We caught up with Tom after an amazing set on the Terraza at We Love…. Space Sunday in Ibiza
Hi Tom welcome to Update can you tell us what the score is with the Cagedbaby name and who do we see at your dj sets Thomas or Cagedbaby?
Cagedbaby was my disco moniker, I toured a full live band and did a lot of Disco-Electro under that guise, but now i’m showcasing ‘Thomas Gandey’ which is aimed squarely at the dancefloor. My DJ sets now are almost exclusively my own material and all the new releases are coming out as Thomas Gandey, the pictures pretty clear for people to see and hear.
So the new track ‘Behind The Mask’, is this showing the real Thomas Gandey at work taking the CagedBaby mask off?
Yes the mask is off, so are the gloves, these new releases are firing and created to be battleweapons anyone can use, it seems to be going down really well and i’m happy very happy with the way its being received by radio and other DJs. Proper party music always has a place in a good evening entertainment!
The crowd loved your set at Space, a fantastic mix of new tunes and classic samples and breaks are a winning formula, how long did it take to put the backbone to the show together?
Thank you, I put a lot of work into my space sets, its a very special place and great party for We love and i feel an honour to be representing, so i go all out with edits, fresh and unique blends to create the show, (sounds like a coffee advert) I always like to drop in a few unusual classic loops, samples and acapellas to lift the set, also in 2 hours you can really build, that gig was one of the special ones, i’m back there next August 1st and August 14th. Perish the though of ever getting bored!
What software do you use for the performance and is there still plenty of hands-on work during the set.
I use Ableton and CDJs, I am fully hands on in my set, often looping up to 4 or 5 excerpts of tracks to create a base groove, i like to keep percussive loops going all through to carry a unique vybe, CDJ’s have effects and sound drops on them so i can bang them in and out, my hands are always super busy tweaking everything as i go. You can interact so much more wqhen you’re playing your own material, no desecration going on 🙂
What we like about your Space performance was your creative blend of electronic production mixed with a real live sound and feel in the music, would you like to move over to the live band showcase in the future or are you more than happy behind a mixer with your laptop?
I had a live band for many years, i am originally a keyboard player and singer, so thats where the live element comes from. I will take the Thomas Gandey project live later this year and i do miss performing live so watch out!
So is the passion live in a club or creating that new synth-line for a production in the studio?
You’ve got to have a passion for everything, the feeling when something fits in right in the studio is unreal, when you capture a live take and “its the one” & then playing that track out for the first time to a packed dancefloor is the proof of the pudding and when the hairs on the back of your neck go up, you know you’re onto a winner.
Where are you currently based for your studio projects, I read Brighton and south of France are recent homebases for you? And has your music style changed in each country you live in?
My studio is currently in Bordeaux, but i’m about to move it again. I have noticed a difference in the style i make here to what i was making in Brighton, i guess thats the departure from Cagedbaby into the self titled material. With the next move we can take it up a level again, good to mix it up and keep it fresh.
There have been so many big things to be proud of in your musical career from, your residency at Space to your Radio 1 Essential mix and lots of tours, what moment do you hold close to your heart as your fondest moment?
Touring the Big Day out in Australia on the main stage was a great moment, Supporting the Chemical Brothers on tour and Fatboy Slim internationally, Playing Fuji Rock festival, Touring South America, and the USA, theres been too many to pick one moment, every gig is different you never knows whats round the corner, this week i’m touring indonesia, Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan culminating in Space Ibiza straight from Singapore, its going to be an amazing experience. I realise how fortunate i am to be doing all this in a career i love.
Thomas you work very hard and every week a new remix or production drops on DMC HQ, when you do relax and have a night out who is your DJ/artist of choice to go listen and dance too?
I’m in the Andrew Weatherall camp, I like the influx of disco nights going on, I always enjoy seeing Erol playing, LCD Soundsystem live as much as i like the DC10 groove, I work a lot with Radioslave so its always good to see him play in the early hours! I like to see Dubfire play as much as Carl Craig with an Orchestra, however i also like to be suprised by new talent when i’m wandering round the festival.
Thank you Thomas for your precious time and good luck with the rest of the We Love …Space shows and see you at the closing parties.
Thank you, its been a pleasure as always! Thomas
Thomas Gandey ‘Behind The Mask/Here’s What You Do’ out now on Southern Fried Records
