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Influences Daft Punk
Super Mal’s iconic track Bigger Than Big returns with an electrifying remix package featuring two fresh interpretations: one from The Green Man and another by rising Bristol-based Drum & Bass producer Harvey Gordon, aka Creatures. Having recently reclaimed the rights to their music from Universal, Super Mal collaborated with Creatures to bring these remixes to life, staying true to their plan to revisit the track when the time was right. Beyond music, the release also aims to raise funds to help protect the Amazon Rainforest, as nature and environmental preservation have become a major inspiration for the project. Originally a top 20 hit and featured on NOW That’s What I Call Music 67, Bigger Than Big is reimagined here with The Green Man’s influence and Creatures’ dynamic, cutting-edge style, making it a powerful return to the dance floor.
SuperMal burst onto the electro and house scene in 2006, making waves with a fresh, high-energy sound. In 2007, they achieved breakout success with Bigger Than Big, a track featuring electro icon Luciana, who had recently scored a UK chart hit with Yeah Yeah. Signed to Universal Music, Bigger Than Big climbed into the top 20 and earned a spot on NOW That’s What I Call Music 67. Today, Super Mal is back with new remixes, pledging all proceeds to Amazon Frontlines to support the preservation of the Amazon.
Getting to know Super Mal
Introduce yourself and your project
I’m James, one of the founder members of Super Mal, an electro project from back in the day! I recently got the rights to my single back from Universal so decided to do some mixes and give any proceeds away to a cause close to my heart which is preserving the natural world. I did the Green Man remix and I also got my current favourite artist Creatures on the dials.
Explain what musical genre fits you best
I was big into Daft Punk so pretended to be French, hence the band name. I was into French House and electro. But my whole life I have been big into Jungle and Drum & Bass and it’s the genre of a lot of the music I am making these days.
Were you connected with music from a young age and did anyone inspire you?
Yes! I got into chart music from a very young age, maybe 8, and then my tastes broadened into everything, Metal, Hard House, Jungle, Hardcore, mostly anything extreme. At school I often got into bands way before the herd arrived. I was playing instruments from age 7.
What kickstarted your music career?
I kickstarted it! I was networking big time, hanging out with A&R guys, listening to demos for them for work experience, working in label post rooms, doing tiny gigs, anything I could to get myself out there. Eventually I met the right people at the right time and had some success as an artist.
Tell us more about your sound and how it’s evolved over time
Well personally it’s evolved by exploring different genres that I love and trying to create the best music I can. Recently I’ve been working with Harvey Gordon aka Creatures who is an amazing Drum & Bass artist, everyone should check out his work if you like D&B.
Any words you want to share to encourage other artists or producers?
Work hard on your music and building your following and success will come, people will notice. Good music usually rises to the top and gets noticed. Don’t go in unsolicited.
How do you nurture your industry relationships?
I don’t to be honest, I have no need to, it’s always been a minefield. However, if I was starting out today, I would be looking for the good execs who care about music and the artists, there are good people out there!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank that’s been crucial to your journey?
Yeah, I’d like to thank my wife Viki, David Joseph, one of the greats, a veteran of the music industry who wrote me a good reference when I needed it most. James Reynolds, Nick Clow and a lady called Emma Shalless for having such good taste.
What’s your favourite piece of studio equipment or software?
It’s got to be the 808 still, use it all the time.
Name your favourite club or festival and how it makes you feel
Glastonbury, when the sun shines it’s incredible, no feeling like it.
Name an outlandish rider request?
We counted ourselves lucky if we got riders.
Favourite clubbing memory and who or what did it involve?
Going raving with my best mate Danny Stevens, DJ’s Randall & Grooverider
What famous quote represents you best?
‘Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee’ – Hemmingway
If you could play at any venue, where would it be and why?
I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of the good ones, but Glasto on some medium sized stage would be ideal! Music is the direction I went in, and it will take care of you if you let it!
One song you really couldn’t live without and why?
Really hard question, Pixies ‘Debaser’, but there are loads. This one never gets old for me.
Namedrop your favourite 5 artists or DJs (past or present)
Creatures, Daft Punk, DJ Hype, Grooverider, Randall,
What was your first music memory and how did it fuel your fire?
Starship ‘We Built This City’ as a child blew my mind, showing my age! Fell in love with music after that to an intense degree.
Tell us more about your plans for the future
I’m going to be doing more music of course, and I have got into trying to inspire future generations by making soundscapes out in nature with music production students. I think it’s important to get people to reconnect and appreciate nature!
Any worldly advice you’d like to share?
True success starts and flows from within.
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