Oct 202013
 

Hell-o and we’re back for some more Sunday reading, just to close what we hope was a great weekend in an eve greater way! We are not sure if it would make sense to say that we have a “heavy” and “full of  bass”  interview coming up today but we managed to get hold of a bass heavyweight anyway who really needs no introductions, unless you have just ended up on the wrong blog somehow – in which case prepare to be blown away. For the regular ones though, here comes “Sergrant Bass” who is no other than the one and only GTRONIC. Do we have your full attention yet? Good, now read on…

01. Hi, how are you? Would you mind introducing GTRONIC to our readers?

Hi guys! I’m fine thank you. Well, I’m a music producer from Antwerp, Belgium. I’m doing heavy bass electro since 2007 and at the moment my main record label is Dim Mak.

02. I’ll take you a few years back to the early GTRONIC days and tracks/releases such as “Iron Man” or “Sucker Punch”. Would you agree that these are some of the most characteristic and trademark GTRONIC sounding tracks?

Yeah I think so! Iron Man was the first track that opened some doors for my career. Bloody Beetroots pushed me a lot too back then which was awesome, later on I released Sucker Punch on Dim Mak.

 

Both tracks are completely different, but in a kind of a way that they still have the same vibe and characteristic sounds. That was when I realized I found a signature sound that made me differ from other artists.

03. Which other tracks or artists would you say influenced you and helped you shape the GTRONIC sound and style as we know it today?

Boys Noize, Justice, the whole Ed Banger crew actually, Dr. Lektroluv, The Proxy, D.I.M. and so on. Trashy Electro was BIG for a very long time. I continued doing this style, but unfortunately a lot of things changed in the music scene the past 2-3 years..

04. You have been doing quite a few remixes as well as originals, would you say you prefer writing original tracks or remixing and why?

It really depends on the mood and inspiration. In the beginning it was really easy to produce originals. I found my signature sound, so I could easily write tracks. But I lost interest and inspiration during the past 2 years since all my idol producers ‘died’ or as there wasn´t anything new anymore out there.

Remixing tracks is overall quite easy to do as you have a premade track and you just have to add your sound and idea to it.

05. It’s no secret that you are considered one of the heavy bass trash scene heavyweights, rightfully so as well in our opinion. Do you think your track and EP “Sergeant Bass” might have been a bit self-descriptive in that respect? Really great EP and track by the way!

Thanks! Yeah, with Sergeant Bass I wanted to make my position clear to the world. I am doing Heavy Bass Trash electro music and this style made me quite famous all over the world.

06. Did you ever play in a rock/metal/punk band or has it always been electronic music since day one for you?

I grew up playing electric guitar. Give me loads of distortion and I’m happy. First I tried to make techhouse tracks, but my rock/metal influences made me produce the sound I’m doing now… I discovered electronic music at the age of 15, at the time I started going out.

07. What would you say is your biggest music achievement/highlight so far and what your worst/most embarrassing moment that you can look back to and laugh now?

A highlight was my world tour after releasing Dance Machine. It was insane how many countries I made in such a short period of time. Also touring in Australia more than 7 times in 3 years was quite a nice achievement.
Most embarrassing moment… Mmmh, let me think.. That evening I had to play at Nature One Festival in Germany. I was the final act on the main stage, but arrived way too early. So I started drinking Jagermeister and got so drunk that I completely forgot the reason why I was at that festival..haha 😀

I was puking my guts out behind stage and the security wanted to kick me out.
But in the end it turned out all right, hehe.

08. Any favorite places/cities you are always looking forward to playing into and can’t wait to return to or would the expression “no place like home” be valid in your case?

For many years my second home was Sydney. I felt like a king when playing over there. But now I discovered so many other cool places… It’s incredible how many people you can reach with music all over the world.

09. Do you prefer working only with computers/sequencers or do you get your hands dirty playing and recording instruments? Do you use samples and what’s your opinion on sampling and copyright?

I mainly use a computer. I invested a lot of money in hardware compressors and synths, but realized that there is no “golden” instrument that will make you a better producer. It’s all about experience and knowledge.

I don’t use a lot of samples. Most of the sounds I make with an MS-20 or Sylenth1. If I use samples in a track, I make sure the copyright won’t cause a problem to release it.

10. So, what is music for you and what do you think about the way the music industry is changing?

Music is my life, quite logical answer. I’m quite an emotional human being. I used to have loads of frustration and I guess that’s how I created these dark distinctive sounds. I love how melodies and certain sounds can trigger emotions. Creating a vibe in a song that somehow inspires you. That said, it makes me think that the music industry changeover to EDM is a bit hollow inside.

I love projects, songs and music in general that amount to something. Something timeless. Quality on a mental level. Not the fleeting stars you find in the electro-house charts at the moment…

11. What do you think about the whole Top 100 identical sounding tracks and downfall of “EDM” talks and theories? Do you agree with those who claim that the ship is sinking and how do you see the future for Electro and Electronic/Dance music in general?

Mmm. The one thing I know for sure is that since the USA discovered electronic dance music, everything gets hyped way too fast. The whole thing got too industrialized and I don’t like it. I can’t spell the future. But one thing I said to myself; I just need to do what I feel like and keep trying to think outside the box.

12. Do you believe that an electronic music artist can earn his/her living from music nowadays and how hard is it really?

I’m doing it for 3 years now, so yeah it’s possible. But it’s hard. It’s not easy to write tracks every day, especially without inspiration. You get this pressure that tracks must be written or you won’t make it moneywise the next year.

I had some moments when I really thought about quitting DJing and just do a normal day job. But I’ll keep on going till the end. I really hope I will become an A-list artist someday.

13. Back to your music and this has been a pretty busy year for GTRONIC so far. 2 EPs out already, remixes, live shows… What’s next for you and should we be expecting any new releases or remixes in the remaining of 2013? Give your fans and readers something to be excited about and look forward to…

Haha. Ok, some exclusives for you guys just because I love your blog 😉

Next month a new remix for Fukkk Offf is going to be released. Another remix for Moonbootica & Tai, but I don’t have any idea yet when they´ll be released. AND… I just finished a brand new EP for 2014…

14. Your new EP “Strobo” was out recently on Dim Mak and was slightly different than your usual dark trashy sound. Still heavy and sounding like one would expect by a GTRONIC release but definitely more melodic and less dark. What feedback did you get for it and are you happy with how the fans reacted to the tracks?

I was really, REALLY anxious about the reactions. But it turned out so well. Better than expected actually. I’m doing now what I feel like doing, and Strobo is an example of it.

I need to think outside the box and that box was Trash Electro for 5-6 years. It limited me as an artist. I need to discover new boundaries to keep my inside fire burning. That’s also the only way to reach new fans, so I will keep on trying to surprise you with new and fresh sounds.

15. If your studio was on fire what would be the first thing to save?

Haha… Someone asked me this question several years ago. And my answer is still the same: I would sing the Belgian anthem, and die with my gear.

16. How do you spend your time when not in the studio and what is a day in the life of GTRONIC like?

Past year I was working my ass off in the new place I bought. I’m like a part-time construction engineer, hehe. I’m making one of my main goals in life reality. I bought an apartment in Antwerp and I’m completely renovating it, building a brand new studio included. Besides that I try to enjoy life hanging around with my friends etc.

18. What are your 5 favorite tracks that you would like us to post on the blog for your fans to check out and why? Give the readers a reason why they should check them out in a few words.

01. A$AP Rocky ft. Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam – Wild For The Night (Dog Blood Remix)

Dog Blood is awesome. I’m a big fan and this track is huge.

 

02. Damien N-Drix – Ding Dong

One of my favorite tracks at the moment. Dirty and exactly the style I prefer to play live.

 

03. Manuel Galey – Guitar Bizarre

Up tempo electro. It’s a party track. Love it.

 

04. Martin Garrix – Animals (Botnek Edit)

I don’t know if this is out, but what a killer edit… The original got played way too much. But if you have to trigger people with something commercial during your set, this will do it for sure.

 

05. TAI & Moonbootica – J Edgar Hoover (GTRONIC Remix)

My favorite remix I did this year. But you’ll have to wait for this one 😉

19. What do you think about the Metalectro blog and the music featured on it?

I love it. You guys are doing the thing that died during the past 2 years. You do so much research and there are a lot of new artists to discover on your blog. Always an honest opinion to read and that made your blog a great value for me.

GTRONIC + METALECTRO20. Something else you’d like to mention and we forgot to ask?

What’s hairy, has 7 legs and farts while watching the stars?

PS: Thanks for the great interview…