The producer of the legendary ‘Infinity’ is back with a little help from an unlikely Hollywood hero…
Interview : Dan Prince
As the producer of ‘Infinity’, the most successful dance record in history, and consequently having already notched up over 1.4 BILLION YouTube hits, 12 million in official sales and 127 million *other* downloads, Guru Josh returns with another of his infectious original productions in what looks set to be this summer’s biggest and potentially most talked about release…
Paul welcome back to DMCWORLD – where in the world are you right now?
“Hi Dan, I’m in my own content likkle world, which I’m so proud to give you a little insight into by the way of your well thought out questions.”
Well you certainly know how to make an entrance! A brand new song that everyone is talking about…’My Burning Bush’. Haunting keys and sax tease the dancefloor before you take us on a full on, aural assault. Please talk us through the sound and history of this summer smash
“How ‘My Burning Bush’ came about is a story in itself. At the opening of Buccaneer Bar Ibiza I bumped into a very good mate who works for an agent of a Hollywood movie star and is good friends with Samuel L Jackson. I had just done a demo using the start of Ezekiel 25.17 and my words after. I gave him the demo with my deranged geezer vocals to take back with him to see if he could get Samuel on board, however someone else heard it and fell in love with the demo using classic old testament and Tora (Jewish bible), words combined with modern slang over a haunting Gregorian scale piano rift. The rest is history. Everyone knows who the familiar Hollywood geezer: we both agreed to keep his name out of the limelight as we wanted it to be cool, underground, edgy and a little bit secret. Achieve this then there is a good chance the big man will be in the video…”
The tune comes with a stunning array of remixes by the likes of Stereojackers Vs Mark Loverush, Wickaman, Super Stylers Electronic Youth, David Noakes, and Andrew Carra as well as some of your own. Why were these producers chosen for your tune…and what is your favourite?
“Mark from Power Promotions did a very good job finding these remixers apart from Andrew Carra. Adrian, my PR, found Andy who flew over for a few days to work with me on his mix. He is very open minded and a pleasure to work with, someone I feel has a great future in this business. I simply love all the mixes, I worked very close with all guys and a joy to have my comments taken on board and worked in a proactive manner. I am not a D&B head but Wickaman’s mix has made me a convert. Dave Noakes came onboard recently and his old skool modern feel mix spot on without any of my input. I cant pick a fave as they all represent each genre of dance styles to the tee.”
What can you tell us about your “never before seen-unique, daring, mind blowing, stunning, out of this friggin universe e- Guru Josh 3D Art Leather jackets” ??!!?
“In addition to music my other passion is art. I have been doing this unique crystal flux 3D art for 10 years, doing art music shows around the world. In 2010 I had 5 people working full time on this art project working my ideas to art clothing, specifically handbags and leather jackets. I had to create my own computer software, build art studios and workplace and adapt fabric printing machinery to print leather which was one hell of a challenge. Anyway I finally cracked it. I got my first collection ready, had worldwide interest and just before release the Magnum ice cream/langnese Uniliver boss called me wanting to use my Infinity 2012 for its 14 million Euro campaign. I said only if they put my name on all ads and promotion. He said impossible so I said thanks but no thanks, got a fashion show to do that demanded all my time. Anyway to cut a long story short he jumped on Magnum’s private jet to head office in the States to convince the head honcho that ‘Infinity’ was the only track he wanted for the European campaign and to accept my requests. Well, they bent the rules! ‘Infinity 2012’ went straight top ten GAS and stayed there for 18 months, my fashion art was put on hold for what I thought would be a few months. That was 2 years ago. Me and my girlfriend who was at the helm of this operation parted – I am not sure if I want to undertake such a big business enterprise now, I kinda like the space I’m in, a more matured ego. For me, the perception of the public’s view on your creative prowess being proportional to it’s commercial success is a false ideology that inadvertently ruins creative process. I am using those 3d art leather jackets to attract attention to my new release. The funny thing is the top people at Guess, Prada and Gucci were blown away by my designs posted and got in contact wanting to discuss doing some business. I told them only if my new tune flops. Turning down the biggest fashion labels in the world has kinda worked in my favour as they want it even more and deals are on the table now if bush doesn’t set the world alight…”
You have lived on the magical white isle for many years now. One of my parties I organised in the late 90s I paid you to fly around the island with a jetpack on with a promotional banner draped behind you advertising our party at Privilige. Remember that?
“I love being an adrenalin junkie rather than your normal junkie. I remember it well, I love coming up with new creative ideas that’s who am and flying around San An with a jet pack on my back dangling from my feet a banner promoting the biggest parties on the island is another amazing chapter in my life, that adventure alone with so many incredible stories and going ons is another book for another time perhaps.”
The island has changed so much since then. The superclub phenomenon scene burst in the UK and for a few years Ibiza became a quieter place…until the big money rolled in and suddenly Ushuaia, incredible jet set restaurants, mega yachts and multi million euro houses were built. What are your thoughts of your island in 2014…it is still a very special place right?
“A lot of people perception of me is a party animal, taking every known/ unknown substance. This could not be further from the truth. I don’t go to any clubs, even though I get invited to all the big parties…I simply can’t be arsed. When your job is performing in clubs all your life, a good night out is staying in with my cats, building my RC helicopters or creating new art pieces or music. I love Ibiza in the winter as much as the summer. The people here are amazing, everyone from shopkeepers to billionaires have the same free attitude. Ibiza spirit allows you to live here not the other way round. I live for the sea and flying my trike and the Ibiza Mediterranean lifestyle. In the summer in my spare time I take my 500hp 105 mph supped up rxp x 260 and go diving with the family of dolphins and whales that migrate to the same place every year, wake board with my mates, catch fish and lobsters with my spike cooked on my barby at my house with good friends, a glass of vino as the sun sets. Yes, the clubbing scene has got more commercial but does not affect my way of life or why I live here. It is more special than the first day I moved here over 13 years ago, It grows and matures like a fine wine.”
Say we send a competition winner to Ibiza, somebody who has never been before. Where would you escort them on a Guru Josh 24 hours Ibiza day & night out…?
“You’re talking to the wrong man! However when friends come over to stay they all want a taste of the nightlife so of course I have to go. However when I show them the other hidden side to Ibiza not in the holiday brochures, by the time they leave all of them fall in love with this magic hidden world more so than the other party side. If you send a competition winner over this is what I would do. 1st day – one of the big parties. 2nd day – go flying on my parachute jet trike over the sea and around the island. I have my own airfield and small hanger 5 min from my house. We will have a BBQ when we land as the sun sets. We then go to Santa Eualalia for a few drinks but not a late night. 3rd day – they come with my jet ski mates to Formentara for lunch at the shark bar. Experience what it’s like to do 105 mph on the sea. Swim with the dolphins and whales, dive to some amazing underwater caves…and the secret U boat not on the charts. Chill out on beaches you can only access by boat, golden sands fire and beach BBQ with my friends watching the golden sunset silhouetted by jumping dolphins saying good night. I guarantee after this they will only want an early night, to sleep upon amazing memories happily knackered in contentment.”
What 1 song always reminds you of Ibiza?
“There are too many songs but one springs to mind…“Living On An Island“ by Status Quo.”
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“I completely agree, the DJ as we know it is dead, long live the DJ. This is what happens with easy paint by numbers computer software, that’s why I love playing and doing a show more than DJing.”
‘Infinity’ has amassed over 1.4 billion YouTube hits. Incredible. How long did that early 90s anthem take to create…and where is the strangest place you have ever heard it played?
“Infinity took me 5 minutes to compose. There are too many strange places to mention and a difficult one to answer along those lines. For me Syria and Egypt as I met the most incredible free thinking sprits enjoying dance music at an embryonic stage that reminded me of my first illegal warehouse parties in the early 90`s, the real buzz of feeling you’re doing something out of the commercial box, and then speaking to my friends months later about how upset they were having to shoot their friends, killing them in the street in such turmoil political upheaval where the innocent always suffer. One day partying with amazing people to ‘Infinity’ and my other tunes my live show in the most strangest and beautiful of places, the next hearing your friends are at war with each other. I cannot comprehend how difficult this much be but one day soon I hope the love and peace comes back to how it was even though some of their friends won’t.”
Are there any plans for live shows this summer?
“Live shows and DJ shows yes, starting in October – just confirming dates and schedule release in the next couple of weeks.”
Who are some of the artists who are listening to and getting excited about right now?
“Goldfrapp, Vintage Trouble, Troker, Bipolar Sunshine, Bleachers, Kaiser Chiefs, Darlia…so many artists and I don’t listen to dance music that much anymore, the current paint by numbers style does not interest me or inspire like it used to in zee good old days.”
A quote from Faithless’s Sister Bliss this week…”I think people will become bored with the stock crude generic sounds of EDM and the artists themselves may be somewhat musically bankrupt (David Guetta even admitted as such in a recent interview) as there is only so much touring you can do before it impacts on studio time and having space to think creatively.” Thoughts on that?
“My thoughts entirely, Sister Bliss speaks my thoughts exactly. The current paint by numbers musically bankrupt. The only bit I disagree is when she says “I think people will become bored”…in my opinion they are bored already.”
And finally – what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“Which studio the art or music…not sure…let’s see if people like my thinking out the box new record. I have composed 320 new tunes, but for me I am not sure if there is a market anymore for my thinking out of the box style, I’m always wanting to do something new and innovative. If people love my originality and show an interest I will service that demand, if not the world awaits my new, unique never before seen 3D art jackets and creations. I can’t change how the dance music industry is today, I am just one creative cog amongst a lot of rusty broken ones interfering in other creative cogs making the motorcycle stale lifeless, running on empty, farting exhaust where once it was a lean mean fighting creating machine with all cogs nuts bolts, all pieces working in true harmony proud handlebars held high and exhaust perfectly in tune. Please understand, I live to work, not work to live – something I was lucky to do ever since I started busking living on the Bordeaux streets when I was 17….”
Guru Josh in “My Burning Bush” (Guru Josh Mix) – SOUNDCLOUD PREVIEW
http://bit.ly/1quO0FJ
Guru Josh in “My Burning Bush” (Guru Josh Mix) – YOUTUBE PREVIEW
http://bit.ly/1kdP617
Preview the remixes on the Guru Josh Soundcloud
http://bit.ly/1z7zoi3
Guru Josh:
https://twitter.com/gurujoshmusic
https://www.facebook.com/GuruJosh
https://soundcloud.com/guru-josh
http://www.guru-josh.com/
