Since its formation by a group of likeminded friends in 2011, the rise and rise of Eton Messy has been impossible to ignore. From the YouTube channel that birthed it all – and now holds over 200,000 subscribers – to sell-out tours that have hosted a plethora of the on-the-rise talent documented by the channel, the boys behind EM have found themselves become a pivotal column in UK dance music. Along the way, they’ve showcased a veritable who’s who of prodigious producers and DJs – both online and in the flesh – including TCTS, Bondax, Disclosure and Karma Kid.
Looking to step things up even further in 2014, the EM boys have shared plans to set up a label with a first release underway from Jack Patterson (of our BOTW, Clean Bandit), alongside a new tour in February that’ll see them traversing from Glasgow to continental Paris. With just a week until it all kicks off in their adopted home of Bristol, we asked them to put together a playlist of acts hitting the road with them and found out a little about what lays in store for Eton Messy in 2014.
PlanetNotion: First off, tell us a little about the playlist you’ve put together for us. Was there any specific theme or mood you were going for?
Eton Messy: We decided to base the chart around all the acts on our forthcoming Eton Messy Presents Tour. So it features the tracks that we are digging from those artists.
PN: You’ve also got your own record label in the works. What can you tell us about it at this point in time? Is there any specific ethos you want to work under when selecting who you release music from?
EM: We can’t really say too much at the moment but its something we have wanted to do for a long time but hasn’t really felt like it was right to take the plunge until now. We want to focus on putting songs out that best emulate all the different influences of the channel.
PN: And on that note, who are you looking to put out music by this year?
EM: Once again unfortunately we cant say to much yet, but the first EP is going to be from Jack Bandit, of Clean Bandit.
PN: You guys have been around for a fair while now. What was it about now that felt right to begin the label and start putting out music ‘officially’?
EM: We really didn’t want it to feel like anything has been forced or rushed and if we do something we do it the right way. So, we decided to start do a Free Download Series first, which we do roughly once a month and features up and coming artists from the challenge. Instead of jumping into the label things, we thought we would do events – mainly because we all had a background in events and it’s a great way to build a physical presence.
PN: I understand some of you are just back from skiing. Was it simply a pleasure trip or were you off doing shows as well?
EM: It was strictly business! (Well, sort of.) We got booked to play a few shows out in Tignes and Val Thoren. We managed to get a few days skiing in too, which was great! Plenty of good food and fresh air!
PN: Finally, as it’s the season for sticking – or not – to New Year’s resolutions, what track would you choose to help fulfil those commitments to change this January and why?
- Alex Cull
Eton Messy play at XOYO on the 22nd March. For tickets and further information, visit the Eton Messy Facebook page.
