LOW DOWN AND DIRTY

Brace for a bass-bin shattering beats session tomorrow night, as Dubway party brings in two dubstep heavyweights, Goth Trad and Greg G, to stun the Bangkok crowd one more time at Club Culture. 

Both DJs have blazed trails on the underground scene. French-born, Tokyo-based Greg G is head honcho of dubstep demons 7even Recordings, releasing tracks by artists such as Likhan, Helixir and Ramadanman. But for the past few years he’s been tunnelling through the Japanese underground, signing groundbreaking producers like Ena and Japanese drum & bass legend Makoto. 

Tomorrow’s show will be Greg G’s first match-up outside of Japan with another living legend. Having produced classic tracks like “Cut End”, “Far East Assassin” and “Babylon Fall”, the multitalented Goth Trad shows no sign of slowing down. He’s currently touring the world to promote his critically acclaimed fourth CD, “The New Epoch”. 

He had a few words to share before his Bangkok stop tomorrow night. 

 

How is it going with your latest album? 

I’ve got a lot of good feedback. The European tour after the album was great. There were big crowds at each show. My inspirations for the album came from what I was feeling and thinking in my life. Some came from my music experience and some came from my personal life. Especially the [disaster] in Japan last year. [It really] influenced my music.

 

How has your sound evolved?

I’ve made and played many kinds of music over the past 10 years. Between 2002 and 2005, I was producing more experimental music like noise and drone. In later 2005, I was back in the dance music scene with my third album ”Mad Raver’s Dancefloor”. Then I got into the dubstep scene and started to DJ in 2006. Maybe it was the turning point for me.

 

You were doing dubstep long before most people had heard of the genre. What do you think of the scene now?

Dubstep must be progressive music. I was excited by the releases between 2005 and 2008. But things got stale and stereotyped over the past three years. So I was getting bored. Also the name “bass music” is a kind of fashion now. People use it to cover dubstep, electro, house and other dance music [genres]. … So I wanted to put the ‘real’ bass music and dubstep on the “New Epoch” album.

A plus point is that more parties care about their sound system these days. That’s crucial for my music.

 

What did you grow up listening to?

I got into electronic music at around 10 or 11 – stuff like Technotronic, Kraftwerk, early ’90s rave music and ’90s techno like Warp, R&S, Rising High label. Then I went through abstract, underground hip-hop, dub, jungle, gabba, ambient and noise and experimental. I also liked some progressive rock, hardcore punk and metal.

 

A few years back you invented a sound called mad rave. What is it like?

Mad rave is a kind of progressive music. Rave music was also progressive for me. Back then, people thought that rave music should be trance or techno – especially in Japan. So I just wanted to define what true rave music, for me. And I chose that name.

 

Which dubstep or drum-and-bass DJs do you admire?

Mala, the Bug, Pinch, Distance and Quest. 

 

What’s the plan for you this year? 

I’ll start to produce new music and set up my own label. I will tour in Europe again. I’ll also be back at Club Asia [in Tokyo] with my “Back To Chill” night, which is having its 6th birthday this year.

 

How was your last Bangkok gig? What’s the plan this time? 

I played a live set last time. It was a great experience. This time, I’ll play a DJ set. So I can show something different. I am really looking forward to playing Bangkok again!

 

GET FILTHY

Greg G and Goth Trad perform at Club Culture on Ratchadamnoen Klang Road tomorrow night. Entry with two drinks is Bt550. 

Call (089) 497 8422 or see www.Club-Culture-Bkk.com or www.DragonHB.com.