Self-branded as ‘garage-electronics’ we meet The Caulfield Beats aka Lawrence Northall and Molly Dixon, barge-dwelling Londoners with a DIY attitude.

The Caulfield Beats is a name to learn. The perfectly dishevelled duo are making waves across the capital with a ripple of hype surrounding their immersive live shows. With an emphasis on visuals, you might catch them in a venue or stumble across them at a warehouse party, wherever they may be, they want to give you an experience.

After Boiler Room locked on to their track “90s Love (Acid Pt. II)”, we’re just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up. An unrelenting beat, swelling bassline and synths like 80s arcade laser guns all provide an entrancing accompaniment for the vocals, simmering above like an other-worldly chant. Listing their influences from just about every genre you can think of, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a live band produce such undefinable yet focused dance music.

Shaking off the shackles of the EDM umbrella term, The Caulfield Beats are decidedly cooler than your super-club favourites. Understated but memorable and so easily repeatable, there’s no doubt Lawrence and Molly will slide into their reserved space at the forefront of the scene seamlessly. We’re itching for a rework of the hedonistic acid house days, even if it’s only long enough for a good party or two, here’s hoping The Caulfield Beats can lead the way in London.

https://soundcloud.com/platform/the-caulfield-beats-90s-love

How did you become a band?

There wasn’t really a point at which we suddenly became a band or a particular manner in which it took place. Combining live visuals and music was the original aim but we were sharing our aesthetic interests for a while before playing any gigs together.

What’s the name all about?

It was the product of one of Molly’s strange daydreams: “I had an epiphany but all I could remember about it afterwards was ‘caulfield’ and ‘the beats’”.

Who are you’re biggest musical influences, do you think it shows in your music?

We’re influenced by all sorts of artists and musical styles. In respect to form though, it’s probably clear in listening that we have aspects of techno and electronic dance music coming from a more DIY, garage-band style background. Artists are never as autonomous as they like to think and cultural influences come as much from what is chosen as what is not. Really we’re all mediators.

Is acid house making a comeback or did it just never go away? Everyone seems to be starting to pay attention again…

It’s possible the acid sound is gaining popularity at the moment but acid house had a particular era and place, you can’t remove it from that. A new manifestation would be according to today’s conditions and would have to reinvent itself in new ways, as in any revival. That’s more exciting though because it’s real.

What would you do if this summer was the third summer of love? Any dream party plans you’d love to live out?

The idea of  ‘a summer of love’ is saturated beyond meaning. It’s the sort of phrase used to market festivals and merchandise, which is ironic when you consider the sentiments of its origins. That said there’s bound to be plenty of sound systems, lying around in the grass and cuddling. We haven’t got any party plans but hopefully we won’t need an excuse!

Let’s talk about the boat. Is it a life of adventure, any pirates or disorderly ducks? Surely you can’t practise in there?

It’s not a static way of life, if that’s what you mean, and there’s a freedom to it, but it’s not without its difficulties either. What’s more those freedoms are diminishing with an influx of wealthy lifestyle boaters who’s new market is helping privatise much of the towpath and represents the broader London housing crisis. As for disorderly behaviour, it’s certainly rife but the ducks and the pirates are the least of it, you know where you stand with them. Practicing aboard is something we used to do, but at the expense of four perfectly good batteries with a combined bank of 400amp hours, we learnt the hard way on that one.

What can we expect from a Caulfield Beats live show?

Come along and find out. Bring your dancing shoes!

Molly you’re a model! Do you prefer music or modelling, do you see a point where you could ever give up one of your careers?

I’ve done modelling in the past but I’m not a Model. I prefer music, you can dance to music and make it your own, whereas you can only sit around and be bored as someone’s model.

What’s your favourite song on your forthcoming EP? Can you describe it for us?

The lead track is called “90s Love” but we don’t have a favourite, it’s not easy for us to be so objective. It’s quite a good example of the different aspects of our sound though, hopefully it mixes our love of a techno drive with DIY spontaneity.

How similar will your debut LP be to the stuff we’ve already heard? (Hopefully very).

There’s more of it and it’s broader in the sense that there’s more ground covered, but it’s written in the same spirit by the same people.

Mexican Smoke EP via Straight Lines Are Fine, out 25th May.

Words: Lily Walker.