The hit new EP ‘Blue M&Ms‘ from House/Techno duo Flürb will truly blow you away with deep, heavy-hitting kicks, driving synth rhythms plucked from the club hits of late 80s synth-wave & airy arpeggiators adding the delicate touch on top of the dense-timbre soundscape. Yet there is a lot more to be sonically unpacked with each of the remixes from producers Lil’ Mark and ac$ providing a fresh, unique take on the ‘Blue M&Ms‘ track.
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Buried deep in the mixes are plentiful percussion instruments including snaps, claps, wooden blocks etc. which all formulate the incessantly grooving rhythm this EP provides. The EP earned its title from an old inside joke about having an “only Blue M&M’s in the greenroom” clause in the artist’s rider when playing bigger shows yet it spouted into this underground club hit; its immense danceability is what makes it so remarkable and guaranteed to populate all clubs across the world.
Flürb was born from the minds of Mark L. Bennett and Matt Yankovich who stumbled upon the idea after each DJing across North America in the 90s and 00s where their individual successes were remarkable. Mark began playing Bass guitar in 1987 and started producing experimental techno with early sequencers and a fully analogue studio around 1993. Upon moving to Los Angeles in the mid-90s, Mark became part of the Southern California dance collective known as Moontribe. The monthly full moon gatherings played a pivotal role in furthering his love for the underground. Over the years, Mark’s dedication to the underground culminated in the formation of two record labels, work in record distribution, promotion, and production. Similarly, Matthew discovered the magic of House music in the 90s in the Limelight and loft parties in NYC in 1990. When he moved to Portland, he found others with similar House and Techno passions in the Disco Headhunters – a West Coast collection of DJs, Engineers, and Producers who were some of the first to bring House and Techno to Burning Man. Matt started DJing in 2001, eventually playing gigs across North America. From 2006 to 2012 he curated and produced After Dark; a weekly House music night, booking headliners from around the world. He co-owned and operated Groove Suite a nightclub in Portland between 2008 to 2012 where Mark and Matt met, beaming quick friends. The ‘masters of MIDI’ have an extremely promising future in House music.
Getting To Know Flürb
Artist name and location?
Flürb
Flürb is Mark L. Bennett and Matt Yankovich
Portland, OR USA is home.
Introduce yourself in one paragraph:
We are Mark and Matt, old friends, producers and DJs, who collaborate as Flürb, making original House and Techno music.
Were you connected with music from a young age, or anyone in particular inspired you?
(Mark) My sister is the one who turned me on to music. She was dragging me to shows from the time I was 11. My first real job was as an overnight DJ at a radio station.
(Matt) Funny, I worked as an overnight DJ at a radio station in college.
(Mark) I was at a top ten station. In Houston. 101 KLOL. Before LOL was a thing.
(Matt) I took violin as a kid for years. Was a punk as a teen, so I guess my earliest inspiration is Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys.
What first kickstarted your musical careers?
(Mark) In 1996 I moved out to Los Angeles. I immediately found kindred spirits in the collective known as Moontribe. This collective is responsible for gatherings under the full moon and has perpetuated the vibe for 29 years. This was the 3rd year of Moontribe being a regular thing.
I enjoyed the next decade playing records and preforming the occasional live P.A. in the deserts and warehouses of southern California. The L.A. scene provided opportunities for me to work in all aspects of the music industry – Production, Performance, Music Distribution. Music Promotion, and Records sales.
(Matt) Before I was throwing parties in Portland starting in the early 00’s, I was playing out as much as possible working on my DJ skills. From 1998 – 2007 I went to Burning Man with the Disco Headhunters, as part of a House and Techno camp.
In 2005 I was playing on our small Burning Man sound system – all vinyl, all house, for hours and hours. The sand was blowing, piling up on the spinning records but I soldiered on. Didn’t think it mattered much other than the scratched records, but on the last day of Burning Man a lovely women came up, introduced herself and gave me a hand-made t-shirt with a huge heart in the middle. She thanked me for the music and the rest, as they say, is history. 😉
Tell us more about your sound and how it has evolved.
(Mark) Our music has its roots in Detroit Techno and Chicago House with an undying love for all things Acid. Pawnshop diving in the late 80’s for analog gear evolved into the growing analog rack I have today.
(Matt) Mark brings the analog and live bass elements that I love. New Order taught me the value of the Bass.
(Mark) Honestly one of my favorite my bands too.
(Matt) I bring my love of House music and skills as an editor and champion of melody. I have a deep sense of History about House music and try and make the most interesting and reflective work I can.
Any words you want to share to encourage other artists and producers?
(Mark) Lay off the crack.
(Matt) Keep it real. Respond to my DMs!
Networking, consistency, character, approach… what and how do you initiate your Industry relationships?
(Mark) We approach things with honesty and integrity.
(Matt) Our word is our bond.
Is there anyone specific you’d like to thank that has helped you evolve and why?
(Mark) There are too many people, honestly.
(Matt) My friend Aaron (AC$) for introducing me to Detroit Techno and Chicago House. All the Disco Headhunters actually.
(Mark) I’d like to thank my sister for turning me on to music. Moontribe for being such a great bunch of Freaks. And, of course, Matt for being such a great partner.
(Matt) Awww. Flürb IS love.
Name 3 albums or labels that have inspired you the most.
(Mark) Music For Freaks • Jimi Hendrix – Electric Lady Land • KSM
(Matt) Factory Records • New Order – Substance • Classic Records
What’s your favourite piece of studio equipment or software?
(Mark) My Eurorack
(Matt) Logic
Name your favourite club or festival in the world, and how does it make you feel?
(Mark) Club NRG in Houston. Closed in 1986. It made me feel like anything was possible.
(Matt) Burning Man back in the day. It made me feel like art could change the world.
Name an outlandish rider request?
(Matt) Blue M&M’s is NOT an outlandish request.
(Mark) I haven’t seen any that have been too crazy. Blue M&M’s is based on Van Halen’s no brown M&M’s clause.
(Matt) It’s how Flürb knows he has made it.
(Mark) And don’t forget the large, unmarked bills.
Favourite clubbing memory, who or what did it involve?
(Mark) In 1986 at Club NRG in Houston. It involved psychedelics, an encounter with Herve Villechaize (Tattoo from Fantasy Island) and two blonde prostitutes.
(Matt) 1989 Limelight in NYC is where I first heard House music and felt the pull of the dance floor. Thanks to Deee-lite. The groove really is in the heart.
What quote represents you best?
Flürb is love.
If you could play any venue, where would it be and why?
(Mark) Tresor in Berlin. I would love to be a part of its history and experience the vibe playing for the freaks who make it such a wonderful place.
(Matt) I would love to play disco house B2B with Mark from the back of a float at Love Parade with my kids manning the mobile confetti canons. Biodegradable. It’s in the rider.
Music is….. (explain more)
(Matt) Music is my expression and my succor.
(Mark) Music is everything. The thing that brings people together.
(Matt) Joy and release.
(Mark) It is a universal truth.
One song you really couldn’t live without?
(Mark) By Your Side – Sade
(Matt) The The – Uncertain Smile
Name drop your favourite tunes, artists or DJs (past or present)
Kevin Saunderson, Sade, DJ Heather, Derrick Carter, Cajmere, Paul Johnson (RIP), Larry Heard – Deja Vu, Jimi Hendrix – 1983… (A Merman I Should Turn To Be), EBTG vs. Soul Vision – Tracey In My Room, John Coltrane – Afro Blue, 808 State, New Order
What was your first music opportunity and how did it fuel your fire?
(Matt) in 2006 I brought out Stacy Kidd as my first out of town headliner and produced my first show. I broke even. I kept going.
(Mark) Performing a Live P.A. under the full moon showed me the magic of live techno.
Tell us more about your plans for the future.
Flürb will be releasing tracks regularly with remixes by our favorite artists.
You can’t stop the goblin.
Any worldly advice you’d like to share?
(Matt) Put the phone down.
(Mark) Live with integrity. Do what you say and say what you mean.
(Matt) Especially if integrity is her stage name.
(Mark) Don’t marry people with stage names.
Support Flürb on Social Media
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Listen to more of Flürb
Soundcloud | Spotify
The post Flürb Releases New EP – ‘Blue M&Ms EP’ appeared first on Electic Mode.
