The Glitch Mob, West Coast’s answer to the growing electronic hip-hop movement, has been turning heads and making a scene across the country at festivals and venues, whether invited guests or otherwise. It’s impossible to lump The Glitch Mob into one music genre (the members try to avoid type-casting themselves), but they can be described as sophisticated blend of crunk, hip-hop with digital nuances and textures that explode from their laptops and, like an auditory assault on your senses, will get your body rockin’. DJ/producers Josh “Ooah” Mayer, Justin Boreta and Edward “edIT” Ma are the purveyors of this experimental new music formulated to “slay crowds” that started out as mutual friendship between each of the independent DJs before growing into a collaboration of artists who groove together and make a scene on stage like no other. Under Alpha Pup Records, The Glitch Mob plans to release its debut full-length album in early 2010. Boreta was able to give us insight into the new album and how the intriguing group came to be:

Djs Ooah, edIT and Boreta make up the Glitch Mob, an emerging experimental music group with a sound that spans musical genres.

1. What can we expect from the new album? Have you experimented with any new techniques not used in previous albums? When is it due out? Are there any other featured artists besides Ooah, edIT and yourself?

We’re very excited about this album. We are experimenting with lots of new recording techniques, software, hardware, etc. There will be other artists featured on the the album, but it’s top secret for now as it’s still all in the works. It will come out in early 2010.

2. What are some of the best venues you’ve played at? What kind of crowds give the best response? Do you do anything in particular to engage crowds at live shows?

There’s no easy answer to that question. We feel honored to get to travel around and share our music with people. There have been amazing shows everywhere from Bucharest, Romania to Birmingham, Alabama. This year it was an honor to play Red Rocks main stage in Colorado before Method Man and Redman because we’re all such huge fans.

3. What is the music-making process like for The Glitch Mob? Do you all come up with songs and remixes individually then collaborate on the final product or is there input throughout the whole process? Is there an element of spontaneity during a live show?

When we’re making music, we are all in the studio together working at the same time. One person usually will start an idea and then the next person will riff off of it, then hand it off, and so on. It’s a very collaborative process.
There is an element of spontaneity during the live show. We do have a set list planned, and we also have sections in the set planned where there is improvisation. So no two sets are exactly the same.

4. How did The Glitch Mob come to fruition?

It started off as an experiment. We didn’t plan it to turn into this; it just took on a life of its own. At first we were collaborating doing live/DJ sets together, and it eventually turned into making music together.

5. How was the More Voltage tour with Nosaj Thing and Daddy Kev? How do you like working with your record label Alpha Pup Records?

The tour was amazing. It’s an honor to get to tour around with artists like Nosaj and Kev who we are huge fans of but are also our friends. The shows were received quite well, and we had a blast.

6. How would you describe your music? Is it a melting pot of different genres or something completely different? What were the influences behind your own music and style?

It’s hard for us to describe our music as it’s always changing, especially now as we’re writing an album. We’re experimenting with a lot of new techniques and tempos. To us, it’s just music.

7. What are some of the style differences between you, edIT and Ooah? Do you find that each DJ has their own specialization that contributes to the whole group effort?

We definitely each have our own specialties and styles. But when we’re in the studio, a lot of that melds together into something else.

8. How do you think technology effects music, yours specifically? I am familiar with the the Lemur touchscreen interface you use when performing live; are there any other tools you use or any newer ones that you are experimenting with?

The Lemur is great because it allows us to show the crowd what we’re doing. It’s also great because we can program it to do whatever we want. We program all of our own custom templates. We’re always on the lookout for new cutting-edge technology that allows us to perform our music in new ways.