An incredible year beckons for a producer bang on it
Mr Gandey welcome back – a firm favourite at DMC towers! It’s Valentines night – how are you celebrating this amorous day on the calender?
“Thanks Dan, thanks for having me back. I’m working in a delightful studio in London mixing Jeff Waynes – ‘War of the Worlds New Generation’. My Valentine was a box of cherry tic tacs…and delicious they were.”
You are DJing all over the place at the moment, a great start to 2012 – where has stood out for you recently?
“Had a stunning tour in Pacific Mexico. Made some great friends out there, definitely a superb winter destination for us Europeans. I’ve played in Guadalajara before but it’s probably the most edgy and exciting place to play on earth right now with BPM Festival and others. The landscape and ocean is breathtaking (so is the surfing). I’ve had had great shows in Dubai at Trilogy – one of my favourite clubs Buff stands for the real music scene and is run by one of the most dedicated promoters out there. Razmatazz in Barcelona and my home Audio in Brighton was truly great as always. I’m really looking forward to Bascamp festival in Morzine, it’s a big snowboarding festival first week of April and going for my debut show in Norway next weekend.”
Tell us about the the Nina Kravizs live show and getting her ready for touring?
“I was asked by Nina and Rekids to help with her live show so we spent a couple of weeks in my studio in Bordeaux, deconstructing the album and taking it to a live format, same way i did with the 2nd Cagedbaby Album using Ableton, the Akai Apc 40 as a controller, a Korg micro keyboard, ipad & a TC Helion for vocal effects and a mic. The first gig is at Rex in Paris next weekend, it’s going to be amazing. Go and see the show!”
Best piece of vinyl you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Wow, what a tough question! 808 State – ‘Pacific State’ always goes with me everywhere. Most played bits of vinyl are the early Tiefshwarz releases that were on Derrick Carters and Luke Solomans Classic records. They also had the early Style of Eye, Greenskeepers and Radio Slave releases back in 2005.”
Studio wise, you are busy mixing the new Jeff Wayne album and working with his son Zeb – sounds amazing. What is the latest?
“I’ve been writing and producing with Zeb for the last six months on his debut album and through Zeb met Jeff and got involved with mixing for the New Generation version of Jeff’s masterpiece War of the Worlds which is out and touring later this year. I’m at the studio now engineering Liam Neeson and Joss Stones dulcet tones.”
What is your current top 10 you are spinning?
“For the last year I’ve been playing 90% my own stuff, so forgive the bias chart…”
1. Mousse T – Horny – Radio Slave and Thomas Gandey Just 17 Mix – Peppermint Jam
2. Shadow Child – String Thing – White Label
3. Zeb Wayne – Rock On – White Label
4. Spektrum – Robocop and Fipflops – Thomas Gandey mix – Spektrum Music
5. Silicone Soul – We Don’t Know You – TusQavna
6. Thomas Gandey -The Organ Track – Southern Fried Records
7. Thomas Gandey & Maxxi Soundsystem – I Don’t Care
8. Dave Spoon & Thomas Gandey – Gasoline -WhiteLabel
9. DJ Edjotronic – White Noise – BNR
10. Chris Leibling- Motor – Radioslave and Thoma Gandey remix – CLR
We hear on the grapevine that the Gandey studio is going right across the board musically, pop all the way to techno?
“‘Thomas Gandey’ is making Tech and Deeper House as always and I’ve pushed Cagedbaby into the pop world again. Cagedbaby was Deep Disco (before it was fashionable again) and I have a collection of songs that could make up a third album very soon. But as a producer / collaborator, I’ve worked with artists across the spectrum everyone from David Byrne, Fatboy Slim Tracey, Thorn and Shirley Bassey to the cutting edge tech artists of Berlin today.”
Best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“Make a list – Norman Cook taught me that one. Strategy is King so is a bit of sleep every few days. My Dad always says to save a penny in every pound…my mum says rave safe, so all useful tips.”
Radioslave – an album after the live Berlin show…tell us about the long player and what you get up to in Germany?
“We’ve been making a piano based album for the last 18 months when we get together and aren’t doing other records, the Mousse T Horny mix thats just come out and blowing up is in the same vein so its feels like we’re not he right track. Berlin life is great, we hang out at Katerholzig and play there. Matt has his Rekids parties at Panorama and everyone is in a small area around Kreuzberg. We’re doing a live show of the Hansa studio material at some Festivals this Summer.”
Who is your best friend in the world?
“Nerdy or not, its my macbook laptop – everything in one place…I have been fully portable for the last two years, writing and producing on the move. Everything in one grey power shell. Mine is so upgraded I might have to put on a spoiler and go faster stripes soon.”
You are also head to head with your great mate Sam Watts (Maxxi Soundsystem) and working on an album together?
“Sam and I have worked together since we toured the second Cagedbaby album, we’ve got a catalogue of tunes ready to be and we’ve just spent a further couple of weeks in the studio in Bordeaux and written some amazing records and are considering taking the project live. We have the same set up so its such a joy to integrate our systems and work together. Sam was the first person to ever book me to DJ in Brighton and we’ve been best friends ever since I’m so happy he’s come through in the last year and totally smashing it in his own right, well deserved.”
When was the last time you cried?
“When I solo’d the strings on the War of the Worlds Album – I defy anyone to not be moved and get goosebumps listening to it. Proper warmth depth, you don’t get that on a soft synth…amen.”
And if you weren’t busy enough, what’s all this about a new Southern Fried tune swinging our way in April?
“April 9th Southern Fried are releasing ‘The Organ Track’ the follow up to ‘The Piano Track’ we’ve got remixes from Spencer Parker, Maxxi Sound System and Fine Cut Bodies, three of my best mates and the most talented producers around. Cant wait for that to drop, very excited, big tune for Miami WMC. ITs a solid hook based tune reminiscent of that 90s classic deep organ bass sound. Its the best thing in my set at the mount.”
What song can’t you get out of your head right now?
“The Eve of the War – Jeff Wayne…of course…”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“This week it’s Whitney Houston’s ‘It’s Not Right But It’s okay’ – the acapella is breathtaking. She always provided me with the best breaths and vocal cuts for my dance stuff…unrecognisable of course…”cough” – a sad loss to the diva world, not sure Nicki Minaj can take her place.”
Tell us about the EP you have written with Matt Edawrds & Joe from DOP…
“Joe came round to the apartment in Berlin a few times and we got very drunk and wrote some class songs over some simple ip beats I constructed. What a great guy, he’s definitely got the funk. Great live band too. Look forward to getting that out this Summer.”
And finally…what are you most looking forward to this summer…
“Looking forward to seeing all my crew at festivals and events over the Summer. Of course getting back to We Love Space and exploring new places and topping up the tan again.”
tom@thomasgandey.com
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