Beyond Genres

Sonny “Skrillex” Moore's OWSLA is one of the most diverse dance labels around, but The M Machine (TMM) must be its boldest signing. The Californian festival favourites, who perform EDM with an indie twist, are supporting their DJ labelmate Porter Robinson in Australia. Yet they're a drawcard themselves.

Forming in 2011, Ben Swardlick met Eric Luttrell at the University of California in Santa Barbara and they then connected with Andy Coenen in San Francisco. Sharing an interest in sound design they'd collaborate on music. “We each have enthusiast musical backgrounds with instrumental competence on the keys, guitar, drums, brass, et cetera,” says Swardlick. “But, generally speaking, none of us had serious music projects before we started writing together.” Today, when it comes to production, and even vocal elements, TMM is inherently democratic – and about spontaneity. “We share the load equally. It's important to us that we don't get lazy or stuck in a sound.” However, Coenen exclusively handles the visual side. “He sourced, built and programmed our LED 'M' stage piece, designs and performs our live video content, and even does all the scripting for our website.”

The band knew Moore prior to signing to OWSLA and airing Promise Me A Rose Garden/Glow. “Years ago we met Skrill at a tiny show of his down in Santa Cruz. He was flying to Australia out of SF a couple of days later, so he decided to come kick it at our warehouse in the city. We shared tracks during that visit and crossed paths here and there for about a year before OWSLA booted up. As soon as we'd written some content we felt was OWSLA-ready, Skrill gave us a shot.” Meanwhile, TMM developed their hybrid sound – something that Swardlick “struggles” to summarise. “Progressive electro?,” he teases. “Indie dance? Space jams?” TMM do have one objective. “There's a chance that any one of our tracks could be the first song a potential fan hears. So, even if we can't guarantee he or she will be a fan of its particular genre, we can make sure the experience is original, musical and effortful.”

TMM issued the concept album, Metropolis, inspired by Fritz Lang's classic '20s sci-fi film, as two EPs over some months. But, Swardlick says, they “absolutely” will do a straight album. “Inventing album concepts, storyboards, video treatments, cover art and general imagery is just the best part of being in a band. 'World creation' is something writers talk about all the time. We've gotten a taste of what it's like to get involved – and there's really no going back.”

Arty they may be, purists they're not. They've actually tweaked Bruno Mars' Locked Out Of Heaven. (“Bruno's team was thrilled with the remix.”) Robinson himself is plotting an ambitious album. Any chance of a collaboration? “We talk about writing something together all the time,” Swardlick says. “It feels like that will happen soon.”