Made up of Ric Scott and Alex Hush, the duo between them has credentials that stack up high. Ric has worked on some of the best dance and trance tunes, including with Warp Brothers, Ian Van Dahl, Paul Van Dyk, Moogwai, and more recently Lady Gaga, Paul Hardcastle and Hemstock & Jennings.
Alex is also known as one half of the production duo Koishii & Hush, who have released their own tracks, including collaborations with New Order’s Gillian Gilbert and Duran Duran’s John Taylor.
Ric and Alex first collaborated together on a remix for Erasure, before deciding to make Daybreakers an ongoing project.
Their first remix as Daybreakers was for the U2 single ‘Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It’s Way’ which helped propel the song to the top spot on the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart. With the success of the U2 remix, they were asked to remix Madonna’s single ‘I Rise’, which also took the #1 spot, giving Madonna her 48th #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart.
The awesome Daybreakers recently collaborated with Radio Company for the brilliant Quarter To that is out on ZYX Music. It sounds like the perfect occasion to have a nice interview with them and find out how this great project came about and the background story of Quarter To plus bits and pieces of their music career so far that you are eager to know. Read their interview right here.
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Ric: One of my biggest goals was working for Vince Clarke, we’ve done 3 remixes now.
Alex: I would agree the Erasure stuff has been a highlight along with U2, Madonna and many others
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Ric: After 11 years at Music School, I saw Adamski performing ‘Killer’ on Top of the Pops and thought; ‘I could do that’, so I purchased a small sampler, a drum machine and a synth and here we are.
Alex: Music has always played a huge part in my life and after a brief stint at a dance music radio station, production seemed the next likely step.
3-Dimitris: Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Ric: Jean Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk & Vince Clarke
Alex: Matt Darey, Shep Pettibone & Stephen Hague
5-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your latest release with Radio Company called Quarter To that is out now on ZYX. Please tell us how this track came about and what was the idea behind it.
Ric: With Quarter To, the main premise of the track was already there, we just needed to remix it and put our own stamp on it. Taking cross genre tracks which are this far apart can present various challenges.
Alex: I have known Steve from Radio Company for awhile and thought that their track would work really well with a dance interpretation. After a brief discussion, we all agreed it was an idea worth trying.
6-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Ric: From start to finish the track was on the desk for around 4 weeks in total from general ideas through to final master. Firstly, we put some ideas down then chose the best parts from each idea. Once we had the basis for the track down, it was time to put the vocals down and place them throughout the track. One of the challenges with this track was that we didn’t want to lose the flow of the ‘song’ so we had to find a way of letting the vocals blend seamlessly into the musical track, Once all the parts were in place, then it’s time for reduction. This is where we remove additional elements to clean the mix up. After this, we zero’d everything apart from the Kick. This allows us to level everything to the kick so the that the kick drives the mix. When we were happy with the mix, we mastered the track ready for release.
7- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Ric: We use Presonus Studio One v6 with the only outboard hardware being a Presonus IO Station 24c, monitors and an Alesis V49 Keyboard. Everything else is software. This is more due to space restrictions rather than mere choice.
If I was to give an opinion, it would be that each producer has the right to produce however they want. Some suit more outboard hardware and some more onboard software. When I started it was all outboard but over the years software has taken a more front row in terms of production and I love the sound of some of the analogue emulators, even if you need to run them through an emulated compressor to add more warmth, I do think they are close. But each to their own, however they produce, we all do the same job at the end of the day.
8-Dimitris: Do you prefer vocal or instrumental tracks? If there are vocals on the track we discuss about tell us about the singer you work with?
Ric: I like both as they both have their challenges. Keeping an instrumental track interesting and on the flip side, getting the vocals to sit in the mix. As long as the vocals are clean we can manipulate them to how we want them. Alex: Same. Both can be equally strong although having a great vocal can make an already fantastic instrumental really soar.
9-Dimitris: Are there any vocalists/singers on electronic dance music you aspire to work with?
Ric: I’d like to work with Becky Hill, Anne-Marie or Ella Henderson, I think they’re all really talented singers.
Alex: That Girl has been delivering some amazing vocals lately so she is definitely on the bucket list.
10-Dimitris: Please choose the most powerful lyrics ever included in a dance track and why these lyrics have touched you so deeply and have a special meaning for you?
Alex: I think the lyrics from ‘Close To You’ by Tiesto & Jan Johnston are outstanding.
“Do you find solace in the sun
Do you consider life as one
Do you believe there is a limit
To how fast a man can run
Someone said you're born alive
Well I don't feel that alive
No I don't feel that alive
I don't feel that alive”
Just something about that hits with such emotion.
11-Dimitris: Do you believe that artwork on your latest track is good and do you believe that artwork can attract listeners or record buyers? Can you mention the best artwork of a track ever released?
Ric: I personally think that Cover-Art side of the business has suffered due to Budget cuts, but I think ‘Quarter To’ does a great job.
When it comes to artwork of tracks I would have to say Thriller, Dark Side of the Moon, Surfin Safari etc.
Alex: For dance music, Chakra ‘I Am’ has an amazing image.
12-Dimitris: Do you have your own record label? if yes tell us when did you set it up, the reasons behind this decision and your top 3 releases on the label so far plus 2 or 3 releases that we should look after from your label.
Ric: ‘Cooper Recordings’ was set up in 2013 mainly to release music from myself and upcoming artists that I could support. I signed artists from Miami, Argentina, USA and the UK.
Alex: I do but more recently have been working with Lost Witness and Conductor & Cowboy on the new label Trance FC, where we really focus on new and upcoming artists as well as selected legacy artists and tracks.
13-Dimitris: Are you planning to complete an album or mix compilation soon? if yes please give us all the details about regarding tracks and how will look and sound like?
Ric: We have nothing in the pipeline yet but given the correct licensing costs, nothing’s impossible.
14-Dimitris: Can you pick up your all time favorite album or compilation and tell us why you adore it so much?
Ric: Sure, Vorsprung Dyk Technik. I love this album. It’s raw dance and early trance all rolled into 3 CDs. It shows Paul’s evolution through the years and how his techniques changed and grew. If he’s reading this, do a part 2 😊
Alex: New Order ‘Substance’. Genius from start to finish.
15-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Alex: To be honest we really only promote things on social media when we have a remix or single coming out. I find it to be a bit of a chore to constantly have to create content, especially when you may not have much to say.
16-Dimitris: Do you have any gigs/festival performances confirmed so far for 2024 in which ones are you most excited to perform and why?
Ric: None yet as we are concentrating on studio time this year, but if an offer was to present itself, we would seriously consider it.
17-Dimitris: Please share your most funny and most serious incident that happen to you during your DJ or LIVE PA performance?
Ric: I was playing a gig in the UK, I followed Jordan Suckley onto the decks (who was brilliant). I went on and around 10 minutes into my set, due to the amount of people who were on the stage with me, the photographer (Sara) tripped over the Deck connector and disconnected the decks which made everything go silent. Luckily, I knew exactly what Sara had done and plugged them back in and away we went again.
Nothing too funny or serious has happened over the years but it’s all about how you deal with the issues as and when they arise. I think learning to DJ locally and having issues come up through the night and learning to deal with them, you learn to make a joke out issues and panic less.
18-Dimitris: If you expect to have a steady income from your music productions are you satisfied with the way that royalties system works particularly regarding streaming revenue? Do you believe that artists get what they deserve from streaming providers/DJs playing your tracks in gigs/radio and selling music in physical formats like CDs/Vinyl or digitally.
Ric: I think that the digital streaming platforms should rethink the way they distribute the wealth they have gained from other people’s hard work. The low rates paid from streaming platforms in no way compensate the years of practice, hours of work and outlay that the artists & producers have to pay for. If every DJ that plays completed the Public Performance lists then organisations such as PRS etc could recoup this money back. Radio & TV play is still good where physical formats usually cost more to produce and little return.
Alex: Not even close to proper compensation. Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify now has a net worth of about 5 billion dollars all while saying that the cost of creating content is ‘close to zero’. He may have the largest music platform but that mentality is a major part of what is wrong in the industry.
19-Dimitris: Please note for all the new talents that read this interview to get some inspiration from you any technical tips in relation to your DJing or music productions. Also any piece of personal or music business' advice that has helped you to progress even further and is worth telling to the new upcoming talents.
Ric: If this is something you really want to do with your life, be prepared to put in the hard work and free work to showcase your talents and also be prepared to be turned down by labels. Take this as a cue to better yourself. Learn new techniques from people like Streaky for example and don’t play your music to people you know, they’ll always tell you you’re great and this isn’t what you need to hear. You need constructive criticism about your music. Play it to someone who knows music.
Alex: Just do your own thing. It is fine to fit in a genre but do not try and copy what everyone else is doing. That may bring you success but in the end if you are not ultimately making something you love, you won’t feel as fulfilled.
20-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2024? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Ric: Funny you should ask, I have recently remade ‘For an Angel’ by Paul Van Dyk. I like to remake tracks to see how my production compares to the original.
Alex: Yes and no. There are some great classic tracks we think would be great to remix but at the same time, can you really do anything to make it better? That said, we are always open to the discussion or to make an attempt and have a few slated for future release :)
21-Dimitris: How much do you care if your fans or followers like your productions? Do you struggle with the audience reception of your tracks and is this thought adds extra pressure on you and discourage you too?
Ric: To be honest, our fan base is quite eclectic, and you can’t please everyone all the time. The rules are if one person doesn’t like something, they will tell on average 11 people. If someone loves something, they will on average tell 1 person. All chatter is good chatter in the music business. Someone might not like a track, tell others who are then compelled to listen.
Alex: Exactly. Once the track is out there, it’s not ours anymore, it’s in the ether. We just do our thing and hope that our fans enjoy it. Try to take all feedback, good or bad, the same. Everyone has an opinion and that’s what it is all about.
22-Dimitris: Do you believe that audience should be banned from constantly taking photos or videos during DJ sets or are you happy with these activities?
Ric: In my opinion, I think clubbers who stand videoing are missing out on a great time. Just go and really enjoy yourself. You can watch the night back on YouTube as the promoters often hire pro videographers. Just enjoy the night and dance! I know that some DJs and Bands have banned phones etc from gigs to try and promote this.
When I was clubbing in the 90s and 00’s all we did was dance through the night, memories will never be deleted, and we loved every moment of it.
Alex: Agree and if you feel you have to record something, keep in mind the people behind you who may want to just watch and enjoy.
23-Dimitris: Do you prefer small clubs or huge festivals to perform? in which festivals or clubs you aspire to play in the future?
Ric: I like both, they both bring the best out in me. If I’m playing to 200 people in a club or 20,000 at a festival, I’ll always bring the performance. Everyone still gets the same level.
Tomorrowland has always been on my list, but the phone never rings, and the same goes for EDC. If the promoters are reading, we’re available 😉
Alex: Yeah Tomorrowland! Give us a call
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Ric & Alex: We hope you like what we do and we greatly appreciate the support we have received from dance fans around the world. It truly means a lot
Thanks so much to Richard & Alex for their precious time dedicated to reply to this interview.
Find Quarter To here : https://ZYXDance.lnk.to/QuarterToRemix
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