SKEETV.com : DJ Skee hangs out in the studio of hit makers, Midi Mafia to talk about what record set them off, who’s their influences and how Loud.com helps the industry.
The MIDI Mafia BIOGRAPHY Theyʼve been the soundtrack to countless parties, clubs, car stereos and headphones. They have written and produced chart topping songs for the likes of 50 Cent, JLo, Fantasia and Justin Bieber to name a few. Always known for evolving and reinvention, The MIDI Mafia have transcended from hip hop music producers into Grammy nominated songwriters. Not satisfied with just working behind the scenes, the dynamic duo of Dirty Swift and Bruce Waynne took their love of music and returned to their roots as artists with their debut EP titled “Vegas Lights”, spawning 3 music videos, which have generated millions of online views and MTV rotation. Now they are preparing their next collection titled “Get Connected”. The #1 Billboard smash “21 Questions” by 50 Cent first put the name MIDI Mafia into the minds of music lovers worldwide. Followed by their Grammy nominated single “When I See U” by Fantasia and “Hold It Donʼt Drop It” by Jennifer Lopez, they quickly became A-list producers with over 20 million albums sold featuring their writing and production. Having both started their careers as performers, Canadian born Dirty Swift as a championship-winning DJ and Brooklyn native Bruce Waynne as a rapper, they are no strangers to the stage and had been developing a new sound inspired by hip hop but crossing boundaries and genres with no regards for labels or categories. Anthemic, modern, and driven to make people have fun, their music can only be described as “PHamous”! The MIDI Mafia have quickly become media magnets, forming new and unique brand partnerships and even pulling the giant MTV machine into their world, who quickly promoted the group on Season 2 of Jersey Shore and developed a new emerging music platform called “Hype Music” in partnership with publishing giant Sony/ATV and their Extreme Production Music division. The MIDI Mafia will be one of the first groups promoted through this hybrid platform. The envelope pushes even further for The MIDI Mafia, as castmembers of the MTV reality series “The Electric Barbarellas”, about a new unsigned 5 girl band who enlist the boys to help develop them. Along with producing the girls on and off screen, the MIDI Mafias first single from the upcoming “Get Connected” album also features the Electric Barbarellas called “Play Hard”. Says Dirty Swift about the song, “after spending so much time shooting these huge videos and having a nonstop party, we felt like doing something more human, gritty and fun. Play Hard embodies everyone out there who works hard for what they achieve in life, and having the freedom to enjoy those achievements”. The MIDI Mafia sound has evolved as well. After travelling worldwide and playing across the country, including shows in LA, NY and SXSW, the guys have infused more diverse elements into their electro-hip hop sound. Bruce Waynne states “your going to hear a lot of energy, and we don’t care where it comes from, whether its a guitar, a synth, breaking into Dub Step basslines, whatever moves us is going into this album.” Dirty Swift adds “we’ve always felt free of limitations or genres, and as long as were having fun we really don’t care about songwriting rules, structure or anything like that. But of course were known for big hooks and huge melodies and that won’t ever change!” Leave it to The MIDI Mafia to give a fresh perspective on having a good time. Their new album is their masterpiece and the dancefloor will be the canvas. Swift says “we are having fun with music and thats the reason weʼve been successful. We donʼt take ourselves too seriously, its all about making people feel good.” With their innovative approach to the music business, itʼs safe to say The MIDI Mafia will be making people feel good for a very long time. “The old way of doing things is over” Bruce states, “there are many different ways to get music to people these days and we are exploring all of the possibilities. Through our strategic partnerships with MTV, SonyATV/Extreme Music, Cosmopolitan, Maker Studios/YouTube, the Caesars Group and all of the other brands and networks that support us we feel that The MIDI Mafia is creating a new model on how to market and distribute music. This is only the beginning and we are excited to get our music to the people in the ways which they really want it, and make it a part of their lifestyles.” Swift adds, “we are music fans first and foremost, and The MIDI Mafia is a reflection of what we love about music and its ability to evoke emotions in people. We donʼt try to separate ourselves from the fans and I think that makes all the difference. We just apply the thought process we have as music consumers and try to think about how I want to have music in my life, and give our music to the people in those same ways.” The MIDI Mafia evolution continues, as artists, producers, songwriters, television stars, content providers. “Get Connected!” http://www.themidimafia.com/ http://twitter.com/midimafia http://twitter.com/thedirtyswift http://twitter.com/thebrucewaynne http://soundcloud.com/midimafia http://facebook.com/themidimafia http://myspace.com/midimafia