Pop-tastic, soul seeking, disco quintet Crazy P use vocal loops and vino to channel good vibrations with their 70’s inspired dance floor fillers.
Finger clicking good, the shoulder shimmying, rhythm funk, Crazy P comrades Chris Todd, Jim Baron, Dannielle Moore, Tim Davies and Matt Klose have earnt themselves a loyal following. Packing out venues all over the world for the past five years, the formerly titled ‘Crazy Penis’, first met when they were students at Nottingham University. Discovered and signed to Mancunian imprint Paper Recordings, the electro pop outfit then spent most of their time getting messy at heady, all night raves and local parties. Experimental, outlandish and up for anything, their reputation for bringing the fun to a good night out proceeds them and today the five friends make a living playing their experimental, funky house productions at uber clubs and festivals.
Individually pursuing side projects off the back of Crazy P, the five plan to spread their wings further afield in 2012. i-D online caught up with the crew to find out what their future holds.
Tell me about your earlier days when you were Crazy Penis, were you all more free spirited, care free individuals back then? We were certainly younger which comes with a certain amount of abandonment but we were never into throwing TVs out of windows or anything! If we did it was from a ground floor hotel room and we went straight outside and brought it back in! The music has probably evolved more than changed, we’re more confident with sounds and more open to experimentation. The Penis used samples, we tend to steer clear of that now!
What fresh Nottingham talents are you excited about right now? Red Rackem, but he’s in Berlin now, Clyde officially from Derby, but hey!
Where’s good to have a good night out in Nottingham? Moog for a dance and if Boogaloo is still open that’s a good night. Other than that a good curry house and the Gladstone pub, a local face!
What are your creative processes when writing new material? They vary, mainly Jim and Chris are forthcoming with ideas. It’s the three of us that were responsible for the last album previous to which we worked as the live band thrashing out jamming sessions. This time we went back to basics and worked from a production point of view. It was an experiment that worked. I got familiar with a vocal loop machine which was new to me whilst the lads got stuck into their various instruments and wizardry. Partnered with a few bottles of vino we had some very enjoyable nights in the Crazy P towers.
How do you want audiences to feel when they listen to your music? Connected, interested, warm, sexy, vibrant, melancholic, energised, reflective, spirited, tall, ready for moving forward, a bit cheesy I know but every emotion!
Which artists, bands or DJ’s have had a significant impact upon your sound? We all grew up with good disco. War, Stevie Wonder, Chic, Kid Creole and of course all the New York inspired disco movements through to Prince, The Cure and all the quality 80s pop that is timeless. Kate Bush, Moloko, Jamie Lidel, LCD, it’s an endless list!
What’s the best gig you’ve played to date? Apart from the recent Bristol Motion gig, our Leeds show was simply the best – and The Garden Festival. It’s a tough question to answer but we are lucky to have had some quality gigs all over the place. The first memorable one was Good Vibrations Australia 2004, Nitin Sawney and Moloko on the bill, Moloko smashed it!!!
What ambitions do you have yet to fulfil? Have an empty washing basket!
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