Peking Duk Q&A
Australian Electronic duo Peking Duk will finally release their awesome single High, featuring Nicole Millar, in the UK on January 11th 2015! I've got the chance to ask them some questions so we could get to know them a bit better. Be ready to see them perform in the UK and USA in 2015 and find out how they met and picked their catchy name: Peking Duk. I have to thank them for taking time to do this, it meant a lot! 

Answers by “R” is Reuben Styles and “A” is Adam Hyde 
1. First of all I’ve got to say I’m loving your new single Take Me Over! What was the inspiration behind it?

R: Firstly, thank you! I guess the song has so mulitple inspirations in it.. A lot of musical influence from various hip hop tunes and loads of electronic artists. Then plenty of inspiration came from our move from Canberra to Sydney. Experiencing a new world and seeing music everywhere was an exciting time for us. In turn loads of random demos of songwriting occurred, those of which are only now starting to see the light of day.

2. How was it working with SAFIA? How did that collaboration happen?

R: It was incredible working with Ben from SAFIA, he has absurd talent in that head of his. We reached out to him via facebook message initially then he replied immediately saying he was keen to pop by the studio and have a jam... The vocal melody was finished and recorded a week later. It was a totally natural process working with SAFIA and no doubt it will happen again in future.

3. Can you tell us the story behind your name Peking Duk? I can’t believe it is just an honour to the Chinese delicacy Peking Duck.

R: Haha it started from when we were 18 / 19 and had just started going to nightclubs regularly... It was a casually thrown around term like "Dave is peking duck right now!!" meaning dave has just reached that point in the night where the 'beers' have well and truly kicked in.

4. How did you guys meet?

R: We met at the skatepark in 8th grade... My homies still hadn't rocked up so I introduced myself. I knew Adam casually from other parties and things happening around Canberra at the time so we clicked pretty easily. From then we ended up doing 11th grade together and became best mates.

5. What made you want to follow music? Was it always the #1 thing you wanted to do for a living?

R: I started with classical instruments and reading sheet music which was fun... But until I started playing guitar music was just another part of growing up. Guitar was when music became all about jamming and creating, that was when I got the feeling that I wanted to do music forever.

6. What song - out of the ones you already released/written - means the most to you? Why?

R: The most meaningful to me is The Way You Are, it was the song that started everything for us in Australia. When The Way You Are was released we were able to quit our cafe jobs and make an earning from gigs for a living. It wasn't easy for the first 3 months (Adam and I would literally fight over noodles!!) but it was the most exciting time in my life.

7. Speaking of songs you’ve released. I am addicted to High and I listen to it every single day! It will now be released in the UK on January 11th. Will you go there to promote it and play some gigs?

R: Definitely. Our first UK show is long overdue. We'll be heading over there lots in the next year to amend our lack of presence!


8. What are your musical inspirations? And what made you choose this specific type of music?

R: We never seriously sat down and chose the music we are making. It gradually evolved from us trying to create Bloody Beetroots / Crookers / Fake Blood style music from when we first got into dance music. Obviously over time more influences rolled into the picture but they are what started it all for us musically.

9. What kind of message you want to convey with your music?

R: Our message is kinda contrasting.. In our shows it is purely about not giving a shit and enjoying yourself but the actual lyrics we are writing is a touch more deep. High is about being stuck in a terrible situation and being too lazy to leave it, Whether it is a violent relationship or a drug addiction it can mean something to anyone really. Musically thought it is a fun loving party track so hopefully our overall message isn't too confusing haha

10. You’re now signed a worldwide record deal with Sony Music/RCA Records. Can we expect a full length album anytime soon?

R: Absolutely on the cards... We've already started making loads of music that breaks our regular boundaries. Some of the tunes we are working on doesn't even have a kickdrum or doesn have a single human element form start to finish. It's an exciting time for us in the studio right now as we can step outside the square and really break all of our usual rules within writing Peking Duk singles.

11. Are you planning any special collaborations? Is there an artist/act that you would absolutely love to work with and why?

R: There are a shit tonne of collaborations happening with people from singers to bass players and even indian flute players. Collaborating is the funnest part of our project and we are always jamming with people of different styles and musical upbringings. The wish list is large though haha... We honestly would die to collaborate with Kanye, Little Dragon, Damon Albarn, Julian Casablancas annnnnnd yea there isn't any point continuing on this list coz it goes for days.

A: Probably getting drunk with Australian celebrities and being able to talk on a musical level with people that we have looked up to for years.

13. If you were given the chance to pick one artist/band to tour with which one would it be and why?

A: Not really a band but Kanye West for sure. In the hope that I'd get a chance to sit down with him and pick his brain on some musical tip.

14. What advice would you give to those that want to start a career as music producers?

A: Be yourself and write music that you truly love. Work on your craft as much as possible and don't follow trends, they will be dead within the year anyway.

15. What has 2015 got in store for Peking Duk fans?

A: A lot of new music and a lot of touring in the US of A and the UK.

16. Apart from making awesome music what other secret/special talents do you have?

A: When we are drunk and/or high we are both great at rapping. Also reuben can flick beer bottle caps at the speed of light with stunning accuracy.

17. If you could only listen to one artist/band the rest of your life, who would it be?

A: Kanye West

18. Name five things you can’t live without.

A:
1. My Laptop (to write music)
2. Other peoples music
3. The squad (best friends that roll everywhere we go)
4. Family
5. Vodka

19. If you could be superheroes, what would you want your superpowers to be?

A: To make everyone in the world happy

20. What’s your favourite song of 2014?

A: DMA's - Delete