Joe and Will Ask?

Joe and Will Ask? is an electronic duo made up of Joe and Will, who meet in 2005 and begin working together in 2007. The pair come from different backgrounds: Joe releases drum and bass 12-inch records, while Will comes from hard house and trance. Their name reflects their interest in crossing genres and combining different influences into a single sound.

Style and performance

The duo work across techno, electro and electro-house, and their music is described in terms of its dancefloor focus, strong rhythm and melodic elements. They perform both as live act and as DJs. Their DJ sets are adaptable, with an emphasis on techno and minimal on larger sound systems. Their live setup uses laptops and MIDI controllers, with the pair performing their own material.

Career and releases

After starting to collaborate, they quickly attract attention from local DJs, club promoters and independent labels. They hold residencies at underground club nights before moving on to play at venues and events including Matter, Trailer Trash, Durrr, Club NME, Boombox, Scala, Ministry of Sound and the Egg in London, as well as shows in the UK, Berlin, Florence, Milan, Budapest, Bucharest, Lille and Ghent.

They sign to Andrew Friendly’s Gulp Communications in 2008 and release three EPs. Their work appears in the Cool Cuts Chart. Their productions are compared with artists including Soulwax, the Chemical Brothers, DIM and Popof.

Remixes and recognition

Joe and Will Ask? remix a range of artists, including Mystery Jets, La Roux, Revolver, The Bell, Jupiters Heroes, Acid Girls, Franz & Shape, Division Kent, Circuit Freq, Milke and Atomizer. Their remix of Mystery Jets gains particular attention, and they also work on a La Roux remix released through Kitsuné and Polydor. They are also associated with remix work for Ministry of Sound and EMI’s band Hockey.

The duo receive support from a number of other artists, including Brodinski, Kris Menace, Vicarious Bliss, Casper C, Acid Jacks, AutoKratz, Dark Globe, Jody Wisternoff, Cazals, Matik and Virgin Tears.