Guy Gerber is a non-conformist. The Israeli techno producer certainly prides himself on doing things his own way, taking full advantage of his own artistic freedom and striving relentlessly towards the clear visions he has for his work. Guy is having a particularly busy Ibiza season, with his Rumors party now becoming a weekly event at Beachouse in Playa d’en Bossa, Wisdom Of The Glove taking over Insane at Pacha Ibiza four times this season, and his first ever appearance on Boiler Room. On top of this, the huge ’11 11’ project with Diddy has got everyone talking – a true manifestation of Guy’s left of centre thought process.
On a typically sweltering Ibiza afternoon, Guy took some time out from relaxing by the pool at his hotel to really go deep and tell us exactly what’s on his mind at this pivotal moment in his career. During our hour-long chat, Guy talked to us about everything from the negative influences infiltrating the White Isle, his relationship with art, his album with Diddy, and much more.
Guy on Boiler Room:
For me, it was the first time they actually had a party there. What was cool about it was the fact I had an idea for a long time to do a ‘spoiler room’. That was my idea to do it in a certain way. Most of the time I feel like it is more like a show. The people come, the DJ plays and that’s the way it is. I think the nature of Boiler Room should be about rooms that no one can see what’s happening.
What was cool about that one at the house, the people were there and had already been partying for a few days and some of the people arrived fresh. You don’t see it as much with the other people partying on the camera, but the vibe of the house was an actual party. I think another thing that was really cool was that there was an actual dance floor in front of me. People were actually dancing and it felt like a party.
On Rumors at Beach House and Wisdom Of The Glove:
Rumors last Sunday at Beach House, it was amazing. Playa d’en Bossa felt like Tulum, but it was still Ibiza. It was a beautiful atmosphere, it was a nice set-up and it’s free so it was a mixture of a lot of people, some special people. It was a very bohemian atmosphere. It felt like I was actually doing something. I love playing raves and I love playing festivals, but when it’s mine and I actually have to be there most of the time, I like to be in a nice environment.
Another thing that is interesting for me, and something that is a part of my agenda or world, is that I prefer that there is a concept. A concept and within that a context – without that I think the level of the art is a bit lower.
I had a very good set this Sunday [at Rumors]. Once in a while you have this set when everything fits and all the tracks sound nice and you play some new tracks, which you don’t know and it surprises you. I have another one on Sunday and last week it was magic – now how do I bring this magic again? Some tracks I know where I like to put them, but then they had it last week so you’re repeating yourself.
When they shut us down at Plan Be it was an embarrassing moment. It was painful, we got shut down and I didn’t even play on the opening night. I didn’t play one track. I stepped aside and then we opened at Beach House. Plan Be was supposed to be more underground, after party vibe and more trashy in a cool way.
This one at Beach House is more like leisure time and more spiritual. And to be deeply honest I prefer this thousands of times more than what we had before. This is more me. People can come to the beach, you don’t have to commit to the party, you can do your thing and you can leave when you want. The party was absolutely amazing, it was a dream party. It felt like Tulum a few years ago. It felt special and felt like everyone was participating in the party. Here you make a difference because you support something and you’re a part of something.
Also with Wisdom Of The Glove you’re not just coming to the party, you’re part of a movement. That says something. You’re supporting something that supports you. You’re not just coming to get fucked up – you’re coming to support an idea. The idea is not just like Guy Gerber’s idea, the idea is our idea. All of us, we all feel the same. If you want to support this vibe, then that’s the party for you. It doesn’t go against any other parties.
On art:
The reason I got into this in the beginning was that I thought it was more rock and roll than rock at that point. Most rock bands to today, you don’t have so many rock stars.
Later I was surprised, because I’m from Israel and I started to go to Berlin, to London, Tokyo and New York – I realised how much techno is related to art. There’s a minimalism in it, concept behind it and an agenda.
I like to make art that people can understand. It’s art about life. I want to challenge people about situations in life. I feel that many of the artists are trying to say what people want to hear. When they post the picture, they want the picture to be liked. Someone should be saying ‘Hey, what’s going on?’
One thing I want to do, I’m going to reveal it right now, a world premiere. I want to do an exhibition of some art that I’m working on. I’m not a painter, I don’t want to do anything besides music, but I’m working on an exhibition. Just to do something that is a little bit different, just for myself. Just to try to bring art to people’s art.
Have you seen that weird film with Joaquin Phoenix trying to be a rapper? I want to do the same, but in the art world. My idea is that the people from my world will say “Now he’s an artist? Fuck this guy” and people from the art world will say “He’s a DJ, now he thinks he’s an artist!
That’s already a good starting point. The context is very important. I’m not an artist, I’m the DJ that’s making art. I love art, but I’m not educated, I’m not reading books – I’m like the average person, I don’t go deep. I want to show that an average person like me can create some attention just as an experiment for me.
It’s a very simple idea and people will say “Fuck, I could’ve done it!” Anybody could do this. It’s cool and it says a little bit about the time we are in. And it will have some emotion in it.
On Ibiza:
People go to the party, get high, hug each other and then go and put knives in each other’s backs. People don’t say exactly what they think. In Ibiza there’s lots of money involved. It’s a war – people will do whatever it takes to shut people down. Or they collaborate, but it’s not for the love. Not everyone, there are a lot of things that are great, but there are a lot of things that are just not right and people go with it.
This place is about music, hedonism, enjoying life, coming together – it’s sad that in the back there’s all this negative energy. When you’re doing your thing and people try and put you down, I feel more sad for them because if you are so big and powerful and you’re bothered by somebody small then what’s the point of being so big and powerful? If I was so big and powerful I wouldn’t give a shit about these people doing other things. You’re getting stronger and stronger for what? When is enough? When do you have enough money?
Ibiza is still a great place. It’s not how it used to be, but it’s still pretty much amazing. I think it will never get ruined. Even with all the things I don’t like here, there will always be magic.
On providing a challenge:
I don’t want to complain, I want to criticise the situation because I want to challenge the situation and provide an alternative.
I think I take myself less seriously and I don’t obey anyone. I don’t bow before anyone. I’m not trying to play the game the way people expect to play the game. I feel that if you’re an artist and you work so much in your life to get to a point where you can do your own thing – people tell you it’s a hobby, you’re broke, your parents are worried, all your friends are advancing and you’re still doing this thing with the guitar and people are looking at you as a weirdo. You fight, fight, fight to tell them and then you make it.
I think a lot of people feel like me. Also in the crowd, they don’t like what’s happening and there should be a voice for these people. Every time I’ve done something it has never been against others.
On partying:
There are things I want to do in the week that are not just partying – I’m not 25 anymore. If I’m in the parties all the time how will people understand? I need to live some normal life so I can say something about it.
Artists’ creation level drops down. It’s fun going to all these parties. If you live here there are so many good parties, so many people live here, so many of your friends – it’s great. I want to have some kind of normality inside me because I was pretty crazy for most of these years.
On working with Diddy:
Years ago he sampled a track of mine and he asked me for the parts, but I had lost them because I’m never organised. It’s so funny right now, because this was so many years ago and I told the story so many times, but when I was telling it, it was not actually happening. Now, it’s actually being released.
I looked at it in a way, maybe as a defence mechanism, to not take things too seriously. I was focusing on the funny part of it – the fact I didn’t have the parts, I went to New York, the file was corrupted. There’s the famous story when I was in the studio and I tried to open the file to play him something and it was corrupted. I focused a lot on the funny part rather than saying ‘I went to the studio and I nailed it, it was amazing and I’m so good!’
Still, I think I have great ideas, but I’m not such a good producer. I don’t work with methods, I don’t work professionally – it’s more like sculpturing. I put things together and I experiment. The more the project evolved, it was a goal for me to prove that people can be weird and still get to the top.
This is definitely a big album. It’s not just two tracks and the others are filler, it’s all tracks with meanings and big sounds. With him, I had to do something that fit with him.
People can say whatever they want – sometimes I’m grumpy, sometimes maybe I can be selfish, but I really feel I’m giving something back to the people. The album is going for free, I worked a lot on it and I wanted to do something that people love.
On Israel:
What Israel is doing – you can say it’s right or wrong. There are many sides to the situation, but one thing’s for sure – the world sharing it on social media is wrong. Millions of other things are happening, nobody is sharing those things. A lot of people hate and a lot of people have a problem with us.
On electronic music today:
If you ask about the situation of electronic music right now, the people always say the music is not good. There are a lot of great tracks around right now – you have people like Jamie xx doing great tracks. It’s amazing.
Also in techno there’s some really great stuff. It does get commercialised, but there is still great music. Lots of parties are shitty, but there are still lots of great parties. The situation of electronic music is very good, but of course, there’s some horrendous stuff.
On EDM:
People are trying to get headlines in magazines. Personally I don’t think they’re that bothered. I find all the fights boring with people dissing EDM. It’s embarrassing to even give it any attention. Yes, it sucks big time, it’s music for retards, but it’s more stupid to talk about it.
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