“In your hand is a sculpture that plays sound”
US DJs and producers Eris Drew and Octo Octa (aka Maya Bouldry-Morrison) each made a name for themselves in electronic music individually, but in recent years, coming together as both partners and musical collaborators, the pair have become a serious force to be reckoned with. Known for putting their own distinctive, eclectic spin on classic house and rave sounds, the pair have become one of the scene’s most in-demand DJ duos.
Through their releases, DJ sets and T4T LUV NRG the pair have become evangelists for the communal and healing power of dance music, as well as vocal advocates for LGBTQ+ voices within the dance music community.
Their new mix release, fabric presents Octo Octa & Eris Drew is set for release 27 November. Recorded purely on vinyl at their cabin in the New Hampshire forests, the pair describe it as, “about letting go and trusting that change is good during a time when the very idea of hope is under challenge”. We caught up with them remotely to discuss how vinyl fits into their DJing and music-making ethos, as well as how they’ve been spending their time away from clubs in 2020. (Maya and Eris have asked that their answers are credited to the pair of them jointly, except where specifically noted).
Your new fabric mix is all-vinyl – as DJs, why does vinyl still appeal to you as a format to mix with, over and above the comparative convenience of CDJs or digital setups?
