14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHIDEMI

IDEMI is a new underground dance project by London-based twins Rhett and Conran Lee, the writer-producer duo who are working with some of todays biggest dance acts. Inspired by the rawness of 90s house music, the British-Chinese DJs are looking to make their own imprint on the dance scene.

Outta The Box EP infuses infectious melodies and hard hitting-bass lines designed for the clubs. Released under Hottrax with the support of Jamie Jones, IDEMI’s debut EP, Outta The Box, is out now.

Q: Please introduce yourself

Hey Toka we’re Rhett and Conran - the twins behind IDEMI! Thank you so much for taking the time to interview us today. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

Kerri Chandler for sure! He’s such a pioneer in the house scene in both his sound and djing - a true artist in our eyes. His reel-to-reel session with RA is pure mastery! 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

To not have to sleep - we always feel we have no time to finish records so getting those extra hours would help so much. 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

The new Dune series! Love the cinematography and overall vibe of the movies. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

In recent years, Micheal Bibi and Pawsa with Solid Grooves definitely opened our eyes to a whole world of raw underground productions we had never experienced before. It helped us really break out of the box with our productions and learn to be more creatively free with our music. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

Although we’re from London, we grew up in Singapore surrounded by music. Our sister Chantelle has always been a singer songwriter, and our Dad was running the biggest clubs there at the time. We honestly didn’t pay too much attention to it growing up, but it definitely influenced us and it was amazing being surrounded by it all. When we moved back to London, we both got hooked on playing in Band class after school. Whether it was Arctic Monkeys or Thelonious Monk, we were always jamming with our mates and having so much fun. At that time, EDM was coming to the forefront of the commercial music scene and seeing Martin Garrix headline festivals at 16 really inspired us to take things seriously and learn how to produce. So we spent every day since then making music however we could - downloading whatever software we could find and looking up countless YouTube videos on sound design and beat making. 10 years later we’re working with some of the biggest dance acts in the world, and we’re so grateful to be doing what we love. 

Q: Everyone goes through ups and downs, what’s one habit you adopt to push through the downs?

Always make music that inspires you! It's not always about the end result - enjoying the creative process is everything! 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

Last year we did a private event at a rooftop in Hong Kong. It wasn’t a crowd that was familiar with the scene but the beats were grooving and the energy was amazing! 

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

We started with EDM, progressively becoming more underground, and now we’re really focused on originality and pushing the limits of our creativity! 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

Jazz is a must follow genre. The melody, the harmony, the grooves - they’re endless and constantly inspire us. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

Floating Points - Anasickmodular is a masterclass in sound design and electronica. His soundscapes and synths and drums blend seamlessly from one vibe to the next, it’s absolute magic!

Piero Pirupa - Bless The Rain is what first got us into the tech house scene years ago! Still such a tune with an iconic sample breakdown.

Groove Armada - My Friend needs no explanation! They are so inventive with their sample selection and grooves it's easy to see why this track will always be such a classic. 

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

Londoners know that Printworks is and will always be unmatched for underground music! The gritty industrial atmosphere really does transport you to another dimension. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

For IDEMI we’re looking to release as much as possible! We have upcoming releases with our good mates Solardo later this year, and lots of records in the works with labels we only dreamed of working with! We’re so excited to share it with you all. 

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

We both studied Economics at Uni and might have filled in for each other when it came to exam season ha!

Bonus Q Powered by Pioneer DJ: How did Pioneer DJ influence your career and what is your favorite Pioneer DJ gear?

Pioneer has always been in and around our music careers. On our 10th birthday our Dad bought us second hand CDJ-350s which Rhett still uses today! We also just recently bought the XDJ-XZ which works amazingly as a compact setup to spin with at home.