The Presets
Interview with Kim Moyes
Words: Becca Nelson and Maynard Del Mar

Appearing:
March 19, 2007
Crowbar, Tampa

Tampa will get a serious ass shaking on Monday, March 19, when Australian electro-rockers The Presets join Crystal Castles, Red Square, and DIRT DJs for a dance party of epic proportions. DIRT’s hosts and dance party connoisseurs Becca and Maynard tracked down Kim, 1/2 of the electro duo, who are currently touring in Australia before coming state-side for SXSW and Winter Music Conference, to answer a few questions about who they are and what they think of the burgeoning electro scene in the US.

REAX: Who are you?
Kim Moynes: I am Kim Moyes the other guy/singer is Julian Hamilton.

REAX: How did you get to be The Presets? How did you meet?
KM: At University, on Acid.

REAX: How long have you been together? Who writes music and lyrics?
KM: 12 years as musical partners and friends, and 4 years as The Presets. Jules writes most the words, we both write the music.

REAX: What’s the music scene in Australia like?
KM: It’s based on pub rock ("AC/DC") and thanks to Australia’s large gay community, club or dance music ("ABBA").

REAX: And how do you guys fit in?
KM: We bring those two elements together, at last.

REAX: We’re billing your show on Monday in Tampa as a dance party, but sometimes The Presets are classified as electro, sometimes hard rock, sometimes pop. How do you describe your sound?
KM: I like to think of us as the Pet Shop Boys had a baby with Rage Against the Machine after a night on ecstasy.

REAX: In addition to your live performances (which are building quite a reputation of their own), you’ve also added DJ to your talent oeuvre. How’d that come about?
KM: People offered us a little money to do it sometimes and we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" and dance like monkeys. Now Jules doesn’t do it that much and I get paid a fortune to play hardcore techno.

REAX: This seems to be a trend, we’re hearing of more and more bands touring as DJs, or doing guest sets at clubs.
KM: I think its great for people obsessed about music to get a chance to play some of their favorite songs from time to time. It is certainly more interesting watching some dude from a band playing polar opposite songs back to back and not properly mixing than watching a seamless 4-hour techno set.


REAX: Remixes of your singles are in heavy rotation at some of our favorite clubs/ nights, like DIRT in Sarasota, and Decatur Social Club in Atlanta. What are some of your favorite remixes of your own work?
KM: Digitalism Remix of Down Down Down is awesome, and the Jaun Maclean remix of I go Hard, I Go Home is AMAZING..

REAX: What do you have upcoming? New album? Remixes?
KM: We have just started on o0ur second Album and have some remixes coming out soon. I also do some silly techno stuff on the side to help with my Djing.
I have just done a great remix of French Band "Cassius," a song called "Rock No. 1." It will be out as a 12 inch soon.