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 Just a few hours before Greg's debut at Germany's legendary Technoclub night we caught up with Irish trance talent Greg Downey for his thoughts on playing within Talla 2XLC's electronic playpen...
Belfast-born Greg began DJing over six years ago, shortly before he decided to pack up and move to Ibiza for the summer with his records. While playing at a dingy San Antonio after-party, he was spotted by the promoter of Gatecrasher, who was so impressed he asked him to play the following week at Space. Since then, Greg has worked hard to establish himself firmly among the best young DJs in the World
Greg developed a taste for electronic dance music from a young age and this is reflected in his unique style, which combines underground and uplifting trance with elements of techno. This is all rolled into an explosive performance, which sees him using 3 CDJs and EFX 1000 to devastating effect.
The Technoclub welcomes Greg Downey this Saturday the 1st October for his debut behind Talla 2XLC’s iconic decks in the heart of Frankfurt, Germany. It’s a real honour for Greg who is on the up this year with a DJ schedule as packed as any and a new found hobby in Tai boxing. Here are his thoughts.
i:Vibes: How has your summer been? What was the coolest DJ and non DJ experience that you had in 2011?
Greg: My summer has been great thanks. My favourite DJ experience this summer was probably playing on the Monday Bar Cruise again in Sweden, its completely unique to every other event because its on a cruise ship for two days with 2 thousand mad clubbers. Most gigs you turn up and play then leave but on here all the djs stay on board so its quite crazy to say the least. Favourite non DJ experience this year was checking out New York, I love that city, so much character and the people are great, I cant wait to go back.
i:Vibes: You are making your debut in the Technoclub. How excited are you about playing here? What do you know about this legendary club?
Greg: I’m very excited to play at Techno Club for the first time, I know its very famous in Germany and the brand is very well known outside of the country. I haven't played n Germany yet so to play for the biggest trance night there will be great, I have heard the crowd are very into their music so I’m looking forward to testing it out!
i:Vibes: When was the first time that you heard the name Talla 2XLC? What has Talla meant to you as an artist?
Greg: First time I heard about Talla was many years ago when I bought a Slinky CD mixed by Guy Ornadel. He played one of his tracks on there - No Signs OF Life, I loved it and was trying to get it on vinyl for ages but could never find it! Talla 2XLC is keeping the German trance scene alive, long may it continue.
i:Vibes: What is your favourite Talla 2XLC track?
Greg: No Signs Of Life
i:Vibes: You have had the privilege of mixing the legendary Technoclub Vol 37. With what kind of goal did you go into mixing this CD?
Greg: I wanted to make sure that I could try and make my mix and current as possible and also be happy with the journey of the CD. When doing a compilation you have to work with tracks that are available at that point in time so it can be difficult to have everything you need but in the end I was really pleased with the tracklist and how the CD progressed.
i:Vibes: What can we expect from your DJ set at Technoclub? Could we hear some of your classic tracks?
Greg: I like to keep things interesting and energetic so lots of different things, plenty of trance, tech, new productions.
i:Vibes: You’re from Ireland. How difficult is it in general just being known as being an Irishman in the competitive Trance scene in England?
Greg: The scene has always been competitive no matter where you are from so being from Northern Ireland hasn't made it any easier or more difficult. As an artist I don't think it really matters where you are from , all that matters is that you are creating your own buzz and therefore your own demand so the promoters then want to book you. The same thing applies worldwide, the trance scene can be very difficult, the market is saturated with DJ’s and producers and with less and fewer gigs out there only people who stand out and are at the top of their game can survive.
i:Vibes: Who were your early musical inspirations and why?
Greg: My main inspirations were The Prodigy, they were the main reason i got into serious Dance music. Their stuff is unreal, totally unique and edgy and their album "Music For The Gilted Generation" is my all time favourite. DJ wise, I always loved the energy of Dave Clarke and Paul van Dyk inspired me trance wise. I think out of all the big trance DJs PVD was the one I always looked forward to seeing, he had the mix of energy and trance just right.
i:Vibes: Your first record bought was Close your eyes from DJ Nervous. How fresh does a track like this remain with you or is this something you can’t listen to anymore?
Greg: Ha, how did you know that! Id totally forgotten about that record, looking back now its still quality, quite dark and epic which is similar to my tastes now.
i:Vibes: What makes your Heavens Scent remix for John Digween still so unique in 2011?
Greg: I’m not sure how unique it is but it was a remix that crossed over quite a few genres with everyone from Sasha, Digweed, Eric Prydz, Armin and Pual van Dyk playing it. It also got a full release by John Digweed on Bedrock which blew me away at the time, I didn’t think for one minute when I made it that it would have done so well
i:Vibes: You have produced many unforgettable tracks like Vivid Intent, Stadium, From above or Showtime. Is there a certain way how you go about making that next breathtaking Greg Downey track in the studio or does your formula change with mood?
Greg: There are really only two ways I start a track, first way is the groove and bass idea and then take it from there. Or the second way is to write the chords and melody first. There is no real formula as such, sometimes I like to make really uplifting stuff like Vivid Intent, and sometimes more techy stuff. I’m really enjoying working on my new R.I.C.O alias, the first track Game Face is really deep and a lot slower than my usual tracks.
i:Vibes: When you look back on “Showtime”, was this a track that was difficult to produce or did you bang it out quickly?
Greg: Show Time was quite difficult to produce because there are so many parts to the track and so much automation and effects, it took ages. To be honest a lot of my tracks take ages, at least a month or two! I find it really difficult to leave a track unless I feel it is perfect, sometimes I feel I spend too long, I need to speed up for sure.
i:Vibes: How important has Paul van Dyk been for your career? He recognized your talent early on and you have released on Vandit?
Greg: It’s always nice to have the support of big DJs and having releases on Vandit has been a great thing. Vandit has always been one of the most consistent trance labels around and my track Global Code was released on there, its probably the track I get asked for most in my DJ sets.
i:Vibes: Every artist seems to have their own special Ibiza story. What has been the most amazing thing that you have experienced on the island?
Greg: Ibiza is a special island, so many amazing clubs and its beautiful too. The most amazing experience I had was the first season I went there. I was 19 and won a big DJ competition at Eden, I ended up playing the closing party of Eden to 4000 people and also Gatecrashers closing party at Space. This was my first real taste of proper DJing and to get a chance to do that at the time was incredible.
i:Vibes: Your DJing schedule is always hectic an packed. What is your secret to staying fit every week so you can endure the long travel?
Greg: Life on the road can be difficult with late nights and sitting on planes all the time so I like to stay as healthy as I can. I exercise all the time, go to the gym, running and train in Thai Boxing, the more I do the more energy I have. I find if there is a time when I let my body slip then I feel less motivated and enthusiastic so keeping fit and eating healthily is the foundations for everything else.
i:Vibes: What productions can we await from you in the next months?
Greg: I've just completed the new R.I.C.O single "Afraid Of The Dark", it will be coming on Spinnin in the not too distant future, its really dark and moody and it will be the opening track on my Techno Club mix. I recently did a new remix for my DJ sets of one of my favourite old tunes, Marmion - Schoneberg, and am working on several new singles as well as a new collaboration with Simon Patterson, this will be the follow up to our recent track "Come To Me"
i:Vibes: In 2008 you debuted in DJ Mag at #82, since then you were at #101 and#133. Do you feel a lot of pressure of getting back into the top 100?
Greg: To be honest 2008 was a great feeling getting into the top 100 but even though on paper it looks like I have gone down in the poll, my DJ diary is much bigger than when I was in it. I am also playing in so many more countries now so for me my career is climbing even though I haven't been in it in a while. To be honest your career is built on the back of you as an artist and not the DJ poll, if I get in it again then of course that would be happy and it compliments the work that you do but if you don't then the show must go on.
i:Vibes: Will Armin van Buuren make it 5 in a row at #1 in 2011 for DJ Mag top 100?
Greg: I think there is a great chance he will, A State Of Trance is huge!
i:Vibes: What is your general impression of the German trance scene? Which artists do you respect the most besides Paul van Dyk?
Greg: I couldn't really make a judgement on it because I haven't experienced it yet but from everything I hear it is all good. I was always into Marc van Linden when he came through in trance, he did really well and I went to stay with him in Germany and we did a collab together. Marc is such a cool guy, I haven't seen him in a long time but would love to soon.
i:Vibes: If you could be locked away in the studio with an artist for 24 hours who would you choose?
Greg: It would have to be Liam Howlett from The Prodigy, as a producer he is just unreal, off the scale.
i:Vibes: What are your current 5 favourite tracks?
Greg: 1. Greg Downey pres R.I.C.O - Afraid OF The Dark - Spinnin
2. Man With No Name - Sugar Rush - (Astrix Remix) - Perfecto Fluoro
3. Marmion - Schoneberg (Greg Downey Remix)
4. Des McMahon - Raven - Feided
5. Eric Prydz - 2 Nite - Pryda
i:Vibes: What are your 5 all-time favourite tracks?
Greg: 1. The Prodigy - No Good Start The Dance
2. Sasha - Expander
3. Dj Misjah and Tim - Access
4. Bedrock - For What You Dream Of
5. Paul van Dyk Feat Second Sun - Crush
i:Vibes: What are your hobbies?
Greg: Muay Thai, Gym, Running, and love eating out.
i:Vibes: If you had to play your last ever track in a DJ set which track would you play
Greg: Sasha - Xpander , its epic!
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