Tell us about your business ?
Simon Saunders is a DJ/Music Producer and Designer. His recording artist name is Smash & Grab.Smash & Grab produces dance music & designs T-Shirts that feature speakers, skulls, guns, dark clubs and street art from the red light districts in Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, LA, Naples and London. Each T-Shirt comes with a QR code to download Smash & Grab’s latest dance music for free. The first spring collection is for sale exclusively online at www.seekdestroylondon.com (site works on mobiles & ipads)
What are the main challenges maintaining your business and how are you overcoming them?
The main challenge is getting the brand name Seek & Destroy out there and letting people know that when you buy a cool T-Shirt you can also discover new dance music, that sounds nothing you have ever heard before – and its free!
What would you say has been your most memorable experience while developing it?
Personally I am a very fussy person who is really into the fine details of everything, so when it came to sourcing a T-Shirt manufacturer and the label printer – this was seriously hard , I didn’t just want any old T-Shirt, it had to be high quality cotton, something that doesn’t fall out of shape, something that’s feels soft to touch and something that definitely had to fit an average guy really well. Going through this process and finding what I wanted at the end was definitely one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences so far.
I created these T-Shirts because I couldn’t find any cool ones in London anymore. That was my inspiration.
What were the most successful projects?
Creating the music in my studio, that took years and years to get the sound I wanted. But it made my day when BBC Radio 1 voted me Champion Sound, I was on holiday at the time in Italy and I couldn’t believe it. It was a real honor, then it went mad… I had phone calls from 3 people wanting to be my manager, Scream & Benga, Rob Da Bank & Annie Nightingale played my new tune ‘You Make Feel So Good’ on their radio 1 shows. I had massive feedback and plays in clubs all over the world and great feedback from DJ’s such as: Utah Saints, Bob Sinclar, Laurent Garnier & Steve Aoki. Then to top it off Grammy-winning Jacques Lu Cont aka Stuart Price, who has produced for Madonna, Kylie, New Order, Missy Elliott, Scissor Sisters, said this about one of my new tracks ‘hey! this is seriously amazing. forward-thinking, uncomplicated shit!!! i LOVE it.” I was the over the moon, Rob Da Bank also said ‘Indescribable sounds.. Smash & Grab is my favorite electronic producer’. I was really blown away. Finally the hard work of years and years (about 7 years, if I am honest) of fine tuning my music in the studio, sometimes till 3am on a week day was slowly starting to get noticed.
What were the coolest moments that happened while setting up/running your business?
I approached one shop in the West End and they loved my T-Shirt designs so much, they said they will throw me a launch party to celebrate the arrival of the first set of T-Shirts.
Tell us about DO’s and DON’Ts in your industry?
I’m not so sure about the industry do’s and don’ts. I like to break rules and do things my way. I certainly don’t conform to any rules, never have done, never will.
What would be the next steps in your career? Where would you like to see yourself in a year?
In one year I would like to see my T-Shirts in every cool clothes shop through out Europe and my own shop.
What to you think is missing in Shoreditch as far as the industry you’re interested in?
Financial backers with balls is what is missing in Shoreditch. I have been offered shop leases but I cant take them up as I dont have big enough funding.
What are your favorite places in Shoreditch? (Where do you go dining/ going out?)
for food, thats a very easy question to answer, I love the shoreditch hotel grill. I am a big steak fan, but its got to cooked medium rare or its going back! Their steaks are cooked on a charcoal grill and boy, their chefs know how to cook it to perfection. For drinks and music, I love the vibe bar, best sound system in shoreditch. I remember when Goldie used to DJ there before he became huge. Its a chilled place, warehouse style with an amazing ‘funktion-one’ sound system.
What does the future has in store for what you want to achieve?
more designs, sweat tops, jogging tops, jeans. i want cool people to know seek & destroy exists.
Are your plans viable?
Yes because everyone wants a cool T-Shirt & cool music to listen too. That’s why I have combined them both.
What would you say is the best thing about what you do?
Taking a photograph and then designing something on screen with it and then seeing it printed with your own label hanging in a shop window.
Is there anyone you’d like to work with that you’d like to give a shout out to either from Shoredtich or around London?
I would like to work with or find an equally ambitious business partner who has the funds to help me turn my goals into reality.
