Interviews
Stafford Brothers Turn Up the Volume for the “Weekend” [Interview]
Multi-platinum Australian duo, the Stafford Brothers, have just released their latest high-energy anthem, “Weekend,” through Purple Fly Records. Known for their adrenaline-charged performances and global tour presence, brothers Matt and Chris Stafford have crafted a reimagined version of the classic “Weekend,” blending big room, hard dance, and electro elements to create a contemporary floor-filler that’s ready to dominate the party scene.
“We always aim to create high-energy music that elevates the party atmosphere and energizes dance floors everywhere across the globe,” the brothers explain. “Our new song captures this spirit, offering a dynamic yet thrilling listening experience. We were always a fan of the original ‘Weekend’ and reimagined it with a contemporary twist. We’ve been loving the crowd reaction so far and are excited to keep playing it on the Weeeeeeekenddddd.”
Rising Global Momentum
The release of “Weekend” follows a whirlwind year for the Stafford Brothers, who have been performing at major festivals and venues worldwide, including Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and the National Rugby League Grand Final half-time show alongside Timmy Trumpet. Their weekends have been packed with performances at spring break parties in Cancun and the Bahamas, Mykonos’ Tropicana, and Far Out Beach Club in Greece, cementing their reputation as one of the most exciting acts in the dance music world today.
A Legacy of Innovation and Energy
The Stafford Brothers have long been at the forefront of dance music innovation. Over the years, they’ve built an impressive discography, with releases on major labels like Spinnin’ Records, Thrive, and Smash the House. Their music journey hit a historic milestone when they became the first electronic act to sign with Cash Money Records in 2013, delivering the triple-platinum hit “Hello,” featuring Lil Wayne and Christina Milian. That track earned a nomination for Song of the Year at the ARIA Music Awards and catapulted them into international stardom.
Known for their energetic and unpredictable sets, the duo has headlined top-tier festivals like EDC Las Vegas, Creamfields, and Sunburn Festival, while also taking over legendary clubs like Pacha, Hï Ibiza, and DAER. The brothers’ versatility has led to collaborations with an impressive roster of artists, including Lil Yachty, Rick Ross, and Deorro, showcasing their ability to fuse different genres into their signature dance music style.
Their previous single on Purple Fly Records, “Turn Up the Volume,” climbed to #12 on Beatport’s New Dance/Electro Pop charts, reaffirming their status as leading tastemakers in the electronic music scene. Recently, their Latin house collaboration “BÉSAME MUCHO” with revered Latin producer G4BBA and indie-pop artist Crash Yeye, revealed their dynamic range and growing presence in the global Latin music market.
The Future of Dance Music: Purple Fly Records
Backing the release of “Weekend” is Purple Fly Records, the world’s first NFT-based label. Pioneering a new frontier in the music industry, Purple Fly utilizes cryptocurrency and NFTs to support collaborations that blend music and stunning visual art, creating an immersive experience for both artists and fans. With each new release, Purple Fly offers unique NFT drops, allowing artists to engage directly with their fanbase in groundbreaking ways. Their focus on creative freedom and innovation has made them a standout in electronic music, and with “Weekend,” they continue to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and dance music.
Prepare to light up your Weekend with the Stafford Brothers’ latest release, and keep your eyes on Purple Fly Records for more exciting music drops and NFT releases shaping the future of dance music.
Stafford Brothers Q&A with The Nocturnal Times:
The Nocturnal Times: Did you guys grow up in a musical family?
Stafford Brothers: Nobody played professionally but if you come to Christmas day at the Stafford house everybody’s singing, people have guitars and ukuleles. Our grandfather was always on a ukulele and our dad actually now makes ukuleles, so music has always been around us.
The Nocturnal Times: Was one of you more interested in music over another when you were younger?
Stafford Brothers: We both always had a passion for music as we were always around music. Matt learned the guitar at high school and Chris learned piano first and then guitar. Chris began producing on a program called Dance eJay in school and then we evolved from there.
The Nocturnal Times: When was it that you realized you wanted to work together?
Stafford Brothers: In the beginning we would DJ separately during the week and then on Saturday we’d DJ together. It was so much more fun doing it together! We bounce energy off each other, and it definitely works better as a duo!
The Nocturnal Times: At what point was it that you knew this was what you’d be doing for the rest of your lives?
Stafford Brothers: Our first record contract is when we thought we could really make this a career. I think it’s still amazing we still get to do it!
The Nocturnal Times: Share a bit about your recent single “Weekend” and what first inspired it?
Stafford Brothers: We are getting a lot of inspiration from songs we used to play when we began DJing. When we first got into the music scene we were into happy hardcore and hard house The idea is from a track we used to love from back in the day. A lot of our inspiration comes from DJing or seeing another artist at a live shows. We took inspiration from the original track but made it more current sounding.
The Nocturnal Times: Have you had a chance to play this one out yet on the road? If so, what has the response been like?
Stafford Brothers: The response has been amazing! It’s always in our sets now.
The Nocturnal Times: How long does it usually take for you guys to create a track from start to finish? Does it vary and what are some contributing factors?
Stafford Brothers: It definitely varies. Sometimes a track comes together in a few days, other times it can take months. It really depends on if we have an idea going into the studio that we know we want to create, if we are writing with a vocalist or if we are just cycling through sounds to hit some inspiration.
The Nocturnal Times: Do you have any pre-show routines or rituals? Studio routines or rituals?
Stafford Brothers: For shows, we usually go out for dinner beforehand and have a few Jager shots and Vodka Ghost’s to get pumped. We always say it to each other “play it like it’s your last.” Because if this is our last ever show. Let’s make a good one!
In the studio, I feel the studio is on the road these days so there’s no routine. It’s on a laptop so it’s finding a moment on a plane or working on something in a hotel room. If it’s going into a studio with other people it’s finding the right idea that we both say, “that’s it!” So, we’re not just working on something and getting nowhere.
The Nocturnal Times: Outside of music, what are some of your favorite things to do or hobbies?
Stafford Brothers: We’re big on fitness and love to hit the gym, go for a surf or snowboarding. We love snowboarding! We would also spend as much time with family and friends because we tour so much so make every second count with them.
The Nocturnal Times: Who are 3 of your all-time top dream collaborators? (Pick 3 DJs and non-DJs)
Stafford Brothers:
For DJs:
Skrillex – for his incredible production skills
Sven Vath – for his legendary status
Timmy Trumpet – because we need a song together!
Non-DJs:
AC/DC – That would be a dream.
Pharrell – for his creativity and could get some Louis Vuitton on discount…
Drake – because it’d be a smash hit adding him on a track!
The Nocturnal Times: What does the rest of the year have in store for Stafford Brothers?
Stafford Brothers: The crazy thing is there’s not much more of the year to go!! I feel like this year has flown by. We have a few more releases before the end of the year. More shows in America and then we will be back in Australia for the end of the year for shows and spend time with family.