-
10 Questions with ... Peking Duk
March 7, 2017
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
Website: http://www.pekingduk.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pekingduk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pekingduk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pekingduk
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pekingduk
1) Who is Peking Duk, and how did the name come about?
We are Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles. The name came about a long time ago; we used to be partying quite a bit back when we were 17, 18, when we only knew Rock and Hip-Hop music. Anyway, we discovered Dance music very quickly. With Dance music comes nightclubbing and quite a bit of partying and it just became a saying amongst our friends. When someone who was Peking Duk, it was when they weren’t peaking with energy; it was just before that moment when you’ve had too much -- what do they call it -- alcohol or beers! Whatever you want to call it, anyway ... When you’re peaking real hard but you’re sort of tucked away in a corner of a room just looking like a duck. Scrunching up your face and ... “Oh, yeah, looked around the room, and we were both peaking” and we just got stuck with the name.
2) How did you two first meet?
We met at a skate park in Canberra, our hometown in Australia. We were actually dating the same girl at the same time, which is a funny story. True story. Yeah, so shout-out to Canberra, and Carly. Yea, Carly Ross -- that’s her name. Name for shame – no, not shamed. We love it. Yea, that’s how we met. When you’re dating the same girl at the same time, you sort of have to become friends or fuck each other. It’s one or the other; there’s never a middle ground. So now we’re best buds. We became friends slightly more and more throughout high school. Ended up going to the same school for the years 11 and 12. That’s where we began creating together.
3) So Peking Duk began collectively in 2010?
Correctamundo! Yes! We started jamming. We actually bought a bad pair of nicks that taught us nothing, but it was fun! It was a lot of fun. Then we started DJing at clubs towards the end of 2010. Had a song ready by the start of 2011; that’s when it all started.
4) The first big song, and maybe I missed one or two here, was with Swanky Tunes. “You Are Nobody Else” – how did the existence of that song come about?
That was probably two years into it. So we released the song, which definitely got us recognition amongst the Dance world, which was cool; they’re great guys. After that we dropped a song called, “High” and that really got the wheels moving for us in Australia, big time!
5) That was a triple-Platinum song, right?
Yea. We never really tasted anything like that. It actually went four times Platinum. It was crazy coming from a different world to that. So that was awesome. Ever since that song came out, we’ve been pushing and pushing. Doing the same thing we’ve been doing ever since.
6) Your current single is “Stranger” with Elliphant
Yes! It came together real quick! We’d been working on that for ages with Elliphant in Australia and then finally she was like, you’ve got to come to Sweden. So we said, “Fuck it! Let’s go to Stockholm!” We just went and it was cool. It was July last year when there was a whole lot of daylight, and not much night so we partied a lot. But we also worked a lot and we learned a lot. We’d party each night, and we’d work each day and we ended up making a bunch of songs with Elliphant, and other songwriters over there, too. “Stranger” is the one that we were like, “Oh! This is it! Let’s put this out!”
7) That song is double-Platinum back home and it has 16 million Spotify streams so far?
Yes! It took off real quick in Australia and in New Zealand. So yea, fingers crossed it translates across to the rest of the world.
8) You’ve just announced a tour called the Clowntown Tour, is that a city in Australia?
It’s not a city, it’s just a state of mind. It’s every city in Australia. It’s any city in the world! Clowntown started out a while back. We were at the Kendrick Lamar concert in Sidney and then I don’t know, I had too many beers, and out of nowhere I was like, “Let’s have an after-party, you down to clown?” And it was like, “Down to clown, what are you saying? Like up the duff?” He was like “No, are you down to clown?” I could barely understand him and then I was like, “Oh, down to clown. Yes, definitely!” It became a saying -- let’s go to clown town; one-way ticket to clown town. If everyone’s down to clown then it was sure a safe way of getting...
99) Growing up, who inspired you?
Reuben: There were a lot of bands that Mum used to play in our living room, which included some Electronic music such as Fatboy Slim and Chicane and Groove Armada, Cake and Beck. There was a whole lot going on back then in my household, which definitely I love listening to even now.
Adam: My dad was always playing Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan. I didn’t really like it too much then when I used to hear it. But as I’ve grown up, I fuckIN’ love it now when I listen to it. My mom was always playing the Rolling Stones, which I loved then and I still love. Then as I started growing, it was bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Pantera ...‘cuz we were all playing guitar. Then when Dr. Dre dropped 2001; I think that’s one of the most iconic albums ever of our generation, so that was a massive influence. Then when we started researching that he was this monster-style producer who really opened up a whole new world as to what a producer does. I had no idea. Then people like Kanye West, he’s a character-and-a-half, which I can’t help but tip my hat to him.
10) You guys are about seven years into working with each other, if you were going to give a piece of advice to an artist/DJ, what would it be?
Adam: Stick to your guns when it comes to musical style.
Reuben: Yea, with the musical style, don’t ever try to do what’s trending!
Adam: Cuz as soon as you try and chase a trend, it puts you in a box and as soon as you’re in a box, it’s going to fuck your whole shit up. Really do something that you feel. As corny as that sounds, it’s the best piece of advice I can give.
Reuben: That way you’ll always stay passionate about what you’re making.
Adam: Rather than trying to make something of what’s cool right now. Coz you know, trends come and go. Especially in the Electronic music, that shit goes [snaps fingers] like every two weeks!
Bonus Questions
Let’s give your fans some insight into who you are ... Australian rules for football or soccer?
Adam: Soccer.
Reuben: Soccer! Yeah, we really got into soccer recently.
Scripted TV or reality TV?
Adam: Scripted TV, that shit is funny. Reality TV is scripted these days!
Reuben: Yea!
Fact or fiction?
Adam: Fact!
Reuben: Fact, yea! Actually some fiction is pretty good. Right now I’m watching the People vs. OJ Simpson and it’s a good factual show with a little bit of history involved, a bit of entertainment. Anyway, they’re not paying me to say this.
Homemade or take-out?
Adam: Homemade is better but I haven’t had a homemade meal in about 10 years.
Healthy or junk food?
Reuben: A good balance keeps you happy.
Adam: Yea I don’t know, I like a bit of junk food but I’m mean...
Reuben: We don’t have Shake Shacks in Australia. So the junk food level is pretty bad back home.
Cartoon or classic TV show?
Adam: Cartoon. Ren & Stimpy, Beavis and Butthead!
Reuben: Yea! I mean there are some good cartoons.
Last song you sang in the shower?
Adam: I was singing Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” in the shower this morning. You can get some real reverb in the shower to hit those notes!
Reuben: I was singing Cascada’s “Every Time We Touch.”
-
-