So I decided to do things a little different for this interview with Simon and Theo from the Black Ghosts. After reading interview after interview with the same monotonous questions about their past and their sound, I decided to play ‘Interview Taboo’ with the guys. Anytime they said the words ‘Simian’ ‘Gothic’ ‘Pop’ ‘Justice’ or ‘we are your friends’ I would *BUZZ* them. And if I have to BUZZ them three times, then they are contractually obligated to disclose the real identity of ‘Fake Blood’…..Ready! Set! Go!

So you guys are here on the Vice tour promoting your first full-length right? Wasn’t it finished a few years ago

Theo: It was kind of already done. Got tweaked a bit. But its been done for a while and we’re desperate to get it out and hear what people think of it.

Well then catch us all up, what have you been doing in the meantime? Obviously touring...secret projects? Remixes?

Simon: We did this mix tape that has just been released to show off our live stuff…and some remixes that we’ve done.

Theo: We’ve just been doing a lot of djing, too. We’ve been 3 times to the Staes/UK/Australia and little side projects of our own, as well (fake blood anyone?)

I feel like you launched Boy-8 bit into the blog world a long time ago when you sent out his remix of ‘Anyway You Choose to Give it’. He went from being a relative unknown remixer to a big head-turner.

Theo: Sure, he’s someone who we ‘discovered’ in a way. I went to a gig in a weird hillbilly part of England and he was on with one of the promoters I knew.  He handed me his promo cd, moved to London and became my wingman. People got to know him from seeing him with me. We did a club night together for a few years and he built his own name. Now it’s wicked because he’s doing tons of gigs and remixes and has built up his own name…wicked bloke.

Any other secret weapons you’re holding out on?

Simon: We had our first remix by Fake blood. He’s done loads of stuff now. Perhaps one of the biggest. Initially, he was a bit of an unknown, but we got on with him. He’s really come into his own. You got to create your own little clique/family. We remix people we know/like. Sinden, fake blood, Boy 8 Bit, kissy sell out are all really nice blokes. We don’t want to give away too much. We'll just let Fake Blood and 8-bit go out into the world an pollinate.

I heard that there’s a ‘mystery’ (uncredited) collaboration on the album. Care to divulge the secret identity?

Simon: Damon albarn (from the Gorillaz). He’s on ‘Repetition’, which is the first single off our new album. He is an acquaintance of Theo’s. They started a track together but it wasn’t all there so I ‘finished it off’. It’s an uncredited thing, but it’s not hard to spot.

In the past, you’ve focused on your own strengths (djing, vocals, production). As time has passed and you two have become stronger together have you branched out to challenge yourself in other areas at all?

Theo: Well, he hasn’t started singing now, but yeah we've branched out in different areas of production/remixes.

Simon: My larynx wont allow me to sing so that’s a bit physically impossible, but I’ve started producing more. After Simian *BUZZ* finished I was a bit bored on electronic music and got out of it to concentrate on singing. With all these shows, djing, I got back into it and found new stuff and experimenting with producing my own stuff.

Theo: It’s a good way of learning new tricks. We’ll have both picked up new skills and learned some new tricks by the next record. This weird stuff will start popping out of us.

Well with such a distinct voice, you must have been asked by loads of people to guest on their tracks....

Theo: Ya I’ve been asked by a bunch of people….maybe from hearing ‘we are your friends’ *BUZZ*(Justice reference). Some of them have come out real well, but I’ve kindof ignored it. Over the last couple years but you don’t want people to get sick of your voice. Actually, this guy sent me a myspace message who specializes singing in styles of other people and I guess I’m one of his styles. So maybe I could use him to do my work and I could disappear.

Are you guys the dj/producer types that make dance music, but stand there.....or do you get out there and bump 'n grind a little?

Simon: You need to be able to dance to make good dance music. You can’t understand what makes people dance if you can’t dance yourself.

But i think that Djs have their own dance....they kindof stand off to the side and tap one foot/hip just like when they're behind the decks. Not many of them get out on the dance floor....

Simon: That’s what I used to do before I knew anything about production. I spent many nights and hours in London clubs dancing my little fuckin ass off.

What’s next? More music? More touring?

Simon: We’re going to play the Glastonbury festival and go over to Japan to tour. We haven’t been there yet. Learn some new songs and keep it moving.

Theo: Spend the summer doing more gigs. At the end of the summer and back off a little from doing gigs….hold off for the choice ones and start writing some new songs later in the year.

Remixes?

Theo: They’re not a priority. Our priorities are for our own stuff, obviously. Maybe if they’re really cool, but our own stuff is our priorities. Don’t want to use our own ideas on someone else’s songs

Though I feel like doing a remix is sortof putting your own spin on a song and making it your own track…

Simon: Some songs just aren’t worthy. If it’s decent, then ya we’d do it. But we want to put ourselves in the lab and make new stuff of our own…we’ve got no real mad plan.

What are you doing the second day you get home from the tour (because I’m sure you’ll spend the entire first day sleeping)?

Theo: Washing…its always the same. You get home and after you sleep the first day away and there’s nothing in the fridge..

Ok then the third day after laundry and shopping…

Theo: I need to work on that. Come up with some hobbies to round me off a bit. It’s a bit one-dimensional at the moment….I’m all about the studio and music.

Simon: Maybe archery? Bridge? A detective novel.

That’s very British

Simon: Well I AM very British

Touché…point taken....

Black Ghosts - Repetition Kills You (Emperor Machine Dub RMx)

 Well, they narrowly escaped the third *BUZZ* which would have cleared up the true identity of Fake Blood once and for all, but they did leave this interview laced with clues......