To outline Mr Emery professionally; I sight his biography: "To say Gareth Emery has had a good year would be a vast understatement. Over the past twelve months, the popularity and buzz surrounding the young Brit reached explosive proportions, culminating in him being voted no.9 in 2009’s definitive DJ Mag Top 100 poll: one of only a handful of DJs to crack the world’s top ten before the age of 30." With all this excitement, you might think that he's have a bit of an ego, a chip on his shoulder... Not in this case. He's just a guy the put down a guitar, started playing around with production and after many long nights obsessing over the smallest detail; is a world wide success. He also that sweet you'd almost want to squidge his cheeks and show him off to mum.
A proud perfectionist, Gareth Emery is a sensational producer, DJ and really lovely guy. His highlight so far was the sell-out performance for his 100th Pod Cast. It "sold out before the doors even opened," he said. The night giving him "time to reflect," over the last two years and being such a perfectionist. "I (didn't) often take a chance to look at the bigger picture, always caught up in the little things." After all this, "things have gone ok."
It's an outcome that still has Gareth a little bemused and rather bashful. Whether its in his music or if he was doing something else he'd still maintain his specific ways. If it wasn't music, he would "definitely be working for myself; not the 9 to 5 routine, something in business, something nerdie," he laughed, "like the Internet where I would not have to wear a suit and get up whenever." If Uni had it's way, it would be Politics, "but I've always wanted to be in music, since about 7 or 8. When I was about 20 it was Dance music." Laughing, "I thought I would always be in a band!"
Statistically speaking, if Gareth's climb up the DJ Mag Top 100 continues, he'd be #1 by next year. Its "probably not possible." Of course "the help would be great, but I'm just shocked at #9." He thought maybe the 15 or 16 mark for 2009, but when it came out it was a complete surprise. Admitting his "head can't get too big, it's a popularity vote, I'm very happy with it. Very appreciative."
Back to his tunes, Gareth wishes he'd made "anything by U2" and has a few surprises in store for the audiences of Winter Sound System. The trip to Australia includes 6 gigs in 5 days with 1 day off and will be his 6th down under. This tour too should be a little safer than a whole schedule torn to pieces due to 'that' volcano. Just back from Toronto, it was "shocking," meant to play at Pacha in New York then to a friends wedding, but it was almost not to be (the gig was rescheduled).
There are a few surprises including a few treats from the his album, just to test the waters. Australia will be one of the first crowds in the world to hear the new stuff. "I'm going to try something new," he grinned, "little Ableton, few mashups and stuff
**. I can't wait."
Running out of time to chat to the man, ClubAntix had this to ask:
- Dinner tonight is Kangaroo - would you eat it? Absolutely.
- Boxers or briefs: Boxers.
- Cats or Dogs: Dogs
- Mac or PC: Mac
- What does one do when not playing with tunes: Sit on planes, watch TV, not much. Food.
** Please note in light of "trying new things", that the suggestion was made to DJ topless. Apparently, that's only for "The House guys, who are all buff - Trance producers are a bit nerdier" and he has no time for it. (Although apparently still fit, running between planes and gigs and the like ;) So if the huge jumbos had gyms on them (given they already have showers), maybe it would be a different story and we'd see a topless Gareth Emery. "I need more time in the day!"
