As De La immortalised on their classic ‘3 feet high and rising’ LP, 3 is indeed a magic number. Three is also the number of DJs involved in a new project shaping up to be one of the most interesting ones to come out of the often stale and much debated DJ battle scene. Three is the amount of countries these three DJs come from. And three also is… well no actually three isn’t anywhere near the number of world titles these guys share between them. The three in question are Tigerstyles (from the UK and world winner of every title in 2003), Rafik (from Germany, member of the Lordz of Fitness crew and ITF 2004 world solo and team champ) and Pfel (from France, member of two times DMC team winners C2C) and this project sees them coming together to perform live on stage and bring to the public a whole new take on what can be achieved with turntables, mixers and a whole load of gear. We had the chance to catch up with them prior to their first official outing as a group at Fabric in January this year. After witnessing their impressive and very different showcase we sat down for a chat and find out what the deal is with this new project and what the guys have been up to and have got planned for 2005. They call it the shit sausage or something…

Ok well the first thing I wanted to know was about the showcase you’re all doing tonight. Can you tell us a bit more about how it started and how you all hooked up together to do this?

Rafik: Well I’ve got a version on how it happened…

Pfel: Yeah me too! (laughs)

Rafik: My version would be that Tigerstyle and myself were hanging out in Düsseldorf when he was on tour with Blade and we were working some stuff out together and it worked quite well and we got drunk one night and thought about doing some stuff together. And then I think it was at ITF Germany where you guys (looking at Tiger and Pfel) also spoke about it and we then looked at doing something all three together, along the lines of a triple showcase type thing. Is that correct? (laughs all round)

Pfel: Yeah the first time you told me about it was at the DMC this year, at the after party show, as far as I remember…

Tigerstyle: Yeah that’s right!

So you really hooked up through the battles and touring then?

All 3: yeah pretty much

P: We battled each other and then got to know each other and talk really.

T: You sort of meet people along the battle scene, like whom you can work with and whom you can connect with. Find out if you have a similar style and direction with what you want to do outside of battling.

And so how come you chose Fabric for the showcase? As I understand it this is the first time you’ll be doing this all 3 on stage?

T: Well I was booked originally to do something, Tony Vegas had sorted it out. And then as we started to practice I thought this would be the perfect time and opportunity for us all to do it live for the first time. So they came over and we just split the money and went for it. Make a good show of it and hopefully something can come out of it.

Well I had the chance to catch your sound check, but for those readers who won’t see you tonight what would you say could people expect if they come see you?

R: It’s not really the complete version of what we can do together yet. It’s like a little preview, we’ve got one routine we thought we could show tonight because it’s quite aimed at the party crowd and for the rest of the show we’ll be doing our respective solo stuff.

And it’s all linked together?

R: Yeah.

It’s not just each of you doing a routine at a time type thing.

R: No. That’s it for the moment, we got some more stuff but decided to go with this for tonight and work on the other stuff for the future.

And seeing as you’re from 3 different countries, how did you get together for practice and rehearsals?

P: We travelled a lot! (laughs)

T: We practice around mine.

P: Yeah we mainly work at Tiger’s place, because it’s easier for all us. And it’s our fourth proper session now.

T: Third actually.

P: Ah, third not fourth. Third session working on this together. So it’s still really in the early stages but we’re working on it.

And what equipment are you working with then?

P: 5 decks, 4 mixers including 2 Pioneer 909 for the effects and MPC for beats and sounds to keep the crowd entertained.

T: And a few effects modules too

P: Yeah a few effects modules for echo, delays that type of stuff.

R: Actually there is a wah wah pedal connected to one of the effects module too, but we’re not using it tonight.

So that’s the setup you’d want to continue working with in the future when you move this project forward?

R: Yeah that’s the setup we’ve got right now, and we’re pretty happy with it.

So this isn’t just a one off event then? You’re all intent on taking this further?

T: Definitely, we’re looking at turning this into a performance where we can make up loads of tracks and find different ways to perform them. Do a complete show and try to organise a tour.

So you would look at making a full showcase and take away the routines?

P: Yeah, maybe put the routines at the end or something, but definitely get to a point where the showcase is the main thing, and maybe have routines at the end or something like that.

R: Putting more weight into the 3-man work then the routines really. At the moment the routines, solo stuff, are a main part of it because we have more of it now, but there’s a lot more to come!

Nice. And well I also wanted to chat to you about your own solo work and projects as you’re all quite busy on the solo front as well. Tigerstyle first, are you still working with Blade?

T: Actually that’s kind of died down a bit. I’ve got one show left and then I’ll concentrate on my own stuff and this project too.

And I know you were meant to be releasing a record in 2004, I think it was called Zero. Is that still in the works?

T: Yeah totally. I haven’t really had the time to think about it. If I’m honest, I did finish it at one point and then I heard Rafik’s battle break and I thought I better leave it for a little while!

R: Pffff! Shut up! (laughs)

T: Because it’s quite similar and I think his is a lot better I haven’t bothered with it. But I’m still working on it and will try and release it this summer… Honest! (laughs)

I believe you! It was Vinyl Richie who told me about it and I know it was planned for 2004. It’s good to know people are working on stuff, especially in the UK. And have you got anything else planned on the solo tip or just that?

T: Just more of my three decks performances I’ve been doing and a mix CD too. I’m going to make myself do a mix CD because I’ve been talking about it and trying to do it for years so I’ll do that this year.

And you Rafik, what solo stuff have you got planned? There’s this break record then?

R: I’m working on a lot of stuff at the moment. The break record is coming out next month, it’s been ready for 6 months but I’ve had some troubles with design and stuff.

So is that on your own or is it a Lordz of Fitness release?

R: It’s part of the series we started with the Lordz. Rasgunyado did his last year, ‘Eraserhead’, which a few people might know and it’s the second in the same series. The series is called ‘Workout Essentials’ and it’s released on a German label. And mine is called ‘Sucker Punching’.

Are you all doing one then?

R: It’s supposed to be a series but I’d be surprised if we bring it to an end but that’s a different story. I’m also working on a few tracks at the moment that I would like to release. And I’ve also got this band, called ‘Cosmic Delivery’. It’s like a jazz/funk band I’m working with…

P: Cosmic Delivery!

R: Yeah it’s really cosmic and stuff dude! Far out! (laughs)

So you working with them? Based in Germany I take it?

R: Yeah, it’s got classic instruments, Rhodes, drums, contrabass and trumpet and then fitting the turntable with that. It’s just freestyle really at the moment, most of what we do is anyway. We’re thinking of releasing an album this year, which would be some studio work basically that comes out of the sessions we do.

Nice. Well I also wanted to ask you about battling, as you’ve just won the ITF title and runner up at DMC. Will you be defending this year you think?

R: Err… I’m really not sure. I’ve got angel and devil on my shoulders all the time at the moment! I don’t know and I’m not sure so I won’t say anything!

I just thought I’d ask!

R: I’m thinking about it, but I could turn around and decide not to do it in the end. Maybe…

Well you’ve got all this other stuff you’re working on so…

R: Exactly, and that’s a bit more important to me as well. What I could get out of doing things like that is probably more then battling so I may contend with the titles I have now and leave it that way.

And finally you Pfel…

P: Well I’ve got quite a few projects for this year. I’m working on some live sets and solo shows, working with C2C as well on an album, which we want to release this year. We’re also thinking of doing a new break record, Flying Saucer 4. That might or might not happen, we’re not too sure yet. What else? I’m also working on some solo tracks, thinking about an album for that too, but probably not until next year now. And maybe also work on some routines for competitions, but I don’t know about that yet. I’d probably want to enter again, especially because I have no solo titles to my name. I’d like to have at least one, you know?

And do you work on any of the stuff with Hocus Pocus? (Ed note: Hocus Pocus are an acoustic hiphop band signed on the same label as C2C)

P: I’m working with them, as part of C2C, a little because they have a new album coming soon (Ed note: 73 Touches, out end of Feb. 04, check Turntable Radio news for more on that). We’ve done a track as C2C on the album, which is also on the first single, which is out now.

And I’ve heard that’s an all-scratch track?

P: Yeah. What else? Still working at a DJ school too, doing workshops and classes there. And of course working on this project as well.

And seeing as you’re all still battling, with the exception of Tigerstyle who hasn’t this year, but you’ve all got a pretty strong battling background, have you got any thoughts and opinions on the battle scene right now?

P: It might not be getting better every year, there are different DJs that catch your attention every year but the last guy I saw who really impressed me was Netik. Also Vajra, what I saw of him was pretty dope. He finished third at the DMC US, but I really don’t know why! There are a lot of strong DJs for me at the moment, everyone has the technical skills now, so it’s down to who is the most original, technical, what you can bring to the stage… so there are other fields for people to concentrate on now I think. The technical skills are there for everybody, we need something else to set people apart.

Totally. I think that’s why it’s interesting that you guys are doing something like this now, because it’s come from the battles but you’re now taking it away from that and putting forward to a different audience, a wider one. And do you guys follow much of what goes on outside of battling, like the albums being released, showcases, live bands things like that? There was 2tall in the UK, BNN in France, I can’t really think of anyone in Germany, but you had C-Mon and Kypski in Holland, Gunkhole and Excess in the US and so on.

R: Yeah we had Mum’s Best as well, but I’m not too sure what they’re up to these days. Maybe I should go and kick their asses into gear because they had some pretty dope stuff.

P: I’ve heard BNN’s stuff because they’re French, and also because I live in Paris I get to see them regularly and hear what they’re doing.

Do you like what they’re doing with it?

P: Yeah of course. It’s maybe not what I would want to do but I like it.

And you Tiger you followed much of what’s happened in the UK?

T: Err… Yeah I’ve been a bit quiet on that front because a lot of the time I’ve got my head stuck in the sand basically but I do need to catch up on some of it. I do need to hear 2tall’s album, because I’ve heard loads of good about that.

Yeah it’s quite different.

T: Yeah and his live stuff is pretty good, the loop station he’s been doing. To me really it’s all about different directions really, people are taking it everywhere these days. You’ve got Gunkhole as well, I called them The Doors of today basically, and you’ve got different people taking different musical possibilities with a turntable and doing their own thing with it. What I wanted to try and do with this project is take it to a next level, not a battle thing, but take some elements from there and combine them with musical stuff. Everyone’s on about the musical tip at the moment and it’s true if cliché. We just make stuff that’s really entertaining to look at and listen to as well.

Well the last thing I wanted to touch on was the new technology coming out, all the new turntables, mixers and so forth. You guys obviously use different stuff, pedals, MPC and so on but do you have any opinions on what’s coming out at the minute?

R: I’ve just heard of a lot of rubbish going on in the industry at the moment. Like this whole set up, like a complete set up in one piece or QFOs (laughs) and what not. But I think that the whole effects angle, with mixers like the 909, effect pedals and so on, is really cool just because if you look at normal music bands they all use effects on instruments to change the sound of it and the textures, and I think it’s the same for turntables. It’s a simple thing really, like adding a delay or reverb or something like that, it can change so much of the sound that I find it’s a really good development for the art form.

It opens up more possibilities too for what you want to do on stage…

R: Yeah and it makes it sound a lot proper as well I find then just a cut or whatever.

P: For me I find that CD players, the ones aimed at the scratch market, are pretty good for production as well. It allows to test sounds really quickly, not have to press dubplates. I find it really useful for production at home, scratch tracks, things like that. We’re using the CDX now too, because Numark endorses us and it’s a nice addition to the setup.

Many thanks to the guys for their time. You can check the Lordz of Fitness site for more on Rafik and the On and On records site for more on Pfel. Keep your eyes peeled on the news section for more info on this new project and any future tour dates. You can also check an edited audio version of this interview and brand new tracks from each of these guys in the March 2005 edition of Turntable Radio.

Thanks to Nick at fabric for the hook up. More info on Fabric and line ups on Fabric’s site.