Hello Orde and Stuart, how are you? What are you up to today?

In the Sudio preparing a new live set for the summer .We are quite exited
about doing live this summer as we have lots of new tracks and remixes to
pull on .

So briefly, where did it all start for you guys?

It started back in 88 when me and Orde met each other for the first time
working in a bar .Orde had just came back from Sheffield where he was at
university we both used to fight over the tape machine to play mix tapes We
decided to start djing because we were both buying lots of records and
within a year it just sort of exploded .One minute we were doing a basement
club for 400 people and the next we were doing the tramway with the hacienda
for 2000.It was a really exiting time very fresh and very new. .Lots of
amazing records which are now classics form Detroit and Chicago .

How would you sum up your musical style now?

Technological funk with an array of odd sounds and silly noises .

What about the current house and techno scene in general, do you think
things are pretty healthy?

I think its as healthy now as its ever been probably more so .The downside
is there are probably too many records ,so good things get missed .The
challenge is finding those labels and artists who are doing something fresh
and exiting people like Mathias Kadden, Paul Rich from France for example .

A lot of focus surrounds Berlin and minimal at the moment, and in particular the Minus label, you have Richie Hawtin headlining the Sunday of your T In The Park stage, where do you see this hype heading?

Its funny because Ritchie has always had a following in Scotland since the
early nineties . Its seems now that people that used to like Danny Tanaglia
or whatever now like Ritchie Hawtin and Minus so he must be doing something
right. Its serious music and very popular at the same time which I think is
a good thing. It’s good to take your music seriously. .Some people say its
self indulgent , but personally I applaud self indulgence .

Richie Hawtin has recently grabbed (internet forum) headlines by removing turntables completely from his performance. As early adopters of Serato can you see your selves following suit in a dj sense?

We have already had a spell using no turn tables using Ablton a couple of
years ago and people were complaining that it wasn't djing in the
traditional sense. Clubbers in general don't like watching someone on a
laptop they need to see a performance (its the same reason they prefer live
bands with guitars as opposed to synthesizers) some are probably djs
themselves .The other side of the coin is that software can change the way
records sound and you can take the bassline from one ,the hi hats from
another and so on and make a totally new track when every dj any where can
get easy access to all the music at the same time I think its important more
than ever you stamp your individuality on your sound . We started using Serato after Ableton because it gave us back that feeling of djing its just a personal thing for us there's more energy in it that way

Pressure, Soma, Return To Mono, your own tent at T In The Park, as well as an already packed out DJ diary, production schedule, not to mention your live sets, how do you manage to fit everything in?

Its hard… we never sleep .No we have a good team on board with Soma and our
partner and manager Dave Clarke .

Do you still practise your dj sets?

There is always a lot of preparation goes into our Djing in general
,listening to music making re edits etc .We personally like the freedom of
moving around so no sets from A to B ,no two crowds are ever the same so
Serato allows you great freedom to jump around .

Your lineups for Pressure at The Arches are consistently of a high standard, what do you look for and what excites and motivates you to book the artists and performers you have each month?

Sometimes its people we have heard on the road, or its people we have heard
about from others .Or they are consistently great at making records ,people
like Len Faki or Paco Osuna fall into that category .

Which artist is always a joy to watch, who has stood out for you over the
years?

Djs I enjoy watching are Adam Bayer the Pan Pot guys, Derek May Laurent
Garnier Sebo K and Joris Voorn there's tons ,too many to mention.

Any new talent coming through that you think will make their mark in years to come?

Mr Copy he just played live with us at our Soma records party at Sonar he's
only 19 and makes great techno and performs it live with only one MPC200.

What is the essence of a great night for you personally?

Busy ,Good sound system ,Long Dj sets, good friendly up for it knowledgeable
crowd ,comfortable dj booth with everything working. Fabric basically!

This will be your 4th appearance for Fergie's Excentric night, after the 2
last summer in Ibiza and most recently up in Perth just before Christmas,
how have you found the parties?

Great! We really enjoyed the night in Perth at the Ice Factory in
particular.

How long have you known Fergie for, when did you first meet?

We met briefly at Fabric then again at the Return To Mono .We met properly
at Sonar last year .

Lastly what have you got coming up in the way of gigs and what have you got coming out of your studio to listen out for?

Its a busy summer lots of festivals Glade Oxygen T in the Park Festival and
a bit of Ibiza action, We Love at Space and Mega Night at Privilege
In the studio , remixes for Radio Slave Mauro Piccotto and Fergie .
And the launch of our new label Paragraph .We have also just finished our
Sifi Hifi 5 mix as well.

Thank you for your time Slam!

Slam will be playing alongside Fergie, King Unique, Ben Nott, Bigger Than Jesus & Mr Henry Von at the next Excentric at the Custard Factory, Birmingham, on the 19th July 2008. For more information check out www.excentric-fergie.com and www.myspace.com/excentricartists.