With a swathe of enticing releases under their belts already, the duo of fashion designer and DJ Gresham Blake and Phats and Smalls’ Jason Phats, better known as Shakeable Germ, are back on the grind once again with their latest offering 'We're Going Out'.
Collaborating alongside vocalist and producer ATLANTALILI, 'We're Going Out' makes for an incredibly rich and pulsing listen from start to finish. Jam-packed with vibrant aesthetics, energetic pace, and killer hooks throughout, it feels like these guys are set to become one of the most talked about new names of the moment.
So with the new single out and about, we sat down with the duo's Gresham Blake to find out more about his background and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
At first it was the piano, I loved ragtime, then when I hit my rebellious teenage years it was the electric guitar.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I got massively into Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, but listen to a lot of Punk, bands like Crass and Poison Girls where my top punk listens. Also loved West Coast Garage. Then when the rave scene hit I got into Acid House and all the paraphernalia around it. (yes I was one of those nutjobs you see in old rave clips).
What was the first album you remember owning?
My Nan bought me a Musical Youth album, but the first album I bought myself was Ian Drury and the Blockheads.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
In the ghetto, my way, I’m trapped, Promised Land or maybe put their name to something mental like Anastasia T99 or DOET by Spiral tribe.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I just listen to music that doesn’t seem to go natural together like grime and Acid house. I am not very technical with what I do, and I share my ideas with Jason Phats who produces the records as I have very basic production skills. Jason brings abstract music ideas and manages to make a track out of them. The last track “We’re going Out’ we teamed up with Atalantalili who sung vocals and landed up co producing, it was her that gave the song a really cool but commercial feel.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
D Double E, Doja Cat, Jorja Smith.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Nicki Minaj for the pure experience. But opening for Glastonbury would be amazing.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Just knowing people are listening and enjoying the music. My real passion is also in producing and styling the video.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I need to become more involved with the tech behind the music, I’m always trying to put sounds together that only work in my abstract brain and in reality sound dreadful. I have trouble making sense from the madness.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Stick to tailoring (that’s my day job) I presume they are joking.
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Shakeable Germ's new single 'We're Going Out' is available to stream now. Check out the new video for it in the player below.