Guy and Howard Lawrence, aka Disclosure, are possibly the fastest rising DJ duo this year – and the youngest, clocking in at age 21 and 18 respectively. Fusing 2-step garage with soulful vocals and house basslines, the brothers have clocked up a huge fan base and big-name support the likes of from SBTRKT and Annie Mac. Wonderland get the lowdown on any sibling rivalry.

Where did you grow up?

Guy: We grew up in Surrey, not Croydon – don’t know where the South London thing came from!

Could you describe your music in five words?

Guy: House, garage, chords, singing, drums.

Who are your influences?

G: Involving production? J Dilla, Slum Village and that sort of stuff.

H: In terms of actual songwriting, a lot of singer-songwriters from the 80s.

G: Our influences now are different than three years ago when we were listening to Joy Orbison and Floating Points. Now we take our influences from older stuff- Chicago, Detroit, Paris house, and garage.

What’s you favorite song on your EP?

H: ‘Boiling’. I love Sinead Harnett’s voice.

How long does it take to make a song?

G: I wrote ‘Boiling’ in a day. But ‘Control’, I wrote that beat a year before. So… Somewhere between a day and a year.

What are the advantages/disadvantages in being so young?

H: Originally it was quite a problem for me to get into clubs because I was only 15, and wasn’t allowed into the clubs!

G: It’s done well for press, they love to write how we’re young.

Did you finish school?

H: I only got one A-level and then got kicked out. I hardly went in because of my music.

What instruments did you play when you were younger?

H: I used to play bass guitar. Guy was really into drums from a young age.

Do you think that’s helped you in making electronic music?

H: Yeah, definitely- it’s all linked in, learning about rhythm and melody.

When making music, do you have to think about making it “appropriate” for the more mainstream music scene?

G: We haven’t so far. We don’t tailor our music to some kind of specification, we make what we want to make.

With Guy being the older brother, does he dominate? Do you fight much?

G (laughing): Yeaaah! We just fight over like “can I have a bit of your sandwich”. Most arguments are around food or going out and going home- so food and time.

If you could have any DJ playing at, lets say, your birthday party, who would it be?

H: DJ Jazzy Jeff.

G: Are you mad?! I’m not coming to your party! I can’t choose, I need a line-up.

You’re not allowed.

G: Then I think I’d have Jackmaster.

Do you think your music will develop into a different genre one day?

G: We’ll carry on doing what we are doing for now. We like making all types of music, we’ll get some slower tracks on the album. Variation in speed is important for an album.

If just one of you were to make a song without the other, would it be noticeable?

H: We’d have some elements –

G (cuts in): If Howard made a tune without me it would be bloody different! It would be like 3 bpm, in the weirdest key and loads of weird “boom boom booms” going on.

H: If Guy made a tune without me it would be like just the bass drums… it wouldn’t work, all the chords would be wrong

G: Cheers mate.

Disclosure’s ‘The Face’ EP is now out. They are playing at Visions tonight in London, and will play Lounge On The Farm on July 8.

Words: Christabel Reed