Freeform Five is an electronic band based in London headed by Dj/producer/remixer and chief song-writer Anu Pillai. The band also includes lead vocalist Tamara Barnett-Herrin backed up by Cabba and other guests. Freeform Five are well known for their remixes for artist such as N*E*R*D, Brian Wilson, X-Press 2 and David Byrne, Jamie Lidell, Justin Timberlake, Felix Da Housecat and The Killers. It was their much admired remix of Isolee’s “Beau Mot Plage” in 1999 that alerted many to this production outfit. They also had a hand in helping to re-work “Muscle Cars” by Mylo into a hit. No More Conversations was re-released in 2007 along with new remixes by Mylo, Fedde Le Grand, Mason, Switch and Subliminal Kid

Can’t get enough of the sumptuously wonky undulating sounds of electro and house, if so, then head down to Filth on Friday 25th April , where Filth bring you a very special LIVE performance to AREA51. After the jaw-dropper thug house party in March, which saw AREA51 at its very best and the Filth faithful raving on every cylinder possible, Manchester’s best kept non-secret returns in April for an aural Friday session showcasing the hottest talent around at the moment.
There’s a spring in Filth’s step as it fast approaches summer and this gig typifies what the club is all about: it’s eclectic mix of live music, house, electro and wonky basslines, mixed together as only the north institution knows how.

We chatted to Freeform Five about their up and coming performance..........

FREEFORM FIVE Interview

Hi Guys, thanks for taking the time do this interview. Let’s start at the beginning, how did you get into music and then into dj’ing?

I’ve been making & playing music since I was really young. I was playing guitar in bands at school, but also getting into technology and using synths and samplers to make music as well. I started Dj’ing basically because I was buying so many records – beginning with hip hop and then getting into house music.

Tell us about about Freeform Five, who you are? and what are you about?

Freeform Five is basically me, Anu, with different collaborators. Tamara is the main singer who I’ve known since university and most of the other people who work with us in the studio or on stage are friends from over the years. We’re basically about trying to take all our different influences to create our own sound rather than copy what other people are going – while having a lot of fun doing it.

Who did you take inspiration and influence from when you started out and who inspires you today?

Pretty much anything can give you inspiration. Musically, everything from Prince to Blondie thrown into an acid house blender is a pretty good way to describe it.

How would you describe your music style?

We don’t want to fit into any particular ‘scene.’ Hopefully if you like good music you’ll like us…

It’s been quite a year with your massive No More conversations Hit.What has been your highlight of the last 12 months and can we expect any more big hits over the next 6 month’s?

Last year has been pretty nuts with gigs everywhere from Womb in Tokyo, to Space in Ibiza via Cocoon in Frankfurt. Some of the live festival shows we did last year were great too. I’m now trying to concentrate on finishing the new album though which is hard when you’re doing that many gigs!

I hear you are working on a new album, What can you tell us about that?

It’s coming together now. It’s definitely been influenced by the number of DJ and live shows we’ve done. I think we’ve kept the songs strong but pushed the sound further so we will really be able to knock people out when we play it live or I play it out as a DJ.

You a LIVE Band and DJ’s what do you prefer to do?

Both are completely different ways of showing what we do to people. I love Dj’ing – having the total control. But when everything comes together right when you play live it can be very special.

Your do a special LIVE DJ set for Filth on 25th April at AREA51 in Manchester, What can we expect?

I never plan anything as a DJ – just try and follow where I feel the crowd wants to go and have a good party.

Which artists feature in your DJ sets the most at the moment?

People like Siriusimo and Shinichi Osawa have a unique style that I like. I also like pulling out some classics too and at the moment DJ Pierre tracks are sounding as fresh as they ever did.
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
Then too many people would know it!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen in a club?

I think I’ve seen pretty much everything you can think of and lots of things you can’t even imagine in clubs…

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

People being a bit more open minded – kids will go nuts to rock, acid house, disco, electro. It’s how it should be.

COME CHECK OUT FREEFORM FIVE @ AREA51 THIS FRIDAY