T. RexsTasy! Totally Enormous Extinct
Dinosaurs, live and on tour ASK Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs where he got the idea for dressing up as a prehistoric fan-tailed creature from the Jurassic period and he’s somewhat dismissive. “I would have thought that was obvious.”
Whether the fulfilment of a childhood dream or just a simple act of stagecraft to distract from live dance music’s constant elephant in the room (you’re one person on stage twiddling knobs), it’s given UK-based artist TEED, as he’s known for short, an edge when it comes to onstage presence.
With the equally impressive handle, Orlando Higginbottom, in real life, his debut album ‘Trouble’ was also DJ Mag USA’s biggest and boldest album of the year (see p.30-31 for our full list), mixing up raw dancefloor energy – the saw toothed bite of electro and swinging groove of garage – with emotionally charged songs that doff their cap to pop without leaving an over saccharine taste in the mouth.
“I always thought I’d never really be able to judge it until I gave it some real space,” he replies when we ask about his own reflections on this achievement, “perhaps before the year is up I will give it a proper critical listen. People have said some really amazing things about it and the only review I disagreed with was one where they got song names, lyrics and my age wrong!”
Fortunately for Stateside fans, we’ll soon be able to hear hits such as the Parliament indebted ‘Tapes & Money’ and ‘Your Love’ when he ventures over to the US from December 13, starting at New York’s Webster Hall, before heading to Chicago, Detroit and LA, finishing up at Crosstown Rebels boss Damian Lazarus’ Day Zero Festival at Playa Del Carmen in Mexico.
Drawing on the rave scene – which pervaded both sides of the Atlantic during the ‘90s – the show includes a pair of rave dancers, pyrotechnics and plenty of strobing lights, plus a few surprises along the way. What would he add though, we ask, if he was ever to get a Vegas residency?
“Horses on stage for a start, even though I’m not very good with them. Maybe do the whole show from inside a fish tank with loads of crabs in it... step it up for the states right? You guys deserve it!”
Beyond being a great producer, Orlando is no novice when it comes to being behind the decks either. Google his appearance from the live streaming showcase Boiler Room and you’ll catch a perfectly blended vinyl only set of classic ‘90s jungle.
“I haven’t really worked out how to explain why I love it so much, but musically I still find it exciting and fascinating,” he says when we ask about this
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obsession, which has led to him contributing to the genre’s cannon with tracks such as the mighty ‘Blood Pressure’, featuring Riko from grime crew Roll Deep. “Modern dance music in my opinion struggles to come close to its dynamics, atmosphere and groove. I’m certain it will continue to influence my music as long as I am composing!”
Grab Lunice’s previously unreleased remix of ‘Trouble’ from his Soundcloud for free now, and check out the Pearson Sound remix of ‘Your Love’ currently doing the rounds, but don’t expect any further singles from the album. Instead, Orlando has been working on some collaborations “which may or may not see the light of day one day.” “I’m currently working on some remixes for some artists I am big fans of which is exciting, it’s also the first time I’ve properly been back in the studio
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since I finished my album.”
Which brings us to the thorny subject of the difficult second album.
“I have a few sketches and ideas noted down, nothing solid though and I’m in no rush at all to get it done. The important thing for me is that I really believe in the music I make. Knocking out passable electronic music is easy and becoming easier. Making music that really connects with people, most importantly yourself, is pretty difficult.”
Having already tapped directly into our synapses once, we’re sure it won’t prove a mammoth task to do it again.
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