aN eclectic 90-minuteS from the CELEBRATED UK DUO.

Bent are Nail Tolliday and Simon Mills, two Nottingham based producers who have been pushing lush, emotive electronica since 1999. Just as comfortable crafting a slice of melancholic downtempo as they are laying down a summery dance floor cut, some of their classic sample-heavy productions include ‘Magic Love’, ‘Always’ and ‘Swollen’ (to name but a few).

In 2020 they released their sixth studio album, Up In The Air, their first full length release since 2006. Brimming with eight beautifully melodic tracks, the LP proved the boys haven’t lost their touch. We’re over the moon to have them put together a mixtape for us. Hope you enjoy.

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You released your most recent album Up In The Air in 2020. What inspired the project and how was the process for you guys?

Simon: A lot had inspired it really. I was going through a huge break up whilst writing, which is why many of the tracks have this sadness in them, but also hope, because it meant new beginnings. The sample in ‘Friends’ was bizarre because the lyrics completely matched what I was going through, so finding that was odd. There often seems to be a serendipity in music making. We wrote a few together in the same room as well, with Nail over at my studio. Our approach to writing hasn’t changed but the technology has sped the whole process up.

It’s a really beautiful album and we particularly love ‘When You Come By’ and ‘Friends’. A lot of vocals on the album appear to be about romantic relationships, or failed ones for that matter. Was this intentional or just how things turned out?

Simon: Glad you picked up on that. ‘When You Come By’ is definitely about my break up, even with the vocals that were found/sampled. Nowadays you can take anything from anything and change it, so it was cathartic to find lyrics that matched where I was at that time emotionally with the whole break up. ‘Friends’ was one were we found the lyrics together, and again, this one is odd, because the lyrics literally summarise my situation completely. In some ways it was crazy to find lyrics that worked so well, but as I say, with today’s technology you can get anything. Sampling nowadays is not just about finding audio that can fit. You can get anything and alter its key or timing and make it work, so you can find things that have more meaning, and it’s less “Da Da”.

Do you guys plan to play live again at some point again? Bent is such a perfect summer festival act.

Simon: Thank you! Yes we are hoping to get out next year. We had planned to come back with the album, but COVID got in the way.

What kept you guys busy over the UK summer? And did you melt or keep your cool?

Simon: I hid in the studio, as I’ve got loads of my own music going on, and went out running in the evenings. And the pub. Lots of pub and running action for me.

Nail: I’m always hiding in my studio too, with various music projects going on, same as Simon. I don’t run though. I don’t even run for the bus.

Simon, you’ve been releasing music as One Half Of Bent the last few months. Could you tell us a little bit about the project?

Simon: Well, it’s really just a rebrand of myself in my solo capacity. Napoleon was renamed five years ago as just Simon Mills, since a few Napoleons were popping up, but then a lot of people weren’t connecting me to the band, and I felt it was nice to make my name that, as that’s how I often introduce myself to musical people. It seems to be going well. I’ve had a lot of lovely feedback and have had Don Carlos on remix duties - honoured! More to come!

The Ashley Beedle remix of ‘Always’ is a bit of an anthem in certain dance music circles. It’s a particular favourite of Danny Howells. Are you aware of its status and have you ever seen it dropped on dance floor?

Simon: Yeah We’re aware of it, it’s an honour really. DJ Harvey dropped it in Seattle - someone sent me a video of it going off! Danny did a great remix for us too. He’s a top guy.

It was great to have Ashley back to do a remix of ‘Friends’. When we forwarded it to him he came straight back with “Yes!!” It was the perfect one for him to return with. A lovely lovely chap as well.

How did you decide to approach your Lazydaze mixtape? Was there a concept behind it?

Simon: I never have a concept. It’s always more about a musical journey. It’s about mood, emotion and flow.

What is your all time favourite chill-out track and album?

Simon: I don’t really listen to ‘chill-out’ music as such, I guess I just love music that is dreamy, emotive or gives an escapism. I look for atmospheres and try to make them myself. I’d say my fave track…hmm…it could be a piece by Ravel, Boards Of Canada or The Flamingos. ‘Love Walked In’ - that’s a good one. Album wise, I adore Global Communication’s 76:14. Lovely.

Nail: I make my own chill out music so I’d probably say something of my own. I quite like old chorale music, like really old 13th century stuff. I listened to Brian Eno’s Another Green World for the first time in ages the other day, that’s a good one.