chicago. What kind of influence has growing up in Chicago had on the style of music you make and who were your influences growing up?

The Chicago rock and metal scenes had a huge influence on our music influences. As much as Chicago is the “birthplace of house music,” we weren’t into that scene. The gritty basements and hardcore shows were where you could find us, not the dance/top40 clubs. We are also huge fans of many artists hailing from our city, such as Fall Out Boy and Kanye West.

Krewella burst onto the music scene in 2011 and the Chicago-bred trio was immediately recognized for their signature brand of vocal-driven electronic music.

Following the massive feed-back of their platinum-certified single, “Alive” they have gone on to become renowned party animals at the world’s largest and most legendary festivals.

How did the Ministry Of Sound opportunity come about? And was there a sentiment in mind when you were selecting the music?

MOS reached out with the opportunity and we were honored to take part in a new series with such a legendary brand. We wanted to go hard as fuck with the songs but still give people songs that they’d never heard or experienced quite a sound like before. I hope we achieved the sentiment!!

Describe the Ministry Of Sound album experience and compare the difference between organizing a compilation CD as opposed to making your own mixes or producing your own songs?

 It’s an amazing chance to shine some light on music that we might not necessarily ever make, but love to listen to and play out. Also, it was a great way to support a bunch of our friends’ music. It’s all about spreading the love.

There are remixes on the Ministry Of Sound album track-listing from low-key artists whose names audiences and fans may not have heard before. Who are the underground producers that should be on our radars?

 ARTHUR ASH

2014 has been a seemingly un-stoppable year for the hardstyle, dub-step artists. Krewella are guests on Tiēsto’s fifth studio album, A Town Called Paradiseand “Set Yourself Free” is one ofthe standout songs off that album. Additionally, “Lights and Thunder” by Gareth Emery and “United Kids Of The World” by Headhunterz are tested festival anthems that stem from Krewella’s un-matched song writing abilities and diversified musical tastes.

How did the collaboration with Tiësto for Set Yourself Free happen, and what unlikely learning experiences did you take away from working with him?

 Before anything was said and done, we really dug the instrumental “Pair of Dice.” He asked us to write for his album and that was the song we gravitated to. 

Tell us about Krewella’s producing process and describe the feeling you get from the fan’s reactions when playing your singles at shows and festivals?

Every song initially begins a in a different way. A lot of the current way that we’re writing is beginning with an acoustic guitar or piano and just writing a great topline. The production follows after if our whole team really loves the song. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear our fans singing along at the shows, knowing the amount of time and energy that goes into creating the tracks.

With a distinctly unique style and a penchant for the unexpected, Krewella are heavily demanded festival acts. This year they have played at Ultra (Miami), Coachella (Indio, Calif), Counterpoint (Georgia), EDC Las Vegas and New York, Sunset (Tampa), LollaPalooza (Chicago), and TomorrowLand (Belgium). Internationally acclaimed artists, who have overcome various obstacles, Krewella shed sentiment about the lack of female DJs selected to perform at these festivals before updating me with the status of their second artist album due out this year.

What are Krewella’s thoughts on the EDM scene in general and why do you think that festival lineups are mainly male dominated?

It’s such a two way street in this instance. Half the time, you can make the argument that it’s harder to be taken seriously as a female in the electronic division of the music industry and it’s almost as if at every turn of a career, something is working against you. On the other hand, so many females don’t take THEMSELVES seriously enough. They DJ half naked, feel like they have to use their sexuality to gain momentum in the industry, and settle for monotony and genericness in their art because as long as they are a “female”, that separates them enough from the rest of the fish in the sea. Both sides of the coin need to equate the situation. 

Does Krewella have plans for a new album soon and if so, give the names of people you are likely to collaborate with.

We are actually in the studio RIGHT FUCKING NOW working on the second album. We’d love to collaborate with a few of our friends (some of them who we’ve collabed with before) Killagraham, Pegboard Nerds, and Grabbitz. 

As Krewella prepares the roll out of their next artist album, this Ministry Of Sound project should hold fans over for quite some time. Care-fully selected jams of future bass and house music, it alludes to Krewella’s individuality as musicians, while raising the expectations of more great music from them. Artists whose brightest days may still be ahead, Krewella shared advice to aspiring producers and what they want to be remembered for the most.

In one tweet, can you offer advice to aspiring music producers and how they can get their music heard by the right people?

Pull inspiration from the music that first made you obsessed with music; never forget your roots. And be persistent in your work ethic.

What does Krewella want to be remembered for? What kind musical legacy do you want to leave behind?

We want to be remembered for giving people music that makes them nostalgic for the best moments of their entire life, get them through hard times, and help them lose their inhibitions.

Krewella’s two-disc Future Sound Of EDM album (Ministry Of Sound) is out now on iTunes and Amazon. Stream the minimix via Soundcloud and start following Krewella on Twitter for news about their next album dropping this year. Enjoy!

CD 1

Grabbitz – 151
Sub Focus – Turn Back Time (Bro Safari & ETC!ETC! Remix)
Krewella – Live For The Night (Pegboard Nerds Remix)
Organ Donors – Make The Girlies Wet (Breeze & Modulate Remix)
Diplo feat. ImanoS, Faustix & Kai – Revolution (Boaz Van De Beatz Remix)
Wuki – Di Air
Naughty Boy ft Sam Smith – La La La (Kaos Remix)
Bel Heir – Kiss The Devil (Just a Gent Remix)
Bassnectar, ill.Gates – Expanded
Mat Zo – Lucid Dreams (The M Machine Remix)
Netsky – Without You
Krewella – We Go Down (Darren Styles Remix)
Futurebound & InsideInfo – Mermaids (Six Blade Remix)
Energy Syndicate vs Fierce DJs – Bring The Bass Back
ShockOne ft. Reija Lee – Home

CD 2

The Prototypes – Abyss VIP
Metrik ft. Reija Lee – Freefall
Rudimental ft. John Newman & Alex Clare – Not Giving In
(Loadstar Remix)
Breeze & Modulate – Bang 2 Me Nasty (VIP Mix)
Krewella ft. Gareth Emery – Lights & Thunder
(Darren Styles Remix)
Loadstar – Second Skin
Peking Duk ft. Nicole Miller – High
Designer Drugs
- The Drugs Are In Control
Vicetone ft. Chloe Angelides – White Lies
Subkilla – Urban Slayer
Kayzo – Tekken
Krewella
- Enjoy The Ride (Arthur Ash Remix)
Nicky Romero vs. Krewella – Legacy 
(Vicetone Remix)
Snails & Botnek – KRMT
RIOT – Redeemer