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Gabbing with Garbo

Reported by HarderFaster / Submitted 07-03-07 16:44

With the clubbers of the UK voting Storm Best Large Club at last week’s HDA, things seem peachy right now for their Promotions Manager and DJ wizard, Garbo. Certainly The Emporium has come a long way and currently hosts clubbing greats like Hed Kandi, Passion and of course Storm. After a chance meeting at the bar at Brixton Academy, it was decided it was high time for us to find out what’s been going down for our man since we last spoke to him.



Firstly, congratulations on Storm winning best club at last Saturday’s Hard Dance Awards. This is one hell of an achievement! Was it a surprise? What did you do to celebrate?

Thank you very much.

Yeah it was a surprise as this is the first award Storm and The Emporium has ever won. It’s great as well as the awards were voted by clubbers, so we must be something right. We had a few drinks to say the least on the night haha. But the real celebrating will come on March 10th when we will now turn our birthday celebration into a double celebration.

As promotions manager of the Emporium, you currently work on Storm, Passion and house nights such as Hed Kandi, Loved Up, and Funkdeluxe, and are credited with turning the venue into the success it is today. How difficult was it when you first started working there? What did you put in place to make the venue into such a draw?

Well luckily it was not all down to me, we have a great team at The Emporium and the workload is spread. As you may know JFK has now come back to run the Passion events, I run the Storm events and between us we run the other events together. Also the club has recently changed to new caring owners who have a particular interest in how the club is presented and the way it looks and this makes it a lot easier when running events there.

You’ve struck quite a balance between the different genres at the Emporium. Is it really that important to be a multi-genre venue? Tell us a little bit more about the parties that you feature.

Well I think for the club of our size (2200 capacity) it is important to have different genres of music;it just would not survive just going down one route and sticking to one type of music. Our aim is to become a music venue and not just a dance venue and showcase all genres of music.

At present our Friday nights are our commercial nights, this night was started to cater for the local market, and it has been a huge success. Then on Saturdays we have our dance nights such as Storm, Passion, Hed Kandi and we have got a new drum & bass night coming in April.

Do you think music is better in a night when it’s mixed up or strictly one type of genre? From your experience, what do clubbers prefer?

Variety is the spice of life, haha!



Why do you think people come back to The Emporium time and time again? What is it about the parties that make them so attractive?

Simple — the atmosphere!!

That has to be one of the key factors; the atmosphere generated by The Emporium is second to none. Combine this with great line ups and a fantastic crowd time and time again and you the recipe for the perfect night.

As well as managing and promoting events, including putting the line-ups together and booking the DJs, you’ve also been DJ’ing yourself for around five years now. What do you think makes a good DJ? Do you think having to organise other DJs makes you more critical of your own performance?

Yeah I think it does a little bit, because as a promoter myself I’m aware of what other promoters are looking for in terms of a DJ. I’m a lot more conscious of how I present myself and act. Whereas before I was running Storm I was a bit more of a loose cannon — I tend to be a bit more professional about things now.

When you were interviewed for HF last year you said you’ve changed your style many times in the last four years. At the time you were also flirting with electro in addition to playing your trademark hard dance, but more recently got your hard dance mojo back. How would you describe the Garbo sound these days?

Haha, yeah I have really got my hard dance mojo back for certain. I’m playing the tougher end of the spectrum, the more NRG based with big acid riffs, which really suites me and I’m comfortable with.

You’ve also taken the Storm brand on tour, hooking up with some of the UK’s top parties, including Frantic, Cyberkitten, Insekt and Terminal. What’s the craziest road trip you’ve done so far? Are there any clubs or events you’d still really like to work with?

Haha, I don’t know about crazy but I have got one coming up with the guys from Bionic in Wales which I’m really looking forward to, and I’m really keen to get the brand in Wales. Also we are doing another joint party with Insekt again but this time at the Fridge so that is going to be great.

Goodgreef has always been a brand that I have wanted to work with, they put on fantastic parties — but we will just have to watch this space…. Also I think the idea of a Storm vs. Polysexual would a great night.



The weekend that’s just passed saw you celebrating Passion’s twelfth birthday by booking Armin Van Buurin, JFK and Andy Bagguley, as well as playing alongside Rodi Style at Æ goes Global at the Lock Up in Hereford. As someone who started clubbing at Passion and credit JFK with giving you your first big break, you must’ve wanted to be in two places at once. How on earth did you fit that into one night?

Well JFK has to take credit for Passion’s 12th birthday bash, as he is now back at helm of passion. I had two gigs that night, first in Hereford for Æ and then Birmingham for Evolve and I still managed to get back to Coalville for the last hour of Passion’s Birthday. The place was rammed to the rafters, the club reached its 2200 capacity and the place was electric…. Just like Passion of old!!

Seeing so many DJs come through the Emporium, you’ve got your finger on the pulse of the dance music industry more than most. Which DJs and producers do you rate as being at the top of their game at the moment? And who do you predict will break through in 2007?

Hmmmmm…… Frank Farrell and Dave Owens are two that spring to mind straight away. These guys are really doing it on the production side of things at the minute. DJ-wise, I think Barry Connell will be one to look out for, his technical ability is unreal and he puts on a great show. Sam Townend is another one who I think will break through in 2007.

You play all over the country. Do you reckon there’s still a big north south divide? Do you take a different record bag to Leeds than you would to London?

I think there is definitely a divide between the north and south, I think on the whole the northern sound tends to be a bit tougher. But I still take the same record bag if I’m playing London or Leeds. Although the crowds are very different, they are both equally great to play to.

Speaking of which, do you still play vinyl or is it all CDs for you from now on?

It’s pretty much CDs all the way for me now, unless it’s a classics night, that’s the only time the vinyl comes out now. Shame really.



What’s been your favourite Storm party over the years? And your worst?

I can honestly say that I have enjoyed pretty much all the Storm parties. But without a shadow of doubt it was NYE just gone, it was the first time Storm had ever hosted a NYE party on its own… and what a party it was!!

It was the biggest hard dance line-up I have ever put together, and it really paid off. It was also extra special as it was Lab 4’s last ever live performance and they brought the house down at midnight. It was such a great feeling watching over 2000 clubbers under one roof having such a great time.

What plans do you have for the future to build on your success?

Well we are taking the brand over to Ibiza in the summer and then Canada. We have a new hard dance night called ‘Next Generation’ which will be a night I can use to find up and coming DJs that I think have potential for Storm, and gives them the opportunity to play in the main room of The Emporium. The recent ones have proved to be a big hit, and hopefully we might find the next Eddie or the Maddox, who knows.

It’s birthday time at The Emporium. What pressies do you want? And what can we the clubbers look forward to?

I think the best pressie has just come with winning the Best Large Club award at this years HDAs.

In terms of what people can expect on the night.… Well this year we have gone all out on the production side of things, we have got Contagious involved bringing that extra dimension to any party with their professional dancers, outstanding club decor, stilt walkers, a laser robot. So this will generate that true party feel.



You’re playing in London next for the launch of Red & Blue’s new night Red on March 24, alongside The Organ Donors, Dynamic Intervention, Superfast Oz, Tom Basquil, Lucy Fur and of course Red & Blue themselves. Are you looking forward to being back at the Fridge?

I love playing at the Fridge, it’s a great venue and the sound system in there is so DJ- friendly. I can’t wait for this new night because it has a top line up on.

You’ve put together a cracking line-up for Storm’s seventh birthday this Saturday night. How did you choose the DJs for such a big event? Why should clubbers reading this come to Coalville this weekend?

All Storm line ups are difficult to do, as we pride ourselves on being diverse and booking the same old DJs month in month out. As far as the birthday goes, I think we achieved this well with appearances from the mighty Grady G and Rodi Style, along with a rare back to back set from Storm legends BK and Nick Sentience, and an exclusive never been done before two hour back to back set from Cally Gage and Wid & Ben. Plus we’ve got two Storm debuts in the form of Edison Factor LIVE and Adam from Lab 4 doing a DJ set.

I think that speaks for itself.

Photos courtesy of Ben Thomas and Crimson - Crazy Fool. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By HarderFaster:
HarderFaster Awards 2016 - The results are in!
HarderFaster Awards 2014 - The results are in!
Lashes, Dimples and the Brighton Music Conference
HarderFaster Awards 2013 - The results are in!
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
Comments:

From: Danny Gilligan on 8th Mar 2007 08:36.57
Good man Garbo, great interview top lad! see you in May mate if not before.

From: ajay on 8th Mar 2007 09:23.43
Get in son! congrats to all the Storm crew and good to see ya the other weekend mate.

From: Mizz_behavin on 8th Mar 2007 11:02.05
Nice interview, used to love the Emporium/both Storm and Passion back in the 90's Back in the day and its great to see the venue still going strong Thumbs up

From: Jazzy on 8th Mar 2007 21:10.32
Wicked interview hun, and congrats with everything, you def deserve it!! Big grin See you Sat! Hyper!

From: James Condon on 9th Mar 2007 11:46.37
Good work matey will catch up soon ;O)

From: Lucy Fur on 9th Mar 2007 12:09.26
Top lad!

From: DJ-Eyeball on 9th Mar 2007 13:02.34
Great interview,

Great work done over the years and well deserved Award,

Roll on the birthday!! Smile

From: James Nardi on 9th Mar 2007 16:22.30
Good read mate!

From: JC-TAKTIKAL on 9th Mar 2007 16:41.28
yes Garboronski you big lady

From: *GARBO* on 12th Mar 2007 12:22.34
Thanks for the comments :o)

From: Element7 on 13th Mar 2007 10:14.27
One of the nicest guys in the scene. Big respect to you mate.

From: karl davis on 13th Mar 2007 18:30.54
top dj and sound bloke, fair play to him keep it rocking

From: Frank Farrell on 14th Mar 2007 11:42.53
Good read, keep up the good work! Sound old boy :o)

From: Rodi Style on 14th Mar 2007 15:25.25
Great DJ, great interview, and a top night!

From: K8-e on 16th Mar 2007 10:14.45
Waves Kiss Big up Garbo!!!

From: mattpickup on 16th Mar 2007 19:58.01
Good work matey legend !!!!!!!!!

From: crazyclubber66 on 22nd Mar 2007 15:41.21
well having known garbo for quite a few years and watching him turn from dj to storm promoter to doin international gigs and getting storm to the forfront of the dance industry i take my hat off to him one dj /promoter that has lept in pole position in a short amount of time honoured to be a part of the garbo/storm success story ... 2007 is the year of the garbo

From: Intervention-UK on 23rd Mar 2007 01:05.36
hay weldone garbo mate
steve prince
intervention-uk

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