ELR™ Exclusive Interview w/ PeaceTreaty

Photo by Paul Vert

Alright guys, so in case you missed it, Dim Mak‘s PeaceTreaty gave an EPIC performance this last sunday night and we were able to catch ‘em right after they finished. Between the deafening bass and Steve Aoki‘s screams, we were able to ask a few questions while they smoked a victory stoge. We hope you enjoy this interview and when you get to the bottom you’ll be greeted with photos from the night and a special mix courtesy of Yooj and Fosh.

ELR™: Alright guys, I just want to say thanks for taking a moment to sit down with us, I know things are hectic right now.
Josh: Of course man, our pleasure.
ELR™:We’ve been keeping tabs on you guys for a while and
obviously things are picking up for you guys pretty fast, I want to
just start with the basics: how long have you guys been doing it, what motivated you all to sit down, get together and start doing this?

Josh: I started in January, caught a little fire, and met with Sam who was pretty determined like me to. . I don’t know… do something that was musically involved, then a couple months after we started getting a little bit of success and picked up Angelo who’s a friend of mine from high school and an instrumentalist who added a new direction to our sound. From there we’ve been equally doing all this stuff and everything’s turned out great.

ELR™: Now obviously, there are three of you guys?
PT: Correct
ELR™: Now there’s only one mixer and there’s only so much you can do at one time, so I’m curious, how does your live performance work?

Sam: We actually have two different types of performances we do. We have a DJ set which is what we did tonight and then we have a live set (which we did at Avalon a few weeks back with Major Lazer). Basically with the DJ sets, especially for the out of town gigs, its just one of us will go and play by ourselves. But if its an in town gig like tonight was we all show up because it’s local. . might as well. The live set is more akin to Booka Shade or Deadmau5 would do. We have three computers, a whole bunch of controllers, a keyboard, a Kaoss pad, we’re doing samples, acapellas, and playing live synths over the
music. We embellish a little bit more onto the tracks. We try to
save that for the bigger gigs, the special ones with the huge massive crowds. It’s really involved.

Angelo: Yeah, it’s more like a band – setting that up.

Sam: We rehearse it. As opposed to a DJ set where we just kind of just get up there and have a good time

ELR™: So where do you see your live performance heading? You guys were talking about something you’re trying to add

Sam: Totally. Right now we just have keys and samples but we’re trying to incorporate live drums and guitar and live instruments in the set, just cause it’s going to add to the whole effect. Down the road when we play more live shows it’s going to add onto it.

ELR™: Is this your first musical endeavor as individuals? or have you guys been involved in things previously?
Josh: My first for sure.
Sam: Angello and I did other types of stuff- we both played in hardcore bands and sang in church choirs and stuff like that.
Josh: I was in the audience.
ELR™: Do you think that hardcore background has influenced your style?
Sam: Yeah, definitely, for sure. I mean you can hear right now steve playing – screaming right now fused electro and hardcore share a lot of similar qualities.
Josh: I still listen to hardcore.
Angelo: Yeah, all three of us still love it.

ELR™: You mentioned playing at the Avalon, that looked like a pretty epic show- have you guys had anything better than that yet?
Sam: Maybe tonight… Tonight was great. But the Avalon had
4000 people… Craziest night ever.

Angelo: It was our debut live set so I mean, we went up there and we had no idea what to expect and at the end it was just wild.

ELR™: Have any horror stories? Like a computer crashing or a fan throwing something?
Josh: Nothing crashed tonight. One of his chords got severed.
Sam: Oh yeah, before the show even started… I usually use an Akai midi controller and earlier today the fuckin’ power chord got smashed in the hinge of the case and it just killed it, totally smashed the tip. We found out last minute- no midi controller.
We actually found out before the set. If I wouldn’t have found it we probably would have got here with it and all hell would have broke loose.
ELR™: What controller was it?
Sam: the 40…
ELR™: Oh man, you should have asked me I have one right up in there.
Josh: I told you!
Sam: You know, I did some gigs down in Australia, you play and some clubs have janky gear and like, you never quite know what to expect. Sometimes the power will surge and everything cuts off, mixers are crap – shit happens. You just gotta be ready for everything.

ELR™: I feel that. So how’d you guys like playing in SB? You were telling me you used to live here

Angello: I used to live in SB and this is our first concert here and I can probably speak for everyone else: It was fuckin amazing. It was a lot of fun.

Sam: people are amazing that’s the best part
so is the person interviewing us.
Josh: Santa Barbara definitely knows how to party.

ELR™: So have you guys made it into IV at all?
Josh: Not really…

Angelo: I have.
Sam: Actually I ate at FreeBirds earlier. I’ve DJ’d at house parties in IV before, I think we’ve all partied there

Angelo: Last time I went to IV, it was just a whole party. A nonstop party… It’s wild there.

ELR™: This last one kinda goes without saying, but given a chance, you guys would come back to SB?
Josh: Most definitely.
Sam: we would love to come play, what do you call it, Extravaganza?

ELR™: Thanks again for taken a moment to catch up with us, we’ll try to talk to some people, we’d love to have you guys back!

Finally, we have photos for you! We partnered up with SNAPS Magazine on this one, so be sure stop by and show them some love!

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