LIVE AS… VOL 5 - MIXED BY GREG DOWNEY

[Zoelee]

LIVE AS… VOL 5

MIXED BY GREG DOWNEY

Recorded Live @ Planet Love, Northern Ireland

 

DISCOVER RECORDS [DISCOVERCD07]

 

PRICE: £8.99

BARCODE: 5033541607259

FORMAT: SINGLE CD

GENRE: MIX CD, TRANCE

 

LISTEN TO THE CD -

 

http://www.everecords.org.uk/catalog/produ...products_id=121

 

 

 

The highly acclaimed ‘Live As …’ series is back with a fifth instalment – featuring rising star Greg Downey spinning on his home turf, at the awesome Planet Love festival in Northern Ireland.

 

Like its predecessors, the compilation is mixed absolutely live which gives the album the raw appeal that commercial albums lack.

 

Greg says: “I couldn’t have picked a better place to record my first compilation than Planet Love. Not only was it my first appearance at a major festival but it was in my back yard - Belfast.

“Irish clubbers are the most up for it crowds you could ever play for and this gig was no exception. From start to finish they were going crazy and it was just brilliant to capture the moment for ‘Live As…’.”

 

Greg’s set includes monsters like the driving tech trancer ‘Soul Seeker’ by Ronski Speed with Stoneface & Terminal, with its insane electro bass kicking in after the breakdown and the Nu Nrg classic ‘Be Right Back’.

 

Also included is Greg’s forthcoming single, ‘Once Again’, with its immense driving bassline, and of course Greg’s version of Bedrock’s ‘Heaven Scent’, which was voted Mixmag’s number 5 remix of 2007.

 

 

The history:

After the huge success of ‘Live as Fucking Fuck’ in Jan 2005 the ‘Live As…’ series was born. The back-to-basics feel can truly be witnessed in the thumping beats and the passionate and enthusiastic crowd – it’s as close as you will get to the club experience without actually climbing into your dancing trousers and stepping onto the dancefloor.

This album perfectly captures the energy of the crowd, and what it means for a DJ to be part of that club experience. Drop it onto the stereo and feel a part of that energy as well.

 

Track Listing:

01. INERTIA “THE SYSTEM” (INTERLUDE) [DISCOVER]

02. JIM CREDLAND “BERT” [CERN]

03. J-JOY “URBAN JUNGLE” [DISCOVER DARK]

04. RONSKI SPEED WITH STONEFACE & TERMINAL “SOULSEEKER” [EUPHONIC]

05. MEKK – RESISTANCE (ACTIVA’S MEKK MIX) [DISCOVER DARK]

06. DEEMS “TEARS OF HOPE” (GREG DOWNEY REMIX) [DISCOVER]

07. THOMAS BRONZWAER “RESOUND” [VANDIT]

08. JOHN O’CALLAGHAN PRES. MANNIX “PYRAMID” [ARMADA]

09. DJ CHOOSE “ADD MORE BALLS” [DISCOVER DARK]

10. STONEFACE & TERMINAL “VOLCANO” (2AM MIX) [EUPHONIC]

11. GREG DOWNEY “GRADE A” [DISCOVER DARK]

12. SIMON PATTERSON “BULLDOZER” [sPINNIN]

13. VINCENT DE MOOR “FLY AWAY” (COSMIC GATE REMIX) [ARMADA]

14. NU NRG “BE RIGHT BACK” [VANDIT]

15. GREG DOWNEY “ONCE AGAIN” [DISCOVER]

16. BEDROCK “HEAVEN SCENT” (GREG DOWNEY REMIX) [bEDROCK]

 

 

 

For interviews with Greg Downey please contact Miranda Cook @ PMP

[Zoelee]

Check out this interview with Greg:

 

Hi Greg, I’ve heard that you’ve taken the plunge and are now a full-time dj/producer – what does your average day consist of now?

 

I have yes. My day consists of getting up at 7.15am have breakfast and then go to the gym and exercise from 7.45 to 9.15. Then its home and check emails and Myspace etc from about 10 to 11. From 12pm up to 9pm I’m in my studio, sometimes later. In between I’m on the phone to my manager about thirty times day, I think I’m high maintenance!

 

Do you find it hard to stop thinking about work at the end of the day? You seem like a bit of a workaholic!

 

I find it impossible almost. Music seems to take up all my brain space and I’m definitely a workaholic. There always seems to be so much to be done. Also having your work in your home can make it difficult to switch off or to separate home life from music, so in a few years I’ll definitely be looking to move my studio out of the house. The good thing is my Mrs is a DJ too so I don’t get hassle about all the hours I have to put in because she totally understands. We are at our most relaxed when we go away for a couple of days or on holiday, that’s probably the only time my brains off, and that is depending on whether I’m up to date with things or not!

 

How long does it take you to make a corking track like ‘Stadium’?

 

Stadium took quite a bit longer than some of my other tracks because I had to spend so long tweaking it to get it to the point where I was 100% happy. I must have spent a good month or so on it. But this isn’t always the case; some of my tracks in the past have taken a few days. I do find now I am definitely spending longer on them because I’m always trying to go up a level production wise, whereas before things seemed to be done a bit quicker, I might be getting over fussy!

 

Were you surprised when it was signed to Vandit?

 

It wasn’t a massive surprise as such but more like great news. I had made the track especially aimed for Vandit and after spending so long on it and testing it in my gigs I knew it was strong. The problem with labels is you never know if they will take it or not so you learn not to expect or get too excited. I am over the moon about it the Vandit news and it’s something I’m really proud of.

 

What is your aim as a producer, what ambitions have you got?

 

My aim is just to keep building on the past couple of years and to keep stepping up the productions. I have a few cool ideas for the coming year but I’ll keep those to myself for now. As for the future I definitely want to start my own label and build up my own stable.

What do you think the trance scene needs more of and less of at the moment?

 

I think the trance scene could do with more quality music and less quantity. There seems to be too many tracks every month that either sound the same as a million other records, or are just really poor productions. Don’t get me wrong though, there are still plenty of amazing producers too who are making great stuff.

 

Played at any really good clubs recently that we should know about?

 

I played for Godskitchen on New Years Eve in Cardiff at Liquid and Life, I loved it. The club was packed and the atmosphere was wicked, it was a great night.

 

I also love going to Cork and there is a smaller night called Reincarnation that I play for. Every time I go there the reception is unbelievable, they certainly know how to have a good time!

 

Matt Hardwick has tipped you as the name to watch out for in 2008 – how much did that cost ya?

 

Haha, not much at all, he’s quite cheap! Seriously though, it was really nice to see that in his DJ Mag top 100 interview. Matt’s very respected worldwide and a really nice guy too, so cheers to Matt.

 

Seriously, how does it feel to finally get some recognition? You’ve been around for a while, behind the scenes, did you ever think about giving it all up?

 

It’s great to get some recognition, always a nice feeling. I never for one second thought about giving up. Since I was twelve all I wanted to be was a DJ so I’ve had to stay focused, especially with it being so difficult. Everything else I did in life from school, football, working, I always did as little as possible to get by, but with music it’s been the only thing that I’ve applied myself fully to. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else

 

Your ‘Live As…’ mix is trance compilation of the month in the current issue of Mixmag. What did you enjoy about the making of it?

 

I just love the fact that it was all going to be recorded Live from the event with all the crowd and atmosphere captured for the CD. I’ve always been a DJ first and foremost long before I started producing so this kinda thing was exactly what I wanted to do. I enjoyed everything about it, from compiling the tracks to the actual recording. It was exciting.

 

Did you shit it a little bit when it was time to record it at Planet Love or do you not *do* nerves now?

 

I don’t get nervous but I always get a buzz before and especially with a project like this. I was just looking forward to getting started to be honest! My only fear before hand was the setup. Because sometimes the monitor speakers at events aren’t the greatest but on the day it was brilliant.

 

Some random questions for you: If you had half an hour at a table with four people, who would they be, and what would you say/do/ask?

 

If I was to choose 4 people they would be

 

Gordon Ramsay

Paul McKenna

Eric Cantona

Billy Connolly

 

I actually have no idea what I would so do or ask! I’d probably just get the drinks in and see what happened! I love them all, amazing people.

 

What’s your party trick?

 

Usually drinking more than the other participants!

 

Can you dance? When was the last time you had it right off on the dancefloor?

 

I’m amazing at dancing, they call me Snake Hips! Only joking, I’m a shit dancer! This is really bad actually, I can’t even remember the last time because I haven’t been off duty clubbing in ages! I think it would have been over a year ago in a crazy psytrance party in a Church in Amsterdam, that’s was mad!

 

What are the top five most listened to tracks/songs on your ipod/itunes?

 

Paul van Dyk Feat Ray Garvey – Let Go

Simon Patterson - Smack

Mekk – Resistance

SIA – The Girl You Lost To Cocaine (Sander van Doorn Remix)

Shadowrider – Blue Horizon (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)

 

And finally, tell us one thing that really pisses you off!

 

People who are false, drives me mad!

 

Interviewed by Miranda @ PMP.