Can't Stop Playing With Gregor Salto

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ff0072; color: white; font-size: x-large;"> INTERVIEW </span></h2> <h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #ff0072; font-size: x-large;">Chatting with Gregor Salto </span></h2> <div> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Gregor Salto has been producing electronic dance music for over a decade and knows exactly what it takes to get the crowds going. His track 'Can't Stop Playing' with Dr. Kucho! (Oliver Heldens & Gregor Salto remix) saw remarkable success after its release in August 2014. Not only has he received praise for his masterful originals, Gregor has also become renowned for his adept remixing abilities, crafting massive official edits for the likes of JLO, Rita Ora, Mariah Carey and Rihanna. With tour dates scheduled at an array of festivals around the world, and with a slew of original productions & collaborations in the pipeline, Gregor is geared up to make 2015 one of his most productive years to date and we just had to catch up with him to find our more. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpNWdrNKLN1CrUe3D9U5esbHwwhNCE8Grxnc9S-EY0GdMHvSE5Ojw2RIeP7eEs37Vsihqod6qlns2UkPCtZmc9p6l5v7RBf_t0-nCOZjmqFXzt5tGwte27GIcruiczKMy0DBNvvbmhHCU/s1600/GS8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gregor salto interview 2015" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpNWdrNKLN1CrUe3D9U5esbHwwhNCE8Grxnc9S-EY0GdMHvSE5Ojw2RIeP7eEs37Vsihqod6qlns2UkPCtZmc9p6l5v7RBf_t0-nCOZjmqFXzt5tGwte27GIcruiczKMy0DBNvvbmhHCU/s640/GS8.jpg" title="Gregor salto 2015" width="426" /></a></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Hello Gregor and a warm welcome to Think In Electronic. It’s an absolute pleasure to be interviewing you.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>1.     How are you doing and what song do you currently have stuck in your head?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I’m doing great and I was just listening to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec9KwGWvSpM" target="_blank">Gregory Isaac – ‘Night Nurse’ </a>great tune! ☺</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>2.     Everyone knows the name Gregor Salto, what’s the one thing people don’t know about you?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I hope there’s more than just 1 thing they don’t know about me ☺</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Some facts you might not know:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> - I live in the Dutch City of Haarlem. Harlem (NYC) was named after my city.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> - I play classical piano, or I used to, gotta get back to practicing..</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> - I would like to become a semi-professional photographer one day</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> - I’m an ambassador for WWF</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>3.     We are from South Africa and this is a staple question. You have had many opportunities to tour our diverse country. Can you tell us about the first time you toured South Africa?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> When Chappell and I came to SA to perform ‘Your Friend’ we met the warmest, nicest crowd you can imagine. Really, those gigs are in my 10 top gigs EVER. I remember in Durban, we played ‘Your Friend’, and the place exploded. When we finished the song, we had to play it again. Place exploded again! ☺☺ Such nice and warm people, best crowd in the world, I’ll never forget that!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>4.     Your music draws on many different styles ranging from pop to African, what inspires you and what are your initial thoughts when producing a track?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I usually just go and start creating on vibes I feel. I don’t know why, but I sense I have a strong link with Africa. You can hear that in quite some of my tunes I guess.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Anyway, I always have a bit of Soul, Latin, Jazz and Afro in the back of my mind when producing tracks. And House of course.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>5.     Crossing boundaries and expanding is something you are not afraid of doing, how do you ensure you stay true to who you are?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> True to who I am… Well, I think every person changes over time. So do I. Some changes are good, some not so good. After some time you look back and think, ok that’s the way to go. If I was as talented as Michael Jackson or Prince I would probably only make classic songs, but I’m not so I just try and do my best.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>6.    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5z9ni75n3A" target="_blank"> Rise Again</a> is your collaboration with our local stars Liquideep, what was it like working with the duo and how did they inspire you?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That was a nice experience. They were on tour in Europe and came to visit me especially for 2 studio days. Nice guys, very talented. Who knows, we may do some more stuff in the future.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>7.     Recently you gave Can’t Stop Playing a remake with Oliver Heldens, is there any specific reason why you chose to work with Oliver Heldens on his rework?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Actually, it was his idea. His label (<i>Spinnin</i>) asked him what song he would really like to remix and he said ‘Can’t stop playing’. When I came to Spinnin’s office for just an A&R meeting they showed me the initial idea and asked me if I liked it. I was like: oh yes, let’s get together and do this!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>8.     “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EzfBYFU8Q0" target="_blank">Can’t Stop Playing</a> ” can be dubbed a classic, what’s the real story behind the original track and the lyrics?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The real story is that I wanted to create a house song with an 80’s disco funk feel. The bassline is meant to be one of those lines you used to hear on a funk track, played with a moog. But I didn’t know how to finish it. I just had that melody and those guitars. Then I showed it to Dr. Kucho! and he immediately loved it. We finished it together. The original vocals – well let’s say I just found them inspiring ☺</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtk_uAGmbdktHXmq3-GKP1ttvjayC6LgzSyqYSaDcH_HCMpgXPFzBdK6mWtDgqYRhzQ3ZN0oDFW93tAF0kBPVYxFq0hzEdVi8ThXZbVj-8-s2D7VAlozcWaqs0CKV5ZJ2LGhC3foFY6uA/s1600/GS10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="gregor salto 2015" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtk_uAGmbdktHXmq3-GKP1ttvjayC6LgzSyqYSaDcH_HCMpgXPFzBdK6mWtDgqYRhzQ3ZN0oDFW93tAF0kBPVYxFq0hzEdVi8ThXZbVj-8-s2D7VAlozcWaqs0CKV5ZJ2LGhC3foFY6uA/s320/GS10.jpg" title="Gregor salto 2015 interview" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>9.     What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned from working with and remixing stars like Pitbull, Rihana and JLo to name a few?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Don’t know. Every remix is so different. No lessons learned yet ☺</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>10.  It’s currently Ibiza season tell us about your first visit to the white isle.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pff I don’t remember. I do know I’ll be playing at <b>Hardwell’s</b> party this year, really looking forward to that!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>11.  Where is your favourite hideout place in Ibiza? </b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Actually, I’m not really an Ibiza expert. Honestly, I think the island is nice, but nothing compared to Cape Town for example.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>12.  There has been much talk about what laptop DJs and so on do you think the real art of DJin has been lost?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Ah well, you can’t stop technology. I rather focus on good progress and innovation then winge about how it used to be. The most important part of the ‘art of DJing’ (let’s not pretend we’re all Jimi Hendrix behind the decks…) is about selecting the right tracks at the right moment, if you ask me.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That being said: playing on 1200s with real vinyl is a different game, and serious fun!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>13.   How do you find the perfect balance between your music career and family time?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> That’s difficult sometimes. But that is difficult for every family with hard-working parents. DJ’s don’t have such a hard life.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>14.   What’s one of your favourite places to visit in South Africa?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> I haven’t seen enough yet. So far it is Cape Town because of its beauty, but I’d love to discover more.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>15.  Who are some South African artists who people should be looking out for?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> People already know guys like <i><a href="http://www.thinkinelectronic.com/2014/10/cuebur-remixes-empire-of-sun-we-are.html" target="_blank">Cuebur</a></i>, <i>Black Coffee</i>, <i>Culo</i>, <i>Gold Fish</i>,<i> Black Motion</i>. Honestly, I’m sure there’s much more talent out there, I just haven’t really checked in a while.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>16.  A little birdy told us you might have a South Africa tour coming up this year is this true? </b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nothing confirmed yet as far as I know!</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>17.  What does the rest of 2015 hold for Gregor Salto?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Some more releases on <i>Spinnin </i>and my own label <i>G-REX,</i> tours in Europe, US and Asia.<br /> <br /> Check out Gregor Salto's Soundcloud page to keep up with his latest releases.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://facebook.com/gregorsalto">facebook.com/gregorsalto</a><br /> <a href="http://twitter.com/gregorsalto">twitter.com/gregorsalto</a><br /> <a href="http://soundcloud.com/gregorsalto">soundcloud.com/gregorsalto</a></div> </div> </div> </div>

Can't Stop Playing With Gregor Salto

 INTERVIEW  Chatting with Gregor Salto  Gregor Salto has been producing electronic dance music for over a decade and knows exactly...