ATFC is well respected producer that it has been part of Defected a long time. Now with his Onephatdeeva Recordings brings us more house singles. Partner is crime is Warren Clarke that he is also part of defected. These two together produce/DJ under the nickname The Lab Rats and bring mayhem.

To start off, please tell everyone a bit about your background, what you do, your influences, likes and dislikes.

Aydin - Well I come from the fairly tried and tested route of Djing at parties from the age of 14. Running mobile discos, doing weddings, birthdays etc. After a while I started putting on more "credible" events around London.
I eventually got into making records about 10 years ago with my main influences being Hip Hop (Eric B & Rakim, Big daddy Kane, Public Enemy etc) and Jazz Funk (The Blackbyrds, Jimmy Castor, Herbie Hancock etc) From that I started playing soulful house and then started making it, which takes us up to the present day. My influences today are pretty much the same I have always had. My record collection inspires most of the music I make, so I guess you could say anyone from Stevie Wonder to Danny Tenaglia, John Coltrane to Erick Morillo. Dislikes? well I don't like people who take double pushchairs into crowded shopping centres.

Warren - I have been producing, remixing and Djing for about 10 years now. My musical influences are varied quite a bit. I like all types really not just dance. What I look for in a song is production, great hooks and dynamics. A song someone has a really put some thought into. you know, It means something to you, creates an emotion. That's what great music should do.

Lately a lot of Artists are remixing songs from pop groups. You did that too with S Club 7 - Stronger. When you hear the remix you can't understand that is S Club 7 but it used to be no-go to do that couple years ago. Now it seems everyone is doing it. How you got that decision? Did this remix affect your reputation you think as house producer?

Aydin - It's a harder job to remix a pop act and I would only consider a few. It's a challenge to get cool DJ's to play an S Club 7 record in a club and I hope I succeeded. It's great to see other Dj's leaning over the record box to see what the last record you played was when you know it's a band they would normally laugh at. The public have got very short memories when it comes to dance music, and all I need to do is make another cooler record a month later and all is forgotten. Think of the people David Morales, MAW, Frankie Knuckles and Erick Morrillo have remixed in their time and I think you'll see my point.

Warren, last couple months there is a new mix of Over you from MR G that it gave new life at your track on dance floors. What you think about it? Are you satisfied with this mix or it is an old mix that never got into Defected Package?

Warren - The mix of Over you that's doing the rounds at the moment is the original demo I submitted to Defected. It has Lisa Millet on vocal duties and the demo was first done in 1998 I think. It's an old song. I still like the original a lot it has a different more simplistic production vibe to it. It may have never seen the light of day but I'm glad it's out. It gives another flavour to the song and it's getting great reactions when I play it out.

Speaking of which, what's in the pipeline for productions and remixes for the upcoming months? Is there any collaboration with other artists in the works? If given the chance to work with anyone, who would you like to work with most?

Aydin - I've just finished a track with Smokin Jo, I've also signed a track by Marshall Jefferson for my record label Onephatdeeva Recordings. There are various other productions in the pipeline with different singers and I'm hoping to work with Carleen Anderson in the near future. The last question is one which I cant answer easily. There are so many producers, singers, musicians etc that I would love to work with. If I had to choose one group though it would probably be Q-Tip, Phife and Ali Shaheed from A tribe called Quest.

Which single or remix is the best for you for 2002 until now even summer is coming up and a lot of hot house tracks will show up soon. Also which is your favourite single or remix you did?

Aydin - Well so far I've really liked Reckless Girl by Absolute Begginerz and Tim Deluxe's tune will do well as well. So far this year I guess Sleep Talk has to be the one I'm most proud of from me.

Warren - I have to say that for me Shakedown has to be one of the best tracks so far this year. The kid creme mix was rockin. just watching that go off in a club was breath taking. Although it's still quite early to be picking my fav tune of 2002, I'm sure there's plenty more great tracks to come with the summer upon us.

Are there any plans for an artist album or mix album and if so, what can we expect from it? Or is anything you will do together as Lab Rats? a double mix album?

Aydin - All the above. It would be great to get the chance to do an album but the singles just keep on coming. Personally I'd aim to make an album which shows my range of musical taste. I'm constantly making tracks with a view to putting them on an album one day. Downtempo stuff, some soul, drum&bass, jazzy breakbeaty stuff as well as the dance tracks. The same applies for the Lab Rats I think.

Tell us how you came with the idea about Lab Rats Project, both dj and producing wise. Is it hard to make 4 decks and 2 mixers to work perfect on a dj session? It is seems that more and more people are making group that dj with more than 2 decks what you think about it?

Aydin - We only began Djing together at the beginning of last year, although we've been in the studio together for about 3/4 years. The Lab Rats thing started when we both independently moved from Bournemouth to London and decided to work on a couple of tracks. A couple of tracks turned into more and more after we found we had the same sense of humour and got on (most of the time!!!)

Warren - It's not really that hard to make the 4 deck thing work. As we have both dj's and worked with each other for quite a while now. We know each others tastes and style. I like to mix it up with Aydin as LabRats. It's more of a laugh for a start and we can afford to be more creative and experimental. using 4 decks seems to be catching on, I think it's a good thing it gives the clubbers something new

What do you think about 2002 is the year that House is going to be big again? We are talking about funky house it went to background to UK for a while but it seems it is really going up at the moment after Progressive mania at 2001. What your opinion about?

Aydin - I wouldn’t like to anticipate the trend but I hope it will be. I'll be able to buy my BMW X5 then!

Warren - I still think prog/tech house has a hold on the scene at the moment. You are right that funky house is making a come back. Not as big as I would like but it all comes down to the quality of the songs produced. the more great songs written in a funky house style will make it a big sound this year. I'm sure it will happen as you have a lot of great producers already making this style of house music

After a very successful Defected DJ, you made your own label Onephatdeeva that last year it had a Whitelabel "More Shots From The Hip" and this year it had the first official release remixes of Erotik that got lifted from last years Whitelabel. Tell us why you got the decision to make your own label when you were already on a very successful label as Defected? It has to do that Defected wants only the "big" tracks? or just a way to express more you musical taste?

Aydin - All of my releases on Defected were top 40 singles so it was very important to keep producing underground tracks. By this I mean tracks that are never meant to be big singles. I'm also working pretty fast now and I needed a vehicle to release some more material. There will be more stuff on Defected and other labels but my business had to progress and I can't rely on other people all the time. Eventually (but not just yet) I'll be able to express a wider taste through the label. I need to settle in first.

Finally, are there any particular artists / DJs you have admired? Or feel have great potential during 2002 and beyond?

Aydin - When I first got into Djing, Trevor Nelson was a huge inspiration. Also Gilles Peterson and the Soul 2 Soul crew. Then came people like MAW and Tony Humphries and now guys like Roger Sanchez and Mr Morrillo. I'm not in the situation to notice up and coming talent - but I'd have to say a young guy called Warren Clarke may do quite well in a few years time!

Warren - I really admire Danny Tenaglia, he has to be the no 1 for me. His sound is just amazing. His dj style and music sounds like no one else, it's totally unique. I love the way he takes records and does his own edits for his sets. I think he has been a great inspiration to me in my work.

What have been your biggest records in the box over the past couple of weeks?

Aydin
Reckless Girl - Absolute Beginerz
Tim Deluxe - It just won't do
Giddy Aunt - Bounce Bump Jump Shout!

Warren - "Love jam" is still at the front of my box and so is Tim deluxe's "It just won't do". They are doing it for me and my dance floors at the moment.

Thanks Aydin and Warren for their time. Also thanks Claire for sorting this out.

www.onephatdeeva.com

Kostas Michalis