Get It On
One of dance music’s true electronic gem’s. A very wide range of influences in music up, who would you site as the main artists that saw you jumping around your bedroom to?
“Thank you! I was dancing round to a lot of big band and swing when I was a kid, Glen Miller, The Rat Pack, soundtracks to musicals like Grease, soundtracks by Ennio Morricone, I had a portable record player in my bedroom and would rotate the limited tunes incessantly. The first CD I ever bought was Frankie Goes to Hollywood.”
So a strange start to your working life, catching fish at half past four in
the morning on your dad’s trawlers down in Brighton. What was that like?
Must have been fucking freezing…
“Next time you eat a piece of Cod just show some respect!”
How did your father feel when you swapped a net for a deck?
“My parents always encouraged me into music, I had always played piano and sang and was an entertainer as a kid it was a natural progression into the industry, I think they were relieved really.”
You played session keyboard work way back in the day for Kylie Minogue
amongst many others, but then you decided to start your own music, what made you want to go alone…?
“I’ve been lucky enough to play for some great solo artists and bands, the bands I was in always ended in disarray, so to have creative control you have to go it alone, then assemble talented players around you when you tour
your own material. I started writing a few years ago and never looked back.”
A rather large night hitting London on March 19th with the Blow presenting
Space Ibiza On Tour at Egg in London, one of the craziest venues in London,
many floors of madness – this is your first time here?
“I played their opening night there a few years ago with Touche (Fake Blood) and have been back with my good friends Deepgroove for a NYD afterparty 10am a couple of years back, proper messy business that was.”
You’re also premiering your new ‘Get It On’/’Mercy Hump’ double header single coming out on Southern Fried – describe the release…
“These are the first of my Battleweapons and I’m very excited about this, it’s the first of a string of releases under my own name ‘Thomas Gandey’, which is great because it’s a good opportunity for me to showcase what i’m all about as a DJ in terms of my sound which is quite different from my Cagedbaby album stuff. ‘Get It On’ & ‘Mercy Hump’ is a double A side. ‘Get It On’ is a deep builder showcasing my synth work designed for the Space Terrace and ‘Mercy Hump’ is a no holds barred twisted party tune, can’t wait to play these two – out on the 19th April.”
Big tunes you are into at the moment?
“Loads of great music out there at the moment, loving the new Gui Borrato stuff, Mladen Tomic and his Loose records releases, Rekids Disco releases, Steve Macs Smack label, my disco project with Guy Williams Paradise 45, Sci-Tec and Dubfire output. Lots to choose from…”
Best festival you have ever played at?
“The ‘Big day out’ in Australia is a great tour, we played after The Presets and before LCD Soundsystem. The Fuji Rock Festival in Japan in the Forest’s with Laurent Garnier, with Underworld in South America to the Big Top in Bestival, I love festivals and getting my feet muddy.”
You’ve toured the world twenty times over – favourite clubs of all time?
“Ha! theres still a plenty of places I haven’t been. I love playing big clubs like The Loft in Barcelona where I’m a resident and Womb in Japan, Babyface in China, as well as intimate clubs where i’m resident like Snafu in Aberdeen and Audio in Brighton which is really my home. I’ve just been made resident at We Love at Space in ibiza which I’m really excited about. I love it there!”
So a big moment in Miami’s WMC with Norman Cook and his Southern Fried crew. I remember a lot of major labels were after that first album. Why go with Norman?
“I like to party and Southern Fried are the most fun! I have a lot of respect for Southern Fried family and I’ve always been a big fan of Norman’s productions’, plus I thought I’d sit well on an indie label rather than a
major.”
Best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
“Never run out.”
What one album would you never sell?
“My original Texas Chainsaw Massacre soundtrack.”
What is the best remix you have ever produced?
“The last one I did for The Editors entitled ‘You Dont Know Love’ which I’m really happy with and it’s recieved a lot of great feedback which is always nice to
hear.”
So some of your loves…
Best ever Walt Disney film and character?
“You’re speaking to a massive disney head here. Bedknobs and Broomsticks, I’m a stickler for Angela Lansbury, Portobello Road and Scotland.”
Do you really watch The Antique Roadshow?
“Religiously, I’m become something of a backseat valuer over the years, it’s the last bit of quintessential England, often imitated , never repeated although I’d love to be one of the valuers on Dickinsons Real Deal.”
Favourite place to holiday in Italy?
“Being a snowboard fanatic I’d say Bormio 3000, some of the best pistes in Europe way up high in the clouds, board to the door, great freestyle park, serious pasta and apres-spa retreats.”
Ibiza or Miami?
“Miami is only 4 hours drive up the interstate to Orlando and Disneyworld, but all my friends are in Ibiza and I fell in love with the island many years ago. Plus theres no jetlag in the Balearics.”
What is coming up next from Thomas Gandey?
“After ‘Get it On’ and ‘Mercy Hump’ comes the next double A side in May – expect more no nonsense straight up dancefloor deliveries.”
So why the first name Cagedbaby, and have you ever been to the London club night Torture Garden…?
“Cagedbaby was my ‘CB’ call sign when I lived on a farm as a kid, not actually sure how I thought of it. I played at the Torture Garden in Brighton once but have never been to the London one, I think the Brighton affair is watered down! Yikes.”
Thanks Dan.
Thomas Gandey
