Interview - Tenishia (Malta)

Joven Grech & Cyprian Cassar more known as Tenishia took Malta’s clubbing scene by storm in 2005. Winning the ‘Best Newcomer Award’ eight months after their debut in the scene and ‘Best Live Performance’ a few months later, which made Tenishia Malta’s fastest growing act.

Winners of ‘Best Dance Tune 2008 and 2009’ at the Malta Music Awards and signed to the legendary, Armada Records owned by world’s no 1 DJ, Armin Van Buuren, Tenishia made there way up in the International scene, not only to be supported by world’s biggest djs like Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk and Armin Van Buuren but to feature in World famous radio shows with their mixes and included in best selling CD Compilations like Gatecrasher, Global Gathering, Ministry of Sound and Cream Ibiza!

Kurt Erickson & Mike V recently caught up with Joven and Cyrpian from Tenishia on Connected Radio

Connected: You must get this question all the time, is there a special meaning behind the name Tenishia or is it just a catchy name you discovered when trying to think of a name?
Joven: It's only a catchy name that we both liked straight away when it came up while looking for a name. I even called my daughter Tenishia

Connected: What is your most memorable moment playing?
Cyprian – I think there's a few of those, playing at the MTV party in Malta, opening for Armin van Buuren, our first International gig in Europe and our first Tenishia Event in Malta!

Connected: What's been your best crowd reaction? And what track was it too and where?
Joven: Once in Malta, Armin was here and for the first time he played one of our tunes which the local radio stations use to play a lot. It was actually 'Burning from the Inside' which a few weeks before Armin came to Malta won 'The Best Dance Production Award' at the Malta Music Awards… So being a favorite on the radio and being a local track the crowd went nuts when they heard it!! Armin even called us on stage when the breakdown came in and the crowd was just tearing the place apart!!

Connected: Where do you find inspiration?
Cyprian – We do not have a favourite artist and we get inspired by any type of good music. In fact we do not just produce one sound and stick to it in our production but we vary a lot. This can be seen clearly in the Remixes we did for Orjan's Lover Lane… one is pretty uplifting while the bad lane is more deep and proggy.

Connected: You have collaborated with the best of the best vocal talent, and recently your work with Roger Shah has been amazing. If you could work with anyone else who would that be?
Joven: We are very happy with Aneym at the moment, we have already recorded the follow up for 'Stranger To Myself and I can tell you she is just gonna do so well! But yes if the opportunity arose we would like to work with Justine Suissa… we're big fans of her work.

Connected: If you had a banana, 2 left ankle socks and a dwarf, where would you take them and what would you do?
Joven: Put the banana in the ankle socks and throw it at the Dwarf!! Loooool
Cyprian: i would eat the banana and send the dwarf home with the socks :)

Connected: With the amount of music available now, and radio shows / podcasts dwarfing mix compilations? Do you think the art of mixing has been lost or forgotten?
Cyprian – I do not think so. We use CDJS in our gigs! Hate laptops... especially because some software have really bad sound engines.

Connected: What's playing in your ipod right now?
Joven: Haris C – Feelings (Tenishia Remix) and BT – Emergency (Marcus Schossow Mix)
Cyprian – Matt Darey ft Kate louise Smith – See the Sun (Tenishia Bootleg)

Connected: Do you have any weird habits? Or - What's one thing you have to do everyday that's not music related?
Joven: I'm hooked to facebook!!
Cyprian: Going to the Gym!

Connected: Describe your ultimate party?
Joven: Hmm I like different kinds of party events! Starting with the ones with massive crowds.. It's cool to play in those but yes I do like some small private parties with a few friends! 200 ppl max by the pool and that..
Cyprian: A huge event with a massive crowd all there for the same reason... Trance :)

Connected: What's the best thing about Malta?
Joven: The Summer, the Size and the scene
Cyprian: Summer

Connected: Can we expect Tenishia down our way in the near future? (Australasian Tour / Armada Nights with Myon & Shane and the guys)
Joven: Yes!!! In January

Connected: : How did remixing Flesh 2010 come about?
Cyprian: Jan was on a gig in Malta and after a discussion we had we went to studio and recorded Flesh from scratch. The vocals were re done in our studio as the originals were lost.

Connected: Why is progressive trance so big right now and what's the best thing about the genre?
Joven: Trance has been evolving trough the years and after it was really over produced in the early 2000's with the same sounds, the best thing that could ever happen to trance was giving trance a groove which it missed! It is more danceable now, more groovey and I think that the new trance! There's still all the feeling it had before and the melodies but the important groove is no added!!

Connected: What has Tenishia got planned for the rest of the year?
Cyprian: We have released a good number of tracks and remixes this year and a few more are in the pipeline. Our plan is to slow down a bit and focus on getting an album together to release next year! So we are on the hunt for good vocalists, good lyrics and new sounds at the moment!

Connected: What is Tenishia looking forward to the most in the next 6months?
Joven: We are currently remixing one of Markus Schul's tracks .. so I think that's one big thing were looking forward to.

Connected: Where's the best place to find out everything about Tenishia and to stay up to date?

Cyprian: I would say, the official website which is www.Tenishia.com but at the moment it is on hold since the version of it is being built so Facebook would be just as good as we update things everyday there!

Connected: Tell us about the exciting releases you have coming out soon?

Joven: Watch out for Tenishia ft Susana – The Other Side... and I mean the single release as the one you heard on Susana's album is only the album version ;)

Connected: What was the defining moment you decided to start playing tunes?
Joven: I have been DJing in clubs since 1997, when I was only 15 years of age.. It was actually deejaying who has inspired me for music production

Connected: Tell us something that not many people would know about you or Cyprian?

Joven: Cyprian is Gay…. Loool no he's not.. erm I don't know Malta is a small country so everyone knows each other's story here but for the people of the world I think not many people know that I have 2 daughters J and I love them very much!
Cyprian: Well, ermmm... Joven is an Alien :) and i have 8 kids.....

To keep up to date with Tenishia check out the links below

Facebok Tenishia | www.tenishia.com