Last Gas Station loves VILLA, three guerillas from Belgium (Fredo, Thang & Seba ) who have been very active as dj & producers over the last 10 years. Lately, VILLA have been causing a commotion! Their “Diva edits” on Mindless Boogie and their great remixes on The Golden Filter’s “Thunderbird” and Music Go Music’s “Warm in the Shadows” set the dancefloor ablaze. Even Erol Alkan plays VILLA remixes! In view of their first dj set in Athens at the Galaxy Bar on Sunday 13th December gaves us an interview about music, the Balearic sound and cars…

Why did you choose this name?

I was reading about Ibiza and found out that Villa is the nickname the inhabitants use for Ibiza Town. So I thought – wow Villa – what a great word! Sounds exotic and sexy. But most important it’s just a powerful word that fits good to the music we want to make.

What’s the secret for a successful remix?

Don’t know. We’re not successful. But the moment you start a new remix is always exciting. We just need to get inspired by something in the original. Something we can fall in love with like a synth line, a verse or even better, the front lady!

What’s your opinion about the Balearic movement?

It surprises us when people talk about music in terms of movements. In our musical universe all different kinds of music come together in one big blend. We have always been digging crates to find good classics, discover new music. Rock, House, Italo, Hip Hop, Rave… there are so many influences that inspire us. We don’t think Balearic is a sound, nor a movement. It is an open-minded attitude towards all kinds of music. So, yes, in that way you could describe us Balearic.

How would you describe your sound?

For ten years now, people have been asking us to describe our sound. We have never found a good answer. Probably eclectic is the word.

You love to make people dance. What kind of music makes you dance?

There are so many kinds… We’re always dancing. As long as it’s sexy.

Is downloading a threat to music?

Not at all, from the approach of music itself. Every artist wants his music to reach as many people as possible. Since digitalizing music and the use of CDJ’s/Serato in clubland, the spreading of dance music is enormous. If you check our own course, it’s amazing how our “Diva edits” led a life on its own.

What is your favourite destination?

Pussy….euhm…Destination unknown!

Can you recommend 5 albums that everybody should listen to?

Lots of. A brand new Belgian rockband called The Hickey Underworld is amazing. “Everything” by Mulate Astatke and “Expressions” by Music Go Music. Jackson and His Computerband is a smash! And off course classics like Paul McCartney & The Wings – “Band on the Run”, and The Alan Parson Project – “Eye in the Sky”.

What are your future plans?

Going to bed. But before that, we’re busy on a remix for Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip on Rob Da Bank’s label Sunday Best, waiting for our c90’s remix to come out, working on our first EP, listening to our mix on Ministry of Sound radio, working on another crazy Mindless Boogie edit, doing some chorographical moves for the new live show of Calvin Harris, working on the soundtrack of “The deepest throat”, feeding the monks, debugging our hair, writing haiku’s and dj-ing in Athens!

Tell us a song you love to listen to while driving your car…

“Drive” by The Cars.

Here’s 2 brilliant VILLA remixes for your pleasure…

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mindless Boogie: “Agneta” [Villa edit] [mp3]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Music Go Music: “Warm in the Shadows” [Villa Remix] [mp3]