While most DJs work alone — think Skrillex, Deadmau5, Fatboy Slim — two heads have proven better than one for Oklahoma City electro act Crystal Vision.
“It definitely helps when one of us is stuck. The other one always has an idea,” said Katie Wicks. “The joys of being a duo are that we can be two places at once.”
Both Wicks and partner Bryan Peace worked in different avenues of electronic music before pairing as Crystal Vision in 2009. The years since have found them producing original tracks, remixing the likes of TV on the Radio and Yeasayer, and adding their plugged-in touch to the cuts of local dance outfit Chrome Pony.
Despite a common, if misguided, belief than Peace does the bulk of the work, the duo is a true collaborative effort.
“We get a lot of people thinking that Katie is the face and that I just sit at home doing all the work and writing all the music,” he said. “They don’t realize it’s both of us sitting there, doing all of it together. Any kind of music, people don’t see girls as being talented and able to write music.”
Added Wicks, “You’d be surprised to see how many people think that. They never see us behind closed doors.”
The
tandem arrangement helps with not only creative efforts, but logistical
ones, prodding one another to work and perform as much as possible.
“If
you’re alone, you can kind of talk yourself out of doing things, some
of which can be big opportunities,” Wicks said. “When you’ve got the
other one saying, ‘No, we have to,’ it’s like having a physical
conscience.”
That
ethic has helped Crystal Vision — along with fellow locals like Kids at
the Bar, Ed Crunk and Gosteffects — build a thumping electronic scene
here to match the national one that has emerged over the past few years.
The
twosome spins weekly at Kamp’s Robotic Wednesdays showcase and has
started taking its act on the road, with dates in California and Costa
Rica this summer, and Europe in the near future.
Sunday’s show at Will
Rogers aside, Crystal Vision’s focus presently is centered on finishing
some original material and visually amping its live set. Although the
band parties hard, it works harder.
“I
don’t think the [Robotic] crowd really always realizes what we do,”
Peace said. “They think we are just some kids throwing a party, not
really grasping the full situation.”
Added
Wicks, “There’s so much we do before those doors open and after they
close. We’re always putting in our time and energy. It’s a 24-hour job.”
Hey! Read This:
• Chrome Pony feature
• Kids at the Bar feature
This article appears in Apr 25 – May 1, 2012.