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 BeatFactor
caught A Guy Called Gerald for an exclusive interview not long after his
first show in Romania, at Studio Martin in Bucharest.
Find what's hiding inside his head regarding dance music by reading the
interview below.
BF: There are some rumours that you'll come back this spring with a
new album. Can you tell us something about it?
AGCG: The rumours are true. I spent Berlin winter in the studio
most of the time putting together an album from some of the tracks i play
in my live show.
BF: What does Gerald Simpson stand for in electronic music?
AGCG: Sincerity and quality. True school.
BF: For the ones that didn't catch you yet playing live, what's
your setup, technically wise?
AGCG: My set up consists of two laptops and a DJ battle mixer.
Sometimes I use a keyboard controller and microphone.
BF: After spending more than half of a lifetime making electronic
music, how do you manage yourself to keep it fresh nowadays? Statistics
have confirmed that people usually get bored of doing the same things
after more than 20 years.
AGCG: There must be something wrong with me. I've more ideas than I
know what to do with…. still waiting to get writer's block. At the moment
I have three laptops on the go - each with it's own individual production
going on. e.g. studio 1, 2 & 3
BF: Who is this guy called Gerald, in a few words?
AGCG: Your master.
BF: You said a few years ago in a feature for the German magazine
Electronic Beats that people should never trust a DJ who can't dance. How
come? :)
AGCG: It's like if you give a cook his own food and he won't eat
it… then why should you eat it? If a DJ can't move his body in rhythm to
music then how the hell did he get interested in dance music in the first
place? It's only half the story isn't it? It's ok to talk the talk but you
got to know how to walk the walk.
BF: Do you still play as a DJ? If so, you still play vinyl?
AGCG: Sometimes I DJ. I'm getting a bit bored with this whole CD /
Vinyl / BPM / Analog / Digital comparison. At the end of the day, the way
I see it, a lot of the time it's a load of dudes frightened of having a
good old dance… so they have to distract themselves with the talk. It is
what is coming out of the speakers that is important at the end of the
day.
BF: You've been there, in Manchester, when it all began, the
"Madchester" buzz, back in the '80s. How was it back then?
AGCG: Manchester was always mad and still is.
BF: How do you see the evolution of the electronic music scene,
regarding music, people and locations?
AGCG: Musically it seems that producers are getting used to the
concept of sampling and we are moving out of the loop phase into a phase
of more experimentation and individuality.
BF: You're considered a massive contributor to the jungle / drum
and bass scene, as well as acid house / techno. As its known that there's
some big differences between these two scenes (regarding not only music,
but also the people, the party's, the clubs), how did you manage to be
part of both scenes?
AGCG: Well if you look at the way a tree grows - it has a root and
it all comes from one place - and that's where you'll find me.
BF: What's your personal philosophy of life?
AGCG: Don't let the bastards grind you down!
BF: Who was / were your childhood heroes?
AGCG: Return To Forever
BF: Do you think "Voodoo Ray" can be considered a hit music /
market speaking?
AGCG: Yes but it was popular in the underground for a year before
it hit the charts. One thing you must realise - I really do have to point
this out to people because in years to come I think someone will actually
realise it and think that I was actually trying to hide the fact - Voodoo
Ray was the very first acid house track from the UK. So for a lot of
people from the UK their memories of acid house music started there in May
1988. It was never meant to be a hit.
BF: A lot of young producers / artists from today strive to come up
with new things, but often happens to get the answer "Hey, X or Y already
done this before!". Do you think nowadays a young artist can still
innovate in electronic dance music? If so, can you give us an example?
AGCG: Yes I think it's possible. But the whole concept of what
dance music was about in the first place has shifted drastically. If you
listen to the early electronic dance music tunes you make even find that
Jack had the key to make you want to wop your body… Nowadays Jack just
needs to know what BPM the tune is. Seems like there is no relationship
between dancing and the music. Now I can make a still make up a dance move
today and I can guarantee I make a new genre to go with the dance move…
and I could probably have five albums done by the end of the week in the
genre… (I'm joking)
But I do think it is still possible when the focus is not on making a hit,
or money, or fame, or whatever… the focus should be on making people
dance.
BG: Best wishes from Bucharest!
AGCG: Cheers. I hope to be back there soon.
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