Greg Gow has been a Toronto favourite since the unforgettable raves of the 90s and the good old System Sound Bar days. Love This City TV caught up with Greg after he played back to back with Laurent Garnier, just in time for him to share some exciting new about his label, Restructured, and big events coming up.
Q: Playing big events in the city is second nature to you. You just played alongside one of the world’s best; Laurent Garnier, and this night has been highly anticipated. Tell us about the vibe for you.
A: It was a really great party. Laurent hasn’t played in Toronto in a while and we were trying to figure out when the last time was…were saying like 2006 or 2007! Tonight’s show was at Coda, which is a new venue, so that was great. I saw a lot of people that I haven’t seen in a long time and it was a real meeting of the minds…people from back in the day and new ones. It was a really nice mixture in that sense. I was closing for Laurent, so as a local DJ and him being a guest to the city, you let them play as long as they want. We were in the booth when he asked me if I wanted to go back to back. I was pinching myself, it was amazing! It was a real honour to end the night that way. He is very down to earth and a great guy!
Q: You’ve been a leader in Toronto’s electronic music scene for a long time. What are some other epic moments that have stuck out for you here?
A: There were some really memorable moments at System Sound Bar back in the day. That was like early 2000s. If you want to take it way back, in the late 90s, there were some really great times at some raves I played for Frill and Fuck House. Parties have changed a lot. They are a lot more controlled now. Back in the day, you could have a party just about anywhere! Set up your sound system and whatever else and just play! In that sense it was so cool because you had all these different venues. Now you can count on your hands almost all the places you can go to in Toronto for a cool party like that.
Q: Where do you feel the Toronto music scene is, compared to the rest of the world?
A: It’s more of a North American thing versus a European thing. Toronto on any given weekend has a lot of talent coming through the city. In fact, it’s maybe too much! For example, May 10th there is Chris Liebing playing, and at another party by Box of Kittens, Luke Slater will be playing, and that’s the same night. It’s great that there are so many parties, but when they are so close together, it kind of dilutes everything. Toronto isn’t missing the amount of people that want to go out, it’s more the political figures involved that control these things that need loosing up. If they want to have a metropolitan city and they want to have that nightlife, they have to let places do what they need to do to support that. It’s a shame, because all these great people are involved in these amazing events, and there is no reason why Toronto can’t have a liquor license until 4a.m.
Q: From where you started, until where you are now, how do you feel your sound has evolved over time?
A: When I first started DJing, I was in university and I was into hip-hop. I started buying records and I ended up playing a lot of the fraternity parties at Western. But after a while, I told myself there had to be more out there, so I started buying house records. It was predominantly soulful house. Then I started doing some stuff on CHRY, which was York’s radio station. It progressed and then the rave stuff hit. I started to go to parties in Detroit with some friends who introduced me to ‘Detroit techno,’ and once I heard that I was like, “OK I like that!”
Q: You DJ, produce, promote AND manage your label…what are some big things going on for you right now?
A: Let’s start with the label. April 28 I had the sixth annual Canada Loves Techno compilation that came out on Restructured. This year, I have signed a bunch of up-and-coming artists and few that have been around a while, and we have 18 tracks coming out for that. It’s on Beatport and will be on iTunes and a bunch more in a few months. On personal production side of things, I have a three EP release on Kevin Saunderson’s label, and I just found out I will be playing his closing party at Movement on May 26 called Elevate Your Mind. May 10 we have a record release party for Canada Loves Techno in Waterloo and I just signed DJ Jace, who is from there. May 17 we are doing our monthly Restructured night at Guvernment, and June 20, I’m in Bogota, Colombia!
Q: Do you have a favourite aspect of what you do?
A: Everything is very different in a sense. I like to make music when I am inspired. I don’t like just sitting down and saying, “OK, I need to make a track.” DJing I definitely enjoy and I’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s fun to play other people’s music mixed with your own.
Q: You have represented Toronto at major festivals, such as Movement and WMC, and you have played everywhere in the US, Europe and South America. Where is your favourite place to play?
A: I have to say one of the best was the honour of going back to back with Laurent. That was a special moment. Playing Movement in Torino in Italy with Derrick May was another. That was amazing. On my own, I would have to say playing at Club Air in Tokyo. The people came in and they starting going crazy and didn’t stop!
Q: Who are some of your favourite artists and tracks to play right now?
A: Oh boy, there are so many! There is this one guy, Alden Tyrell. He mixes old school house and techno. It’s really dope. On the deeper, stripped down side, there is an artist named Bleak, who I really enjoy, as well as Locomatica.
Q: If you could describe the perfect event for you, where would it be? Who would be spinning?
A: It could anywhere! Music wise–a little dark, not angry, but on the darker side, with a touch of soul and lots of funk. I’m always up for hearing someone I don’t know as well, as opposed someone I do know. I don’t really care about chasing names, but the vibe has to be right. The DJ has to be playing passionately and for the music. Those are things I look for.
We like to get to know the man behind the DJ a little better, tell us a little bit about yourself….
Favourite place to party?Detroit.
Favourite place to relax? Somewhere on a beach.
Your favourite DJ? Between Derrick May & Laurent Garnier.
Favourite track right now? It could change in week! One would be “Some House” by Arden Tyrell.
Day party or night party? Both.
If you could go on vacation right now where would it be? Somewhere in Spain.
Favourite food? Pizza.
Favourite car? Audi.
What is something we don’t know about you? I teach Phys-Ed to public school kids!
How would you describe your music in 3 words? Soulful, deep, dark.
www.greggow.net
www.restructured.net
www.transmatrecords.com
www.kmsrecordsus.com
www.facebook.com/GregGowfanpage
Twitter: @greg_gow
By: Christina Schmidt
