You have been responsible for some of the most forward-thinking trance classics of recent years with tracks like 'Helsinki Scorchin' and 'Suru'. What was your introduction to the trance sound?
Super8: For me, I think it was 98 or around then. Before that, I was listening more to house and Detroit sounds, then suddenly this wave of new fresh tracks - 'For An Angel' and tracks like that - came in and I didn't even know it was called trance. For me, it was just club music, but it sounded so fresh. I went to Helsinki at a time when trance was really kicking off so I started to go clubbing a lot.
DJ Tab: My introduction to trance was probably a tiny bit earlier, around 96 or 97. I was playing a club in Helsinki called Illusions and it was just the sound of that time. Before that, I first listened to a lot of psycehdelic trance and house music. Trance was so big at that time.
How did you first meet?
Super8: It was probably at Illusions, where Tab was playing for 10 years. By that time, Tab was doing tracks with Miika Kuisma as AR54 and one day I came to the studio with him. Before that we were just like 'hello' friends.
What is your proudest moment as Super8 & Tab?
DJ Tab: Getting the album finished. That is probably biggest achievement we've had so far, but there's so many it's hard to separate them. Headlining The Gallery, the 'Helsinki Scorchin' track as well. That really was THE TRACK for us and things started to move really fast from there.
Super8: The highest position in the DJmag top 100 as a Finnish artist is also great. Remixing Paul Van Dyk was a big moment. And the Future Music tour in Australia was crazy. Suddenly you are touritng with Basement Jaxx and Grandmaster Flash!
On Empire, you've really embraced a vocal aspect to your sound. Who would be your dream vocalists to work with?
Super8: Tori Amos, Bjork and Chris Martin.
Empire is a very diverse album and it seems you're going for a more timeless approach rather than pure club bangers. What albums do you go back to time and time again?
Super8: 'X+Y' by Coldplay. Above & Beyond's 'Tri-State' album for sure - it's a timeless trance influenced album, which is something we're going for.
DJ Tab: The same Coldplay album also. I always find myself going back to Sasha's 'Involver 2' CD, that's been in my stereo a lot - the atmosphere is brilliant. You have to listen to it from the start to the end, it's a real journey.
In what way do you think living in Finland has influenced your sound?
Super8: Minor chords! A lot of Finnish music and Slavic music is focused on minor chords. It's ingrained in our musical culture. Maybe it's because of the long and cold winters. But at the same time, you need to remember Finnish summers too - 'Empire' is definitely influenced by that. The nature and beauty in the landscape here is amazing and you really get to see it at its best in summer.
You had a residency at Finnish club Hallmark - is that still going?
DJ Tab: It's been slowing down a bit, we do maybe twice a year. We did 8 years for once a month, so the last two years we've slowed down to do anniversary parties and special events.
Super8: It's a really legendary club in Finland. It's a pure trance club which is what makes it reallt special. Andy Moor, Thrillseekers, Lange.
We have the album launch party next month and you can really see that people are so excited that there's a huge trance party coming.
What have been your favourite gigs over the past 6 months?
DJ Tab: Future Music festival in Australia. We played that for the second year in the row. We did the Anjunabeats stage with Above & Beyond, Mat Zo and Jaytech. Trance Energy and A State Of Trance were really big ones for us too.
But we've been busy all year. We've had San Francisco, LA a couple of times and Montreal.
Super8: Cyrpus was a special one. Normally the trance gigs are in big cities, so it was nice to get some sun!
Your productions are always of a really high quality. Which one piece of studio kit would you not be able to live with out?
Super8: Our Mackie speakers. They are not the best ones in the world, but we feel comfortable working with them.
DJ Tab: We have been using them for over 10 years now.
Finally, what do you think you'd be doing if you weren't music producers?
Super8: Selling music instruments.
Tab: Surfing somewhere.
Catch Super 8 & Tab this Friday @ The Gallery, Ministry of Sound alongside Kyau & Albert, W & W, Dzeta & Basile, Riley & Durant plus many more. For more info head to http://www.thegallery-club.co.uk/
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