In conversation: FS and DW, Directors of Music

Models, creative team, designers, directors, technical specialists, music … students from around St Andrews have been working for months to put together the monster of fashion shows that are DONT WALK and FS. As dates draw near (FS is this Saturday!), The Stand sits down with key players in each team to find out what’s been going on behind the scenes. Over the next three days we will deliver the scoop to you on what’s set to be this year’s most mind-blowing events.

4th year Henry Stanislaw, an International Relations and Geography student, is Big Man for FS’ soundscape, 2013. But he’s no stranger to the show (this being his second year with FS) nor is he a stranger to St Andrews’ music scene, DJing in St Andrews’ extremely successful collaboration, Moodroom.

Also returning to the music team at DONT WALK for a second year is 3rd year Philosophy student, Calum Bryant, who has been part of the St Andrews sound since his 1st year and has played sets at events including Bongo Ball, last semester’s Midland performance, as well as being a key player in our newest DJ collective, B-Sides.

 

How did you guys start DJing?

DW: I’ve always liked music. As I got older, the music that I listened to became more Dance and House and then when I came to university, I really started to DJ. I think that St Andrews is a really good town to do this in – there’s a lot of opportunity to get involved.

FS: Yeah, I’m pretty similar, actually. I grew up playing the drums and was in bands all through high school. When I first heard electronic music, actually, I was like, ‘What the hell is that?’

 

Do you plan on pursuing a career in music after university?

DW: Personally, music has always been quite like a hobby for me, so I try to detach it from a work sort of thing. With guitar or anything, I’ve never wanted to do lessons or do it in school because I thought it would detract from the fun of it.

FS: I’ve thought about it a little bit … it’s definitely something that I am interested in. Sometimes FS feels like work, like a job in and of itself.

 

How did you get involved in your respective shows?

DW: I went to the DW interviews at the end of my 1st year, kind of on a whim… it was something I was quite interested in doing. This year I have been given the official role of Head of Music, so I am working in a partnership.

FS: In my 2nd year, people from FS would say, “Hey, you should really think about applying to do our music.” It had never crossed my mind at all because the music [for the show] that year and the previous year was so different from what we do. We went and applied – I think there were five or six other people applying for it too – and we got it!

 

What has been your favourite event that you have played at?

DW: I’ve done quite a few balls, and they’re really quite enjoyable –

FS: You’re good at playing balls.

DW: Yeah, I really really enjoyed playing at Bongo Ball when I was in my 2nd year because I was in a side tent, which is what I like to do. I don’t necessarily play crowd-pleasing music…

FS: Nothing too mainstream, haha.

DW: Basically what he just said. It was quite nice to get a popular response when I was playing more Deep House music that I enjoy.

FS: The most memorable one in my mind is the first one that I ever played at Golf Place because I was just starting and I was really not that good… But the atmosphere in there was incredible. I really liked doing FS last year, too. You come out, and there are 1400 people in front of you – it’s such a rush. It’s really cool because you are above everyone, so you can see the sound frequency literally hitting people as it gets further out – it’s a wave. Pretty cool.

DW: It’s been exciting being at rehearsals and playing with the music there. I got a lot of experience from that in terms of speeding up and slowing down tracks and seeing how it affects the way the models walk. It’s a really interesting thing to do, since our models walk to the beat of the music instead of having their own beat.

 

That sounds awesome! Henry, I know we did an interview with you earlier in the year – how has your vision for the show changed throughout the year as the show gets closer and closer?

FS: There is a sort of fairy tale twist on the theme of the show, so I wanted to try something different with the intro. It’s quite cinematic and dramatic –sort of eerie and quite dark. The finale of the show is really dramatic too, and very upbeat. It sort of gets fragmented in your brain. We’ll see how it goes!

DW: The show will be in two halves, and the intro is quite dramatic. It’s going to be dark sound too, and then in the second half you will feel something different. It will be very thematic and very different from the first half – you will definitely recognise the change. The tracks that we’re putting in are meant to get people excited, and it is meant to be something that builds. We’re trying to keep it classy, without making it cliché.

FS: I can feel the beat already… I am really excited for that: to see what you guys do.

 

So are you going to each other’s shows?

FS: Yeah, I am at his table, actually. I’m really excited to see what they do because DW hasn’t given their DJs any parameters this year, as far as I can tell.

DW: Yeah, no, not really.

FS: And with FS there is always some level of expectation, so I am constantly trying to find a balance between what Moodroom, the show and the audience wants. You always have to find that middle ground.

DW: There’s always a middle ground to be struck – obviously we don’t want the audience to be bored, but we also want to play things that reflect the show, as well as our personal taste.

 

So do you guys bounce ideas off of each other at all or are the shows pretty independent in coming up with their own ideas for music?

FS: We’re all pretty quiet about it.

DW: The two shows tend to be quite detached. We don’t want to get caught up in the petty politics of who is copying who or other things like that. So we don’t work together in that sense. Obviously though, Henry and I are friends, so we talk about ideas. There is always something that is just going to be similar between the two shows –

FS: Also, there is bound to be mutual –

DW: Interests in certain songs and such. That’s the benefit that Henry and FS get for going first – I’m just like, well that song is off the mix now! Hahaha.

FS: It’s my song! Muwahahaha. I think its really cool that both shows have similarly minded people in charge of music – that gives me someone who knows what I’m going through and someone to complain to!

 

So you guys are also doing the music for the after party; how is that going to be different from the show in general?

DW: We are trying to keep the music for the after party in a similar theme and vibe to the show. We went with what inspired us for the music in the show – artists that inspire us or labels that inspire us – that’s what we’re also trying to do for the after party.

FS: We found a great act called Real Nice, who aren’t signed, so we got them for a really great price. They’ve got this spunky interpretation of music. We’ve also got this guy called Simba coming up to play who has got these sweet, jazzy remixes to play.

^{Real Nice – one of the lead acts playing at FS’ after party, White Space, on Saturday night.}

 

Is there anything in particular that you’re hoping for when it comes to the shows?

FS: Yeah, I hope I don’t screw up.

DW: That would be nice. I also just hope that everyone has a really great time and enjoys the show like they did last year. And yes, I hope I don’t screw up.

 

Headline image from left: Henry Stanislaw, FS and Calum Bryant, DONT WALK  

©Alexandra Williams