Stefan Engblom and Ollie Cornéer of Dada Life have been kind enough to make hundreds of thousands of us residents in their sovereign nation of Dada Land through their Compounds, Complexes and Lands Before Time. Citizenship has its perks; we were lucky enough to chat with Ollie about their recurring success, philosiphies on life, and secrets behing their work ethic. Here are some valuable takeways we…took away:

Even Raging is a totally normal 9-5 job

Stefan and Ollie approach soundtracking the vacations we enjoy as if they were the tireless weeks we work leading up to said vacation. When discussing how to keep focused creatively, Ollie was straightforward: “For us it’s being rested, and in the studio early. It;’s like a normal job really.” When approaching a “crate digging” session in which they find music for their mixes, Ollie says the two spend a lot of time sifting through the many tracks they’ve been sent to give the best monthly show they can. Although they may recieve enough music to make an hour long mix multiple times in a given month, Ollie confirms that one monthly dose of Dada is enough.

 No need to prepare for Dada Land, just come open and as yourself

Too often do we think that we need to look perfect to go to a show, or we need to learn a certain dance, lingo, or set of songs by the lyric to be accepted among the masses. Dada Land’s philisophy makes things simple: “,” explains Ollie. While there are many diffrent activities at Dada Land such as Bannana Basketball and these activities will only grow as the years go on, there’s no need to drill yourelf watching Youtube videos to try and find the right way to do something. As long as you take the time to enjoy the activities that it offers you, Dada Land will make you smile and gain plenty of buddies.

Don’t get punched in the face by bass all the time

“Dance music is amazing, but it’s maybe 10% of what I listen to,” says Ollie. This isn’t to say that the pair despises the genre and only plays it for money- rather, that they immerse themselves in several diffrent kinds of music for diffrent moods. “Every type of music has its strengths and its weaknesses, so to speak. Strength from Dance music is that punch in the face you feel…but when I wake up in the morning I don’t want to get punched in the face.” Completely reasonable thinking; punches, like candy, alcohol, and roller coasters, are best in moderation. The ambient and classic songs he listens to are just as valuable to him as the music he uses to get a crowd energized: “Would I play this as Dada Life? No,” he says. “Would I play this in a loft? Yes.”

Know your style like the back of both hands

When asked a question about what kind of movie genre they can see their music fitting under, Ollie immediately gave a balance of what elements would be in the film. “If we could find the perfect mix of an Action Comedy, that would be perfect. Violent, but funny, and fast paced.” The instant answer reflects how much time and energy both leaders of the Bannana/Champagne empire have focused on becoming their own sound.

Dada Land looks to come to a close for 2017 with their final announced events in Detroit and Chicago and an entire stage at Electric Zoo dedicated to their Compound. Despirte this, we already know the enthusiasm for this string of events will go strong past the time of these shows to return next year. For those new souls curious to join in the fun, know that despite the immigration officers you’ll see upon setting foot near the gate, the requirements for entry are simple: “If you come with an open mind, you’re going to pass the test.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.