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On the way to the top with Greg Downey
Reported by Alix
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Submitted 28-09-05 21:14
Greg Downey, well where do we start? You gotta give it to him, this lad’s got balls! And a great deal of talent, passion, drive as well as support from the top for this young DJ from Belfast. I’d say the odds for seeing this name up there in flashing neon lights were pretty good. At the tender age of 19 he packed his record bag and set off for the white isle with the dream of becoming a DJ. After traipsing from club to club, somebody finally decided to give him a chance and then, as luck would have it, a DJ competition came up at Ibizan superclub Eden, which he won and as a result ended up playing to a club full of 4000 people at the closing party and then onto Gatecrasher at Space. When your DJing career begins like this, I suppose you have no choice but to reach for the stars and this he has been doing steadily and solidly over the past 4 years. I caught up with Greg to find out what really makes him tick, his incredible journey and talk about what he loves best…
How would you describe the music you play?
I would describe my sound as trance with Balls! I like intense music with or without melody. The trance I am into has to kick, can be melodic but usually has a serious vibe. I also like some melodic trance but only if the kick drum and bass are heavy enough. I play some techno too but it has to be pumpin and clean. I’m a bit of a fusspot it has to be said…
How would others describe it?
Nailz.
Has your music evolved along the way or have you always stayed true to trance?
When I started out, believe it or not, I played hardcore, real crazy shit! I then moved onto more trancey stuff; this was before the whole trance thing went mad in 1999. Music didn’t seem to be so segregated then, it was mostly just house which looked after many different types of tracks. It took me a while to find my sound but I haven’t strayed too far from it over the last lot of years. I was always attracted to trance that was melodic but serious and I always liked it with a tougher edge. Obviously my tastes have evolved but my trance roots have stayed similar.
Where do you play?
I play at quite a few different nights, the bigger ones being Serious, The Gallery, Scream and The Coach in Northern Ireland
When did you first start playing?
I first started mixing etc when I was 15, back in Belfast and was instantly hooked. I used to drive my Mum and Dad nuts but in the end they got used to it.
What was it that actually inspired you to become a DJ?
I first got into serious dance music when I started listening to The Prodigy many years ago. From this I got into old Carl Cox hardcore tapes. I would listen to these mix tapes constantly trying to work out what was going on, wishing that I had my own decks to try it out myself. When I finally got them I couldn’t leave them alone, I love music and I love mixing — these are the primary reasons why I got into it in the first place. It’s the only thing that I have ever wanted to do as a career and I have always wanted to do a job that I love.
And would you say it’s been an easy ride?
God no, it’s fucking difficult! The ride is far from over as well, I have a hell of a way to go. I’ve been doing it for many years now and in my opinion I am only touching the surface. There have been many highs and lows but fingers crossed I’ll get there in the end.
What has been your favourite gig so far?
My favourite gig was the first time I played at The Coach in Northern Ireland. It was New Year’s Eve a couple of years back and it was unreal. It was weird because when I lived in Belfast I never really got the opportunity to play at the bigger nights, it was only when I won a DJ competition there that I got noticed and this was just as I was leaving to go and live in England. I used to go there when I was first getting into clubbing so to go back home and play to the crowd there was a wicked experience, especially on New Year’s Eve.
Have you had any bad experiences or gigs?
I couldn’t really say, there have been a few where it hasn’t been busy at all but other than that there have never really been any gigs where something major has happened. Touch wood it stays like that!
How does it make you feel DJing at nights like Serious?
It’s a great feeling playing for nights like Serious. It is one of the best nights in the UK and somewhere that I have always wanted to play so I am fortunate to have had the chance. I love The Gallery at Turnmills too; I’ve played there a couple of times. Each time there I have been playing 6–7.30am and it’s pumpin. I love the thought of a normal Saturday morning beginning outside yet in the club the place is goin nuts, feels underground and I love that shit.
Describe your ideal gig to me?
It would have to be Cream at Amnesia, closing set at the closing party; you couldn’t get much better than that! Amnesia is the best club I have ever been to, the layout and sound system is something else and playing for Cream there would be a dream come true.
What has been your biggest influence both musically and otherwise?
Music — I don’t really have any one person who I could say are my biggest influence but there are people that I greatly respect and have been inspired by. The first is Paul van Dyk — I don’t care what anyone says but for me the guy rocks, good day or bad day he is the king of trance. His productions are second to none and he sets the standards for others to follow. I love the music he makes and the music he plays.
The second is John Askew. It’s refreshing to meet someone with his attitude and love for music, he is in the scene for all the right reasons. As a producer and DJ he is kicking, his label Discover has been my favourite for the last couple of years and I am very proud to now be signed. He has made me feel like part of the family and I am very excited to be involved.
The third is Eddie Halliwell. He is a genius, full stop. He has taken the scene by storm and fully deserves to be at the top of the ladder. I can’t believe the amount of stick he seems to get; these people need to wake up.
Otherwise — again, I don’t have a single outside biggest influence but I have a handful of people that play a massive part in my life, my fiancée Sophie, my parents, my best mate from Belfast Andy, and Simon Patterson. These are the people that keep me going and I am very lucky to have them.
How long have you been producing now?
For about 3 years.
What was your first production and how did you actually get into that?
I have done a few things since I started but I was never really happy enough to try and get them signed. As things progressed the first production that I sent out was Cued Recall, which led to me being signed to Discover. Cued Recall is my exact sound in trance and signifies what I am about; I’ve been very pleased with the response it has been getting.
Do you DJ and produce full time or do you have a daytime job?
Unfortunately I do have a day time job as well but if I told you what it was I would have to kill you!
So what makes Greg Downey tick?
What makes me tick? Good question... obviously music is the main thing that makes me tick but I think the overall feeling of moving forward in my career and achieving things that I have always wanted to gives me a buzz. As long as I feel like I am progressing and enjoying what I am doing then I am happy, enjoying myself on the way is important even though it can be very stressful at times.
Would you always stay true to your music or could you ever sell out for money or status?
I would never sell out for money or status, I think that is shite. I will always stay true to the sounds that I am pushing and to what I love. If for some bizarre reason that one of my tracks crossed over then so be it, but somehow I really can’t see that happening!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
It’s impossible to predict, I think in any career you never know how close or how far away you are from succeeding, especially in music. My aim is to keep making music and further my DJing and enjoying myself on the way. I would hope to have a healthy career on the go by then and Id like to travel abroad and play to different cultures around the world, that would be wicked.
What are your plans for the next year both DJing and production wise?
DJing wise my main aim is to get the right management behind me, up until now I have been looking after myself and will continue up until this happens. I would like to get the opportunity to play at the top UK nights that I haven’t done so far, that would be great. Production wise, I have just finished my next release for Discover called K.I.A, which I am delighted with. It will be coming with a Marc Van Linden remix so I am really looking forward to the release.
I have recently done a remix for Motion Records; the track is called ‘Arctic Sweep’ by Dreas and Mike Perry and is being released early November I believe. I am about to begin a slightly off the wall track for Discover Dark which will reflect the more minimal sound that I am also into, then after these maybe two or three more solo releases in the next twelve months. I’ll also be doing a few collaborations, myself and John O’Callaghan are putting our heads together next month which should be interesting and next year I’ll be doing a track with Simon Patterson and then Marc Van Linden, as well as any remixes that come along.
What else do you do in your spare time other than DJing and producing?
I go to the gym quite a lot and at the weekend I like a good drink, 1664’s are the way forward (Kronenberg!)
What book are you reading at the moment and if not, why not?!
To be honest I am not a big book reader, but there is a book that I read on an ongoing basis. It’s by Paul McKenna and is called Change Your Life In Seven Days. Don’t get me wrong my life isn’t that bad that I want to change it in seven days but I am fascinated by the man and his thoughts. To cut a long story short he teaches techniques on how to master your emotions and run your own brain. He teaches that success and happiness are not accidents that happen to some people and not others, they are created by specific ways of thinking and acting in the world. This must sound pretty far out! However I strongly recommend this book to everyone, it’s the bollocks.
What other music do you like?
I don’t really listen to much stuff outside dance music when really I should! I do like the Happy Mondays though and I still love Guns and Roses, absolute lunatics…
Who would be your ideal date?
Sophie of course!
Your all time top three tunes?
1. The Prodigy — ‘No Good Start The Dance’
2. Paul Van Dyk — ‘Crush’
3. DJ Misjah and Tim — ‘Access]
All three are ridiculous!
Who do you think should be number 1 DJ in the world and why (I think I know the answer to this one already!)?
For me it has to be Paul van Dyk. As far as I know I don’t think he has ever won it and he definitely deserves it. The main reason is not just for his production, but as a DJ he plays the type of club music I love, he takes no prisoners! Out of all the superstar trance DJs he is the only one that constantly keeps me interested.
CDs or vinyl and your reasons behind it?
I hate to say it but CD’s have taken over for me. I still love having vinyl and the overall sound that you get from a record is vastly better than CD, however mp3 has completely changed things. It’s a great thing being able to complete a track and have it on CD ready to play that weekend and this in turn makes it far easier to access new tunes from other producers rather than having to wait for them to be pressed. On the downside of things CDs/MP3s have had a detrimental effect on vinyl sales and illegal downloading has really hit the scene hard. At the end of the day I think we all have to move with the times and maybe with better internet policing a happy medium can be met. On a more positive note, anyone who is making trance music now is mainly doing it for the love of it rather than making money as any earnings from it are minimal, this has got rid of many people putting out any old shit just to make a few quid.
Do you like hard house? (one for the HarderFaster crowd! There's been many a debate bout trance vs hard house!)
I’ll be honest here, I don’t like hard house at all. I used to like some of the really early stuff that Tony de Vit played but it was nowhere nearly as hard as it is now, if I’m at an event I can only stick hard house for about half an hour max, then my ears start to bleed. There is a lot of hard music that I love but unfortunately not hard house.
[b]What are your thoughts on the UK club scene and in particular the trance scene?
I think the UK trance scene has definitely changed since I first got into it. The scene seems to be a lot smaller and more underground, which I suppose could be a good thing. It seems now that people prefer to go to a big monthly night rather than the same club on a weekly basis which suggests that there are fewer nights to go to. I am yet to play in some of the clubs around the UK so I find it difficult to make an overall judgement, but there are still a lot of clubs I know are having it and long may it continue. I hope we will always have a healthy scene.
Do you think the scene has become saturated with wannabe DJs?
Definitely, every man and his dog want to be a DJ now, I don’t know if this is good or bad. I certainly don’t have a problem with it but I do think some up and comings take it too seriously, always train spotting DJ sets and being too quick to criticise. I am trying to read message boards less and less but I have seen certain DJs slating other DJs who are much more established, just because they played a couple of tracks in a different order than they would! It’s one thing to think these things but to post them on public message boards is out of order in my opinion; these people need to get a grip. I do think competition is healthy though and it means that the overall standard of DJ will continue to get better and better which is great in my opinion.
Do you think you need to be producing your own music in order to get ahead in today's scene?
I do think so yes, but I honestly think that you need to have the full package now to make it apart from the odd exception. There are so many producers now so to make it as a producer alone your tracks have to be something else. For me production and DJing come hand in hand but I think on top of this having the right character and working hard will definitely help.
Do you think female DJs are a good thing or bad thing and do you think they have an advantage?
For me the whole female DJ thing isn’t a novelty at all anymore. I think a DJ is a DJ no matter what and it’s all about the music they are playing and their skills behind the decks, for me that is what counts rather than what sex someone is. I personally don’t think that female DJs have an advantage at all, if anything I think it could be harder in ways, because a lot of people when they see a girl behind the decks are just waiting for her make a balls up and in a male dominated industry I am sure it is difficult for some females to be taken seriously. My fiancée is actually a DJ, Sophie Sugar. Check her out, she rocks and in my honest opinion I think she will be massive.
Any advice for upcoming DJs out there?
The best piece of advice to give anyone is to develop your own sound and style, you want people to know that it is you who is on the decks rather than just sounding the same as other big names out there. That is probably the most important thing for me. The other thing is that if you are serious about DJing it wont be easy, but if you want it enough you will succeed. I think the key is not to give up when things aren’t going the way you want them to; you have to stick with it.
Any words of wisdom for life in general?
Be nice to people on the way up, you never know when you may meet them on the way down.
So this young man loves trance, doesn’t like hard house, loves Paul Van Dyk (aka God)… so he gets my vote and this is what some others have to say about him…
Greg Downey is one of the shining stars of the UK Trance scene right now. His consistent, high quality production really stands out when you hear it in a club and his skills on the decks make him a truly versatile DJ who will always deliver regardless of which slot he is allocated. — John Askew, 2005
Greg Downey — remember the name. Greg is a DJ that sets the standard for others to follow. His mixing is seamless, his tune selection flawless and with his productions consistently in the boxes of Paul Van Dyk and John Askew it won't be long till everyone knows the name. — Simon Patterson aka Dogzilla, 2005
As a promoter you come across more DJs than most, some are put on you by forceful agents and some just pester you off their own back, then there are the others that promote themselves as headliners, yeah... Greg Downey stands head and shoulders above them all — easily, my advice, book him before his fee goes through the roof, he is the genuine article, by a long shot... — Louis Gee, Scream Promoter, 2005
You can find out more about Greg and what he is up to on his website www.gregdowney.com
All photos courtesy of Greg Downey. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By Alix:
Subliminal Sessions: Reviewed
An interview with Sophie Sugar — the leading lady of trance shows the boys how it’s done!
Review: Serious 9th Birthday @ The Cross
Trance Generation Preview: Matt Hardwick
He’s back…. Interview with Matt Clarke
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.
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Comments:
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From: ben (bs2) on 28th Sep 2005 21:39.53
Greg is the best trance dj on the scene today bar none. He is clearly destined for big things. Anyone that has had the delight in seeing him will agree. Great interview, some well thought out questions. 
I'm glad his hard work and great attitude towards dance music is paying off. 
From: nickyH on 29th Sep 2005 03:32.04
Top Stuff Mr. Downey!!!!
From: Dubster on 29th Sep 2005 06:36.28
Great to see the boy wonder getting the exposure a talent as big as his deserves.
A better Dj and nicer guy you could not wish to meet.
Without doubt a name that will grace the top of the headline lists in the futures.
A cracking interview from another top trance Dj.
From: Not Marcus on 29th Sep 2005 08:13.41
Nice bloke, good DJ. Nice one Greg and Alix 
From: KrAzB on 29th Sep 2005 08:24.37
This guy gets better and better each time i here him, we've had the pleasure of hearing him for a good few years down here in Bristol and we all know what he is about!
An immensely talented dj who in a few years will be up there with the biggest names in trance for sure! A top guy who deserves everything he gets! Good work Greg my son!
From: Jurrane on 29th Sep 2005 12:51.42
Greg gets my vote for best new producer of 2005. Two storming tracks on Discover have cemented his status as a definite one to watch and I'm loving his take on trance at the moment. 'Cued Recall' absolutely rocks! Would love to book Greg for Boundless in 2006 as well.
From: Paul Divine on 29th Sep 2005 14:38.19
I remeber getting a cd from Greg a year or so ago and without a doubt it is still one of the best cd's I own.. the way it progresses from start to first is amazing! Top Dj, Top Bloke!
From: Simon Patterson on 29th Sep 2005 21:18.08
Greg Downey rips - End of
From: Intervention-UK on 30th Sep 2005 09:12.02
well well greg mate
From: K8-e on 30th Sep 2005 11:52.19
Good questions Alix
From: Lx on 30th Sep 2005 15:59.54
oh i can see he's got more then just the balls
From: Lysa on 2nd Oct 2005 17:27.35
Top DJ, top bloke, top producer and top attitude. Say no more!
From: Ian Betts on 2nd Oct 2005 17:38.20
One the best new producers in trance at the moment ("KIA" is going to be huge), a DJ straight out of the PVD school of trance and a top lad to boot - great interview Greg
From: Red5 on 3rd Oct 2005 15:52.44
Top interview Alix, some good questions thrown in there. Haven't heard Greg play yet, so will wander down to Serious soon.
From: Lorenzo Barrero on 4th Oct 2005 15:27.53
Wicked interview! Have really liked his productions...his remix of 'Stormy Clouds', and his own track 'Cued Recall' and 'Shaker' both are wicked!
From: Prozak on 12th Oct 2005 10:39.46
Nice one pal
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