Lean, deep and pulsating, Chubby Dubz create expansive house music for getting lost inside your head. Made up of Oliver $ and Gene Siewing, Chubby Dubz is a new undertaking for both. With Mr. $, real name Oliver Siebert, taking care of the production it’s a move away from the brasher fidgety sounds he is best known for with the added magic of some blue-eyed soul courtesy of Gene. We caught up with the pair to find out some more…
Hello Oliver and Gene. Please introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about your backgrounds.
Oliver Siebert: I’m a young producer from Berlin who started releasing on Jan Drivers Grand Petrol label which caught the attention of the label boss of Made to Play Jesse Rose who I started collaborating with and eventually started producing my own tracks on Made to Play. My love for electronic music started actually more with techno and trance but I also was introduced from my cousin Jan Driver to the whole Chicago crew like Cajmere, Boo Williams when they were touring as the Berlin Chicago Express.
Gene: I’m from St. Louis Missouri originally but after a short visit to Berlin in 2004-2005 I linked up with an amazing group of producers: Siruismo, Jan Driver, and Oliver. I grew up on the sounds that were coming out of my home-town which was Blues, Jazz, Rock n roll and Soul. After I caught the House music bug that was coming from Chicago and the surrounding cities I was lucky enough to have some seen some real pro Dj’s coming through like Terry Mullan, Derrick Carter and Josh Wink.
What is chubby Dubz?
A colaboration we started for the shared interest we both had in the deeper side of House music. We are big fans of dub house so its our take really on our roots and what we both grew up on as far as club music goes.
And how would you describe your sound?
Dubby, chubby house music.
How did you to first meet?
Around 2005 after Gene made a visit to Berlin and met my cousin Jan (Driver) who introduced us to each other.
And what lead you to making music together?
Because we both had a love for quality house music and wanted to keep the spirit alive. We started producing some tracks and a year later actually sent a demo out to DJ Jauche who decided he wanted to put our first sinlge out ‘See it Thru’ on his label Appeal. That was really the start of it all.
What do both of you bring to the table from your different backgrounds?
Oliver: I’m bringing my knowledge of producing the beats and having been influenced from from a wide-range of sounds that were coming out of Germany in the 90′s along with the House music that was coming from the States.
Gene: I bring a bit of soul, bluesy edge to the table as am the man on the mic in the project.
Oliver, how is this music different to your Oliver $ moniker?
This project is where I can explore the deeper side of House since my Oliver $ project is a bit more in your face.
What do you have lined up for your album?
A Direct Experience into the sound we call Chubby Dubz with full length versions on five different 12″s along with a CD album and some nice remixes from the likes of Tyree Cooper and Art Bleek amongst others
What else is coming up in 2012?
Expect to be seeing a few 12″ samplers from the upcoming Direct Experience album early this year. We are proud to be releasing it on Loungin Records! Also keep your eye out for some remixes that will also be released later this year.
How do you think you can make the album format interesting in dance music?
We always try to put our own twist on the deeper side of the dance spectrum while never forgeting the dancfloor is where we want to make the most impact.
What was the last piece of music you listened to?
Roy Ayers, The Drive Album.
Your studio is burning down and you only have time to save one thing – what would you take?
Tough one but we would have to say its gonna be the Back-up Drive. Even though we would rather have our eyes gouged out of our heads with hot sticks than to leave our record collection there. But wait! The 606!! Ahh…Forget it.
Download ‘Direct Experience’ for free below.
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