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Warriors of the Dystotheque are a four piece electronic band that have been together since 2015, the problem is that they all live in different places and have never been in the same room together. Their next album Antropause was produced by Howie B (who has worked with Massive Attack, Bjork and more) and was created by band members Sean (Coventry), Jonny (Derry) and Mike & Nick (New York).
Anthropause is the band's tenth release, following outings on BBC Radio 6 (Nemone, Shaun Keaveny), BBC Radio Ulster and RTE 2FM. It's a multi-genre journey through stoner-sleaze, indie-electronic and Balearic oddities, much like the sounds explored in the late Andrew Weatherall's sets.
We've had the pleasure of speaking with Jonny from the Warriors of the Dystotheque gang and this is the result.
What was the first thing that attracted you to the world of electronic music?
At the age of 11 I went to see Depeche Mode live in Belfast, this was during the height of the troubles in Ireland when people were getting shot and killed and blown up daily, during this time even at such a young age people around me were getting involved in terrorist organisations and many of those people went on to be killed or spent a long time in prison, Luckily my decision to go to the DM concert was there right one and after the gig I was so blown away that I decided I was gonna do my best to have a career in the music industry.
Do you remember any album or concert that has changed everything?
Well that Depeche Mode Black Celebration Tour in 85 definitely played a major role and a few albums the stand out are New Order’s Substance and Technique albums along with Dummy By Portishead, Bleu Line By Massive Attack and Exit Planet Dust by The Chemical Brothers by 95 a massive shift happened musically and a more Leftfield sound began to manifest within me resulting in me (Jonny Mac) purchasing a set of Technic decks and I began to mix Trip hop and obscure beats.
How is the music scene living in your city with this murky pandemic situation?
TBH like everywhere it took at knock but its back as strong as ever with the long running Celtronic Festival back this year featuring the best of the electronic worlds artists and The Jika Jika crew are back this summer with major outdoor events then we have Stendhal & Sunflower Festival (which we are headlining) back again so all in all its back with full force and no doubt gonna be a superb summer.
What are your favorite places to hang out in the city?
Id say Sandino’s or even better getting out of the city with my family and dog enjoying the Glens of Antrim or beauty of Donegal with my scooter club Bad Samaritans SC.
Have you had time to focus on making music, spending time with your family, or planning future projects?
Yeah throughout this lockdown we (WotD) wrote our second album which we have released three singles from so far ahead of its release on May 27th, all three have been getting plays and interest from major national radio and press with there premieres on BBC 6 Music and two Jazz FM Playlists and many many more.
And right now we are just putting the final interviews, press and radio into action for this second album Anthropause
Id also like to say that this came to fruition after I (JM) won and the Chris Ledger award which is managed by University of Atypical on behalf of Unlimited and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Family wise Ive really enjoyed the time Ive had to enjoy quality time and get out a visit new locations in Ireland, Now looking too the future its all about the summer, so we have a few WotD DJ dates, 1st up Plan B in Belfast then over to Ibiza for Pikes and Cafe del Mar in June and then July headlining the Forest Stage at Sunflower Festival in July also there is talk of a week long installation of the album at the Unlimited Festival at The Southbank Centre in London in September.
How was your last project born?
I (JM) have been involved in the music industry professionally since 98 either as a promoter booking the best DJs or as a DJ touring the world alongside some of the largest acts on the planet.
But this WotD project came to fruition in 2016 after a few years out of the industry and battling a major addiction, but I’m now 11 years into my sobriety and we’re now about to release our second album.
What do you want to convey in this work? What is the concept behind?
Ive been involved in music since 98 either as a DJ / Promoter or musician in one way or another.
Id say if you believe in something don’t give up on your dreams, as cliche as it sounds, Im from a small town in Ireland and went onto DJ across the globe alongside some of worlds biggest acts and as a promoter Ive booked the best of the best from the world of bands and DJ’s and now this WotD project has been getting major national success.
Back in 95 when I bought my decks the only venue in the world `I wanted to Dj at was Cafe del Mar, to date I have played at some of the worlds best venues and festivals and just this week I was confirmed to play at Cafe del Mar in Ibiza in June as well as the legendary Pikes.
A lot of the topics on this album are dealing with the realisation of life after having been diagnosed with PTSD and having managed to be clean from a major drug addiction for the past 10 years,
Facing the demons head on and getting them out there has been very therapeutic. (JM)
As for your studio, what is your setup currently made of?
Studio wise we have 3 studios as we are based in Coventry - England, New York - USA & Derry - Ireland, so lets start with mine (JM) in Derry, Rokit 5’s & 8’s a 3.6Ghz Quadcore Intel Core i5 IMac a MacBook Pro running Logic X, M-Track 8 M-Audio, Lexicon MX200, Alesis 3630 Compressor, Novation Audio Hub 2x4, Berhinger Crave, Akai MPK Mini, Logic Control emagic, M-Audio Oxygen 49, Nifty Rack modules, Encore Bass Guitar, Technic 1200’s, Pioneers CDJ’s and mixer and AKG headphones.
The heart of Mike and Nick’s in New York looks like this, Tascamm 388 as saw on the cover of the new album, as well as Tascam 32, MS-16, Preamps such as Warm Audio WA73-EQ and outboard effects like Foster 3180, Reverb unit and Roland Space Echo RE - 201, We like to keep it simple for mics although I (Mike) recently picked up a Neumann TLM - 103 But we mainly use Shure mics mainly for drums and amps, 57,58,SM-81, For Keys we have two Keyboards Juno 6 & a Nord Stage 3, Several guitars and Bass guitars with the Ibanez Semi Hollow being the fav and drums wise it Breakbeats by Questlove, The we’ve the Cello, Violin, Bass Clarinet and loads more.
Sean in Coventry’s is made up of a MacBook running Logic X, Abelton 11, Native Instruments Reaktor, Alesis M1, Active M2 Waves Plug Ins, Lo-fi guitar and bass smashed through Guitar Rig. AKG headphones.
What's the one team you'll never get rid of, no matter what?
Im guessing this is a sport question and if I’m right its Leeds United.
Unless you meant item ?
And if its item then its my Technic 1200’s,
What would you say is the definition of your sound?
Its underpinned by a lo-fi, jazzy breakbeat vibe with lots of live strings, bass clarinet licks and more, summing it up I guess its electronica with dark splashes alongside euphoric cinematic moments.
A mixed bag as we all bring different things to the sound and its road we like to travel within the band.
What was the last record store you visited and what did you get out there?
Its been a while if I’m honest but online I have ordered a few recently and the one I’m gonna say is defo my song for the summer so far its Facundo Mohrr - The Morning Song on All Day I Dream, but look out for Yokoo’s remix of our track No More Dopesick in July.