If you've been online within the past week, chances are you've already heard Wugazi. If not, the project is exactly what it sounds like: a mash-up of Wu-Tang Clan and Fugazi. Cecil Otter and Swiss Andy, the DJs behind the project, came up with the concept shortly after Danger Mouse released The Grey Album back in 2004, and the project has been brewing since then.
13 Chambers is available for free download on Wugazi's website. The album dropped on July 13, but its download stats already number in the hundred thousands.
Check out our email interview with Cecil and Andy after the jump.
Up On The Sun: How did you come up with the Wugazi concept?
Andy: Around when The Grey Album came out, the idea got stuck in my head [to do something similar] with the two main musicians who were in my headphones all through the '90s: Wu-Tang and Fugazi. I think I was missing my DJ Rectangle cassettes."
Cecil: Good thing you we're also missing your Beck CDs. I might have signed on to making DJ Becktangle with you.
11 Last Chance For The Clientele Kid by WUGAZI
Describe the process of putting the album together. How long did it take? What were some of the biggest challenges?
Andy: We listened to each Fugazi record, taking notes of different breaks, guitar, and bass lines. Then we would chop one to make a loop and start running acapellas over them. It took just over a year. The hardest thing was probably that neither group really recorded to a click, so Cecil had to do a ton of meticulous chopping.
Why did you decide to release the album for free?
Andy: While we didn't want to get sued, we also love and respect the artists so much that we wouldn't ever want to cheat them.
01 Sleep Rules Everything Around Me by WUGAZI
Are you surprised by how much the album has blown up across the internet in just a few days?
Andy: Completely. It is still kinda hard to believe.
Cecil: I still can't believe it. pretty great to see the response, though.
I've read quite a few comments along the lines of "I hate mash ups but love this." How do you feel about that appeal?
Andy: I think there is a nostalgia with these two groups that so many people can connect to. I also think when people say "mash-up," they are usually thinking about Girl Talk or something that is more club focused. This record just has more feeling to it. It has emotion.
03 Another Chessboxin' Argument by WUGAZI
Have you received any feedback from Wu-Tang or Fugazi?
Andy: Not personally.
Do you have any plans to make another album? Maybe a W Repeater? What about other mash-ups?
Andy: No. We have too many other projects.
Cecil: No more mash-ups in the near future.
What are some of your biggest influences?
Andy: Fugazi & Wu-Tang.
Cecil: Wu-Tang & Fugazi.
What are your future plans?
Andy: Cecil and I are working on a project called The Bleachers.
Cecil: I'm finishing up solo album called Porcelain Revolver, working with Andy on the Bleachers and finishing up the new Doomtree album.
