When Eugene Hector graduated high school in 2010 he was top of his class. Not much has changed. The high achieving Sydney producer always scores full marks for his ingenious output. Working as Dro Carey he initially attracted the attention of English label The Trilogy Tapes, also home to Kassem Mosse and Dean Blunt. Since then he's released material on RAMP, Hum + Buzz and Templar Sound. Eugene also records under the Tuff Sherm moniker, living up to the name with an uncompromising approach to house and techno innovation. In case he wasn't busy enough we gave Eugene some homework ahead of his Dro Carey set at this week's Ferdydurke 2nd birthday party. Here are the 100% correct answers.THUMP: Not trying to look over your shoulder or anything, but can you take us into your music making methods at the moment?
When I started I was just using Reason version 4. These days I use a combo of Reason 7 and Logic and a couple of other smaller apps for bits and pieces, including Audacity, and Virtual DJ. These I use for experimenting with looping, and I always have Audio Hijack ready to go, to grab any sound that comes from my browser. I've also been making a lot of short location recordings with my phone. I'm just constantly collecting sounds. A very small number end up in things. I think it's more about keeping a diary and creating the right window for an idea.We also heard that YouTube videos are an important source of inspiration. What are you watching right now?
I'm enjoying the YouTube genre of elevator reviews lately.Sounds uplifting. You're known for your work as Dro Carey and Tuff Sherm, and not that it's a competition or anything, but we read in an earlier interview that if pushed Tuff Sherm would win in a fight over Dro Carey. Is that really true? Are there any contests where Dro Carey might prevail?
I suppose I imagine Sherm to be older, bigger, generally cooler. I think when you listen to something like "Leg Man" versus even, I dunno, "Venus Knock" or "Nightworld", something just tips towards Tuff Sherm being a fraction scarier. Whereas Dro has video games on lock - Sherm would be dying all over the place.We really enjoyed your split release with Cassius Select recently. Can you tell us about this, and if there's plans for more collaborative work?
Yes I've been doing a lot of collaborative work lately. It's interesting to come from doing tracks in total isolation to now working with a big variety of people. In addition to Cassius Select, I've got things coming up with Cliques, Napolian, a friend of mine named Patch Free, Druture (previously of Grown Folk), and some vocalists too. These collaborators are probably my main sources of inspiration at the moment. As far as my recent release with Lavurn, we each sent tracks to Vic, and we each remixed each other. We hang out but we've never actually worked on music together in person. I think we just understand each other really well!What new sounds have you been cramming for your set this Sunday?
I've been steadily working on new Dro Carey stuff that I am keen to test out. The last Dro release, Vital Trails, was quite dark, but these new ones range from that territory into some more euphoric vibes. I've been enjoying a lot of kuduro, Fade to Mind material, Livity Sound, classic Baltimore, and new grime stuff et cetera. It will be diverse!Since it's Ferdydurke's 2nd Birthday party this weekend, can you pick a couple of tracks you might play at a birthday party to get things started on the dancefloor?
Sure, here's Plastic World labelmates with the hook up. This track from GL is extremely approachable but at the same time there's a real richness to this track and such a funky undercurrent. Hard to resist.
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When I started I was just using Reason version 4. These days I use a combo of Reason 7 and Logic and a couple of other smaller apps for bits and pieces, including Audacity, and Virtual DJ. These I use for experimenting with looping, and I always have Audio Hijack ready to go, to grab any sound that comes from my browser. I've also been making a lot of short location recordings with my phone. I'm just constantly collecting sounds. A very small number end up in things. I think it's more about keeping a diary and creating the right window for an idea.We also heard that YouTube videos are an important source of inspiration. What are you watching right now?
I'm enjoying the YouTube genre of elevator reviews lately.Sounds uplifting. You're known for your work as Dro Carey and Tuff Sherm, and not that it's a competition or anything, but we read in an earlier interview that if pushed Tuff Sherm would win in a fight over Dro Carey. Is that really true? Are there any contests where Dro Carey might prevail?
I suppose I imagine Sherm to be older, bigger, generally cooler. I think when you listen to something like "Leg Man" versus even, I dunno, "Venus Knock" or "Nightworld", something just tips towards Tuff Sherm being a fraction scarier. Whereas Dro has video games on lock - Sherm would be dying all over the place.
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Yes I've been doing a lot of collaborative work lately. It's interesting to come from doing tracks in total isolation to now working with a big variety of people. In addition to Cassius Select, I've got things coming up with Cliques, Napolian, a friend of mine named Patch Free, Druture (previously of Grown Folk), and some vocalists too. These collaborators are probably my main sources of inspiration at the moment. As far as my recent release with Lavurn, we each sent tracks to Vic, and we each remixed each other. We hang out but we've never actually worked on music together in person. I think we just understand each other really well!What new sounds have you been cramming for your set this Sunday?
I've been steadily working on new Dro Carey stuff that I am keen to test out. The last Dro release, Vital Trails, was quite dark, but these new ones range from that territory into some more euphoric vibes. I've been enjoying a lot of kuduro, Fade to Mind material, Livity Sound, classic Baltimore, and new grime stuff et cetera. It will be diverse!Since it's Ferdydurke's 2nd Birthday party this weekend, can you pick a couple of tracks you might play at a birthday party to get things started on the dancefloor?
Sure, here's Plastic World labelmates with the hook up. This track from GL is extremely approachable but at the same time there's a real richness to this track and such a funky undercurrent. Hard to resist.
Catch Dro Carey deliver the jams this Sunday at Ferdydurke's 2nd Birthday Party, alongside Sleep D, Grant Kamov and Baker Street.