Introducing: Live on Acid

Manchester-based electronic outfit Live on Acid release their Hype/Reality single today, and the duo (Matthew Derengowski and Anthony Savell) have told us about their influences and plans for the rest of 2021. If you have fond memories of Space Cassette or sweaty nights at Joshua Brooks, you’ll love the sound of Live on Acid.

What’s the story behind Live on Acid?

[Anthony] Matt & I have known each other since I moved to Manchester in 2013 through a mutual friend. I’ve been DJing (on and off) since I was about 19 and dabbling in music production, whilst Matt has been interested in synths and gear and has dabbled in DJing – so we decided to have a go at combining our interests into Live on Acid about 18 months ago – it took us a little while to find our “sound” but we’re really happy with what we’re producing at the moment.

What inspires you to write?

[Matt] I think that we both really enjoy the process – generally we create solid loops and variations on hardware (synths and drum machines) and get everything really clicking as a 1 to 4 bar loop. Then we record it into the computer and create the arrangements from there. So, it’s really just finding something that we both think has legs – we’ve probably listened to about 3 or 4 hours of the same loop by the time we finish a track – so at least we know we don’t get bored of it!

[Anthony] If we’d be happy to dance to it in a dark, noisy room (remember them?) then I think we assume that there are going to be others out there who’d enjoy it too.

Who has had the most influence on your sound?

[Anthony] We both have very diverse and eclectic tastes in music, so I consider what we do as Live on Acid to be the cross-roads of where those tastes intersect. My background is DJing breaks and electro-house, so there’s definitely some influence from that, especially in our beats and arrangements – as well as those classic sounds from the early rave and acid house era. We’re producing electronic music in Manchester – we can’t overlook that rich history there, right?

[Matt] I think ever since I made a copy of one of my older sister’s cassettes with Kraftwerk’s Man Machine one side and Soft Cell’s Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret on the other, I’ve had an obsession with synthesisers and electronic music. We’re definitely influenced by lots of artists across the electronic music scene throughout the last 40 years, but most obviously, the acid house sounds from the late 80s and early 90s. I think we both really enjoy that sound and vibe – but with a modern twist.

What has been the biggest challenge in your music career so far?

[Anthony] I think convincing ourselves that we were happy enough with what we’d written that we could make it available for public consumption – that felt like a big step but so far, the reaction has been brilliant! Other than that, it’s just the challenge of getting people to hear it and listen to it – there’s so many new tracks out there every week that it can feel like shouting into a void. It’s great that there’s never been fewer barriers to entry and so much new music around – it just makes it a nightmare to stand out enough to get noticed!

What has been the nicest thing ever written or had said about you?

[Matt] We put together a cheeky video edit for Disco Evolver (we won’t say too much but it uses some footage from a 1972 gig) and the reaction to that has been ace – so many people sharing and commenting on it across social media. Also, we got some great early support from Joey Bside who has supported us by playing some of our tracks on his weekly show Spezial Soundsystem – things like that are incredible especially seeing the positive comments from it come in as the tracks were being played.

What has been the best and worst gig you’ve ever played over your time in music?

[Anthony] Due to a pesky global pandemic we’re yet to play a live, Live on Acid gig but we’ve been working on both a live set, and a DJing for when things open up. So, if anyone is interested in booking us – then please do get in touch!

What was the last piece of music to listened to?

[Matt] It came out last year but we’ve both really been enjoying the Robert Hood album Mirror Man – that has definitely directly influenced at least one track we’ve written.

If you could support any band or musician, who would it be and why?

[Anthony] Roughion out of Cardiff are two young lads doing some good stuff and well worth checking out! Really enjoying some of the music they’ve been putting out. Other than that, I’m really hopeful that as nights and venues open up there is a focus on local bands and DJs and maybe a move away from the usual big names to more of a focus on the music. So go out and support local venues and artists – they really need it after the last year!

[Matt] We did an introductory This is LOA DJ mix and featured tracks by planningtorock and Avalon Emerson so we would have to give a nod to their work. Feels really exciting that there’s such a diversity in the electronic music scene at the moment!

Also, Posthuman is doing some great things, tougher and more techy than our sound but love their stuff and their label Balkan Recordings. Big props to his I ? Acid nights he’s been putting on too – we’re looking forward to the Manchester one in September!

Finally, if you like your music down-tempo and funky then check out Jem Stone and his Bona Fido label – not only great music but – Jem also did our artwork for us and has been a legend helping us as we set out on this project!

Give us a few hints on what’s in store next Live on Acid…

[Anthony] We have our debut single Hype/Reality is out now with Disco Evolver scheduled to come out 9 July. Both will be on all major platforms as well as available to pre-order on our Bandcamp page. Then we’re hoping to have an album together by late this year and an album sampler EP out in Autumn to support it. So please give us a follow on your preferred social media sites to stay up to date!

Be sure to check out the duo’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds to discover more streaming options for Hype/Reality.

Photo by Pippa