Interview with: KLUBBHEADS

"As all good things, it was ‘born’ by accident."

When listening to your favorite 90's tunes its almost certain that its influened by the sounds of Klubbheads. They are known for producing quite a few hit records and inventing the Bamboo/Donk sound which later became charactaristic for the sound of Hardbass. Can we expect new Klubbheads music now that Bamboo/Donk is making a comeback in The Netherlands?

We spoke with Koen Groeneveld (Left on the photo).

How did you come up with the name Klubbheads?

"That remains a secret!"

Where are you guys from?

"Vlaardingen (nearby Rotterdam), Netherlands"

Could you guys tell us something about your contribution to the 90/00’s dance scene?

"As producers we made quite a few hit records: Our first big club hit was “The Ultimate Seduction” by The Ultimate Seduction, one of our many alter egos.

We produced 6 Top 10 hit singles for DJ Paul Elstak; “Luv U More”, “Rainbow In The Sky” and “The Promised Land”. We also produced “The Launch” for DJ Jean.

Under our very own Klubbheads project we scored several national and international hits between 1995 and 2001. “Kickin’ Hard”, “Klubbhopping”, “Turn Up The Bass” and “Hiphopping” for example. Under my own nick name, DJ BoozyWoozy, I had hits with tracks such as “Party Affair” and “One More Try”. Under Drunkenmunky we dropped a spree of huge club hits between 2002 and 2004. In 2006 we scored a worldwide with “Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)” under another side-project called Hi_Tack."

Klubbheads - Kickin' Hard (Click on the image to listen to the track)

You guys are responsible for producing many popular tracks which are released by other artists. What is your opinion on that?

"We have no opinion regarding that. We are both producers and artists, we like acting / working as both. For example, when we produced for DJ Jean we felt good being “only” producer, writer and label. One day later we were working on another Klubbheads single."

What would you consider your best track, and what would you concider as your worst?

"Best track… hmm hard… For me personally that would be “The Launch”. Worst: “The Magnet”.

What kept inspiring you along your long road as an artist?

"Simple things. Traveling, meeting interesting people… Just life in general."

What was your favorite performance?

"Dance Valley 2000, dropping “Big Bass Bomb” for the very first time. But there are so many unforgettable shows. Too many to mention."

What do you do for a living? Did you finish in any degrees?

"Producing music, running various labels and DJ-ing of course!"

Do you have any idols in music?

"Dr. Dre, Duran Duran, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Trevor Horn and Coldplay."

Could you tell us something about your personal life, what are your interests?

"I am a music freak of course but next to that I have a passion for aviation, photography and movies."

Can we expect some new Klubbheads music in the future?

"Yes! Actually working on a new Bamboo Sessions EP (last one was in 2005) at this very moment, that will be out on our label Klubbkontrol late July."

Mark 24 july. Klubbheads will be dropping a brand new spiced up 90's style Bamboo EP! (CLick on the image to visit their label Klubbkontrol)

"The fact that the Hi-Per Hard Mix is the cause for the birth of a certain genre sounds like a joke to us."

Could you tell us something about the history of the Bamboo/Donk sound?

"As all good things, it was ‘born’ by accident. We just used a funny bass sound from a Yamaha TX81Z rack keyboard in a remix (can’t remember which one) and shortly after we used it in “Kickin’ Hard”, it exploded and became our trademark - famous as Bamboo and / or Donk."

What inspired you for the Hi-Per – Gimme More (Klubbheads Hi-Per Hard Mix)?

"I have really no idea. In this period we did sometimes 2 remixes per day and it’s 22 years ago… The only thing I can tell you that it was made in like 20 minutes, because it was a bonus remix to our main remix “Klubbheads Hi-Pe Klubb Mix). So we did not want to spend much more time on it."

Hi-Per – Gimme More (Klubbheads Hi-Per Hard Mix). Known as the very first Hardbass track. (Click on the image to listen to the track)

What is your own opinion on the remix?

"Not one of our best. The fact that the Hi-Per Hard Mix is the cause for the birth of a certain genre sounds like a joke to us."

Why do you think it is not one of your best songs?

"Don’t know… it just sounds too simple… uninspired."

"Later DJ Snat became the Godfather of Hardbass by developing this sound to unimaginary heights and popularaizing it in Russia, Saint Petersburg." ~ Sonic Mine

You inspired many people with that track. What do you think about the track leading to the existence of a new genre?

"Like I said, that’s funny. But in a good way of course! Also proud. But it remains remarkable to us :D"

What do you think about Donk/Bamboo gaining popularity with the young Dutch audience?

"That’s really cool of course!"

How do you feel about your music being played at TRI poloski?

"It’s always good to know our music is being played."

Now that you guys are aware of new Donk sounds (Metal Shade), could we expect productions featuring Metal Shade donks?

"From us? No, I don’t think so. But no one can predict the future of course :D"

DJ Barabass (Godfather of Metal Shade) - Злодеев Иван Иванович:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw5xdZ9-cvo

Do you think Hardbass/Metal Shade would deserve a spot between the other Hard Dance genres?

"That’s hard for us to judge but why not, if there are people out there enjoying it, it does!"

TRI poloski XL - 013 Tilburg. 24 oktober 2020. Click on the image to check out the official party trailer

Is there anything you would like to mention/share?

"Thanks for liking and supporting our wicked Bamboo bass and keep on doing and enjoying that!"

APA: TRI poloski. (2020, 14, June). Interview with: Klubbheads.