‘Good Thing’ was born from a lucky post-university encounter between old school friends in 2019 and following a successful jam session the two decided to embark on this sonic journey together. Following the pandemic, regular zoom calls and continuous back and forth of audio files led to the production of ‘Good Thing.’
OUT NOW
This song is a true encapsulation of a perfect clubbing hit; a powerful top line, boasting hard-hitting & driving drums, with a deep, pounding bass and a plethora of other instrumental splashing’s, ‘Good Thing,’ is a dense soundscape that allows the listener to get completely lost. It is an immensely spectacular addition to the genre of modern Breakbeat.
Cats Can’t Clap was born from two old school friends, who reunited when lockdown struck in 2020. The pair had gone on to establish careers in their respective fields, with one as a physiotherapist and the other as a marketing executive, when they realised their natural chemistry and affinity for music making. Cats Can’t Clap is a Bristol-based collective that dismisses genres and focuses on engaging listeners with universal messages and addictive sounds. Driven to establish themselves in the music industry, the pair have completely altered their lives in preparation for their future shows around mainland Europe & the UK. At these shows you can expect to hear “a mishmash of high-octane face peelers, hip shaking floor fillers & big room bassy wobblers” and so much more! On the hunt to warrant an applause from a cat, they’ve seen no such thing so far and are keen to be proven wrong, exclaiming Cat’s Can’t Clap.
Getting To Know Cat’s Can’t Clap
Artist name and location?
Cats Can’t Clap, based in Bristol
Introduce yourselves in one paragraph:
Cats Can’t Clap was born from two old school friends. We both had careers in other professions but following a couple of jam/recording sessions we knew were onto something and so we’re taking the musical plunge.
Were you connected with music from a young age, or anyone in particular inspired you?
Mattie: My parents worked in creative spaces so I was introduced to music & the arts at a young age – be it dancing to records or playing instruments, music has been intertwined with life for as long as I can remember!
Tom: Growing up I dabbled with a few instruments and I was lucky that my dad listened to a slice of all the pies. I remember a lot of moments when listening to songs where the sound matched my mood or narrated my story perfectly, which I just found beautiful. My cousin once said he found it frustrating that there are so many songs in the world that he will never get to listen to that might be his favourite. That attitude is what’s created my obsession.
What first kickstarted your musical careers?
Tom: A residency in Le Moose in Tignes, France started my DJing career so shout out those legends.
Mattie: A community music project in Milton Keynes called MKMS, owe a lot to them. It all spiralled from there!
Tell us a more about your sound and how it has evolved.
Tom: From the start of our journey the goal when creating songs has been building energy and momentum. A lot of the energy in 90’s house, techno & jungle stems from a slappy breakbeat, so seemed breakbeats were a good place to start.
We are both excited by large score productions and although we make our songs electronically, we want them to have a human feel, as if they are being played live. I also love solos in songs so in the future I want to find some of the highest quality instrumentalists and colab!
Mattie: Yeah one of the primary goals is just to get people moving – there’s no other rule than that for me, so our sound might go all over the place. It’s more about groove, energy & making whatever we feel like making at that time.
Any words you want to share to encourage other artists and producers?
Mattie: People are making phenomenal records from their bedrooms with used, relatively affordable gear. The rest is time and practice, so keep doing yer thing and it’ll pay off.
In the words of Dory, “just keep swimming…”
Tom: SHORT TERM GOALS. Matt is amazing at planning so we have always known where we are at and if we are getting behind we have identified it early and acted appropriately. If you plan ahead then you make your sessions so much more efficient rather than spending 45 minutes of each thinking what you have to do next.
Networking, consistency, character, approach… what and how do you initiate your Industry relationships?
Tom: Sober gigging and arriving early can usually catch you a meet with an artist or someone important. Smile & kill people with kindness
Mattie: Be yourself. Unless you’re an asshole, then be someone else.
Is there anyone specific you’d like to thank that has helped you evolve and why?
Tom: Rob Lindsey who did our mixing has been 11/10 throughout so can’t thank him enough, Tom Neale who ripped on the sax in our track but really, anyone who actually listened to it, thank you!
Mattie: Yeah the list is massive, probs gotta shout out my old man though, definitely wouldn’t be here without him (literally).
Name 3 albums or labels that have inspired you the most.
Dusky – Outer, Chase & Status – More Than A Lot, and Ninja Tunes fo sure.
What’s your favourite piece of studio equipment or software?
Tom: 303 ACIIIIIID
Mattie: I couldn’t hurt the feelings of the other equipment by picking a favourite… (but it’s any moog, shh don’t tell).
Name your favourite club or festival in the world, and how does it makes you feel?
Tom: Printworks, Warehouse Project or Lost Village, they all make me feel tingly inside.
Mattie: Yeah Printwork for sure. Sad we’re losing another top tier venue.
Name an outlandish rider request?
Tom: A fleshlight.
Mattie: A private room for Tom & his fleshlight.
Favourite clubbing memory, who or what did it involve?
Tom: Gilles Peterson B2B Mr Scruff all night in Corsica Studios, the sauce was bubbling that night.
Mattie: Seeing Bonobo recently with a band ripping flute solos over techno has gotta be up there.
What quote represents you best?
Tom: If it ain’t broke, ask Mattie to fix it.
Mattie: It’ll be alright on the night.
If you could play any venue, where would it be and why?
Mattie: Parallel in Bordeaux. Lived nearby for a while as a kid but never experienced the city at a partying age, so would be fun to go back and play a sweaty graveyard set.
Tom: Chamonix 3000, I feel like as my DJ career started in the mountains it would feel like home match.
Music is….. (explain more)
Tom: … just spicy air
One song you really couldn’t live without?
Mattie: You’ve Got The Love (Jamie xx Rework)
Tom: Pink Floyd – Time
Name drop your favourite tunes, artists or DJs (past or present)
Dam Swindle, Artwork, Laurent Garnier, Skream, Masters At Work, Nicky Siano
What was your first music opportunity and how did it fuel your fire?
Mattie: Again gotta be MKMS, they helped teach and put on shows and collaborate with other young creatives so really gave us kindling, matches and a Jerry can of musical gasoline.
Tom: DJing in the French Alps, it was the best feeling having people dance to the songs I played.
Tell us more about your plans for the future.
Tom: We have a lot of ideas for Cats Can’t Clap but also I want to work closely with 4 Ur Mind which is my friends mental health community. We have a couple of other rave safe ideas that we will be pursuing but I would be really proud if in 5-10 years I looked back and felt that I had a positive effect on the party scene.
Mattie: Shows, shows, studio… then throw in some more shows. Wanna dance the night away with everyone and anyone!
Any worldly advice you’d like to share?
Tom: If you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the raffle!
Mattie: Don’t take worldly advice from musicians…
Support Cats Can’t Clap on Social Media
