Craigie Knowes: The 'Flavour Of The Label' Mix

Music

Roll up, roll up, roll up! Strap yourself in as Glasgow via Perth is about to get down…

Craigie Knowes is a record label which has amassed a reputation for furious club cuts purpose built for the dancefloor, all with a smile and the shake of a hand. Since 2015 the label has released a prolific array of music from the likes of Dj Overdose, Deep Space Orchestra, Natureboy Gold, Textasy and more. Beyond this they have also released two stellar compilations in support of the charity War Child of which the likes of Legowelt, Shanti Celeste, Move D and Yoshinori Hayashi all supported and featured.

This is an imprint with a distinct sense of self and a humility which can sometimes be hard to find within dance music and the associated culture. We here at Ransom Note are firm supporters. The pair have stepped up to deliver a heavy hitting mix designed to make you move.

Listen and read the interview below:

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you What does your music sound like?

We are Craigie Knowes, we are originally from Perth but based in Glasgow now. We are a pair of wholesome young men who run a record label and DJ. We like to party.

Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

POD (Planet of Death)

Where was the mix recorded?

The Ice Factory in Perth (Scotland)

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Mitch: We will let the listener decide.
Max: It is pretty upbeat at points too, maybe in your local trampoline-exercise class for moms.

What should we be wearing?

Football shin pads, nothing else.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Mitch: Panorama Bar as it’s getting dark on Sunday evening. Full club, Allen and Heath Mixer with two 1210’s and two CDJs for the unreleased bits.

Max: That, and add some Shure M447 carts and styli

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Mitch: The TEXASY track on Craigie Knowes of course!
Max: ‘Numonika – Track 1’ gives me shivers

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time? Difficult to pick!

Mitch: The old recordings of Spencer Kincy are outstanding, any mix by Domenic Cappello. Favourite at the moment is the recording of Jon K at Dekmantel Selectors. Proper bit of tackle.

Max: Yep, that entire pack of old Gemini mixes that is floating about the web.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Mitch: Ron Hardy, because he’s Ron Hardy.

Max: Jeff Mills as The Wizard, because he is a Wizard.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

Mitch: We kind of did it backwards, at 15 we started on a laptop and a Numark controller we knicked off our mate, Asher. Went on to use CDJs and then about 7 years ago moved to vinyl. I spent almost 5 years playing and collecting purely vinyl. I now have CDJs and Turntables in my home set up!

Max: I just have Technics and an A&H mixer at home, doubt that’ll ever change now. Probably because CDJs cost too much and Traktor/Serato doesn’t do it for me. Always got my USB with me at gigs though.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Mitch: All of them are important!

Max: No one is in the clubs in Scotland when the first track is played at 11PM, I usually play cotton eyed joe. It’s become a ritual to bless our evenings with luck and prosper.

What were the first and last records you bought?

Mitch: The first record I bought was De La Soul – Hey Hey Ring Ring. The most recent record I bought was the new Bud Burroughs record on 7th Sign

Max: I can still see the centre label in my mind, some weird remake of a track called laid back with a little elf guy on the artwork. I remember it was that first record I bought as it arrived snapped clean in half. I bought another that I still own, I need to dig it out actually, its brilliant. Not most memorable record of my recent buys is ‘Stark – Calm Before the Storm’, the track ‘All Forms Emerge’ will probably remind me of our recent trip to play in Rotterdam for a long time.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Mitch: It would taste like that Aloe Vera Drink with bits in it. Probably.

Max: That shit is unsustainable, man.

If it was an animal what would it be?

Mitch: It would be an Ocelot

Max: Exactly…

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Mitch: Nothing is impossible.

Max: Try mixing the B-side of that orange Supafrico record and say nothing is impossible again. I think it was that one anyway. I’m as colour blind as a dog.