An21 and Max Vangeli talk Parliament

Parliament is a brand new night by the formidable duo of Habit's Alex Simmons and Candy Pants' Ray Chan. 

To launch in fitting style, there'll be three parties over two days in three different cites, kicking off at Newcastle's World Headquarters before heading to Leeds' The loft and then Sheffield's Purple. 

Headlining the events will be rising house sensations AN21 and Max Vangeli, who'll be playing back to back at all three parties and giving the night the welcome it deserves.

We caught up with the guys ahead of the launch events this weekend...

2010 was a big year for you both! What would you like to be looking back on and feeling proud about at the end of this year?

Max: I would say working together with Antoine, Steve and SIZE in general. It's an amazing feeling to be part of such a great and supportive group of people. It gives me freedom to express myself musically, which, to me is very important. Also playing in Ibiza, the mecca of electronic music, for the first time was a great experience! I would say the whole 2010 has just been mind blowing.

AN21: I must say that 2010 was the year for us when things finally started to happened, me and Max did some tracks end of 2009 that nobody has ever heard, and won't, just because they're not good enough. But we had a great start to 2010 with productions like 'Gama' which we released on Size of course, and also our Ellie Goulding 'Starry Eyed' remix which opened up so many doors for us. I can't believe how fast this year has gone and how much we achieved! We didn't just do 10 tracks but we also almost finished our album that's coming this year! So I'm very happy and so excited to make 2011 a better year then 2010 with Max Vangelli. Starting with our album...

Max: Do you think your Moldovan roots influence your music more than being in the USA? Do you think you’d have the same career if you’d never moved to San Francisco?

I think when you are part of some sort of a unique and different culture, it always influences you somehow. I believe that being born there and now living in the US adds to a perfect mix for me musically and culturally. As far as my overall career goes, I would say it would be much different if I didn’t move to San Francisco. The move showed me the big picture and what can be achieved in this life, I am very thankful for it!

AN21: Similarly, your upbringing must have played a big part in your music? Did you ever consider doing anything other than making music?

To be honest I've always known what I wanted to do, so when I was 17 I dropped out of school to focus on music 100%, I said "If I don´t succeed within five years, I can always go back to school". Four years later, here I am! So not regretting that a single bit!

Is it difficult sometimes to be recognised in your own right because of the SHM association? What do you think have you learnt from them?

Max: I personally don’t mind it because both Antoine and I know that we have our own paths to take and being associated with SHM only helps us to work harder. We get to witness how the boys build their mega careers and try and lean from their success as well as their mistakes. It's flattering to be a part of such an amazing crew who have done so much for this industry.

AN21: I don't think so, I'm always going to be Steve [Angello]´s little brother in people's eyes and I´m always going to be a baby in my mother's eyes, that´s just the laws of nature! But to be associated with them in any way and to be able to support them in 'masquerade motel' nights around the globe is like a dream! You can´t look up to anyone better than those guys.

Max: What do you think you bring to your joint productions that are unique to you?

I love melodies so much! I will never start off a project without some sort of a melody, that's how I roll!

AN21: And what do you think is your main strength when making tracks or DJing?

While making music I never give up. I always want to make it better and better and sometimes it's a bit annoying, because you put two weeks extra into a track that wasn't even needed. While DJing I love to do a super long set and start slow and sexy and build it up and down along the night.

Do you ever disagree with each other over productions?

Of course we do, but it always has to be mutual… if one of us does not like something we don’t do it.

I'd love to say we always agree, but we don't. We´re two people with different minds and that's a good thing! We always work around our problems and find a solution that fits both. A track that represents one mind is good, but two minds are greater!

AN21: Swedish artists seem to be doing well at the moment, are there any others we should be looking out for?

Everybody's doing a great job here right now, and I think it is because we have the best DJs to look up to and they are the Swedish House Mafia. For 2011 I think Sebjak will be the new rising artist of Sweden. He's very talented!

When you get remix requests, how do you both decide what you want to work on?

It all depends really. We always try and choose artists who are talented and inspiring to us. One thing we avoid like fire now is to simply do remixes of house music. It's a lot more fun to work with artists of different genres, like we did with Gorillaz and Ellie Goulding. Something more challenging is always what we go for.

Your debut album is coming out this year, what can we expect?

PHATMODE! It's going to be so much fun releasing it! We have so many exciting collaborations and have been working really hard on each and every track. There is not much that I can reveal at this point but I think our fans will love it!

You can expect something unique and original. Everything has our touch and sound in it but we´ve done it in different styles. I woke up today and listened through all tracks and unfinished ideas and I'm amazed! Can´t believe we´ve done all this without releasing it or sending it to DJs to play. It´s a hard temptation!

Where do you recommend people come watch you play next?

Max: Well it depends on where you are! But if I would have to name one place, then the last week of March in Miami would be it. You can count on a lot of exclusives to be played out and who can say no to that wonderful weather!

AN21: We´re doing a bunch of shows and also starting our 'Size Matters' tour with my brother Steve in Miami last week of March. So if you´re curious to hear the album you should come and pay us a visit :)

What do you think of the UK scene and what can we expect when you play for Parliament in three different cities over two days?

I love the UK scene because they are some of the craziest fans in the world! Every time we perform it's always something amazing! Expect to hear a lot of the album tunes as well as some really cool SIZE releases. Can't wait for the UK, always really good!

The Northern UK crowd is just simply amazing, and to be doing it once again together with Max Vangeli is gonna be a blast, other then hearing some album tracks and upcoming Size releases, expect to see us go wild!

You can also catch Max Vangeli and AN21 celebrating five years of Size Matters at The Warehouse Project on Easter Sunday, with Steve Angello. 

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