Divvorce crafts a zesty mix and answers mini Q&A

Making decent headlines last year as co-founder of Fifth Wall Records, Brooklyn-based producer and label boss Divvorce remains in the hot seat as the new year opens. Just one year and ten catalogs later, Divvorce (whose first name is Reilly) has become partial curator to one of the most exciting labels with a distinct aesthetic brought on today. Whether you like calling the imprint's forte leftfield, industrial, or even dark techno, there's no denying his label houses a little something for every warehouse  connoisseur  to appreciate.

And now taking us back to the wholehearted sounds of 90's dance music, Divvorce patches together a colorful adventure that gives us insight to some of his, perhaps, lesser known tastes in music. Showcasing a genial touch at blending music, we overhear a true craftsman at work that streamlines an evolving vibe from song to song seamlessly. So get cozy, grab your headphones, and prepare to swoon over a cheery dose of '90s shakers.

EARMILK: Hey Reilly, thanks for taking the time for this short Q & A. Fifth Wall’s been buzzing for quite a while now. How did you and Hound Scales come together on the vision for the imprint?

DIVVORCE: Hey, glad to talk to you guys.  Fifth Wall evolved pretty organically out of our common taste in music back when we were living in San Francisco.  We were tired of not hearing what we liked being played out very much in SF (with a few notable exceptions, like the Icee Hot and As You Like It parties), and we wanted do what we could to spread this music we weren't hearing enough of…and hopefully add our own spin as well.

EM: What were some of your earlier musical influences that you feel still ring in your music? Any tracks or specific releases that come to mind?

D: 90s house and techno is a big influence on me personally.  Early Warp, R&S, Strictly Rhythm, Chain Reaction…it's all so musical.  I really like a lot of Substance tunes on Chain Reaction, "Scent" comes to mind.  I think part of the reason there was such quality is that their tools were limited in a way that producers' tools are not limited today.  With Ableton/Logic/etc., you can do basically anything, but when you have a limited set of tools, you have to be extra creative with what you have.  I was about to make a comparison to Shakespeare, but I'll spare you.

EM: What’s been your favorite gig you’ve played?

D: I once played a rave in the woods near Santa Cruz, California.  There was no cell phone service, which was nice.

EM: I’ve always wandered about your production technique. It’s got an effective “analogue” sound to it. Are there any staple hardware tools you use to make music?

D: Just a microphone.  I do sample some analogue synths, but it's pretty much all in the box.  Cool to hear it sounds analogue though.  I do listen to a lot music that uses all analog synths, so maybe it's that influence.

EM: Are there any projects you are currently working on?

D: I'm finishing a couple tunes right now, one for a charity comp we're putting out on Fifth Wall, and another for a split 12" that's coming out on Plan B.  Some other stuff in the works too.  And of course getting all the next Fifth Wall releases ready.  I'm really excited about the releases we have in the pipeline for 2014.

EM: Going a little off topic now – If you could recommend a book to our readers, which would you choose, and why?

D: David Foster Wallace's Consider the Lobster and Other Essays.  It's a collection of essays, all really witty and intelligent but also accessible.

EM: Tell us about the mix you put together…

D: It's all 90s house more or less, although I guess one of them could be called proto-trance or something.  No track list, just enjoy it.

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• Fifth Wall Official