Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)
“Lovely DJ Anna Wall & Corbi will be at Pikes Hotel in Ibiza tonight and have remixed a very old tongue in cheek track of mine, from way back called Two Sharp Pencils. Sounds like a fun night”. Roger – this is what have been written on the official Roger Taylor Facebook page about the project. The EP comprises 4 House/Dance/Nu-Dance remixes of the old 1984 Roger song. EP release date is 15 September 2017, 12″ release date is 27 July 2017 (in Japan: 30 Aug 2017, in Germany: 21 Jul 2017). Mp3 sold at 192 kbps. Visuals by Manuela Gray.
July Press note:
Anna Wall & Corbi’s take on Queen drummer Roger Taylor’s ‘Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)’. The result One of the most unlikely and essential party records of 2017. Queen and house music: not necessarily the most obvious of bedfellows, but Music For Freaks has never been a label to take the path most travelled. Over the course of their de-cades long journey the label founded by Luke Solomon and Justin Harris has released uni-quely idiosyncratic dance music, establishing the label as a go-to imprint for those seeking imaginative, unpredictable records that still undeniably work on the dancefloor. Their latest release might well be among the most out-there of them all. Originally released back in 1984, ‘Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)’ is a record by Queen drum-mer Roger Taylor, featuring him on vocals as well as drums, bass & guitar. Now brought bang up to date via a fully official and endorsed remix courtesy of Anna Wall & Corbi, this overlooked album track looks set to become one of the summer’s most essential records. Born and bred in the UK, Anna Wall is a DJ, producer and label owner who is a key player in London’s underground house music scene. Her label The Bricks champions up-and-coming producers, while Anna herself has DJ’d all over the world, most recently for Mixmag at Pacha for their IMS launch party. Corbi is an Ibiza-based DJ and producer, A&R for the highly respected FINA Records and co-founder of Melon Bomb, a party and DJ collective that has in the space of just a couple of years become one of the White Isle’s most talked-about exports. Having met while working at house giant Defected Records some years ago, Anna felt that Corbi would be the perfect studio accomplice to work on the remix of ‘Two Sharp Pencils’.
And another pressnote:
ANNA WALL & CORBI COLLABORATE TO UNLEASH A FUNK-LADEN EDIT OF FORMER QUEEN DRUMMER, ROGER TAYLOR’S EPIC ‘TWO SHARP PENCILS’ TRACK.
Both Anna Wall and Corbi are two names that have been working in and around the music industry for longer than many would know. The pair both found common ground on their musical tastes and interests for productions during their time working at Defected Records. The ‘Two Sharp Pencils‘ track, originally by former Queen drummer, Roger Taylor, is perhaps not the first track that would come to mind when thinking of carrying out a dance music edit, but then again, Music For Freaks, the brainchild of Luke Solomon and Justin Harris, isn’t considered as one for sticking to conventional traditions with its releases. In fact, it’s the complete opposite with the label opting to push uniquely individualistic dance music that has, over time, seen it develop into the go-to imprint for imaginative and unpredictable records that still work so great on the dancefloor.
Originally released back in 1984, ‘Two Sharp Pencils’ is a record by Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who features on the vocals as well all of the other core features of the track. The track has well and truly received an up-to-date refresher by Anna Wall & Corbi who have looked to revamp it’s characteristics by bringing a dancefloor dynamic to the 80’s release.
Born in the UK, Anna Wall is a DJ, producer and label owner who is a key player in London’s underground house music scene. Her label The Bricks is a strong supporter and developer of grass-roots and up and coming poducers while Anna herself has DJ’d all over the world, most recently for Mixmag at Pacha for their IMS launch party. Anna also keeps very busy throughout the week with the well-respected music PR company, Neighbourhood PR. Moving on to Corbi, a DJ and producer, based out of Ibiza and an experienced A&R for the highly regarded FINA Records, not to mention being the co-founder of Melon Bomb, a party and DJ collective that has in the space of just a couple of years become one of the White Isle’s most sought-after party dynamics.
Having met while working at house giant Defected Records some years ago, Anna felt that Corbi would be the perfect studio accomplice to work on the remix of ‘Two Sharp Pencils’.
“I was honoured to be asked to remix Roger Taylor. It felt right to work with Juan as we have a really great workflow, and he’d just released his first single on my label The Bricks. We made it at his home studio in Ibiza and were absolutely inspired by our surroundings.” – Anna Wall
The remix of ‘Two Sharp Pencils’ is about as far away from a run-of-the-mill house record as its possible to get. Full of character, unexpected turns and moments of joyful brilliance, it’s every DJs dream: a statement record that will illuminate every dancefloor and stage at which it is dropped.
“It was a great project to work on with my good friend and producer Anna Wall who had managed to get hold of the stems of this Roger Taylor track. We retained all the parts we loved and then added extra drums, synth parts and textures, really trying to stay faithful to the vibe of the original.” Juan Corbi
You can expect a lot more from both of Anna Wall and Corbi over the next few weeks and months, whether that be in a collaborative format or of their own accord. Keep a watchful eye on both artists and check out their socials below for further information.
‘Two Sharp Pencils’ (Anna Wall & Corbi Remix) is out now and available via Music For Freaks
EP Tracklist:
- Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad) [Anna Wall & Corbi Remix]
Time: 6:36 - Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad) [Jamie 3:26 Punk Funk Version]
Time: 6:49 - Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad) [Anna Wall & Corbi Remix Radio Edit]
Time: 3:12 - Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad) [Anna Wall & Corbi Instrumental]
Time: 6:36
℗ 2017 Nightjar Productions Ltd. under exclusive licence to MFF (Music For Freaks)
12″ version tracklist:
Side 1: “Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)” (Anna Wall & Corbi remix) (6:32)
Side 2: “Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)” (Jamie 3:26 Punk Funk version) (6:56)
Played by: Corbi, Luke Solomon, Anna Wall
12″ singles
- “Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)” (Anna Wall & Corbi remix) / “Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)” (Jamie 3:26 Punk Funk version), (27 Jul 2017) UK: Juno Records MFF 15015
Digital singles
- “Two Sharp Pencils (Get Bad)” EP, (15 Sep 2017) MFFD 15015; iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Store, Google Play, Beatport, junodownload
Photos of the release come below.