INTERVIEW WITH DIY ELECTRONIC DANCE DUO DANCE LOUD

Dance Loud are a DIY Electronic Dance duo and real life couple. The duo comprised of Kristin Sanchez [DJ, producer, engineer] and Desereé Fawn Zimmerman [drums, guitar, vocals] puts on feel good highly visual shows. Dance Loud’s latest single and video “Shady Beach” is out now. This mellow and atmospheric track feels perfectly suited for now. I chatted with the band on being a EDM duo, and their upcoming album which you can read below.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: For my readers, How did Dance Loud come together?

DANCE LOUD: Kristin used to work at a children's fitness center. She had a boss that had to tell a coworker that she had B.O. During a meeting, her boss told the coworker that she “smelled loud” and needed to do something about the smell. I thought it was a funny story and it was an inside joke between us. We started describing everything as loud ie: “this tastes loud”... Finally one day we said “Dance Loud” and it stuck.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Let’s talk about your current single ‘Shady Beach’. How did this song come together? What was the creative process like?

DANCE LOUD: ‘Shady Beach” was a fun one for us to create! We cashed in our travel points that we had been saving to go for an anniversary to Hawaii and decided to buy a Moog synthesizer instead. Instead of going to the beach, we created the beachy song. Best investment ever!!! The night we tracked this song we both have fond memories of. This song was the 4th song created of the album. We let ourselves get weird with this song and just let our feelings come rolling out. We recorded all of the instruments in one night! We loved it so much, we ended up spending a lot more time to perfect the mix for 2 months following. This song showed us how much we enjoy the tracking/recording part of creation the most.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s a typical creative and recording process like for you guys? How do you think being a couple as well influences your work?

DANCE LOUD: Being a couple is a huge influence even though we both work on our creative strengths separately. Deseree usually writes the notation and begins each song. Kristin is the finisher of the music of the songs. We very much feed off of eachother and complete each other's sentences creatively. We love audio recording experiments and techniques! Sometimes the experiments work out and sometimes they don't but all that matters is we are having fun together with our art! With being Hifi on a Lofi budget, we had to creatively use recording techniques to achieve a high quality sound. We often researched under-rated low priced gear, sought out electricians for creation of hardware that can only be found in software, distant room microphone tests with a stereo pair, and unsuccessfully trying to create a reverb plate out of a drum cymbal.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How is the recording and writing process going for the debut record, The Moment?

DANCE LOUD: While Deseree is tracking the notion of melodic instruments, Kristin will be writing the lyrics. Every sound you hear, we created. We enjoy field recording with our Tascam portable recorder, recording nature and random sounds you would find in a parking garage or a fire pit. These sounds are found throughout the album. We enjoy old school recording techniques using room mic’s as well as close mic’ing. As well as unconventional techniques with using two microphones and using phasing to our advantage. Financial limitations force high creativity. This is the perk of being a starving artist.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: When you guys are writing and creating songs where do you guys typically draw inspiration from?

DANCE LOUD: Inspiration is everywhere! From sounds you hear daily like birds chip, a washing machine rhythm or the click of a jeep wrangler turn signal. There is a constant symphony around us if we just stop to listen. There is a polyrhythm to nature and it is possible to find the beat. Nature is a large influence for our love of immersive 3D sound. Other influences in Chicago street art or really just anything we experience. Living in the moment really helps. When you find a precious moment, you will hear a precious sound.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What do you think is a central theme or thread that ties together all of your music?

DANCE LOUD: Duality. Dark and bright. Digital and analog. Depth and surround sound. House music is the main aesthetic but in a melodic, meditative and emotional way, with a hint of jazz in high tempo that can cater to multiple feelings.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJHB_3KeF-M&feature=youtu.be

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: In times like these, why do you think we turn to music as a source for healing?

DANCE LOUD: Deseree: Music is an invisible force of energy that can change your emotional response within seconds. For me, Deseree, as an only child I felt music was the only one who was ever fully there for me unconditionally. It supplies fuel for any and all emotions. Music can make you feel happy and sad within seconds when other arts like a movie could take minutes or hours.

Kristin: It’s the only thing that can pipe down all thoughts running around in my brain. It truly takes me to a different place without having to leave the house. It turns all thoughts into nothing but the beat and the bounce.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: You’re fierce females in the industry, who are some other fierce females that you find awe-inspiring in music from past or present?

DANCE LOUD: Deseree: Joni Mitchell, Sean Yseult (White Zombie) & Sylvia Massy (Tool’s mix engineer)

Kristin: Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, Selena Quintanilla, Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What are three touring must-haves for you guys?

DANCE LOUD: Espresso percolator, Baby wipes, VHS movies.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Switching gears... What’s your favorite 90s jam?

DANCE LOUD: Deseree: Mazzy Star “Fade Into You”, Deftones “Be Quiet and Drive” & Cowboy Junkies “Sweet Jane”.

Kristin: Portishead “Wandering Star”, Will Smith “Summertime” & Daft Punk “Fresh”.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What was your favorite children's book as a kid?

DANCE LOUD: Deseree: Weirdly I got into astrology when I was 9 finding one of my mom’s books. It would be “The Only Astrology Book You Will Ever Need” by Joanna Martine Woolfolk

Kristin: “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr Seuss. I love his rhymes! Flows so perfectly!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I wanted to do a quick lightning round of questions before we end so here we go so... Netflix or Hulu?

DANCE LOUD: Netflix, even though we have never had it.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Coffee or Tea?

DANCE LOUD: Coffee every morning and tea most nights. Die hard coffee fans!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Twizzlers or Red Vines?

DANCE LOUD: Twizzlers pull and peels!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Instagram or Twitter?

DANCE LOUD: Instagram! Twitter is a sea of words!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Podcast or Playlist?

DANCE LOUD: Playlist! But love us some real estate podcasts!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Morning Bird or Night Owl?

DANCE LOUD: Night Owl! I've read studies about why artists tend to be night owls. The sun time is good for business and analytics while the moon is good for creativity.

Stream Dance Loud’s new track ‘Shady Beach’ which is out now.

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