From booking one another at the parties they used to run in South East London to being hailed as ‘Future Stars’ by Radio 1’s dance music tastemaker Pete Tong, the ascent of Ryan Ellis and Lewis Wright – collectively known as No Artificial Colours – in just a few short years has been sharp. Now, following notable appearances at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party and Tomorrowlands to name but a few, the duo are heading to London’s Ministry of Sound for their first appearance at the London clubbing institution.  

Set to appear alongside Sandy Rivera, FCL, Maxxi Soundsystem, Sonny Fodera and Sam Divine on Saturday 17th August, here we caught up with them to discuss their origins in house music and the support they offer one another both in the studio and behind the decks.

First up, tell us about your name… is there any significant meaning behind it?

The name No Artificial Colours doesn't actually have reasoning behind it! We used to be residents at a club called matter at the O2 in Greenwich and the promoter we played for there asked us to have a name. We were toying with a few things and it was actually Ryan's brother that suggested it and we liked it! It's a bit of a mouthful when meeting people but it’s grown on us now.

What are both of your earliest memories of house music?

Funny you should ask that as its compilations like the Defected In The House Eivissa releases, around 2005 to 2006 that grabbed our attention. We used to play garage and hip hop as teens, but trips to Ibiza hearing and seeing what house music can do to you we felt like this is where we wanted to be!

Why do you think that house music in general has been experiencing increased mainstream interest over the last few years? Do you think there’s a danger that interest will burn out?

For a start there is a whole lot more of it around. There is so much music out there right now, not all good, but it’s exciting searching stuff out without going to the same names each time. Music has feeling again in our eyes; grooves, vocals and people are smiling again. There was a point a few years back where it was all blips and blops with men everywhere, no one wants that! The girls are back out and that makes such a better atmosphere we feel. There always a danger of something becoming popular so fast and burning out. Electro, dubstep for example but proper house music will always be around, just evolving in forms.

Whether it is a label, artist or DJ is there anyone in the industry that was an influence on you in the early days? Is there someone out there at the moment that you admire and that continues to motivate you?

Every week we are influenced and inspired by DJs around us, it’s hard to name individual names, but artist-wise we love music that’s a little raw rather shiny sounds. So for example a record like Dennis Ferrer 'Son of Raw' is one we’ll always keep going back to.

As a duo would you say either of you have particular individual strengths you bring to the studio and DJing?

We both have different personalities rather than individual strengths to both DJing and our production. For example, one of us plays with a million different ideas and overthinks absolutely everything, whereas the other is more direct and straight down the line, so we tend to meet in the middle of this. There are quite a few advantages of being a duo, when producing if one of us hits a brick wall the other can jump in with a fresh perspective. Most would say a disadvantage could be pulling each other in different directions or having a different vision for something but this rarely happens. We bicker like we're married or something when in the studio and preparing sets but when it comes down it; everything we do is a joint decision and wouldn't move forward with any decision until we were both 100%. We really are like an old couple sometimes!  

Is there a single decision that you guys could highlight that was the most important one of your career?

I think with us it's more a series of small ones that have got us to this stage; the big ones are yet to come! We have a really good team around us with our management and agent; we are all close and speak all the time. So we'd say being part of this team was the turning point for our career path.

You're playing for Defected at Ministry of Sound in August... what can people expect when they come to see you?

We are pretty excited about this one as we have been to many Defected parties over the years in London and Ibiza, so getting invited to play is really cool. In terms of what to expect, get ready for 2hours of untz untz untz...

What are your plans for the rest of 2013?

In August we have a few other gigs with Defected, one in Frankfurt and another in Ibiza, and also Tomorrowland, which we are excited about and we also have some remixes and new material coming out - including a remix of DJ Lee Edwards & Storm feat. Anton Romero 'Take Me Away' which is out on Defected 19th August -  so keep your ears peeled for those!

No Artificial Colours play Ministry of Sound 17th August - click for tickets and full line-up info

Join the Facebook group for the event here