This month Twisted Disco brings you the blisteringly hot act The Japanese Popstars. Since bursting onto the scene in the last 12 months, their raucous, no-holds-barred brand of peak-time electro has seen them support Klaxons on tour, bag new talent features from Mixmag and I-DJ, been chosen as Featured Artists on Myspace, had an Electro Single Of The Month accolade from DJMag, been booked for Wireless and Glastonbury festivals, and received support from the likes of Erol Alkan, Pete Tong, Paul Woolford, Darren Emerson, Mason, 2ManyDJs, Philippe Zdar, Eddy Temple Morris and Fergie. Not bad going at all.

They started building up their fanbase through Myspace and gathered a cult following from their tracks and shows, selling out venues across their native Ireland and later the UK. They have signed to Gung-Ho! Recordings, and are releasing their debut album called We Just Are later this year. They’ll be showcasing tracks from their album in a storming live set at Twisted Disco – catch them before they blow up even bigger! Remember where you saw them first…

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

We are 3 lads from N.Ireland who like to write dance music, jump around onstage and generally have a good time whilst doing it!

How would you describe your music style?

Maximal House

You have been compared to Underworld and the Chemical Brothers in your style. What sets you apart from them?

It’s a massive compliment to be compared to our idols and to have worked so hard developing our music it really means a lot. We try to develop our own sound and make music how we like to hear it played out in a club. I think the energy that we place into the live show really works and maybe that’s what makes us different.

Your have both a live element and Djing to your sets. Which do you prefer doing?

It depends what mood we are in. If we play a lot of live shows it’s a great breath of fresh air to DJ again and then in contrast if we DJ a load of gigs back to back, to then play the live show it’s a massive feeling to rock out again with the live equipment and all our own tracks.

What have you got coming up this summer?

Off the top of my head we have Glastonbury, 02 Wireless Festival (London), Oxegen Festival (Ireland), Celtronic Festival and Pete Tongs Wonderland in Ibiza. We have a few other special dates pencilled in but we can’t say until they are confirmed.

We also have the release of our debut album called “We Just Are” on Gung-Ho! Recordings, our second EP will drop also and we should have a few remixes that we currently are working on out over the next few months.

You latest tune Sample Whore was given Essential New tune by Pete Tong. What that feel like to have the king of Dance music rating your tunes?

It’s been absolutely unreal! It’s really pushed us out there. We have gotten some great gigs and festival slots, quite a few remix offers and loads of new fans off the back of the Pete Tong plays. It’s amazing what he has done for us, he’s really helped our musical career.

What other DJ’s / acts are in to your music?

Its pretty mad to actually reflect on who has been playing out our tracks, as we have been listening to some of these DJs or actually going to see them DJ over the years, and now they are spinning our tracks. We had the likes of Erol Alkan, Pete Tong, 2manyDJs, Fergie, Azzido Da Bass and Groove Armada playing or showing support to what we have been doing. Its pretty mad to think that people you’ve been reading about in the dance magazines actually can like and would play out something that you’ve produced in your bedroom.

Have you got any productions coming out?

Yeah, Groove Armada Vs The Japanese Popstars “Get Down” is out on Strictly Rhythm next month, its currently on Beatport.com as one of their exclusive tracks and was sitting as high as No.11 this week in their Top 100.

On the 19th May our very own EP1 comes out on Gung-Ho! Recordings which contains “Delboys Revenge” and “Sample Whore” . We’ve been getting great support and feedback off that!
28th July will see our album drop also. It’s called “We Just Are” and contains 12 of our own tracks. It’s just been mastered and we are very excited by it! We should have our second EP out around this time also.

Who are your favourite producers at the moment?

Really liking Van She, Midnight Juggernauts, Phil Kieran and Simian Mobile Disco – all a bit obvious but they are making the right noises for us.

Have you got any favourite DJs? Or anyone tipped for the top?

My favourite DJ is Boys Noize….simply outstanding! He’s a showman and his mixing is tight. Great choice of tracks and an incredible night out!

How did you get in the Dance music industry in the first place?

I was a dancer in a “rave act” many moons ago. The less said the better. I went onto producing and have had a few alter egos and released a good few tunes in the past under different names. The Japanese Popstars came about whilst sitting drunk in a field at an Irish Festival. We wanted to play it the following year and set out to write a live set to play it…..only we left it a little too late to make it the 1st year. We’re booked for it this year though!

Where would you like to play that you haven’t played club wise?

Womb in Japan. We really want to visit Japan and to actually play there would be top of my list. Obviously the name The Japanese Popstars reflects on this….We just signed a record deal to a label out there, so hopefully we’ll get that chance. Fingers crossed!

What do you do away from dance music?

Our lives seem to revolve around dance music this last while and its hard to step away from it as we’ve had so much on. When we are not gigging we’ll be in the studio writing music. If we get a break we’ll go clubbing or watch some movies or hit the PS3 – Call Of Duty 4 has taken a chunk of my spare time also.

What is the scene like over in Ireland?

It has really sprung back to life this last 2 years. There are so many great DJs and dance acts starting up that there is always something happening. The club scene has been re-invigorated over here and people are getting back into dance music, more people heading out to clubs. The Irish have always been a great crowd and they are always up for letting their hair down and generally going nuts on the dancefloor!

What can we expect at Pacha on 30th May?

The Full Live Japanese Popstars Experience!

What do you think is the best thing in dance music at the moment?

The Presets are doing it for us this weather. Their new album is very exciting and hopefully they will make it quite big this year off the back of it!!

Is there any particular way that you’d like to be remembered?

More for the music and not so much for the porn….I was young and needed the money. Everyones done porn at some point anyways. Haven’t they? Hello?

http;//www.myspace.com/thejapanesepopstars

COME AND CHECK OUT TWISTED DISCO AT PACHA ON MAY 30TH