We talk to Letherette before their upcoming performance at KOKO

Mysterious production duo Letherette are not known for their tendencies to speak out in the limelight. Rather, they focus on letting their message speak for themselves through their music. Luckily for us, we were able to have a chance to ask them some questions as they lead up to their upcoming release on Ninja Tune, as well as ahead of their performance, which will be at KOKO on January 23rd with Com Truise, Jackson and his Computer Band, among others.

Check out the event here.

Hi guys, can you start by telling us how you came up with the name “Letherette”

It started off more as a way to describe the sound or give it a title when i first started making music. I’d make cd’s full of material and call it ‘Letherette vol1 / vol2 ‘ and so on. As i made more and more music the name stuck to the sound and it just seamed right to call it letherette.

To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?

I always find it hard to describe my own music/sound but I always like my music to sound a little bit sexy and rough, dark and emotional.

Since launching the project you were influenced heavily by artists like Daft Punk, Cassius and Madlib. Has your sound evolved since then and what artists are inspiring you today?

My music is constantly evolving as are my influences, i couldn’t listen to the same artists over and over, i like to discover and re-discover. I need inspiration from music to make music.. At the moment people like ‘strange U’ ‘Andres’ ‘gary Gritness’ ‘pepe bradock’ off the top of my head, too many to mention though. One week i could be making 100’s of beats and the next week tape loop drones or house music, i always like to keep changing it up.

Amongst your earliest pieces of equipment, you mention a Moog. How does your equipment compare today?

My studio has shrunk a little over time, i still use the odd compressor and 4 track cassette recorder, also loving the Casio SK1 at the minute and trying to resist buying the octatrack. I’m usually at my most creative sitting on the settee with my headphones on, theres nothing worse for me than spending too much time in one place.

What are the key pieces of equipment you use when in the writing process?

Record deck, records and Abelton. Sampling is the key for me, hunting for odd/rare/old records and seeing where the samples takes me.

What are the 5 albums and artists that are influencing you the most today?

laraaji – ambient 3
the supreme jubilees
milton wright – Friends and Buddies
Kashif – kashif
Bill evans – sunday at the village vanguard

Can you see yourselves collaborating with Com Truise?

Yeah sure

What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?

I have fond memories of some of our first DJ gigs playing in wolverhampton to the bouncers and few people sitting around on a Thursday night, we’d just be playing soul and early Letherette tunes without a care in the world. It had a charm to it that disappeared over time, maybe because it was new and exciting. Other than that Soundwave was a great gig, great atmosphere, also got to meet MF Doom which was a plus!

Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects, DJ mixes or collaborations in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

Been in the studio with Rejjie snow a few times and have done a few tracks with pyramid vritra. Also starting our own label this year so we can get more music out, the first release on that is a biggie!, Some old classic letherette tracks mixed with a few that haven’t been heard yet! Got a new mix out this friday on Hypercolour 2300 – 0100 rinse fm.

Finally, if you weren’t a musician what would you be?

A Milkman.

Tickets for Sat 23rd Jan at KOKO with Letherette, Com Truise, Jackson & His Computerband and more can be found HERE