Matt Lee AKA Gammer is one half of Hardcore duo Dougal & Gammer and Essential Platinum's second in command. Making his first appearance in the hardcore scene in 2002, Gammer became part of the genre’s top tier in a very small amount of time. A very successful DJ, his status has been confirmed through winning various awards including Best Breakthru DJ in 2005, and Best Hardcore DJ in 2008. Also famed for his intelligent writing and well-produced tracks, Matt’s productions have featured on numerous albums including the highly successful Bonkers series.
His own label Muffin Music was launched in 2007 and continues to go from strength to strength. Next month Gammer will be taking to the decks for Riot Presents Goodgreef at London’s biggest nightclub, matter. Playing in room two, hosted by Storm, Gammer will be joined by the likes of Mark EG, Organ Donors, Lisa Lashes, Yoji, Showtek, BK and Anne Savage amongst others. We caught up with Gammer ahead of the event to chat about the hardcore scene, Riot! and his renowned productions with DJ Dougal.
Hi Gammer! Can you please introduce yourself to those who aren’t so familiar with you and your sound?
Hello…my name is Gammer and I produce hardcore music!
When did you first get into the hardcore scene? Can you remember the point you realized you had a serious career in it?
I always wanted to go down the hard dance route but it wasn’t until I met Dougal that I decided to get into the hardcore scene. I met him by complete chance and he showed me what hardcore was like at the time; it really excited me and that’s when I knew that it was where I wanted to be.
What do you think of the hardcore scene at the moment? Is it healthy?
Although the economy has affected clubland in general with numbers dipping, hardcore is showing that it’s arguably the strongest underground scene going at the moment with chart topping albums and a –hit-after-hit- policy - fillers just don’t cut it!
Do you feel there are enough new producers coming through that are doing something different?
Yeah definitely, Technikore (who is obviously smashing hard dance with his Technikal guise) has just been signed to Raverbaby and is producing some really exciting stuff! There are lots of producers trying to come through at the moment but with hardcore it is often hard to get the balance right as your track can’t be too different or out there and at the same time it can’t be 100 percent the same as everything else.
How did you originally hook up with DJ Dougal?
He snatched me from the playground!
Tell us a little bit about your studio with DJ Dougal and your Essential Platinum project?
Me and Dougal have been a production team for years now, since around 2001-2002ish…..we just seem to flow together. I have a real passion for making noises and trying different techniques, where as Dougal has an amazing vision and just knows how things should go. Essential Platinum was always Dougal’s project after he parted ways with Hixxy, but we decided to run the label together a few years ago because to be honest, we just flow!
Last year you were crowned best hardcore DJ at the Hardcore Heaven Awards. What do awards like this mean to you and how do they affect the scene in general?
This award meant the absolute world to me, I never even saw it coming! I’m not sure it affects the scene so much but I think the last few years have shook things up, there has been a lot of different awards going different places and I think it makes the awards a lot less predictable and more exciting.
Next month you will be playing at matter for the Riot! Presents Goodgreef party. Have you been to or played at matter before? What can the Riot! crew expect?
No I have never played there! As the only hardcore DJ playing I’m a little nervous to say the least but I’ve always tried to make my sets a hybrid of both scenes - with the anthem power of hardcore but the fun dancyness of hard dance. So yeah…the night should be interesting and I’m very excited to be playing!
Out of the line-up who do you rate most as performers? Anyone you are looking forward to seeing on the night?
I would check out Showtek as I know they smash it wherever they go!
What’s your DJ set up like?
I’ve got a DJM-800, two CDJ-1000s (mk2/3) and of course the trusty old Technics, which I still muck around on quite a lot when I’m at home. I’m also looking at working a laptop or third deck into that to keep me on my toes!
As summer and festival season is well and truly over can you tell us some of your highlights?
Global Gathering…..simple!
Hardcore aside what music will we find on your iPod?
Lots of hard dance, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel and Scrobius Pip and Dan Le Sac.
Best / worst invention ever….
Best = The iPhone
Worst = DVDO Edge HDMI upscaler….It doesn’t do what it’s meant to.
Any exciting projects coming out on Muffin Music in the near future?
Maybe if I had the time to switch my own studio on (basically…I don’t).
Final comments…
My stomach hurts!
Catch Gammer at Riot! Presents Goodgreef on Friday 27th November at matter, London. For more information / tickets visit: http://www.riotinlondon.com
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Images courtesy of DJ Gammer and Cypher PR. Not to be reproduced without permission.
All £5 Early Bird Tickets have sold out with nothing but an announcement on Facebook! Standard tickets are now available at £8 and will go up again before the event. Don’t miss your change to grab these tickets: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk
Following the massive success of our July event, which saw over two thousand ravers pile through the doors, Riot! are pleased to announce their return to London’s biggest nightclub matter on Friday 27th November this time for an event held in conjunction you UK hard dance institutions Goodgreef and Storm! Once again this party will be held on a Friday, matter’s ‘specialist’ night, ensuring the crowd are true hard dance fans. Expect lasers, dancers and no dress code so come as clubby / cybered as you like and expect a party atmosphere like only Riot! can deliver!
** RIOT PRESENTS GOODGREEF! **
Riot! are proud to co-host this event with northern clubbing institution Goodgreef and with both events being voted former Mixmag ‘Club Of The Years’ you know this is going to be a very special occasion! Goodgreef have been putting on storming parties for the last eight years alongside running their own festivals; Parklife, Atomik Weekender and Isle Life plus hosting arenas at some of the biggest festivals in the UK and beyond, helping launch the careers of many artists along the way. Having just released triple disc compilation Goodgreef Xtra Hard mixed by headliners Showtek, Kutski and Lisa Lashes, it really is a party partnership match-made in heaven!
** INSANE LINE UP! **
Yoji will be playing his first London set in three years! The Japanese megastar’s powerful stage presence accompanied by his captivating sound and cutting edge technical skills has made him one of the fastest rising stars in the world of dance music. Having recently torn the roof off at Judgement Sunday’s in Ibiza, Yoji will not disappoint the Riot Crew! Dutch masters Showtek will be proving why they swept every gong in sight at this year’s Hard Dance Awards plus the world’s No.1 female DJ Lisa Lashes will be taking to the decks to hype the crowd once again. Riot die-hard favourites BK and Anne Savage will be playing a very special back 2 back set (miss it at your own peril!) whilst Radio 1’s Hard Dance legend Kutski will be on hand to impress with his multi deck, scratching set alongside Bootek who will be mashing up dance in the toughest way possible on 4 decks! With Traffic / Riot head honcho Scott Attrill who has just released album Mega to much acclaim, the mighty Ed Real and hot talent Luca Antolini also on the bill, the line up is already looking considerably large… AND IT’S ABOUT TO GET BIGGER!
**ROOM 2 HOSTED BY STORM!**
Having represented hard dance in the midlands for many years the award-winning Storm is a force to be reckoned with. With regular events held at The Emporium in Coalville as well as hosting arenas at events like Atomik Weekender Storm journey to London to host Room 2 at this mind-bendingly large event. Stepping things up a gear the Storm room features the full on sounds of the legendary Mark EG alongside Organ Donors, Gammer, Andy Farley, Storm resident Jimmy Dean and Matt Handy.
**EARLY BIRD TICKETS SOLD OUT – STANDARD TICKETS £8**
All £5 Early Bird Tickets have sold out with nothing but an announcement on Facebook! Standard tickets are now available at £8 and will go up again before the event. Don’t miss your change to grab these tickets!
Flyer:
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Region:
London
Music:
Hard Trance. Hardcore. HardStyle. House. Hard House.