The first collaboration with five DJs from Groove Genetics on the 9th of December was a starling mix of highs and lows coupled of sticky rounds of progressive and beats.
Leading the pack was Russell, whose prior experience included spinning at promotional gigs, for pubs like Nox, and for interest groups like Darksun and Solace. With Lee Burridge, Craig Richards and Deep Dish as his influences, Russell prefers tribal and percussive ranging from Deep Dish to Tyrant. Being a bedroom DJ means he has to juggle his full time activity with his spinning, making sure he practices for about an hour and a half everyday. “Sometimes, just to get the sound right, I spin until 1 or 2am. Luckily, my neighbours don't complain, probably because the acoustics are good”, he adds half-cheekily.
Taking over from the decks at 7pm is Keishi, who had spun at the Hub in September. Adding more breaks to his usual progressive sets, Keishi decided to try something different in order to add a little variety to the momentum achieved by Russell in the first hour. Having spun at Nox before, Keishi listens to Dave Seaman and Andy from Hertz Records for inspiration, and finds Groove Genetics a great place to interact with other bedroom DJs. “There are no restrictions, so we really share a lot about the music we are into”.
So what is Groove Genetics about? Vivamusic managed to grab a word or two with one of the founding members, Yukun. “Everyone was just doing their own thing, so we decided to come together as one with the same mindset”. This non-profit and non-political group believes in the concept that fellow bedroom DJs should be encouraged to contribute and share ideas with each other. “After all, people do work better in a community”, Yukun added, while noting that the structure of Groove Genetics is more like a fishbone, more like networking than anything else.
With interaction for the DJs being concentrated on ICQ and private web forums, this platform for fellow DJs is more of a community than anything else, promoting genres which compliment each other, ranging from progressive house to nubreaks and tech house. With good response hailing from overseas DJs even, the idea of such a fishbone community seems to be gaining popularity. “But we have no high hopes, as long as we get to do what we like”.
Beginning the 8pm set was Kennerve from Frontallabs.com, who had begun spinning for four years now but had only begun taking it seriously a year ago. Besides spinning at Nox, Kennerve has had sets at Primal Groove, Suede (for Sluice) and a couple of pubs in between. His progressive style, which stems from influences like Steve Lawler, Sasha and Digweed, is one which has the potential to keep people moving and wanting for more. “I keep in contact with the other DJs (in Groove Genetics) almost everyday, mainly through email”.
We saw Adrian from Solace last week, and as an active member of Groove Genetics he sees some hope in the future of the progressive scene in Singapore. With styles ranging form progressive to tribal, Adrian hopes to secure a weekend residency with a club, “playing whatever I want”, he adds.
Rounding up the session from 10 to 11pm is DJ Itchi, also from Frontallabs.com. A familiar face to the Box, this is his third time spinning at the Hub. Influenced by Deep Dish, Itchi prefers disco house, progressive trance and techno from the other genres available to him. This massive interest has brought him to sets for Sluice and at Nox, and intends to continue honing his skill in any way he can.
The network of Groove Genetics continues to thrive as ideas and contributions continue to spread through the power of the Internet. Look out for this space for the another installation of G2 sessions!
