SXSW is only a few short weeks away and, in preparation, we’re inviting our friends along to contribute leading up to the festival and to assist in coverage while we’re there. Hopefully, some will stay on afterwards to round out our regional coverage as well. Today my friend Jodi hooks us up with an interview with the Hood Internet, who ready their descent on Austin where we’ll find them doing their thing between sets at the blogger curated event, Hot Freaks“The Hot Freaks.
I’ll get the most generic question out of the way right here and now, what, exactly is the “Hood Internet?”
ABX: The Hood Internet is complex. We’re a blog, a DJ duo, your BFF, and that dude who spilled beer on your parents’ new sofa all rolled into one. We create and post mash-ups and remixes of stuff we like. The name Hood Internet comes from a Cam’ron movie.
Under the influence of a few too many PBR’s back at Schuba’s this past January, I had been bugging you to spin “Girls Just Wanna Fix Up,” the delicious blend of Cyndi Lauper and Dizzee Rascal. You had laughed it off,mentioning that was one of the first tracks to get you into the Hood. At what point did you sit down and think that this may really work?
STV SLV: We were getting a pretty good response from the “internet public,” which definitely encouraged us to make more tracks.
What other songs were playing in your head that you toyed of mashing together? Any failed attempts that you had high hopes for?
ABX: I wanted to do Kelis’s ‘Milkshake’ mixed with something by Neutral Milk Hotel just so I could call it ‘Neutral Milkshake Hotel’. It turns out there aren’t any Neutral Milk Hotel songs that work. It also turns out that it was a horrible idea.
I also had mentioned to you that you were my “Biggest Guilty Pleasure.” I hope you didn’t take offense to that, I meant it as the most sincere compliment possible. Seriously, I’m like that creepy number one fan chick in “Flight of the Conchords.” You guys rock. When you’re not busy listening and stewing up mash-ups between Destiny’s Child and Justice or Lil’ Wayne and Modest Mouse, what bands are you currently digging on for your own listening pleasure? I’d imagine listening to the same loops over and over again would be enough to turn you away from a solid track for a while‹you have to get some joy out of music that you haven’t touched yet, right?
STV SLV: Some stuff I like as of this very moment in time — Mahjongg Kontpab, Stephen Malkmus Real Emotional Trash, Neon Neon Stainless Style, Re-Up Gang We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3, Destroyer Trouble In Dream, Cadence Weapon Afterparty Babies.
Is there any artist or song you just refuse to go near and will never touch? If so, who and what reason?
ABX: There are plenty of horrible artists and songs out there that I don’t think we would touch. This isn’t to say that we are above using horrible songs or artists in our mixes, but there has to be something redeaming about it or something we enjoy in it. There is a Smash Mouth acapella track floating around on the internet, and I hope it’s safe to say that we’ll never use Smash Mouth.
STV SLV: My friend Nick sent me a link to some split tracks from Nirvana In Utero, I’m still currently debating whether or not to mess with them.
I’ve tried to think of different songs that would flow together, thinking “Man, that’d be sweet to get some rhymes over Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Rockers to Swallow,” or Robyn’s “Konichiwa Bitches,” but then I realize there’s a reason I plan pharmaceutical events and don’t DJ; I’d probably mess up a good thing–have you ever had any grand ideas blow up? What was the most ridiculous shot for a mash-up?
STV SLV: Does taking Vicodin for recreational purposes constitute a “pharmaceutical event?”
The website boasts a colorful array of Photoshop touch-ups, cartoons and collages for each track. As much as I’d love to believe that the Shout Out Louds were indeed cruising in a top-down Cadillac beside Project Pat, I have to think these mini track-arts are the work of some krunked up brainchild. Who’s responsible? What goes on in your head, do you just google image publicity shots and work your magic?
ABX: We each do our own photoshops for everything we post. There’s very little magic involved, especially for me since I use some outdated version of photoshop that didn’t come with magic. Basically, we scour the internet for photos of the artists we are mashing together and try to make it look like they were hanging out together.
You released your second mix tape last November, how long do we have to wait for the third installment? Any other projects in the works?
STV SLV: Right now in addition to constantly making tracks for the site, we’re working on a mixtape of Chicago rappers/bands. Then sometime after that we’ll put together a new mixtape. Also we’re working on a remix or two for The Rosebuds.
I have to ask, day job? Have one? Or is this it?
ABX: I work during the day as a karate instructor.
STV SLV: He does, it’s true.
Your MySpace page says that you reside in Chicago/New York, and I know you frequently play shows in the Chicago vicinity. Where are you from and how did you two meet and start collaborating together? How do your respective cities influence your musical selections and styles?
ABX: STV and I met while playing in separate bands during our college years when he was in Wisconsin and I was in Michigan. We both moved to Chicago around the same time and started playing together in our band May Or May Not. We shared similar interests in indie stuff and hip hop, and both liked messing around with computer mixing programs, so that came together pretty naturally. I recently moved to New York, so I don’t know that it influences my style. I would say that my mixes tend to be wide, thin, and foldable, while STV’s tracks tend to be thicker, more filling, and contain chunkier ingredients. We sound like pizza.
South by Southwest. I’ll be there. You’ll be there. The official schedule hasn’t yet been released, at least to my knowledge. (Not two hours after I typed up these questions, the schedule was posted, go figure. . .) I know you guys will be spinning between sets for the Hot Freaks day showcase at Club De Ville on Friday, any other sets lined up? Any particular acts you’re stoked to check out that week?
STV SLV: Hot Freaks will be awesome. We’re also playing at the convention center on Thursday afternoon, and then the Schubas party at Yard Dog after that. Our official showcase was supposed to be Saturday, but I think that now it might be Wednesday, check the interwebs for final confirmation. And at some point we’re gonna go stop by the Daytrotter studio (Austin chapter), don’t know if we’ll play a set, but anything can happen in Texas. That’s their state motto.
One last Q—what’s with the R. Kelly obsession? Are you secret “Trapped in the Closet” fans?
ABX: It’s no secret. R. Kelly is a musical genius and he puts all other R&B artists to shame.
STV SLV: It’s a healthy obsession.
Myspace: Hood Internet
