Exclusive Night Works mix and interview

After releasing the beautiful but mysterious video for I Tried So Hard which provided just as much clarity on the outfit itself, Night Works has recently been unveiled as ex Metronomy man Gabriel Stebbing. With new hazily infectious single The Eveningtime produced by fellow Metronomy member Joseph Mount and set for release August 6th and track I Tried So Hard already remixed by electro-veteran Gold Panda Night Works is creating incredible sounds, as well as a follow-up to the Night Shift Mixtape Volume 1 which surfaced earlier this year.

Stream Night Works – Night Works Presents the Night Shift Mixtape Volume 2 below:

Hey Night Works! How are you?

Heya, Dummy. I’m about as well as could be expected given the circs, thanks for asking.

What were you thinking about when you made the mix?

I was thinking about London in the summer of 2012, Ibiza in the summer of 1989, NYC in the summer of 1978 – the smell of rain on wet pavements, Campari and petrol.

Would you like to highlight a couple of tunes from it?

Madame Butterfly is a taste of what Malcolm McLaren was up to in 1984 – cross-breeding operatic arias with drums machines and synths. It’s a shame people remember him primarily as the Sex Pistols’ manager as that was probably the most boring part of his career. Let Me Know is a nod to the opening track of The Night Shift Mixtape Volume 1, which I kicked off with Music by D Train. Roisin Murphy has acknowledged what a massive influence they were on her while she was recording this song, which should have been number one all over the world. In my world at least.

What old music are you currently excited about?

The most recently played song on my iTunes is Clouds by Chaka Khan, so let’s say that. I’ve been obsessed by the Frankie Knuckles Hallucinogenic mix of Rufus & Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody for about the last year at least.

There’s a couple of bands, one LA and one London, called Inc. and Shy Girls, respectively, that I’d like to see on a double-header live revue. And since he remixed The Eveningtime, I’ve been listening a lot to Daniel Avery’s recent work: it transports me to a very specific time and place. Finally there’s a new artist who I’ve been doing some writing and production with over the last year and I think will blow everyone’s minds. But I can’t tell you any more than that.

You’ve done time in other bands, including Metronomy and Your Twenties. How are you approaching Night Works?

Doing time, hmmm. I was hardly chalking off the days on the cell wall! Both those bands were unique experiences, but granted, four and a half years seems to be my standard time commitment to the projects I’ve been a part of. However, I’m approaching Night Works with an open mind and with open arms, and I think this one could run and run.

You are holding a series of events re-creating 80s Ibiza, I read, right down to waiters in stonewash jeans and a Balaeric / soul boy music policy. Can you tell us more about how this came about, and your affection for that time?

I’m just easily bored when it comes to strict music policies, and Ibiza in the late 80s seemed to be much more ‘anything goes’ with both music and behaviour. It’s not that I’m specifically interested in the exact music they were playing – more the ethos. I was far too young the first time around. Plus, it just gives everyone an excuse to get dressed up. People look so much better in the summertime, don’t you think?

What are you most excited about at the moment?

I am excited about the Tour de France. As I type 150 men in lycra are throwing themselves up a mountain in the Pyrenees. And not all of them are on drugs! Summer in a glass right there.