12 Questions with Mashd ’N’ Kutcher
Mashd ‘N’ Kutcher love to delve into the archives of disco, rock, hip-hop and pop, and pillage these for all their worth, splicing up songs that, on paper, just should not go together. And the fans are loving it in droves. The duo like to annihilate all previous notions of mashing, taking it to the limits when mixing live, while throwing in metal drumming and dancing to their own tracks as maniac-like as the punters on the dancefloor. This month sees the release of a fresh Mashd ’N’ Kutcher original, Pretend, which is already doing huge things on the charts.
Cream poses 12 questions…
Qs by Antonino Tati
Have you guys gotten feedback from actor Ashton Kutcher about his influence on your name?
His blog and website often share our content, which is cool! So he must have some knowledge of us! Ha ha.
What influences you, musically?
We get influenced by all sorts of things, but the biggest challenge, and probably for any muso, is to internalise and focus on creating something unique. The singer we found in Carolina and flew him out to LA to record, he’s amazing!
Your latest track ‘Pretend’ is doing well on the charts. It’s fairly different to what fans usually hear from Mashd ‘N’ Kutcher; kind of balladry goes techno. What has feedback online been like?
The feedback overall has been great.
You recently had a video snippet go viral, featuring a montage of you guys performing live. It’s up to almost 7 million hits. Does it surprise you when a vid like that proves popular?
I think when it comes down to content online, it’s really up to the audience. If they find it entertaining, they’re going to share it, and with us they seem to share, a lot. So we’re very grateful.
Musically, you mix things live from very different genres. From hardcore dance to a snippet of Spandau Ballet’s ‘True’ or Vanessa Carlton’s ‘A Thousand Miles’, how do you guys get away with splicing such disparate musical styles?
That’s the beauty of music, there are no rules. So we take full advantage of that and try to give people something different.
You manage to fit in some instrument playing (eg: metal drumming) while mixing tracks live. Does it get confusing jumping from track to instrument in a live setting?
We both came from backgrounds as instrumentalists so, to be totally honest, if we didn’t keep ourselves busy with instruments on stage we’d be pretty bored!
What do you think of the new digital methods of music delivery? Do you like seeing and hearing so many mashups, remixes and edits online created by so many folks at home?
Technology is always a blessing and a curse. When it advances and things become more accessible to everyday people it can often lead to the industry or music itself becoming saturated. Or to start losing quality. But it also means that all sorts of new talent comes out of the woodwork and this can lead to some amazing new creations.
You did a collaboration with your pizza delivery guy recently. What on earth was that all about. Why and what did he think of the track’s popularity?
I have absolutely no idea although we do know he works a second job at the local 7/11 where he’s become a bit of a local celebrity and gets recognised!
Now – we’re not talking about your music here – but some diehard clubbers are saying that club music can sometimes sound the same / relentless / repetitive? Would you beg to differ?
I think it can be whatever you make of it. The more we all try and push the boundaries within the genre, the better it will be.
Mashd ‘N’ Kutcher have toured quite a bit. I’d love to know what you think of the club scene in Australia compared to overseas.
Australia, as a whole, just loves a good party. Our history of pubs, pub rock and bands really shows through in the clubs where people just want a good sing-a-long. America is a whole other world which we’re still exploring!
Do you prefer DJ-ing at intimate venues, like clubs, or out on the festival circuit in front of huge crowds?
Both are great in their own ways. Intimate crowds are good because you can really connect with people and see they’re appreciating what you do first-hand. On the other hand, festivals have that wow factor with huge productions and staging but also it’s a really cool way to play to a whole lot of people at once.
And finally, there are some DJs who let the fame and fortune go to their head; what do you say to those guys?
Ha ha. Best of luck to them!
Mashd ‘N’ Kutcher’s ‘Pretend’ (featuring Park Avenue) is out through Island / Universal Music.
View the video above.
CREAM MAGAZINE 
One Response to “12 Questions with Mashd ’N’ Kutcher”
[…] and other venues flinging open their doors for the first time in months, it’s no surprise Mashd N Kutcher‘s electro ditty Get On The Beers is doing the rounds again […]
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