Midnight Society Interview with Curtis Atchison and Erik Reyes

June 29, 2006

Midnight Society. It’s a name that represents the deep, dark and sexy tribal/progressive sounds made by Curtis Atchison and Erik Reyes, two DJ/producers who have been hard at work in the studio for the last 7 years. Curtis Atchison originally founded the name in 1996, with DJ/Producer Erik Reyes joining the realm in 1999. Together they have DJ’ed hundreds of party’s, spent a countless number of hours in the studio and have created a large number of original pieces of music together. Some DJ’s that have played their records include Danny Tenaglia, Saeed Younan, DJ Vibe, and Steve Lawler along with a countless number of DJ’s around the global pushing the Midnight Society productions. And for the last few months SoundGroove Record label has been creating a storm of beats over the house music nation. -

Interview by Jon Viera

JON VIERA - How did you start your DJ/Producer career?

(ERIK REYES) I met a promoter when I was bartending one night with one of my tapes playing. I got the gig and I’ve been working ever since.

(CURTIS ATCHISON) I started DJ’ing at a college radio station in Salem, Massachusetts back in 1991. I had my own mixshow featuring Hip-Hop, R&B and eventually House Music for 6 years. I didn’t start producing my own music till much later when I moved to New Jersey.

JV - Did you ever realize that your passion for music would take you to where you are now?

(ER) I’m still a work in progress. I still feel like I have a long way to go.

(CA) I never really thought that I could make a full career out of music and playing records for people. This all started out as just a fun hobby. I really love the music, and would be producing & mixing even if I wasn’t a musician.

JV - Could you share with us what influenced you guys?

(ER) My countless nights out staring at what the DJ was doing in the booth and watching the crowd go crazy.

(CA) My first influences came from my older brother who was a DJ for a few years before he gave it up and became a mechanic. My older siblings always surrounded me with music and it rubbed off on me. Other influences came when I got older and started going to clubs to see the DJ work the crowd.

JV - When and where was the first place you spun at?

(ER) Bar Nine in Hells Kitchen.

(CA) The Loft in Boston, Massachusetts.

JV ( The loft was an amazing place where alot of dj’s got their first time playing out at, including Armand Van Heldon)

JV - Do you remember the first 12″ you purchased?

(ER) Mickey Mouse Disco in kindergarten. I had to have it.

(CA) My first house music 12 was Stinkin Thinkin by the Happy Mondays and Samba by the House Of Gypsies. My very FIRST 12? It was an LP called At Home With Ernie & Bert. Or maybe it was the Earth Wind & Fire album that I snatched from my older sister when I was very little?

JV: Are there any dj’s or producers that influenced your sound to what it is today?

(ER) David Morales, Danny Tenaglia, Sander Kleinenberg, Roger Sanchez, and the list goes on.

(CA) Lots of influences! Tenaglia, Deep Dish, Paulo & Todd Duktevich, Quivver, and Markus Schulz are currently some of my favorites. Im also heavily into the tribal productions coming out of Spain & Portugal from producers like DJ Petzi, Simon & Shaker, Chus & Ceballos, RPO, D-Formation and Eric Entrena. I could list names forever.

JV - What is your favorite party thus far?
(ER) The ‘Ritmo’ Part from this years WMC in Miami.

(CA) Be Yourself @ Vinyl/ARC, NYC, or the original Sound Factory Saturdays with Junior Vasquez. The music, the vibe, the space & the people. Everything I would look for in a club.

JV - What DJ’s have you had a chance to tag team with?

(ER) Curtis Atchison and Victor Calderone

(CA) Tag teaming with Erik is always fun. I don’t get a chance to do it as often as I would like, but there’s plenty of DJs out there that I would love to play records with.

JV - Why?

(ER) Why not?

(CA) What he said

JV - If you could have a residency at any club world wide, which one would it be?

(ER) Crobar, Miami

(CA) Either Space in Downtown Miami or Stereo in Montreal.

JV - If you could make a record with 3 DJ’s or producers who would they be?

(ER) I would love to work with Victor Calderone, Deep Dish, and Frankie Knuckles.

(CA) Only three? Ill have to say Danny Tenaglia, Deep Dish and Markus Schulz.

JV - Top 3 records, ever? (Yes, just three)

(ER) 1 Nick Holder “Erotic Illusions” / 2 MK feat Alana “Burning” / 3 Urban Soul feat Roland Clark “Alright” Zanzibar Mix

(CA) Again, only three? 1 House Of Gypsies - Samba / 2. St. Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart / 3 Barbara Tucker Beautiful People

JV - What gear do you like to use in the DJ booth?

(ER) Nowadays all I want is a dj booth that completely works. I love Technics and Pioneers for my hands, and Sennheisers on my head.

(CA) Currently feeling the new Pioneer CD Decks and always loved the Denon 2600 for a rack unit. Also liking what Ive been seeing with Ableton Live. Vestax has some great mixers, although Rane mixers are great in the clubs. A couple of CD decks plus a working pair of Technics turntables and were in business.

JV - The good old vinyl vs. CD topic, what’s your stand on it?

(ER) Play whatever you can get your hands on. Vinyl still sounds great and the creativity is endless with CD players.

(CA) I will always love vinyl, but with today’s technology its just not practical to be lugging crates of records to gigs anymore. CD technology has caught up and makes our jobs a lot easier. I like using a little bit of both when I play for even more creativity.

JV - All the traveling you guys do, do you have a favorite club?

(ER) I still don’t have a favorite. Each experience has been very special.

(CA) Same here but I do have a fondness for The Box in Mexico City and the Pedra do Couto in Portugal. We should travel more so we can answer this question better!!

JV - In your productions, what do you try to bang out on the first day?

(ER) I try to have the basic skeleton of the track done the first day.

(CA) The beats and the bassline are essential to me. I want to be able to get the basic groove down and tighten it up as best as possible.

JV - So how would you describe your sound?

(ER) Sexy Tribal

(CA) Dark, Dirty & Delicious. And old friend of mine referred to that as making music in 3D.

JV - If you could remix just one track, which one would it be?

(ER) It would be have to be Nick Holder’s “Erotic Illusions”. The track is under 5 minutes long and I would love to extend and update the track. It was perfect for it’s time and I still love it just as much as the first time I heard it.

(CA) Too many songs come to mind. I’m thinking a song like Joi Cardwells “Trouble” or DeLacys “That Look”.

JV - What platform do you make your tracks on?

(ER) Acid 5.0

(CA) Ive done projects on Acid Pro, Soundtrack, Logic and have put together basic grooves using Reason & Fruity Loops.

JV - So what does Midnight Society have in the works?

(ER) We are currently working on the next few releases on Soundgroove Records.

(CA) We have tons of releases coming up on our label SoundGroove, which include talented producers & remixers like X-Union, Craig Mitchell, Cytric, Marne Le Noir, DJ Petzi, Evolved, DJ Paulo & Todd Duktevich, Xenon, Keven Maroda, Rick Corbo, Bass Rokwell, Laconic, Saillant, as well as other individual projects on labels such at Tweekd & Stealth. Also, were planning another SoundGroove Sessions Party on May 2nd at SBNY in New York City. Lots of things to expect from us all throughout 2006.

JV - Any words of advice to the up coming DJ or Producer?

(ER) Have respect for your peers. Be very open-minded. Don’t stop moving. If the manager, promoter, or whatever of one club doesn’t get you the next one will.

(CA) There are a lot of negative & closed-minded people out there who are more interested in telling you what to do instead of encouraging and embracing the diverse spectrum that is House Music. Try to respect the views of others and occasionally cater to the masses, but above all stay true to yourself and ALWAYS play and produce what you like. The fame and fortune you seek will eventually find you.

Midnight Society. I told you in the begining of this interview that is was from the hard work and dedication that drove this duo to make the prefect beat. And looking at the up coming tracks they are working on, these guys just don’t sleep. Not only have they made some of the biggest house tracks around, but they keep a humble attitude towards themseleves. The guys let me know that they have to go back to the studio, to keep pushing on their sound, and I thank them for their time.

You can check on their site for updates and new information.
Turn your browsers to www.midnight-society.com

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