METRO AREA INTERVIEW
What’s been happening lately in the musical world of Darshan Jesrani/Metro Area?
All kinds of stuff, a lot of it tangible, moving toward being complete, some of it still in the planning, imagination stages for next year.
Can we expect a new Metro Area album anytime soon?
Yep, we’re working steadily and have quite a few new songs, but we can’t give details yet. We have, in the past, been too optimistic about when we’ll be finished, so for now we’ll leave it at ‘pretty soon’. We are very slow! We’re also very careful, and are only doing stuff we’re really into, so with hope folks will enjoy it as well. We’re aiming to get at least a few songs out before June/July of the new year, with the rest to follow.
What can you reveal about it? How has the sound developed since the debut album in 2002?
It has changed a lot, but I also see it as an extension of what we were doing in 2002 and before. I guess in our earlier stuff we were trying to stick to a ‘form’ – that of disco and boogie. The constants were “disco” things like our drum tracks, many of which were re-arrangements of sampled drums from disco records, claps, stuff like that. Now I feel like those things have become kind of incidental to the actual song. I’ve been hacking my way through learning how to be purposeful about composing. Many of my first ideas are ones that I have to throw out in favor of something a little deeper and more thought about, and since I’m nowhere near fluent it tends to take a long time! That said, I’m totally excited about these songs and can’t wait to get them out.
What do you think it was about the debut album that awarded its widespread praise and place amongst the ‘Top 50 albums of 2002’, as well as winning ‘Dance Album of the Year’?
I think it was the cover art.
How have you enjoyed working and performing individually rather than part of a duo?
I guess it’s just more practice. I’ve learned a bit about how to play for 3-4-5-6 hours and how to program music, but like composition I feel like it’s a limitless pursuit.
How does your own creative style/ musical taste differ from Morgan’s? Is there a significant difference in the paths you’ve taken as DJs?
Really crudely and simply I’m going to say that I guess I’ve been drawn to the face-value musical effects of stuff, rather than what they mean in context, while Morgan many times makes really clever and somewhat wry choices, but which also have a really propulsive, upbeat quality to them. I’m probably not doing our styles much justice but that’s all I’ve got for ya right now.
Which remixes are you currently working on?
I can tell you what remix I haven’t been working on, and that is one for my good friend Henry Maldonado’s new project on Wurst, which I think people just might love. I’m planning to work on it when I get home, alongside work on the album.
What do you remember about your night at Sneaky Sundays?
A hot sweaty sweatbox mess, and playing Human League’s “Love Action”, and Dan writing stuff overhead outside the DJ booth in chalk. Good times!!
