On and On, a quick chat with C2C...

2003 and 2004 DMC Team world winners C2C (Coup 2 Cross) from France imposed their name on the scene following their 2003 win, which they doubled up in 2004 with a back to back win. Known for their incredibly funky and highly musical routines (as demonstrated by their wins) the boys from Nantes took some time to answer some quick questions by email following their 2003 win in London. Find out more about one of France's then best kept secret who are sure to change the way you view team battles.

Firstly, can you tell us who is who in C2C, where you are from and how long you have been into turntablism?

C2C is a collective of DJs composed of 20syl, Atom, Greem and Pfel. We are all from Nantes and around there (west of Paris near Britanny). We've been into turntablism for over 7 years, and Pfel joined us over 4 years ago.

What's your definition of turntablism?

The classic one I suppose. To use the turntable in the spirit of an instrument. After that you can look at turntablism as a movement created by the constant research for new techniques linked to the turntable. These techniques in turn give birth to new sounds, sonic manipulations as well as sonic composition and a music, which can be qualified as Scratch Music.

How did you guys come together?

Well we were all together in school, friends before we were DJs, and then it all happened naturally when we discovered turntablism bit by bit together.

What does it feel like to have won the World Finals? Was there anyone else that night that you thought had beaten you?

The first sensation was that we didn't really believe it. On the Saturday, after the show we were gutted because we thought we'd messed it up. But as soon as we watched it again we realised the mistakes weren't as important as we thought, but on the night we were wondering if we were going to even rank in the top 3! Especially because Funky Teknicianz had a really good and solid routine and La Guilde had a neat set. But gradually DJs came to us to congratulate us and we started to believe it!

How did you prepare yourselves for the competition?

We've never been so prepared our whole life. First of all we won the French DMC on the 8th of June, which gave us time to get ready for the finals. We didn't want to lose time and limit ourselves to the vinyls we had, so we put loads of breaks together on one record, which we had pressed at the beginning of August. After we built the routine and repeated it constantly while filming it so that we could be perfect sonically as well as visually.

How do you approach putting routines together as a team? Do you find it easier then when you do solo routines?

The major difficulty with working as a team is that obviously you have to take into account the opinions of everyone in order to progress. And because everyone has their own conceptions and musical structures it can take longer to put a show together, but it also teaches you to listen more to others and be more humble as you have to learn to put yourself backward in order to put the team forward.

Where do you find inspiration for your routines?

If you listen to the routine you will see that our influences are many (hip-hop, rock, electro, funk...) even if most of us listen to US Hip-Hop, it doesn't stop us from using other music in our routines. Quite the opposite, it's by looking into other music that we find new, original and interesting sounds.

Can you tell us some more about your label OnandOn Records and the material you have been putting out?

The label was created by 20syl and Yann with the aim to have a structure which would allow us to put out vinyls firstly, and also the label will come to grow in the future depending on the aspect of the projects we will take on.

Have you heard of scratch notation systems (like the ones by A-Track and John Carluccio), and what do you think of them? Have you ever used them, do you plan to use them?

The systems of notation even if it isn't too widespread yet, we think has a big future and could become very useful. Greem: Sometimes I use notation which is similar to what A-Track has developed when I teach so that pupils don't forget the different types of scratch. It can be really interesting when you want to exchange combos and routines between DJs, put partitions on the net, or even to remember combos that you might of when you don't have your decks handy to try it out. For the moment we don't yet have the reflex of reaching for the partition in the way musicians do, but I think we'll get there.

What would be your all-time top 3 DJs?

Q-bert, A-trak, Dj Jazzy Jeff

What's next for you guys, are you touring, producing?

Our third break record is coming out in October: Flyin' Saucer 3. We are hoping to do as many tour dates as possible as we have got a real crazy show of about 45mn and our winning routine, so don't hesitate to contact us for some more info! And as usual: regular club nights, mixtapes, radio and competitions.

What about the scene in France, can you give us your view of the turntablist and Hip-Hop scene in France and what you think of it compared to the rest of the world?

The turntablist scene in France is booming! With DJs like Netik, Troubl', Kodh, Gero, les BNN and of course C2C, we are starting to see French DJs come out in front. And its far from over. There are a lot of new DJs who come on the scene at a high level. The more technical side of the turntablist is still very misunderstood in France in comparison to other countries like Canada, the States and the UK, where this aspect of the artform is more understood and accepted. So its our job to make our art known and understood to the public.

I know some of you produce music as well, do you find that you use your knowledge of turntablism in your production and vice versa?

20syl: At the moment I'm mainly producing inside of the crew, and its true that I do integrate a lot more elements from turntablism in my production than I used to.

What do you enjoy the most production or turntablism?

20syl : Its different things, i dont really have a preference.

Where do you see turntablism in 10 years?

With the technological leaps we are making its hard to evaluate turntablism, we just hope it says something that is musical.

Many thanks to Yann at onandon for his help with this interview and to the guys for their time. You can find out more about C2C as well as check some audio (including their winning 03 and 04 sets) on their site www.onandon-records.com. The site also contains information on Hocus Pocus, the live acoustic Hip Hop band C2C work with. Lastly you can also check an audio interview conducted with 20syl and Atom following their 2004 win at the DMC on www.turntableradio.com. Turntable Radio will also be presenting a special show in 2005 hosted by C2C.