GUY GERBER Interview: FUSION OF ART AND MUSIC!

GUY GERBER Interview: FUSION OF ART AND MUSIC!

28 October, 2009 | 4.48PM

• Written by: Gorana Romcevic
• Filed under: Music News : guy geber, supplement facts

Israeli Guy Gerber is one of the most respectable and fast rising producers for the last couple of years. After big breakthrough with hit single “Stoppage Time”, he attracted Sven Vath`s attention and became a part of Cocoon family. Together with Shlomi Aber, he put a spell on audience across the world with hypnotizing melody of the “Sea of Sand”.  2007 he launched his own label Supplement Facts, which concept follows the words of great Oscar Wilde: “To define is to limit”.  Recently, Guy launched Supplemental - the digital baby sister imprint and he is quite busy with touring, playing at label nights, label management, production. We caught with him to talk about labels, his music background, plans for 2010 and some interesting moments of his life!

You are in some kind of Supplement Facts tour, playing all over Europe. What are your impressions, how the things are going?

I really like to make label nights because I play with my friends, I can travel with them.  It`s different kind of atmosphere in the DJ booth, it is not as when I play with some other DJ I don’t know. Every time when I support my friends from the label, I am truly happy. Sometimes it happens that they play better than me!  The label promotes young artists, and they are always friends. All our releases are from the people we know.

How are things going with Supplement Facts? What are you preparing? Are you still managing to sound “like nothing else”?

I believe things are going great and we are happy we can present our artists through this label nights. We try to stay different by releasing tracks more for the heart, not just for the feet. I think our music will sound good in five years from now!

You have interesting visual identity of the label, the cover of your releases are drawings and graphics. Is there some special department at the label dealing with it? How the things are organized?

I was disappointed with covers for my previous releases for other labels and I wanted to make something more artistic. I wanted something that will broaden my horizons, and to deal with visual things, not just music. We have artists who make illustrations for our releases. It started with somebody from Helsinki, but now we have people from Rome, Paris, Berlin. To be honest, I`m more proud about the art than the music from the label.  It is really important to us.

Recently you launched the digital label Supplemental. How does it differ from Supplement Facts?

Supplemental is more DJ friendly, with more stuff a DJ can play in the middle of the night. Supplement Facts is more focused on tracks that will last for a long time. It is not so important that tracks bum into crowd, it is more focused in music, rather than the beats.

Let`s talk about your beginnings. How have you become the member of Cocoon family? How have it all started?

I knew that Sven is playing one of my tracks for a long time and I sent him a demo. He liked the rest of stuff and invited me to meet him in Sonar in Barcelona. We had an amazing dinner… I guess he liked me `cause later he was changing my life.

You had a breakthrough with Stoppage Time but you became world famous with releasing Sea of Sand. Have that fact changed you in any way?

When Stoppage Time went out I guess I wasn’t ready for the world success. Also, it was related with progressive and I didn’t fit so much into that world. Sea of Sand came directly from my heart. When things are good for you, you shouldn’t complain about the times that they weren’t.

How the fact that you have Cocoon’s support did change you? 

Sven gave me a confidence to be who I really am and gave me so much trust, which I will never forget.

You were involved in different music projects.  You did production for Major labels, dance ensembles (Bat Sheva Dance Company), electro rock bands… What was the most interesting project that you done?

The most interesting thing was composing and editing music for my ex girl friend Talia which was compiling some Arabic music for beautiful dance of six dancers. I learned a lot from them, as well.  It was great to compose for somebody else and to try to help her to understand herself in my melodies.

Your wide music background is obvious in your album Late Bloomers and a lot of releases afterwards. What are your major influences? In what way you create those beautiful melodies and harmonies?

While producing, I try to forget everything that I know and just listen what I feel. Usually it happens after sitting in the studio for a long time, and way beyond my sleeping time. When you are really tired, your boundaries are tired as well; then you can find music that touches a lot of other people, because it touches you so much. I grew up on indie music so I like bands like My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, but also Carl Craig made a big influence on me.

How does audience in Tel Aviv perceive your music, regarding the fact that it is the one of the strongest trance scenes in the world?

I tried not to play so much in Tel Aviv, I was afraid that people will come mainly to look for mistakes in my music, since I become so successful.  But, surprisingly, I had one of the most amazing experiences I ever had in playing, since the place was full already from 1 o’clock! All the people stayed till 7 am, all with hands in the air, and I swear in my mother’s health I have never seen this place like that, with so many smiles and god vibes!  I think that everybody were surprised like me.

Why is Giorgio Moroder important to you?

He made futuristic sound in a very emotional way. Even though it was pure electronic it had a very warm sound.

Why have you stopped with the football career?

I guess I couldn`t express myself in football as I can in music.

You said that wherever you go, you cause trouble. Were you joking?

No, I always cause trouble, since I was a child. And why… because, it is boring without!

This year was quite successful. Your track Timing is among the best selling tracks on Beatport. You won the best minimal act at Ibiza DJ awards. What do you think of all of it?

It a little bit ridiculous, because I am not playing minimal music!  But the competition was good…

And for the end, what are plans for next year?

I`m working on my album that will be released in April, May 2010. And also, I`m working with Puff Daddy on his r`n`b album!  It sounds crazy; I am doing six, seven remixes!  It is amazing to go to NY, LA, to work at his studio.

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