Zoo Look: The 'Wednesday Alternative' Mix

Music

This summer marks the return of a friendly faced duo who have re-entered the fold. Zoo Look is a production and dj duo made up of two old friends who have been releasing music together since 2011. The pair have developed a crucial understanding of their production aesthetic and the new release on Lost Palms is perhaps their most significant to date. As DJ's they draw for an eclectic mix of house, techno and beyond with merits from the likes of Bicep and beyond.

The new EP is titled "Similar Steps" and is a subtle blend of deep house arrangements, electro and the abstract spaces in between. It's dreamy in parts and yet restrained.

This set is much the same featuring jackin' house from across the board – club focussed and energetic this is highly danceable stuff.

Listen and read the interview below:

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

We are Sam and Alex, we’re based in London and we’re basically just a couple of dudes that have been DJing and making music together for the last 8 or 9 years.

Where was the mix recorded?

We recorded the mix round at Sam’s place, much to the dismay of his housemate and neighbours.

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

Stick this on if you’re at home with a few pals getting ready for a rave.

What should we be wearing?

Your finest rave attire, of course.

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

A live recording from any club or festival type situation with a super energetic crowd. Something you can play back and re-live the memories from.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Probably the Pizarro – Backstabbers one. Who doesn’t love a bit of cheesy hip-house from time to time?!

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

The one that springs to mind is Jeff Mills’ legendary ‘Exhibitionist’ mix, which was available as a DVD. It’s pure technical wizardry.

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

Going back to the ‘90s and going ass-to-ass with prime-time Laurent Garnier would be pretty damn fun.

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

About 15 years ago it was a pair of hand-me-down Gemini PT-1000s and a Numark DM 2002X mixer, which to be fair were pretty solid, considering. Now we have a lovely pair of Technics 1210s, a pair of Pioneer XDJ 700s and a Pioneer DJM 400 mixer.

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

The track you start on, because you’re setting the tone for what’s to come.

What were the first and last records you bought?

First records would have been a bunch of hard trance records in the early 2000s, probably. Most recent (new) records include Dennis Young on Inner Moods, Dots (Atom TM) on Astral Industries, JTC on Spectral Sound, Pontiac Streator & Ulla Straus on West Mineral and a whole bunch of goodness from Discogs.

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

A fruit salad. It’s got a bit of this and a bit of that chucked in, but all of it’s delicious and good for you.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A party animal. (Soz).

Upcoming in the world of…

We have an EP coming out in the next couple of months on Parisian DJ Lazare Hoche’s label which we’re really excited about. We’re also planning on launching our own label towards the end of this year / beginning of next. Keep an eye out for these.