New York DJ and production duo Razor & Guido are being flown over exclusively to play at Epic, the new launch event hitting London next Friday 7th March. QX speaks to them ahead of their debut gig…
Who are Razor & Guido?
GUIDO: We are two DJs and friends who love house music.
RAZOR: I don’t say much, so I let the music do the talking.
How did you get started in the dance music scene?
GUIDO: I am from Miami originally, but moved to Long Island, New York at a young age. I discovered house music from its inception when I moved here to NY. We spin at different venues in NY as well as a once a month residency at the Sunday Service Party at Sankeys NYC.
RAZOR: I was born in Queens NY. I learned a lot from my cousin Rio, always watching him DJ and sneaking into clubs just to hear the music. I remember hearing David Morales play ‘You Used To Hold Me’ at a club called The Ritz, and since then I knew that was the crowd and music I wanted to be around. A few years later I met Guido and we just clicked and stayed in the studio for about 48 hours non-stop ‘til we fell asleep and made our first song, ‘Good Time’. We called the group Sleepless.
Describe your sound to us London boys?
GUIDO: I would describe it as progressive high energy house with a dash of vocals for good measure. In NY we like our beats and that will always come out in our productions and DJ sets. If it doesn’t make you want to shake your ass, then we probably are not playing it! [Laughs]
RAZOR: I say our sound is like a long and hard ride, from the drums to the fat baselines with grooves and some fun vocals to get your titties twisted. I love the drums and we will put some vocals over it and create a remix live. Yes we do werk! Also can’t forget those bitch tracks for the drag queens to carry on the runways. Sorry no EDM festival type music here!
“Our sound is like a long and hard ride, from the drums to the fat baselines with grooves, and some fun vocals to get your titties twisted.”
We hear the NYC club scene has been through some ups and downs over the last ten years or so. How is the NYC club scene at the moment?
GUIDO: I believe it’s reinventing itself. There is a new generation of kids that are finally embracing dance music as their pop so the scene has had a resurgence. So now that we have gotten the “EDM” gateway to open up, it’s time for the professionals to step in and educate these children.
RAZOR: Yes it has been very all over the place with the bottle service and other nonsense that takes away from the scene. It has been better for the last few years and since Sankey’s, has got us back on track. We finally have a place to go hear the music and hang out with a great crowd.
What have been your biggest and best gigs to date?
GUIDO: We did two tours of Japan that have been a real highlight in our careers. The respect and admiration is second to none.
RAZOR: Tokyo has to be up there not just for the great respect, but the crowd knew the songs and vocals and that shows how music makes us all one.
What are you looking forward to most about Epic?
GUIDO: We are looking forward to connecting with the British scene and having a chance to show them how we do it here in NY… or as some British would say “Give ‘em a proper knees up”! Yeah?
RAZOR: I’m looking forward to see all the new faces I never get to see and have a good time. I know we are all there for the music, and can’t wait to make the memories for everybody
How did you hook up with Epic promoter Michael Theriault?
GUIDO: Last year I was talking to DJ Brian ‘Serving Ovahness’ and complimenting him on his music and we got to talking on how we would love to work together soon. Not long after we got a call from Michael inviting us to play with Brian at an event he was throwing at Pacha… the rest as they say is history!
• Razor & Guido spin at new club launch Epic (Pulse, 1 Invicta Plaza, South Bank, SE1 9UF) on Friday 7th March, 11pm-late.
