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In Interview: “Chef” Carl Cox Cooks Up Industry Wisdom and DJ Advice
Even over the phone, Carl Cox‘s smile is contagious and felt. Immediately, he conveys a sense of warmth making anyone feel right at home. Wrapping up the call, Carl Cox cooks up industry wisdom and DJ advice, conveying a sense of warmth making me feel right at home.
Chatting from Melbourne before hitting the road for a month-long tour of North American shows, the legendary DJ and producer talks everything from having Diddy shake it on the dance floor in Ibiza to how he’s seen the industry change in the last three decades.
His first stop is EDC Mexico. Afterward, he’ll give California some major love in Los Angeles where Kölsch, Nic Fanciulli and JIA will join him on February 29. He’ll also grace the decks at CRSSD Music Festival in San Diego on March 8.
Intec Digital Closes Off 2019 With Five-Track V/A Featuring Gaston Zani, Uhnknwn, Ferhat Albayrak, Chris Count, Jonno & Gibso
Intec Digital is ending the year in style, with a five-track mixed artist EP that brings together a diverse selection of talents set to do big things in 2020, including a contribution we are premiering today from Gaston Zani.
Q&A and Global Vibe Radio 183 Feat. Brennen Grey
With releases on labels such as Carl Cox’s Intec and Pleasurekraft’s Kraftek imprints, Brennen Grey‘s rise as a producer and DJ has been impossible to miss.
In occasion of his upcoming WORK warehouse debut in LA alongside Pleasurekraft fast approaching on November 2nd, Brennen delivers a powerful two-hours mix for your listening pleasure. Featured are tracks from Radio Slave, Underworld, SRVD, Pleasurkraft, Axel Karakasis, Atroxx, Tobias Lueke, Beico & Mt93 and, of course, a huge selection of Brennen Grey originals, remixes, and unreleased gems.
Pushing a sound that is both hard and progressive at the same time, it is no surprise that Brennen’s tracks have found widespread support from artists such as Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Pleasurekraft, Victor Ruiz and Enrico Sangiuliano, just to name a few.
Enjoy the mix and our exclusive interview with Brennen below and if you’re in LA, be sure to catch Brennen at WORK on Nov 2nd. Tickets and info for that event can be found HERE.
Hi Brennen, welcome to the GVR family and thank you for the mix! Can you tell us a little about where you put this together and what you hope to communicate with it to our listeners?
Love you guys, it’s an honor! For some itÊŒs an escape, or a gym set, maybe road trip soundtrack, or the motivation you need to get through your school or work project! It is always different to each listener so what I hope to communicate means little, but I do hope it inspires you to come lose your mind on the dance floor!
Any standout tracks we should particularly keep an ear open for?
There are a few previews of unreleased tracks coming out early next year and quite possibly my favorite track IÊŒve ever made⊠but also a few tracks from really great producer friends of mine that deserve the spotlight like Stephen Disario, I Am Bam, AtroxxâŠ
Do you feel this mix represents the energy and style of your sets?
Of course, every set is different, the room, vibe, slot time, etc all play a factor, but as a whole yes this is a good representation!
Talking about sets, you’re performing in LA on November 2nd alongside Pleasurekraft for our WORK event series in collaboration with Synthetik Minds. Are you as excited as us for this one?
More!!! IÊŒve been a fan of your events for ages, and even though IÊŒve played a bit in LA this year for some reason this feels more like coming home than ever! IÊŒm also really excited to hear Pleasurekraft unleash a warehouse set, and we have a pretty special surprise for everyone that night!
I know we have hung out on warehouse dance floors a few times in the last couple of years and we have been trying to make this booking happen for a while now. How do you feel about being on the other side of the booth for this night versus performing in a club, for example?
Warehouses have always been my happy place, dancing, playing or both. I cut my teeth in the illegal underground raves of the late 90ÊŒs in Chicago, so for me the rawer the better⊠but I will admit that there is a good handful of clubs around the world that are standouts. They have nurtured the âdance floor firstâ mentality and I love playing/dancing with them too!!!
You and Pleasurekraft go way back and have shared many lineups together. How did you first meet and what’s your relationship like?
ItÊŒs honestly not that âway backâ it just feels that way because of how well and instantly we clicked! We met just a little over a year ago! HeÊŒs a truly art-first, no pretense, check-your-ego-at-the-door kind of human which is rare as hell in this industry⊠and when you find those you keep them close!
We first met at the Factory93 Carl Cox gig we were on⊠I opened and he went B2B with Carl that night! To make a long story short, we just talked a lot of shit that night and were on the same page and kept in contact!
What can attendees expect from this night? Any surprises in store?
I think this night is going to be really special! I know people flying from London and Berlin just for this one! Neither of us are holding back in any way and the last time I saw Pleasurekraft let go like that it was one of the best sets IÊŒd ever heard so IÊŒm excited! And yeah thereÊŒs an AMAZING surprise at the end of the night but if I told you it wouldnÊŒt be a surprise anymore, would it?!
The team at Insomniac have undoubtedly been an integral part of your growth as an artist and, in my opinion, they do an important job funnelling new listeners and dancers to the more underground sounds of house and techno. How would you describe your relationship with them and how important were those gigs to you in your career?
Insomniac has been like family to me⊠and like family you have a lot of different emotions and relationships over the years⊠some of them are my Brothers and Sisters that I love⊠some are my crazy drunk uncle I canʌt fucking stand⊠and some are the mom and dad that are there for you when you need them most (laughs)
So, it’s unique, and not a simple answer but yes they have been truly good to me and supported me before damn near anyone else outside of Carl! And for that IÊŒm sincerely grateful!
Do you feel the Insomniac label has in any way made it harder for you to be credible to those in the techno scene that consider labels important? And what is your take on such labels anyways?
Fuck a label⊠Iʌve been really lucky to make the music that I love without any perceived barriers from fear of credibility backlash, mostly because I donʌt care, but also because the slow but organic fanbase Iʌve acquired loves the music and is beautifully open-minded!
In terms of credibility, it is often about perceptions and labels, rather than actual sound and musical output… which is crazy and wrong. How would you describe the music you produce and play to someone who isn’t quite versed to it?
This is so spot on⊠The ironic thing about the people spouting about credibility is that most of them are uber-fans of DJs who donÊŒt even make their own music⊠or are just massive because they had a manger pump $4k a month into social media promotion. But I digress⊠to answer your question, I make high energy techno. When I describe it to people that arenÊŒt in the dance music scene I usually just say âvery
kick drum-heavy but I try and tap into something emotional and tangibleâ and then I change the subject! (laughs)
The techno scene is in constant evolution, and that means a lot of online bitching about all sorts of controversial subjects. Let’s take a positive approach: what do you like about the current techno scene both worldwide and here in the States?
Oh man⊠yeah there are some really depressing people/opinions out there. But from my view weÊŒre in one of the most energetic, forward-thinking times in the scene⊠I think weÊŒre slowly starting to get back to a time where people are hungry to educate themselves on lesser-known artists rather than being spoon fed the big names over and over again! Add the fact the some of the high DJ fee bubble has burst a bit youÊŒre seeing more and more underground gritty shows/venues pop up and its really exciting! Europe’s scene has had dance music in its DNA since its inception so thereÊŒs nothing quite like it but the US scene is pretty incredible right now, there’s a hunger and passion for it that is palpable!
Recently I saw your tweet about someone who reached out wanting to work with you after they rejected your offer early on in your career. Going off of that, what key piece(s) of advice would you give young and aspiring techno artists in the United States based on this and other experiences so far?
There is NO FINISH LINE⊠it’s just an endless staircase⊠one step at at time! And I canÊŒt stress this enough! So many of my producer friends think that a label signing, manager, or agent is going to solve their problems and equal semi instant success⊠it’s just another step and you gotta keep climbing! From my experience there are some really really rough times, but if youÊŒre patient at some point itÊŒll start feeling like youÊŒre finally winning the race! Also throw your timeline out the window! If you really love this shit it doesnÊŒt matter if youÊŒre successful in 2 years or 10.
This career never abides by your timeline so just focus on making good music and itÊŒll happen at some point!
In terms of experiences, what have been some of your personal highlights of 2019?
I could name a handful of incredible shows, most of which, the people reading this have either heard or were at, but honestly my personal highlights were bonding with some of the artists & team IÊŒve respected for years. IÊŒm a pretty solitary person so when I connect with someone itÊŒs a special rarity!
Can you share your craziest on-tour story so far?
Ummmmmm the REAL crazy ones are a little to sexual and a gentleman never tells (laughs), but here are two good ones:
One time I got so wasted that I walked into the wrong hotel room after a gig, it was one number off but the occupant left the door cracked and was taking a shower and I strolled in thinking it was mine and passed out face down in the clean bed and woke up to the the guy screaming like a little girl in his towelâŠ
(laughs) I apologized profusely through a very confused and hammered mumble!
One year at Burning Man I scheduled everything just right so that I skydived in right next to the stage⊠took off my rig and walked on stage to DJ my setâŠ
WOW, that’s awesome! How many hours do you spend in the studio now?
Well I currently donÊŒt have a studio so all my music is made on the road but let me just say when I have a studio again it’s over for you bitches (laughs). In all seriousness though I probably make about two tunes a month right now and each tune takes a day to make and about a day to fine tune.
What do you do when you’re not working on music?
A lot of travel, I used to skydive a lot but I havenʌt done much of that lately sadly. I rock climb a bit, read a lot and I spend a lot of time doing sound design geek sessions that arenʌt with the goal of finishing a track.. just make sounds⊠sift through third party patches, get to know synths, experiment with new production techniques etc.
What would you say your favorite non-music-related hobby is?
Is there such a thing? Just kidding, I used to be an advertising photographer, a trapeze artist and a stunt guy⊠I stay pretty active, and aside from the one off adrenaline junky stuff, I still love creating
all different kinds of art. But honestly if you put me anywhere near the sun, sand, or ocean IÊŒm a happy man!
And your favorite meal?
Picking one is like asking what’s your favorite song⊠impossible⊠but if I had to pick a regional food IÊŒd say Thai food probably!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Entitlement
I have a feeling that you’re the kind of person that has some really set career goals. what are some you’re willing to share with us?
A couple big ones are a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and a back-to-back with Carl, none of
which are on the radar but a man can dream! Other than that a dedicated fanbase, make quality music, and tour regularly is both the career and the goal!
Alright Brennen, thanks for the mix and interview… we will see you very very soon in LA!
Connect with Brennen Grey: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud
Premiere: Luca Marchese Debuts on Intec Digital with “Breaking Silence” EP
Carl Cox is an industry figurehead whoâs legacy in music includes his iconic label Intec, which he runs with friend and business partner Jon Rundell, and the new release is a label debut from Luca Marchese.
Featuring on Intec for the first time, Luca Marchese is a young talent who has already proven himself making many notable releases on labels including Respekt, Kraftek, Phobiq, Tronic and AnalyticTrail.
Having spent many years DJing locally in his hometown of Caserta in Italy, the success of his productions has led to him starting to get international bookings in places such as Germany.
Still a young artist at the start of his career he has already made many high profile achievements, and this EP is another stepping stone towards his ascendance through the world of techno.
Along with Carl Cox other fans of Luca Marcheseâs music include Tale Of Us, Joseph Capriati and Maceo Plex along with many others of equal respect.
âAlien Biosymmetryâ starts off proceedings with thrashing percussion and enchanted vocal snippets the lead to the euphoria of the main breakdown, before the throbbing acid-line and kick drum lift things up a gear to devastating effect.
Next up âBreaking Silenceâ has a brooding tension that swells up from the low-end frequencies of the bassline. Squelching stabs and analogue pops give driving force to the fast-flowing rhythms that reach critical mass with an explosion of relentless energy.
Connect with Luca Marchese: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Beatport | SoundCloud
Premiere: Giovanni Carozza and Steve Mulder Collaborate for “Primate” EP On Intec Digital
Carl Cox is an industry figurehead whoâs legacy in music includes his iconic label Intec, which he runs with friend and business partner Jon Rundell, and the new release is the debut collaboration EP from Italian artist Giovanni Carozza, plus Dutch techno maestro Steve Mulder.
Steve Mulder is a veteran producer who has racked up an impressive back catalogue including Unrilis, 1605, Respekt, MB Elektronics, Bush, and Odd Recordings, along with previous solo EPâs on Intec.
Frank Biazzi Debuts on Carl Cox’s Intec With “Reflection” EP
Techno in recent years has had a resurgence due to the success of big labels like Drumcode, but other longstanding imprints such as Carl Coxâs Intec have also been front leaders of the genres surge in popularity, allowing it to be accessible by more mainstream crowds.
In the ’90s and early ’00s was arguably the last time techno spilled into the mainstream with events in places like Ibiza, and in those days it was usually 140 BPM with abrasive hi-hats and raw unpolished sounds.
The modern take on big room techno is slower and more polished, but itâs no less exciting with many a long-serving producer making an overdue return to the spotlight.
Carl Cox and Jon Rundell Welcome Jason Fernandes Back To Intec Digital With Latest “Heath” EP
Carl Cox is an industry figurehead whoâs legacy in music includes his iconic label Intec, which he runs with friend and business partner Jon Rundell, and the new release is from Jason Fernandes.
Luca De-Santo Drops Second EP on Carl Cox and Jon Rundellâs Intec Imprint for 2018
Itâs rare for a label with a roster of artists like Intecâs to release two EPâs from a new talent in the space of a year, but Luca De–Santo is making his second solo EP on Carl Cox and Jon Rundell’s label in only six months.
Intec in recent months championed a number of relatively new talents such as Brennen Grey, Carl Bee, Frazier and Rudosa. Each of whom have made their debut on the label in 2018, but out of all its rising stars, it seems Luca De–Santoâs light is shining brightest.
Slovenia’s UMEK Unleashes Percussionix EP on Carl Cox’s Intec Imprint
For years UMEK has been considered a titan in techno: having started his relentless career in the 90s, he has since been at the forefront of the worldâs electronic music scene.
Although there have been subtle changes in his style, consistency of quality has always remained no matter what genre or sub-genre he has put his hand to, and his new release on Carl Coxâs Intec has a definite techno focus with old school percussion loops combined with a beefy synth riff.
