Exclusive Interview with Versus

Following the release of the new single, ‘Turn Me Out’, we got the opportunity to speak with duo Versus. From how the track came about to what tracks they need to play in their mixes, we covered a bunch of fun things.

For our readers, who are Versus?

Dave: Two guys who play and make music, and love to party hard.

Scott: Two long time friends who hooked up to make music together.

Describe your sound in 5 words.

Dave: Raw, upbeat, energetic, dirty bangers.

Scott: What he said… filthy bangers!

What new skills have you guys discovered during Lockdown?

Dave: That I’m terrible at playing FIFA online, I got smashed by a 10 year old American lad 11 – 0 ….and I was Barca… shocking !!!

Scott: In lockdown moved over from Cubase to Ableton Live as our main DAW.

We had a sneak peek of your new track, ‘Turn Me Out’. It feels like an old-school rave banger. What was the thought process behind this track?

Dave: Scott was jamming in the studio and came up with the actual beat, as I was deep in a rabbit hole looking for vocal ideas. I came across Kathy Brown – Turn Me Out and we downloaded the acapella. It fit perfect… ….sent it to management who sent it to Kathys Browns team, and here we are today!

Scott: When we were doing the beat, it was heavily influenced by the rave scene from back in the back, and with that sound become popular it made sense. Like Dave said he found the Kathy Brown vocal and here we are today.

We championed one of your previous releases, ‘Lick It’. Now that we have you here, how did ‘Lick It’ come about?

Dave: Thanks for the support on that one….We met the Gorgon City lads and exchanged details, it was made when Dissolut came over the UK, sent it to Gorgon City and they signed it instantly.

We’re fans of your Rinse FM sets. What 3 tracks guaranteed do you HAVE to play in a set?

Dave: It depends where we’re playing, we could answer this 5 different ways…after party tunes, small underground clubs, or festivals….but we always try play a couple of classics in our sets and they are:

Dominica – Gotta Let You Go (Bicep Edit)

Jonestown – Sweet Thang (Mustard Mix)

Scott: seeing Dave said some classics I’ll mention a current one we love playing:

Maur FT Faber – Set You Free

Between you guys, what 5 bangers did you unearth during Lockdown?

Archie B FT Troy Denari – Ecstasy

Burns – Talamanca

Posion Ghost – House Gets Warm

Bension – Misbehave

Luigi Rocca – Rebel

If it was the end of the world and you had one last performance. Where would be your dream venue to perform?

Dave: Being born in Manchester it would have to be here in this city, so I’d say Room 1 The Warehouse Project, it’s a special gaff!!

Scott: We’ve had some iconic clubs here in Manchester so I’d have to say The Hacienda, probably the most iconic venue that kicked off this sound.

A Purist question, Pioneer or Technics?

Dave: Pioneer all day.

Scott: Technics from back in the day, but now CDJ…so Pioneer.

Personal question, what’s your favourite Disney film?

Dave: The Lion King, it’s emotional. Moral of the story is… don’t be like Scar, he’s just not cool.

Scott: The Jungle Book, it’s got banging tunes throughout it.

What’s next for you guys?

Dave: Music-wise we have a lot coming out….can’t really say what labels (yet) but you will see and hear soon enough.

Scott: Gig wise, we’re playing Sundown Festival which we are super excited about, heard it’s insane!!  We’re also playing Higher festival in Croatia….there’s a lot more stuff we haven’t announced yet.