The Sex Cult Initiation Tour, an introductory tour for the roster of brand new dance label Sex Cult Records, dropped some heavy bass when it made it’s stop in Richmond, VA on Friday, Nov 18 at the Hat Factory. The tour, which has paced across the US in a sexy white limousine and was scheduled to make stops in 12 states, included the likes of Designer Drugs, along with PLS DNT STP, Skitsnyyg, Your Dirty Habit, Black Matter, and The High Priest. Although Designer Drugs is a duo, Theodore Paul Nelson wasn’t able to make the stop in Richmond due to being busy kicking ass in Med school in West Virginia. Michael Vincent Patrick carried the weight pretty well during his set, seamlessly melding together smooth house chords. Michael also informed us that he would be moving from the Lower East Side of NYC to Wheeling, WV, near Theo’s school, proving a brotherly dedication to finishing their next album. We got a chance to catch up with Michael before his DJ set to see what he had to say about the groups progress, Occupy Wall Street, and coagulated duck blood in this exclusive interview:
I’m interested in you guys’ humble beginnings. Can you tell a little about those first days and the initial efforts of Designer Drugs? Was there a particular live show or venue that help set you off?
I don’t think it was any particular live show or DJ set that gave us this opportunity. It was all about our production and all about the internet. Although, some of the first shows we played were El Paso, Texas, Gainesville, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky. And one other place that we were just at--Charlotte, NC. And then Philly too. We did a regular night in Philly and I had played a bunch of shows in Philly. And that was where we were DJing before Designer Drugs got big. But before that, I had been DJing for a long time, 15 years.
What do you see as the biggest difference from where you started in 08 and now? What specific progression do you recognize from yourself and Theo?
Where the scene progressed or where we progressed? I mean, the scene is definitely different. It was more sort of underground then [around ‘08], and now it’s more pop. The producers that were really big then aren’t really big now. You know. It went from it being an underground thing to like…Tiesto being popular again. He was popular then, but it wasn’t part of this scene at all. Also, I would never have expected to shut it down in Iowa City and Knoxville like 5 years ago. You know what I mean? It really was just bigger cities, bigger scenes. Now there are surprises around every corner.
Dubstep is beginning to blow up in the US. I know Designer Drugs has a grind house/ electro sound but when I heard "Dead Meat" I was like, “Whoa!” You guys threw way more bass line in then we are used to. You even got heavy in some tracks on Hardcore/Softcore. Can you speak on that?
Yeah. It was all just a sign of the times, you know? I mean, that’s the stuff that we were hearing, that’s the stuff that was going on, so it kind of just got incorporated subconsciously. [Hardcore/Softcore] definitely had some elements of it but there were no straight dubstep tracks on that album. I think on the next we will probably have some. We're working on some shit now.
I know you guys have played numerous shows outside of the US. In a past interview you claimed Asia to be a favorite. Where is the gnarliest, most high-energy spot you’ve played?
I think playing at Zouk in Singapore was really good. The energy there is really good. It’s like as big as the club tonight, but in the back there is bottle service and shit. People will be on the tables in the bottle service area going crazy, just loving it.. The energy there is insane. I just played a festival in Sweden too, Emmabodafestivalen, which was really good. That was fuckin' sick. Those are the only two that come to mind recently.
Being from New York city as well as on tour, have you made any Occupy stops? What are your thoughts on the Occupy movement?
No I’m not necessarily a huge fan of the whole protest thing. You know, I feel like I agree with the whole thing that is going on, and I want the best for everyone, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t know if protesting is the best way to go about it. I feel like we could go a do a different method to get shit done. I was saying the other day that I didn’t think protesting worked, but some of the other Sex Cult guys pointed out some very successful protests in America. We haven’t made any stops though. We barely have time to sleep. We like to Occupy our limo. I hope things get better for the average American though. They just need to listen to more music!
Favorite DJ to kick it with?
[laughs] These guys right here. Please Don’t Stop (PLS DNT STP). Yea it’s these two right here.
If you could roll around with a theme song blasting from your shoulders, what would it be?
[Meek Mill and Rick Ross's] "Tupac Back.” [unanimous agreement among the crew backstage]
Whether they have been around since the beginning with you or have just hopped on recently, is there a clothing line or company that you really dig?
I like Cassette Playa from London. I feel like when we first started doing the Designer Drugs thing, they were really hype. It’s back again, they are still really hype, and they’re killin’ it. They’ve been around exactly [as long as] Designer Drugs and they’re still killin’ it, so I feel like there’s a little connection there. It’s the whole London nu-rave scene.
I’m sure you’ve gotten to experience some interesting food throughout your travels. What is the weirdest thing you have been coerced to eat on tour?
In Taipei we ate Chicken blood cake, Coagulated duck blood, pig intestines, different parts of frogs. I’m actually going to Taipei next week and I’m going to take a shot of snake blood. They actually kill the snake in front of you and pour the blood into a shot glass, and you drink it. I’m a little nervous.
Any shoutouts? Anyone you would like to thank?
Yeah, gotta shout out to the Sex Cult Crew: Painted Face, Alvin Risk, Black Matter, Skitznyyg, Pls Dnt Stp, Your Dirty Habit, High Priest. Yeah, that’s everybody, the whole crew on tour just shut it down. We’ve got Philly after this. It’s going to be insane.
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